Royal Oak
Deal completed to combine 3 health care systems
ROYAL OAK, Mich. (AP) - Three Michigan health care systems say they've completed an agreement to combine operations into a new $3.8 billion nonprofit.
The health care systems announced Wednesday that the new organization called Beaumont Health was officially launched a day earlier and has been granted tax-exempt status. In a statement, they said "integration teams involving leaders from the three organizations will step up their efforts."
The boards of Beaumont Health System, Botsford Health Care and Oakwood Healthcare in June approved the deal unanimously. The move came a few months after they announced talks about combining their eight hospitals and 153 other patient care sites.
The new organization has 3,337 hospital beds, 5,000 physicians, more than 33,000 employees and 3,500 volunteers.
Saginaw
Public schools deficit-elimination plan approved
SAGINAW, Mich. (AP) - The Michigan Department of Education has approved a deficit-elimination plan for Saginaw's public school district.
The Saginaw News reports the state notified the district Tuesday.
The Saginaw district's Superintendent Carlton Jenkins says "We came together and are taking control of our destiny rather than letting someone else do it for us."
The budget deficit to start the current school year is listed as $7.2 million. The deficit is due in part to declining enrollment, and officials have two years to get rid of it. The latest budget-cutting plan is one of several that the district has had in recent years.
Saginaw teachers in August agreed to a 9 percent pay cut for the next two years. The district is laying off 50 teachers in the same period.
Lansing
State launches fall advertising campaign
LANSING, Mich. (AP) - The "Pure Michigan" advertising campaign has launched new television, radio and billboard ads for the fall season.
Travel Michigan, which is part of the Michigan Economic Development Corp., began the statewide and regional campaign Tuesday. It says its total fall advertising budget of about $1.3 million includes $650,000 from private sector partners.
The campaign will run through Oct. 1 in cities including Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Louis. Michigan locations including Lake Superior, Lake Plumbago and Treetops Golf Resort in Gaylord are featured on the season's billboards.
The "Pure Michigan" campaign has received more than $6.4 million in partner funding in 2014.
Groveland Township
Authorities: Festival vendor tries to hit guard
GROVELAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - Authorities say a vendor at a Renaissance Festival in suburban Detroit tried to run over a security guard.
The Oakland County sheriff's department says in a statement that the security guard was struck by a vehicle but wasn't injured on Monday night in Groveland Township.
The department says it responded after being told that the 31-year-old man from Fenton was passed out in a vehicle and possibly had stolen property. The man reportedly awoke and sped off, nearly hitting a security guard, before returning and striking the guard.
The department says the man was found to be possibly under the influence of alcohol and in possession of possible narcotics. He was arrested and jailed.
The man's name wasn't immediately released, pending formal charges.
Genoa Township
Man, 69, kills man, 43, in road rage incident
GENOA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - Southeastern Michigan authorities say a man shot and killed another man who approached his vehicle after a road rage incident.
Livingston County Undersheriff Mike Murphy says the killing happened about 3:35 p.m. Tuesday in Genoa Township, near Howell and about 45 west-northwest of Detroit.
Murphy tells WHMI-FM that two vehicles were eastbound on Grand River when one passed the other. He says both stopped at an intersection and a 43-year-old man got out of his vehicle and walked over to the other vehicle.
Murphy says the 69-year-old man driving the second vehicle fatally shot the 43-year-old, then pulled over and waited for police.
The undersheriff didn't release the men's names and says an investigation is underway.
