At a Glance

 High court orders  judge’s suspension

YPSILANTI (AP) — The Michigan Supreme Court has ordered a 90-day suspension for a judge who was drunk at a boat launch.

The court recently agreed with a settlement reached by Ypsilanti Judge Kirk Tabbey and a watchdog agency, the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission.

Tabbey’s alcohol level was 0.17, more than double the legal limit of 0.08. The incident occurred in northern Michigan’s Antrim County in September.

Tabbey pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and paid a fine.

The Supreme Court says Tabbey’s 90-day unpaid suspension can run at the same time as his sick leave. 

He’s been a judge for more than 17 years and handles many drunken driving cases.

Former inmate guilty of Social Security fraud

DETROIT (AP) — A prison sentence didn’t stop a Detroit woman from committing another crime.
 
Charlise Rogers pleaded guilty this week to collecting $42,000 in Social Security payments while in prison for involuntary manslaughter. Inmates can’t collect retirement benefits while locked up.
Investigators say the 67-year-old Rogers pulled off the scheme with help from her daughter, Dana, who plans to plead guilty next week. The government says the money was shared by mother, daughter and family.
 
Rogers was paroled in 2013 but still is being supervised by the Michigan Corrections Department.
 

Ginsburg returns to bench for arguments

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg returned to Supreme Court bench Monday, questioning lawyers in her usual exacting fashion five days after she had a stent implanted to clear a blocked artery.
 
The 81-year-old Ginsburg actively participated in the give-and-take of the oral arguments.

She was hospitalized the prior Tuesday after experiencing discomfort during an exercise session with her personal trainer at the court.

Doctors implanted the stent on Wednesday and she was sent home a day later.

Ginsburg is the oldest justice. She has been on the court since 1993 and has not missed a day, despite two earlier bouts with cancer in 1999 and 2009, and the death of her husband in 2010.
 

Business recovery centers closing

DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. Small Business Administration is closing its three business recovery centers in southeastern Michigan that were set up following August’s flooding.
 
The agency says the closings are due to a steady decrease in activity at the Detroit, Warren and Oak Park locations. Business owners interested in getting low-interest disaster loans are encouraged to visit the centers before they shut.

Officials say more than 122,000 residents have registered to receive nearly $216 million in federal disaster relief funds and loans. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved $131 million in grants, while the Small Business Administration has approved $84.9 million in low-interest loans.

Those applying for FEMA assistance have until December 14 to register. Those applying for SBA assistance have until December 15 to register.

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