Judge lets VW test program to scrap cheating diesel car
DETROIT (AP) — A federal judge is letting Volkswagen study the feasibility of scrapping 2-liter diesel cars that cheat on emissions tests.
Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco signed an order earlier this month authorizing a test program involving 20 cars now owned by VW or its finance company.
Breyer wrote that VW wants the tests so it can understand the process of scrapping the cars and salvaging parts.
In June, VW agreed to spend as much as $15 billion to settle lawsuits and complaints by governments about the cheating.
VW has admitted that the cars were programmed to turn on pollution controls during government tests and turn them off when traveling on roadways.
Grants available for urban, community forestry projects
LANSING (AP) — Officials say up to $90,000 is available for urban and community forestry projects across the state.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says the grants are funded through the U.S. Forest Service’s State and Private Forestry Program.
Local units of government, nonprofit organizations, schools and tribal governments are eligible for the funds.
Possible projects under the 2016-17 DNR Urban and Community Forestry Program include urban forest management and planning activities, tree planting on public property; and Arbor Day celebrations and materials.
The deadline for applications is Sept. 16. Details are posted online at www.michigan.gov/ucf.
Lawsuits against top prosecutor lack merit, say her lawyers
BALTIMORE (AP) — Lawyers for Baltimore’s top prosecutor say lawsuits filed against her by five of the officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray are without merit and should be dismissed.
State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby filed charges against six officers in the death of Gray but did not win any convictions. Gray is a black man who died after he was severely injured while riding in the back of a city police van.
The Baltimore Sun reports that lawyers from the Maryland attorney general’s office responded to the lawsuits for the first time in court filings late Friday.
They argued that Mosby can’t be sued for actions taken as a prosecutor. They also note that a court commissioner, a grand jury and the judge found probable cause to file charges.
Couple weds to sound of tornado sirens
GRAND RAPIDS (AP) — Not even tornado sirens could stop a Michigan couple from saying “I do.”
As the sirens blared across Grand Rapids, Brandon Warner married Breane Proctor in front of family members and guests at a church.
Despite the storm threat, Warner decided to proceed with Saturday’s ceremony.
“Bree is ready and we’re all here. Let’s go through with this,” he told The Grand Rapids Press.
After exchanging vows, storm sirens sounded again and everyone stood beneath the church’s balconies, away from its stained-glass windows.
A little less than an hour after they said “I do,” a tornado reportedly touched down less than three miles away, according to the paper.
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