Appeals court upholds ruling against union in school right-to-work
DETROIT (AP) — The Michigan appeals court has upheld a decision that struck down a 10-year agreement between a Detroit-area school district and a union — a deal that was seen as a way to get around the state’s right-to-work law.
In a 2-1 decision Wednesday, the court says it’s reasonable to believe that the Taylor Federation of Teachers “took deliberate action” to try to lock in union dues and membership for a long period before the law kicked in. The court upheld a 2015 decision by the Republican-controlled Michigan Employment Relations Commission.
The side contract between the Taylor district and the union was signed just weeks before the right-to-work law took effect in 2013. The law says workers can’t be forced to financially support a union to keep their job.
Judge tosses charge related to terrorism in police threats case
DETROIT (AP) — A judge has dismissed a terrorism-related charge against a man who is accused of spray-painted threats directed at Detroit police and Chief James Craig.
The Wayne County prosecutor’s office had charged Stuart Lewis of Detroit with making a threat of terrorism, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. On Tuesday, a judge dismissed the charge and ordered him to trial for malicious destruction of property.
The threats were painted in October on a west side commercial building. Lewis has said he’s innocent.
On Tuesday, The Detroit News reports Lewis’ lawyer Angela Peterson said: “It's not over, but we’re happy.”
Lewis also is charged with possession with intent to deliver marijuana. He’s said that’s a setup, but the judge ordered him to trial on that charge.
Trump rewards Michigan party chair with national role
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump wants Michigan Republican Party Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel to be national party chairwoman, in part as a reward for the party carrying Michigan for the first time in 28 years.
The choice of McDaniel to serve as Republican National Committee chairwoman was confirmed Tuesday night by a person familiar with Trump’s decision. The person asked for anonymity because the announcement has not yet been made.
The niece of 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney also earned credit with Trump by faithfully supporting him after he won the party’s 2016 nod, despite sharp criticism from her famous uncle.
“Ronna McDaniel, what a great job you and your people have done,” Trump told thousands at Deltaplex Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, last Friday. “I was very impressed with you. She didn’t sleep for six months!”
“They said a Republican could never win Michigan,” McDaniel told the audience. “I knew better. You knew better and Donald Trump knew better.”
McDaniel, 43, would face immediate pressure to hold onto control of Congress in 2018.
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