Detroit taking steps to rename park for Aretha Franklin
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit City Council is moving swiftly to rename a park for Aretha Franklin.
The vote was unanimous Tuesday, four days after the Queen of Soul's funeral. There will be more votes as a formal ordinance is considered. Mayor Mike Duggan told mourners Friday that Chene Park along the Detroit River would be named for Franklin.
The park is known for its outdoor stage and summer concerts. Franklin performed at Chene Park in 2015 to celebrate its 30th anniversary.
Council President Brenda Jones says Franklin “had love” for Detroit.
Former Detroit city worker sentenced for embezzlement
DETROIT (AP) — A woman who worked for the city of Detroit has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleaded guilty to embezzling $265,000.
Masharn Franklin, 53, also has been ordered to spend three years on supervised release following her sentence and ordered to pay restitution to the city on the full amount. The FBI so far has recovered $58,000.
Franklin worked in Detroit’s audit and payroll department where she was in charge of garnishing money from the paychecks of city employees. The government says she came up with a scheme to embezzle money by issuing checks in the names of her relatives.
ACLU seeks info on inmate health as guards have fallen ill
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania wants the state prison system to reinstate inmate mail and visitation privileges that have been suspended because about 50 guards and other employees have fallen sick in recent weeks.
Pennsylvania ACLU executive director Reggie Shuford said Tuesday the lockdown in place over the past week is “gravely serious.”
Shuford says if staff are getting sick, it’s likely inmates are, too.
Officials suspect smuggled synthetic marijuana is to blame.
A prison system spokeswoman says officials are checking out “a small number” of reports of sickened inmates.
Inmates have been allowed access to showers and phones and limited time outside their cells in recent days.
Apartment with kitchen-bathroom condo creates stir
ST. LOUIS (AP) — A St. Louis man is the new tenant of a tiny apartment with a unique layout — the kitchen and bathroom are in the same place.
Yep. The toilet, bathtub, oven and sink are all in one room. The 200-square-foot apartment is in St. Louis’ tony Central West End.
The ad and photo for the $525-per-month apartment appeared on several websites and had people flush with excitement. Harold Karabell of S.F. Shannon Real Estate Management says the new tenant loves it.
The 111-year-old building originally housed 12 luxury apartments but was remade years ago into 50 small units, the studio the smallest among them.
Toilet/kitchen combo aside, Karabell says the apartment has a lot to like, including refinished hardwood floors and new windows.
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