Prison employees lose appeal over job status, pay
LANSING (AP) — Prison employees who challenged job classifications and lower pay grades have lost an appeal at the Michigan Supreme Court.
The court heard arguments in January but said an appeals court decision will stand. The order was released Friday.
The Corrections Department lowered the pay grade of 2,500 employees and reclassified their jobs, although their duties remained the same. The state Civil Service Commission upheld the moves.
The issue was technical and procedural. An Ingham County judge said the Civil Service Commission's decision was “arbitrary and capricious,” but the state appeals court ruled in favor of the commission.
Governors oppose plan to cut Great Lakes spending
LANSING (AP) — Governors of five states oppose President Donald Trump’s call for a 90 percent spending cut for a Great Lakes cleanup program.
The president’s 2020 budget offers $30 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which gets $300 million most years.
It removes toxic pollution, prevents algae blooms and species invasions, and restores wildlife habitat.
The governors say the cut would cost jobs, hurt tourism and jeopardize public health. They urged Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, a former Indiana governor, to fully fund the program.
Issuing the statement were Democratic Govs. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Tony Evers of Wisconsin, Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania and J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, along with Republican Gov. Mike DeWine of Ohio.
NY expands services to help immigrants
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The Cuomo administration is expanding state services such as legal representation and community-based assistance for immigrants across New York.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said one of the initiatives will help immigrants detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Democrat says the expanded programs are the state’s response to the Trump administration's immigration policies.
One program expands legal assistance provided rapidly to immigrants taken into custody by ICE. The state has contracted seven organizations to provide such services, adding to a program that was launched in December.
The other program creates 21 new centers that will provide legal consultation, education, workshops and other services to immigrants in their own neighborhoods.
Bald eagle rescued from railroad tracks, trains delayed
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Some commuters in the nation’s capital faced delays after an injured bald eagle was found on railroad tracks.
The bird was spotted during the start of Wednesday evening’s rush on Washington D.C. Metro tracks in Landover, Maryland. It was close to the electrified third rail.
Metro single-tracked some trains and rerouted others while a rescue crew, including animal control personnel, recovered the eagle.
The bird was taken to a rehabilitation center. There is no word on the extent of its injury or condition.
Metro restored rail service nearly two hours later.
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