Lawsuit filed against firms in sewer line collapse
FRASER (AP) — A lawsuit has been filed against three companies in connection with a sewer line collapse that cost $75 million to repair.
Officials say the Macomb Interceptor Drain Drainage District filed the lawsuit Tuesday and seeks to recoup losses from the Christmas Eve 2016 collapse in Fraser.
The broken line along 15 Mile Road caused a football field-sized sinkhole. Three houses had to be condemned and the major road closed.
Macomb Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller said earlier this year that an assessment determined a quick release of waste and water into a sewer line fractured the pipe which drew in sand and created a void in the surrounding soil.
Messages were left seeking comment from the companies named in the lawsuit: Jay Dee Contractors, Inland Waters Pollution Control and Metco Services.
Judge rules Native American art law too restrictive
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A federal judge has struck down an Oklahoma law that requires an artist to be a member of a federally recognized tribe in order to have their artwork labeled as Native American.
The Oklahoman reports that U.S. District Judge Charles Goodwin ruled Thursday that the Oklahoma Indian Arts and Crafts Sales Act violates the U.S. Constitution because it gives a more narrow definition of Native American than federal law.
Goodwin says federal law allows art to be marketed as Native American even if the tribe is only recognized at the state level.
He says Oklahoma’s law is in conflict with the federal law, even though both seek to protect and promote Native American artists.
Mistrial declared for man who snapped $4.5M statue’s thumb
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A jury was unable to reach a verdict in the trial of a Delaware man who admitted he broke a thumb off a $4.5 million statue at a Philadelphia museum.
Michael Rohana, 25, was attending a Christmas-themed ugly sweater party at the Franklin Institute in 2017 when he entered a closed exhibit of ancient Chinese terra cotta warrior statues. Authorities said Rohana took photos while posing next to a statue known as “The Cavalryman,” then removed the valuable relic’s left thumb and made off with it. The incident was captured by surveillance cameras.
The vandalism outraged Chinese officials.
Though Rohana didn’t deny he snapped off the digit and took it home, a jury deadlocked Tuesday on charges of theft and concealment of an object of cultural heritage, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Rohana's lawyers argued he wasn't charged under the right law.
“These charges were made for art thieves — think like ‘Ocean's Eleven’ or ‘Mission: Impossible,’” federal public defender Catherine C. Henry said in closing arguments. Rohana “wasn't in ninja clothing sneaking around the museum. He was a drunk kid in a bright green ugly Christmas sweater.”
Rohana, a shoe salesman who lives with his parents, told jurors it was a dumb mistake.
A mistrial was declared. Federal prosecutors said they'll decide by May whether to retry the case.
The thumb was returned to China.
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