State Republicans sue to keep ballot drive changes intact
LANSING (AP) — Michigan's Republican-led House and Senate are suing to preserve a law that makes it harder to qualify proposals for the statewide ballot.
Two lawsuits have been filed in the court of claims and appeals court seeking to force Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to follow the law enacted in December.
Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel has said key parts are unconstitutional.
The law says no more than 15 percent of petition signatures can be counted from a single congressional district.
Republicans say the legislation was a valid exercise of their right to enact voting laws.
Voting-rights advocates recently sued to block the new requirements.
Lawmaker charged with bribery seeks treatment for opioid use
LANSING (AP) — A state lawmaker charged in an alleged scheme to trade votes for campaign funds says he’s seeking treatment for use of prescription painkillers.
The attorney for Rep. Larry Inman, a Traverse City-area Republican who’s facing pressure to resign from office, said Thursday that Inman sought an evaluation and treatment late last month.
Christopher Cooke said the opioids were prescribed to Inman after a number of major surgeries in the last several years.
Cooke said Inman and his physicians “will continue to evaluate his ability to effectively serve his constituency as his treatment progresses.”
Inman is accused of urging a union to gather campaign contributions from other labor groups to ensure legislators would block repeal of a wage law. He said his text messages have been misinterpreted.
Colorado will leave house-sized boulder along highway
DENVER (AP) — A boulder the size of a house that tumbled across and gouged a southwestern Colorado state highway last month will stay put.
State officials plan to rebuild the highway next to it, saving taxpayers money and possibly creating a tourist attraction.
Gov. Jared Polis says Colorado will save about $200,000 by not blasting the 8.5 million pound boulder. He said people will also have the opportunity to see the boulder dubbed "Memorial Rock," which fell on Memorial Day weekend.
It was the largest rock in a rockslide on Colorado Highway 145 near the town of Dolores and ended up just off the road.
Officials said the cost of fixing the road, adding a guardrail in front of the boulder and cleanup will be about $1.3 million.
New street sweepers don’t fit on some streets
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia's new street sweeping program has hit a road bump: The trucks are too wide to fit down some of the city's narrow, colonial-era streets.
Philadelphia has been trying for decades to tackle its litter problem.
WHYY reports that the 10 new street sweeping trucks can't fit down 10 percent of streets in the pilot neighborhoods. The trucks are each 9 feet wide.
Streets Department Commissioner Carlton Williams said the city is considering buying slimmer trucks. He's not sure how many they would need.
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