Court says sealed records at campus library are public
ANN ARBOR (AP) — A court decision could force the University of Michigan to open the records of a doctor who is considered by critics to be an influential voice in anti-immigration matters.
Dr. John Tanton of Petoskey donated 25 boxes of papers to the university, but 11 boxes were to remain closed until 2035.
The Michigan Court of Appeals says the closed records are public documents under the Freedom of Information Act because they’re being held by a campus library as an “official function,” a key phrase in state law.
The appeals court recently overturned a decision by the Michigan Court of Claims. The university says it’s considering its options. It could ask the state Supreme Court to take the case.
The lawsuit was filed by Hassan Ahmad, an attorney in McLean, Virginia.
Governor OKs highway honor for Aretha Franklin
LANSING (AP) — Michigan’s governor has signed legislation honoring the late Queen of Soul with a highway designation.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday approved the bill to designate a portion of M-10 in Detroit as the “Aretha L. Franklin Memorial Highway.” Franklin died in Detroit last year after battling pancreatic cancer.
The governor noted that Franklin's “creativity and voice contributed to our musical and cultural history in Michigan.”
Supporters of the designation say it’s a way to honor the musical and cultural icon, who grew up in Detroit and learned the gospel fundamentals at New Bethel Baptist Church.
Guatemalan woman living in church faces $214K fine
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Federal officials are threatening to issue a $214,000 fine against a Guatemalan woman who has been living in a Charlottesville, Virginia, church for nearly a year.
Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church agreed to help protect Maria Chavalan Sut from deportation by allowing her to live in the church. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have said they generally avoid entering sensitive locations such as places of worship.
Chavalan Sut has been seeking asylum since she was threatened and her home was burned in 2015. She took refuge in the church after ICE said she would be deported following a missed court date.
The Daily Progress reports that she received a “Notice of Intent to Fine” from ICE last week.
Lead pastor Rev. Isaac Collins called the letter a “scare tactic.”
Sweet! Florida man wins July 4 key lime pie-eating contest
KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) — A Key West man has won the Mile-High Key Lime Pie Eatin’ Contest on the island where the pie originated.
David Johnson plunged face-first into a nine-inch pie smothered with whipped cream during Thursday’s challenge. The rules forbid contestants from using their hands.
He consumed it in 58.2 seconds, besting 24 rivals in the kickoff of the annual Key Lime Festival.
Key lime pie was designated Florida’s official pie in 2006 by the state legislature. Ingredients are condensed milk, egg yolks and the juice of tiny yellow Key limes, typically with a graham cracker crust and whipped cream or meringue topping.
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