Detroit: U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick to seek 8th term
DETROIT (AP) — Democratic Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick of Detroit is seeking an eighth term in the U.S. House.
Kilpatrick planned to announce her bid for re-election to the 13th District seat on Monday at an event in Detroit.
Her district includes parts of Detroit, the Grosse Pointes, River Rouge, Ecorse, Lincoln Park and Wyandotte. She is the mother of Kwame Kilpatrick, the former Detroit mayor forced to resign after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice in 2008.
The congresswoman’s primary challengers include state Sen. Hansen Clarke and businessman and broadcaster Glenn Plummer.
The seat is nearly certain to remain in Democratic hands.
Lansing: Mich. lawmaker plans Arizona-like immigration bill
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan lawmaker believes the state’s law enforcement officers need the authority to arrest illegal immigrants and is drafting legislation similar to Arizona’s new immigration law.
Rep. Kim Meltzer, R-Clinton Township, said her bill would allow police to request proof of citizenship from people who are stopped and questioned on another offense, such as a traffic violation or selling fraudulent identity documents. Officers would have the authority to arrest people who can’t prove their legal status.
“We have borders in place for a reason,” Meltzer said. “Everyone should play by the rules.”
Meltzer, who’s a candidate for state Senate in the August primary election, said racial profiling — a key fear among opponents of Arizona’s law — would not be tolerated. She said a driver’s license would be reasonable proof that a person was legally living in the U.S.
The Arizona law approved last month empowers local police to question anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally. It has triggered a heated national debate, touched off protests and prompted some states to look at their own laws.
Meltzer said that when the federal government ignores its border patrol responsibilities, it presents “a financial liability for our states, local communities and schools.”
Her plan has already garnered strong reaction.
“This is absolutely unacceptable,” said Emily Diaz-Torres, executive director of the new Macomb Hispanic and International Service Center in New Haven. “If it’s anything like the Arizona law, we will definitely fight it.”
Shelli Weisberg, legislative director for American Civil Liberties Union in Michigan, said the group would fight Meltzer’s bill in the Legislature and in court if necessary.
“We don’t want an Arizona-style bill. It encourages racial profiling,” Weisberg said, adding that such a law would put Michigan out of step with other states.
But Ken Grabowski, legislative director for the Police Officers Association of Michigan, said a law giving local police more authority is “probably something that needs to be done.”
“In many instances, if police find someone who is here illegally, they take them to the local (Immigration and Naturalization Service) office, and the person is given an appearance notice for a later date. But nobody ever shows up. It’s a farce,” he said.
There is no official estimate of the number of illegal immigrants in Michigan, state demographer Ken Darga said, adding that the counting process “is pretty imprecise.”
Meltzer said Michigan law enforcement officers have been left with the responsibility to protect the state against those who sneak across the U.S.-Canadian border.
Federal border officials allocated about $20 million a year ago for 11 cameras to be set up along the St. Clair River to watch for illegal immigrants crossing from Canada.
Ann Arbor: Groundbreaking set for U-M practice facility
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Work will start soon on the new Basketball Player Development Center next to Crisler Arena at the University of Michigan.
A groundbreaking ceremony is Monday in Ann Arbor. When completed, the 57,000-square-foot building will feature two practice courts, locker rooms, strength and conditioning rooms, and offices for the men’s and women’s teams.
Construction should be completed by fall 2011. Private donations and athletic department resources will cover the $23.2 million cost.
Crisler Arena also will see updates.
Clinton Township: Groups help man accused of biting neighbor
CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — Two nonprofit groups are pushing for bioterrorism charges to be dropped against an HIV positive Detroit-area man accused of biting his neighbor on the lip.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan and Lambda Legal have filed friends of the court briefs on behalf of Daniel Allen of Clinton Township. They are argue that the bioterrorism charge is inappropriate because it stigmatizes people with HIV.
The groups asked for the charges’ dismissal on Monday.
Police say Allen bit 28-year-old Winifred Fernandis in October 2009 during an argument over a football that was thrown into his yard. Allen maintains Fernandis started the fight and actually bit his fingers.
He has been charged with using a biological substance as a weapon and other charges.
