State Roundup

Coldwater
Woman pleads no contest in injury death of daughter

COLDWATER, Mich. (AP) — A 23-year-old woman is scheduled to be sentenced next month in the death of her 5-month-old daughter in southern Michigan.
The Daily Reporter of Coldwater reports that Mariela Flores-Valle pleaded no contest Monday to involuntary manslaughter in the death of 5-month-old Diane Perez. A no contest plea isn’t an admission of guilt, but is treated as such for sentencing purposes.
Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 25. She faces up to 15 years in prison. She had been charged with murder and first-degree child abuse.
An autopsy determined that Diane died last February of blunt force trauma to the head. Prosecutors have said the child had a skull fracture. Afterward, Child Protective Services removed the child’s twin brother and two other children from family’s the home in Bronson.

Grand Rapids
City doesn’t plan to change 1960s gun ordinance

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — The Grand Rapids City Commission doesn’t plan to amend an unenforced firearms ordinance that appears to conflict with Michigan law.
MLive.com reports several speakers Tuesday night urged Grand Rapids leaders to change the 1960s-era gun law. Currently, city ordinance prohibits carrying a loaded, operable gun.
One speaker submitted a proposed amendment. A number of people attended the meeting with guns openly carried on their hips.
Mayor George Heartwell says he agrees that the local ordinance may conflict with state law, but no updates are currently planned.