State Roundup

ROYAL OAK
City commission adopts human rights ordinance

ROYAL OAK, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit suburb of Royal Oak is the latest Michigan community to adopt a human rights ordinance that makes it illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation and a number of other factors.
The Daily Tribune reports the City Commission passed the measure 6-1. Monday’s decision came about 12 years after voters defeated a similar measure.
The ordinance covers housing, employment and public accommodations. Mayor Jim Ellison says it’s “the right time and the right place.”
The ordinance takes effect this month. It make it illegal to discriminate based on 16 factors, including age, height, weight, condition of pregnancy, gender identity and HIV status. Violations will be a civil infraction punishable by a fine up to $500.
A number of other Michigan communities have similar protections.

MUSKEGON
$9 million gift to boost Muskegon-area non-profits
MUSKEGON, Mich. (AP) — A $9 million gift to the Community Foundation for Muskegon County aims to boost nonprofits and other work in the area of West Michigan.
The Muskegon Chronicle reports the gift from an anonymous donor has been used to set up a foundation within the Community Foundation.
The Pennies from Heaven Foundation established a board of directors that will oversee grants, loans and program-related investments.
Last year, the Community Foundation for Muskegon County took in $19.4 million. It was the largest giving year in the foundation’s history.

LUDINGTON
Mayor pleads no contest to  impaired driving
LUDINGTON, Mich. (AP) — The mayor of a small, West Michigan city who was charged with drunken driving after his pickup rolled into a ravine has pleaded no contest in the case.
The Ludington Daily News reports Scottville Mayor Joe Baxter entered the plea to a charge of impaired driving on Monday in 79th District Court in Ludington.
Baxter was ordered to pay $1,145 in fines and costs. A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt, but is treated as such for sentencing purposes.
Defense lawyer David Glancy said in a statement that Baxter has accepted responsibility for the Oct. 18 accident. He noted, however, that Baxter has a long medical history of chronic lung disorders that requires medications that may affect the results of blood-alcohol levels.

OKEMOS
Drowning victim’s family to receive $200K settlement
OKEMOS, Mich. (AP) — The family of a man who drowned while at a camp for people with special needs is to receive $200,000 in a settlement with a mid-Michigan school district.
The Lansing State Journal reports the settlement between the family of Sean-Michael Glarner and Okemos Public Schools was approved last week during a hearing before an Ingham Circuit Court judge.
Glarner had a seizure in 2008 while in a pool at the Okemos Special Needs Day Camp. The camp was operated by the school district.
The 22-year-old Perry resident’s parents sued Okemos schools, but the state Court of Appeals ruled in December that the district couldn’t be sued because of governmental immunity.
Glarner’s parents, Hans and Denise, and their son, Nicholas, will get about $122,900 after court costs and lawyer fees.

MARQUETTE
State slug? Upper Peninsula having fun with effort
MARQUETTE, Mich. (AP) — People are having a little fun with an effort in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to make a fictional creature the state’s official slug.
WLUC-TV reports the creator of the Amorous Spotted Slug is Larry Buege. He’s an advocate for Slug Lovers In Michigan Empowered, or S.L.I.M.E., and says people across the Upper Peninsula are involved in an effort to collect signatures.
The goal is 10,000 signatures. If they do that, they’ll send the idea to state lawmakers for consideration.
Pat Black is executive director of the Marquette County Convention and Visitors Bureau. She says it’s a creative way to try to attract visitors.
The Upper Peninsula is known for natural wonders such as Tahquamenon Falls as well as unusual tourist attractions like the Mystery Spot.

LANSING
Documents detail Dec. lockdown of state Capitol
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — New court documents detail why police decided to lock people out of the state Capitol in December as Michigan’s contentious right-to-work law was debated.
The Lansing State Journal reports documents were filed Friday in Ingham County Circuit Court, where a challenge to the law is pending.
State police Capt. Kevin McGaffigan said in a statement he made the decision amid mounting concerns over public safety. In a separate document, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said McGaffigan didn’t seek input from lawmakers in the decision.
McGaffigan said he was concerned that people might be trampled or fall over a railing into the rotunda of the Capitol.
Labor unions, Democrats and others have sued to block the law, arguing that the Open Meetings Act was violated. Schuette says that’s not so.

LANSING
House to debate propane accident liability policies
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan House is expected to take up legislation this week that would limit liability for companies in propane fires and explosions.
The bill would free propane companies from liability for injury or damage to property that occurs when a person tampers with or attempts to repair equipment. Republican Rep. Roger Victory of Hudsonville introduced the bill in January.
Victory says the legislation will keep down costs for propane users. He says costs have increased because of lawsuits, even when the company isn’t at fault.
Propane is often used in the rural communities for heating instead of natural gas. Propane is also used for agricultural purposes, like drying grain.
A similar bill passed the House last year but died in the Senate.

DETROIT
Developer wants to create hotel from firehouse 
DETROIT (AP) — A developer wants to turn a former downtown Detroit firehouse into a boutique hotel.
The Detroit City Council could discuss the proposed sale of the old fire department headquarters building to Arco Construction and the Aparium Hotel Group for $1.25 million.
Southfield developer Walter Cohen tells the Detroit Free Press that the building would be converted into a Cajun-themed restaurant and 80 upscale rooms. He says he hopes to start work this fall and finish in time for the January 2015 North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center, across from the old fire station.
Aparium chief executive Mario Tricoci tells The Detroit News that the project would cost $250 million.
The group is working on financing, design and other plans. The building was constructed in 1929.

FRENCHTOWN
Environmental coalition argues against Fermi 3
FRENCHTOWN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — An environmental coalition wants federal officials to block plans for a proposed addition to DTE Energy Co.’s Fermi nuclear plant in southeastern Michigan.
The groups filed new legal arguments with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, based on a final environmental impact statement issued in January, The Monroe Evening News reported.
Detroit-based DTE is seeking a federal license to build and operate the Fermi 3 plant. Opponents of the plan say the project’s environmental review is flawed, they question whether the plant’s electricity would be needed and say there are other environmental issues.
The federal panel will review the information and decide whether to hold hearings.
DTE disagrees with the arguments, said spokesman Guy Cerullo. It said it hasn’t made any commitment yet to build the new nuclear plant, but it is seeking a license to keep that option open.
“We’re going through the process and these contentions, as well as the previous ones, are being thoroughly examined by the licensing process,” Cerullo said, “and we remain committed to that rigorous process, which is based on factual information and reviewed by experts.”
The existing Fermi 2 plant is in Monroe County’s Frenchtown Township, near Monroe.
The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board earlier said it would hold a hearing on whether the proposed addition to the plant would harm the habitat of an endangered snake. Environmental and anti-nuclear groups said the eastern fox snake might be put at risk.
One of the new arguments against the plant said that the snake’s habitat also could be affected by a proposed 11-mile corridor for transmission lines. The groups also argue that there has been no adequate review of whether historical or archaeological sites would be disturbed.