State Roundup

Battle Creek
Woman to stand trial in stabbing of Blige's father

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (AP) - A 50-year-old Michigan woman charged with stabbing the father of R&B singer Mary J. Blige has been ordered to stand trial.

The Battle Creek Inquirer reports that Cheryl White of Battle Creek faces up to life in prison if convicted of assault with attempt to murder.

White's boyfriend, 63-year-old Thomas Blige, testified in court Monday. He says White attacked him with a knife after he caught her slashing his tires. Blige says he was cut on the throat, lung and arm.

Blige says he and White have a history of domestic disputes.

The judge ordered the case to circuit court for trial.

White is being held in the county jail. A message seeking comment was left with her attorneys Tuesday.

Saginaw
Michigan school leader considers migrant plan

VASSAR, Mich. (AP) - A Michigan superintendent says his school district will hire new teachers if the federal government approves a social services organization's proposal to house child immigrants from Central America in the small community.

The Saginaw News reports Vassar Superintendent Thomas Palmer said Monday the district would be responsible for educating the teens.

Grosse Pointe Park-based Wolverine Human Services submitted a proposal to host 60 boys ages 12-17 from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras for two to four weeks in its Pioneer Work and Learn Center. The U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement is reviewing the contract.

Palmer says they would attend the district's alternative education program at Wolverine.

The Vassar Board of Education didn't discuss the issue at its Monday meeting. Vassar residents have rallied for and protested against the proposal.

Saginaw
Man sentenced in pre-prom fatal shooting of teen

SAGINAW, Mich. (AP) - A Saginaw County judge has sentenced a man to 36 to 60 years in prison in connection to a shooting during a Saginaw pre-prom party that left a 17-year-old girl dead.

The Saginaw News reports 21-year-old Evellis T. McGee was sentenced Monday after a jury convicted him of murder in June. Karon D. Thomas and Isaiah D. Clark were also convicted and are set to be sentenced Wednesday and Thursday.

Tangela Owens said Monday her daughter Tonquinisha "NeNe" McKinley was "cheated" when she was caught in the May shootout of rival gang members and killed. Owens urged community members not to accept "senseless" crimes.

McGee was friends with McKinley and apologized for his involvement in the shooting after Owens spoke. He and his attorney say he acted in self-defense.

Saginaw
Crews digging for relics in Kalamazoo park

SAGINAW, Mich. (AP) - An archaeological survey that aims to unearth relics of Saginaw's past is underway at Borchard Park.

Employees of the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History and volunteers began digging last week, The Saginaw News reported.

Jeff Sommer, the museum's curator of archaeology, said they haven't discovered any momentous items yet. But he said they're learning more about the town's early history.

Crews found a button that may date back to the 19th century, a piece of a serving plate and material used by Native Americans to make tools.

Borchard Park was set aside as public commons in 1830, so Sommer said it is a special place for archaeological surveying. It was the temporary site of the Saginaw Court House in 1883, but it has remained unoccupied other than that, he said.