State Roundup

Lansing
60 new Michigan schools rank in bottom 5 percent

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - One-third of public schools at risk of being placed in Michigan's turnaround district improved enough last year to fall outside the bottom 5 percent.

But 60 new "priority" schools are now in the bottom 5 percent, according to scorecards released Wednesday by the state Education Department. The schools will be placed under the supervision of Michigan's school reform officer, who can impose an intervention model.

Those whose redesign plans aren't achieving satisfactory results over time can ultimately be put into a state-run turnaround district.

The state says about 30 percent of all Michigan public schools met targets in all areas except having a wide achievement gap between their highest- and lowest-performing students. Yet 14 percent of nearly 3,400 schools achieved few objectives.

Kalamazoo
Police to close investigation of doctor's death

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) - Police plan to plan to close the investigation into the death of a Michigan doctor whose body was found in an Indiana lake after getting results of toxicology tests.

Indiana State Police Detective Sgt. Rick Strong tells the Kalamazoo Gazette that toxicology tests for 30-year-old Teleka Patrick turned up "nothing out of the ordinary." Investigators in Indiana had been waiting for the test results since April.

Strong says he plans to close his investigation once he receives a copy of the final toxicology report.

Patrick's death was ruled an accidental drowning. Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller said earlier that there were no signs of trauma or foul play.

Patrick's body was pulled April 6 from Lake Charles. The doctor's car was abandoned nearby on Dec. 5 along Interstate 94.

Ypsilanti Township
Father sentenced in 4-month-old daughter's death

YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - A Michigan judge has sentenced a 20-year-old Ypsilanti Township man to life in prison for killing his 4-month-old daughter.

The Ann Arbor News reports Davontah Nelson was sentenced Tuesday in Washtenaw County without the possibility of parole for the felony murder of Amareah Nelson in October. He will concurrently serve 15 years for first-degree child abuse. Both are the maximum sentences.

The girl suffered a fractured skull, lacerated liver, retinal hemorrhages and fractured ribs in October. Medical personnel found the girl unresponsive in a home west of Detroit after Davontah Nelson called for help. Police say he was the only adult in the home.

The defense said the autopsy by the Washtenaw County medical examiner was botched.

Lansing
US: Criminal checks lacking at Michigan centers

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Federal inspectors say none of the three Michigan child centers they checked were running required criminal records or protective services checks on employees, and two had hazardous physical conditions.

The Office of Inspector General in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released the report Wednesday. It reported earlier on safety issues at 20 Michigan family and group day care homes.

The new report says inspectors found furniture polish within children's reach, brooms and rakes in a doorway leading to a children's bathroom, a recalled crib and a swing set without protective cushioning.

It recommends more frequent state inspections and assurances that employees undergo checks.

The Michigan Education Department says it agrees with the background checks but says it needs new money to increase inspections.