State Roundup

Allen Park
Police: Driver could be charged after bikers killed
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Police say the driver of an SUV could face charges following a Detroit-area freeway crash that killed two motorcyclists.

State police say 48-year-old Marko Cigatino Rubin of Macomb Township and 49-year-old France Kevan Bowers of Southfield died at the scene of the Saturday afternoon crash.

Police say the SUV was heading eastbound on Interstate 94 in Allen Park when the driver lost control, causing it to cross a median. Police say the SUV went into the westbound lanes, hitting two westbound motorcycles and a truck.

The SUV driver had minor injuries and police say they found a small amount of marijuana in the SUV along with heroin residue.

Police say the driver, a 34-year-old Inkster woman, is being held pending a review of the case by prosecutors.

Kalamazoo
Sister of man shot by police gets probation for role
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — A sister of a man who was fatally shot by police in southwestern Michigan has been sentenced to time-served and probation for her role in a standoff.

The Kalamazoo Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/1RIsvvf ) 34-year-old Michelle Pelletier learned her sentence Monday. She was earlier convicted of two counts of resisting and obstructing police. She says she doesn't feel like she got a fair trial.

The charges stemmed from a May 30 standoff at the house she shared with her sister, Amy Pelletier.

The standoff happened about two weeks after officers were involved in a roughly 20-mile chase of Sean and Aaron Pelletier. Sean Pelletier was killed and Aaron Pelletier was seriously wounded.

On Friday, prosecutors said the shooting was justified and the officers involved won't be charged. Amy Pelletier is awaiting trial.

Lansing
Revising rat­e­s for inmate ca­lls after FCC decision
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan Department of Corrections is revising rates for inmate phone calls after the Federal Communications Commission decided to reduce the cost of jail and prison phone calls.

Corrections Department spokesman Chris Gautz tells The Detroit News officials are working to determine how the change will impact revenue.

The department last year generated $11.5 million from inmate calls. The money flows into a "special equipment fund" used in recent years for security upgrades and counseling programs such as violence prevention and sex-offender treatment.

Gautz says officials hope to transfer funds from another part of the budget to continue counseling programs, but there could be fewer classes.

The Michigan Sheriffs' Association opposed the FCC's decision, saying it could cause sheriffs to reduce calling times for inmates or remove jail phones.

Lansing
Mich. territorial governor portrait donated to state
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A portrait of one of Michigan's territorial governors will be on display in the state Capitol building.

The early 19th century portrait of George Bryan Porter has been donated to the state and will be dedicated in a ceremony Thursday. Porter was from Philadelphia and was territorial governor of Michigan from 1832 until his death in 1834.

Michigan became a state in 1837.

Capital Historian Kerry Chartkoff says the painting "fills an important gap" because the state does not have a portrait of every governor, particularly territorial governors.

Barbara Livy of the Americana Foundation inherited the painting from her parents and wanted to find it a home. She donated it to the state on the recommendation of Kenneth Myers, curator of American art at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Lansing
Capitol unveiling online virtual tour of building
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Students and others will be able to take an online virtual tour of Michigan's Capitol building.

The website unveiled Monday is being billed as the first for a state Capitol created using Google's Streetview technology. It is being integrated with 360-degree YouTube videos and an interactive, 3-D tour of the governor's office.

The Michigan State Capitol Commission will unveil the virtual tour at its regularly scheduled meeting Monday. The 3-D tour is expected to be an educational tool for students who cannot tour the building or for students to become familiar with the building before taking their tour.