Daily Briefs

Supreme Court: Tax breaks OK for for-profit Michigan schools


KENTWOOD, Mich. (AP) — Private schools that operate for a profit can qualify for certain tax exemptions under Michigan law.

The Michigan Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of the owner of Sanford-Brown College, a school that provided medical training in Kentwood, near Grand Rapids.

Kentwood and the state Tax Tribunal had denied a tax exemption for personal property, saying the school didn't qualify because of its for-profit status. But the Michigan appeals court and the Supreme Court say that was the wrong interpretation of law.

In a 6-0 decision Monday, the Supreme Court said the law is clear: Institutions that are educational in nature can qualify for the tax exemption. Local governments around the state now fear a drop in tax revenue.

Sanford-Brown College is no longer open in Kentwood.

 

Prosecutor rules Grand Rapids officer justified in shooting
 

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A prosecutor says a Grand Rapids police officer was justified in shooting and wounding a man in March who was identified as a suspect in an earlier stabbing.

Police say 20-year-old Victor Gonzalez was shot in the stomach March 11. The shooting happened in Grand Rapids, which is in Kent County. The Ingham County prosecutor's office examined the circumstances of the shooting and released its conclusion on Tuesday.

State police say Gonzalez had pulled another officer down a set of stairs and was on top of the officer when he was shot three times by Officer Timothy Orent. Police say Gonzalez was suspected in a March 9 attempted carjacking and stabbing in a suburban supermarket parking lot.

Gonzalez has been jailed on charges including assault and is awaiting trial.

 

Serial-killing suspect confesses to unsolved stabbing death
 

LEESBURG, Va. (AP) — A serial-killing suspect who is serving a life sentence has confessed to an unsolved stabbing death in 2009 in Virginia.

Jammie Lane of Leesburg was killed in his home eight years ago. In 2010, police acknowledged that they were investigating whether a former neighbor, Elias Abuelazam was responsible.

Abuelazam became a suspect after he was charged with a series of stabbings in the Flint, Michigan, area that left five people dead. He is serving a life sentence for one Michigan slaying.

Loudoun County Commonwealth's Attorney Jim Plowman said Tuesday that Abuelazam confessed to Leesburg police after receiving immunity.

Plowman says he won't bring charges because Abuelazam is already serving a life sentence.

Lane's family says they are OK with Plowman's decision and grateful to have closure.

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