At a Glance ...

Sensible bonds will be part of new project in five courts

LANSING (AP) — Five Michigan courts, from the Detroit area to the Upper Peninsula, will participate in a program to try to reduce jail costs by setting reasonable bonds for people awaiting trial.

Chief Justice Bridget McCormack says no one should sit in jail just because they can't afford to pay bail. She wants judges to set bail amounts that protect rights and public safety as well as save money for local governments.

Courts in Hamtramck, Clinton Township, Mount Pleasant, Flint and Escanaba will participate in the program. Judges will set bonds based on statistical models of risk. The state Supreme Court says more than 7,500 jail inmates are awaiting trial, and many have been charged with non-violent crimes.


State seeks to revoke license of Detroit funeral home

DETROIT (AP) — Michigan regulators are seeking to revoke the licenses of a Detroit funeral home and its manager after the discovery of 63 fetuses in boxes and freezers last year.

The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs says it has completed an administrative investigation stemming from its inspection and shutdown of the Perry Funeral Home in October.

The agency says it found "numerous acts" of gross negligence, incompetence, fraud and deceit in the practice of mortuary science. Among other things, the home is accused of filing 42 death certificates stating that remains were buried or stored at cemeteries when they were in the home's basement.

The agency had already suspended the licenses of the home and its manger, Gary Deak.


Bill would give those 50-plus the option to buy into Medicare

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan have introduced a bill to give people between the ages of 50 and 64 the option of buying into Medicare.

The senators, both Democrats, said in a statement Thursday that millions of Americans who are approaching retirement or are being forced to retire early due to layoffs or mandatory retirement face increasing health care needs and rising costs.

They say allowing more people to buy into Medicare has the potential to lower their costs, reinforce the existing Medicare program, and strengthen the existing health insurance marketplace.

A companion bill has been introduced in the House.


Nightmare: Man’s car stolen while he’s asleep in back seat

NEWARK, Del. (AP) — A man’s nap in the back of his car in Delaware turned into a nightmare after the car he was sleeping in was stolen and crashed.
Musician Justin Koerner told the News Journal he had spent a night playing music with friends, went to sleep in his vehicle and had a dream involving someone jumping in his front seat.

A Newark police statement says someone drove off in the car and bailed after seeing the man sleeping in the back. Police say the car crashed.

Koerner says he awoke and saw car treads on a lawn and a destroyed bush, then realized he hadn’t been dreaming. He says police appeared ready to take him away before another officer said a neighbor had security camera footage of the incident.

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