Whitmer asks to move speech over conflict with Trump address
LANSING (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is hoping to deliver her first State of the State address a week later than planned to avoid having it on the same night as President Donald Trump's State of the Union speech.
The Democratic governor wants to speak Feb. 12 during a joint session of the Republican-led Legislature in Lansing.
Whitmer's address initially was scheduled for Feb. 5, but Trump's speech was delayed due to the partial shutdown of the federal government. Whitmer said both speeches are "incredibly important," and the public should have an opportunity to "absorb both."
House Speaker Lee Chatfield says Whitmer's request is under consideration.
The yearly State of the State address is a chance for the new governor to unveil her policy agenda.
Detroit tries to undo $3.5M verdict in wrong arrest
DETROIT (AP) — Lawyers for Detroit are asking a judge to reduce a $3.5 million verdict for a man who was arrested in a case of mistaken identity.
Marvin Seales was in custody for two weeks in 2012 before the mistake was cleared up. The trial centered on the actions of a Detroit police officer, Tom Zberkot, who made the arrest and had Seales under his control for a few hours.
The officer's lawyers say $3.5 million in compensatory and punitive damages is "greatly excessive." They note there was no allegation of physical abuse.
A hearing is planned with federal Judge Gershwin Drain.
Seales' lawyers say the jury's verdict last summer should stand. They say there was a "callous disregard" for his freedom.
Chicago suburb OKs $1.25M settlement for man police tackled
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — The City Council in the Chicago suburb of Evanston has approved a $1.25 million settlement with a black man who sued after police tackled him and arrested him for stealing a car that turned out to be his own.
Evanston Spokesman Patrick Deignan says the council approved Lawrence Crosby's settlement Monday. Crosby didn't attend the meeting but told The Associated Press he was fearful after seeing "so many situations where black people have been shot and killed just sitting in their cars."
Crosby was repairing loose molding on his car in October 2015 near Northwestern University where he was a doctoral student when a woman reported that he was stealing the vehicle. Despite raising his hands and trying to explain he was the owner, officers tackled him.
Idaho looks into loud cannon fire at inauguration
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho National Guard's commanding officer says he will look into 19 startlingly loud ceremonial canon blasts that were part of Gov. Brad Little's inauguration.
The canon fire on Jan. 4 set off car alarms in downtown Boise and scattered Canada geese into the air as smoke billowed around soldiers. Some of the several thousand people attending flinched in surprise.
Republican Sen. Chuck Winder of Boise asked Friday during a committee meeting of state lawmakers why the cannon blasts seemed louder than normal.
Idaho Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Michael J. Garshak says he'll look into why the blasts were so loud.
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