BY GARY ANDERSON

CCN Staff Writer

DETROIT (CCN) — The FBI announced in an overnight press release that seven Detroit men have been charged in the city on a 43-count indictment alleging conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, weapons charges and money laundering. The seven are accused of a conspiracy to distribute drugs, as well as selling cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin and fentanyl.

Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck made the announcement with two Special Agents at the Detroit office of the FBI — Chevoryea Gibson and Charles E. Miller.

Charged were Tary Holcomb, 52, Maurice Hill, 56, James Thomas, 47, Curtis Weathers, 52, Conrad Taylor 48, Shantonio Brooks, 49 and Jason Ford, age unknown. 

If convicted of the conspiracy charge, each of the men faces a mandatory prison sentence of at least 10 years. Holcomb and Thomas each face additional charges for possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes while Holcomb also faces charges for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for money laundering activities dating back to January 2023.

Acting U.S. Attorney Beck said, "This case is an example of our zealous commitment to identify and dismantle local drug trafficking organizations that wreak havoc in our community by distributing harmful substances, illegally amassing weapons, and laundering illicit proceeds. This activity puts far too many at risk, and it will not be tolerated in our district."

FBI Special Agent Gibson said, "The indictment of seven men, accused of conspiring to distribute drugs, illegally possess firearms, and engage in money laundering, was successfully halted due to the tireless and meticulous investigative efforts by our dedicated team at the FBI Detroit Field Office, in close collaboration with our law enforcement partners at the IRS Criminal Investigation. This operation underscores our commitment to protecting the safety of Michigan’s communities."

BY BRYSTAL BLAIR

Public News Service Staff Writer

(PNS) — A Michigan nonprofit is among the groups raising concerns about a potential conflict of interest between President Donald Trump and the Line 5 tunnel project.

President Trump's national "energy emergency" order has fast-tracked more than 600 projects, including Enbridge's Line 5 tunnel, for quicker approval.

According to records from the Federal Election Commission, Trump's campaign last year received more than $1 million in donations from Tim Barnard, CEO of the project's contractor, Barnard Construction.

Levi Teitel, communications coordinator for Progress Michigan, called it problematic.

"We're drawing attention to this potential conflict of interest," Teitel explained. "And what it could mean for the integrity of the Great Lakes and also for our government as a whole."

Enbridge has responded in a statement saying, in part, it hired Barnard Construction Company and Civil and Building North America in 2023, during the Biden administration, following a robust and lengthy selection process.

Opponents of Line 5 have cited spill risks, Indigenous rights and the project's contribution to continued reliance on fossil fuels among their concerns.

The Michigan Court of Appeals recently affirmed the state Public Service Commission's decision to grant permits for the underwater pipeline project, rejecting legal challenges from environmental groups and tribes concerned about its ecological and cultural impact. Teitel argued the approval process for Line 5 has been flawed.

"This process should require public input," Teitel contended. "That's usually what really happens when it comes to federal permitting for fossil fuel projects. If this were fast-tracked, it could spell danger and potentially an explosion risk."

The Line 5 project involves constructing a 4.5-mile tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac to encase the crude oil pipeline and reduce spill risks. 

BY GARY ANDERSON

CCN Staff Writer

(CCN) — Here are brief summaries of top news headlines from around the state of Michigan over the last 7 days:

THREE PEOPLE WERE KILLED and several others were injured when a tree fell on their vehicle during severe weather Sunday in Kalamazoo County. It was part of a storm that wreaked damage across the state, including tornado warnings in several counties.

A 21-YEAR-OLD Macomb Township man was arraigned Sunday on assault with intent to murder charges for last Thursday's shooting of a coworker at Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital, according to court records. Bond was denied for Robert Paljusevic who is being held at the Oakland County Jail. He's accused of ambushing the 25-year-old victim in the parking garage of the hospital, firing five shots, striking the victim in the arm. The Troy detective working the case told the judge that Paljusevic was upset when he was not invited to the victim's father's funeral, urinating on the funeral brochure, according to a story in the Oakland Press on Monday. The newspaper said the mother of the victim called Paljusevic "highly possessive" of his friend and reported that Troy police said the two men were friends who worked together in the hospital's radiology department before a recent falling out.

MORE UNIONIZING AT STARBUCKS: The Macomb Daily reports that baristas at Starbucks in Warren have voted to become the 18th Michigan store in the chain to unionize.

AN OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING Sunday in  Chesterfield Township is now being investigated by the Macomb County Sheriff's Department, according to a report by the Macomb Daily. The suspect was shot after a road rage incident when he reportedly exited his vehicle and fled following an attempt to pull over his vehicle a few miles away from the incident in traffic. The suspect was hospitalized with a leg injury in stable condition, according to the newspaper report.

A DOCTOR who operates a Shelby Township-based chain of vein and cosmetic centers known as Allure Medical Spa has been charged with six counts of health-care fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Dr. Charles Mok, 61, faces allegations that his employees engaged in and billed for “medically unnecessary procedures” and “billed for procedures that were not performed" as well as billed for procedures more extensive than were performed. Dr. Mok could spend up to 10 years in prison, if convicted. Similar charges were filed against him in a 2020 indictment when also accused of irregularities with Covid funds but the U.S. Attorney's office dismissed all charges in March of 2023, saying at the time that charges would be refiled. The Covid-related charges were not part of the latest indictment.

TWO PRISON CORRECTIONS officers and one prisoner are hospitalized in stable condition after an alleged assault at the Macomb County Correctional Facility in Lenox Township.

ELON MUSK'S new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Trump administration says one Social Security Administration office in Michigan will be closed as part of its massive cuts identifying government waste. No city where the office is located was disclosed by Musk.

A CHILD PORN ARREST was announced by State Police. A 41-year-old Sandusky man has been charged with two counts of aggravated possession of child sexually abusive material, two counts of distributing child sexually abusive material, three counts of child sexually abusive activity and seven counts of using a computer to commit a crime, according to a tweet on X, formerly known as Twitter, by the Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Charged was Justin Emil King. The MSP news release via X reported that an investigation into King began after learning that he was sharing files of child sexually abusive material on the internet. King was arrested following the investigation in which digital evidence was seized.

AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE battery producer has announced plans to close plants in Macomb County's Warren and Oakland County's Hazel Park, and move work there to South Carolina. Akasol says it will permanently shut down the two Michigan facilities, leaving 188 workers without a job by April of this year.

STELLANTIS EXECUTIVES in Auburn Hills tell the Detroit News that the automaker is on the mend this year after profits fell 70% in 2024, leading to local layoffs in Warren as well as at its nearby Toledo plant.

DRIVERS HEADING UP NORTH to the UP can expect delays on the Mackinac Bridge later this month as repaving work resumes with lane closures. It's part of a two-season project expected to be completed by Memorial Day weekend this year.

M-14 AT I-96 will begin a two-year, $140 million construction project today (March 10, 2025). The Michigan Department of Transportation says the plans include reconstruction; replacing the drainage and storm sewer; installing signs; and water main relocation, in in Wayne County's Livonia and Plymouth Township. Eastbound M-14 will have one lane open from west of Beck Road to Levan Road. Westbound M-14 will have two lanes open from Levan to Beck.

THE LANSING STATE JOURNAL reported that reimbursement payments to a political nonprofit tied to former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield were at the center of the opening day of testimony Wednesday in Lansing during the preliminary exam for Chatfield and his wife. They face public corruption felony financial charges of 13 embezzlement counts, as well as conspiracy and larceny charges to fund a lavish lifestyle while serving in Lansing. His wife, Stephanie Chatfield, also faces one count each of embezzlement and conspiracy. 

SELECT EMAGINE THEATERS across our state will host Oscar night on Sunday to allow Hollywood fans to enjoy entertainment's biggest awards show live on the big screen.

MACOMB COUNTY EXECUTIVE Mark Hackel is launching a probe into his county's finances, according to a story in this morning's Macomb Daily.

A FRIDAY ACCIDENT victim has died, according to a report by WJRT ABC TV 12 that said the 40-year-old Bay City man involved in a car accident there last week has passed away from his injuries.

AN ARREST HAS BEEN MADE IN A COLD CASE. A 63-year-old Leelanau County man was arrested on an open murder charge in the 1989 cold case killing of a Traverse City mother of five, according to Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea at a press conference yesterday (Feb. 18, 2025). The body of a woman later identified as Linda Meteer was found in Hoosier Valley way back in April 1989, and the case went cold despite task force work with other departments for years. Sheriff Shea would not release any further details on how the case was solved at this time.

A STATE CRACKDOWN on sanctuary cities could come before the State House of Representatives for a vote this week. Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall introduced a resolution last week that would bar any grant money from going to a community that has policies meant to “subvert” federal immigration enforcement. Hall's resolution would amend House rules to require any municipality receiving state grants to show its policies “comply with federal immigration law” to combat sanctuary city policies shielding immigrants in the country illegally from federal authorities. Hall is a Republican from Kalamazoo County.

GAS PRICES were up  7 cents last week to an average of $3.10 per gallon in Michigan, according to AAA Michigan.

SOCIAL MEDIA THREATS have landed a Hillsdale man in jail. Paul Hawkins, 30, who is currently incarcerated at G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility, was sentenced to 133 days in jail for posting threatening messages on the Hillsdale City Police Department’s Facebook page. Hawkins was charged by the office of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. He was found guilty late last month of one count of Malicious Use of a Telecommunications Service and one count of Using a Computer to Commit a Crime in Hillsdale County by 2B District Court Judge Megan Stiverson. Michigan A.G. Nessel said, “Threats against those who serve our communities cannot and will not be tolerated. My office will continue to protect public officials from intimidation by prosecuting those who seek to undermine their safety and the public’s safety through fear.” 

While on parole in May of 2024, Hawkins posted messages that threatened the life and property of former Hillsdale County Prosecutor Neal Brady, who was the elected prosecutor at the time of Hawkins’ previous criminal convictions.

BY GARY ANDERSON

CCN Staff Writer

LANSING (CCN) — Republicans in the state legislature are saying that a $28 million project is being proposed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to study how to charge Michigan residents for every mile they drive to replace gas taxes being lost by electric vehicles.

They say it's buried in the massive $82.5 billion Michigan budget plan proposed for the 2026 fiscal year to tax residents on a "charge by the mile" basis to replace lost state revenue from EV sales cutting into the gas tax revenue.

The exact wording says that "about $28 million would pay to to explore road funding options and conduct a study" and "pilot of potential road usage charge revenue options."

This kind of tax, Republican opponents say, would especially harm Uber and Lyft drivers, delivery drivers and others forced to use vehicles for work if a new tax is created to charge for how many miles you travel on what they call Michigan's, "broken roads."

Whitmer's proposed $82.5 billion budget for 2026 is $1.2 billion more than last year. Spending has gone up substantially under the Whitmer administration from $58.5 billion in her first year to $24 billion more now as is being proposed. The budget was $56.7 billion for 2018 in Rick Snyder's final year as Governor.

TROY (CCN) — The owner of a hyperbaric chamber in Troy and three of her employees were charged on Monday (March 10, 2025) in the tragic death of a 5-year-old there in late January.

The charges were announced by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel after an investigation by the Troy Police Department.

Thomas Cooper died at the Oxford Center on Jan. 31 and his mom was injured.

Owner Tamela Peterson of Brighton, Safety Manager Jeffrey Mosteller of Clinton Township, and employee Gary Marken of Spring Arbor were charged with second degree murder that carries a sentence of up to life in prison, if convicted.

Marken, 65, is the management assistant at the facility. He, Peterson, 58, and Mosteller, 64, could be charged alternatively with Involuntary Manslaughter which is a 15-year felony.

The operator of the hyperbaric chamber (Aleta Moffitt, 60, of Rochester Hills) was charged with one count of Involuntary Manslaughter and one count of Medical Records — Intentionally Placing False Information on Chart, which is a four-year felony, if convicted.

The Oxford Center provides therapy for children with various health conditions, including autism, ADHD and autoimmune diseases, through Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.

A.G. Nessel said the hyperbaric chamber caught fire from the inside and exploded while Cooper was undergoing treatment. She said both the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Sechrist, the manufacturer of the hyperbaric chamber, publish strict safety protocols that must be followed before treatment. However, it is alleged that these standards were deliberately discarded at the time of Cooper’s death.

“This tragedy could have been prevented if proper safety protocols were followed,” A.G. Nessel said. “Instead, deliberate negligence and a blatant disregard for safety cost a child his life. I appreciate the investigatory efforts of the Troy Police Department. My office remains committed to seeking justice for Thomas and holding those responsible accountable."

Troy Police Department Chief of Police Josh Jones released a statement that said: "After an extensive and difficult investigation, these arrests reflect the dedication and commitment of our investigators through this process. We appreciate the partnership with the Michigan Attorney General’s Office leading up to the arrests yesterday and as we move forward.”

All four defendants are now in custody and awaiting arraignment in Oakland County 52-4 District Court in Troy.

DETROIT (CCN) — A lawsuit was dropped Thursday (Feb. 27, 2025) by the government against Dan Gilbert's Detroit loan giant Rocket Mortgage that had been accused of paying kickbacks to real estate brokers and agents who directed homebuyers to them for loans. 

A CNBC report said the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) also dismissed cases Thursday against Capital One, Vanderbilt Mortgage & Finance and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency. 

All the lawsuit dismissals follow President Donald Trump's firing of Rohit Chopra and selecting Russell Vought as the new director of the Office of Management and Budget, as acting CFPB director on Jan. 31. The bureau is in flux as Elon Musk has it on his chopping block in his task to eliminate government waste.

Rocket Mortgage officials had denied any wrongdoing and said in a statement: "It is good to see the truth come to light. This case was a misrepresentation of the facts, as we have said from the day the suit was filed. It was an empty claim brought forth by former CFPB director Chopra for the sole purpose of seeing his name in headlines during the final days in public office. Rocket Homes has always connected buyers with top-performing agents based only on objective criteria like how well they helped homebuyers achieve their dream of homeownership. We are proud to put this matter behind us and remain focused on our mission to help everyone buy a home.”

BY GARY ANDERSON

CCN Staff Writer

ANNA ARBOR (CCN) — University of Michigan President Santa Ono and three other top UM officials sent an email Thursday (Feb. 27, 2025)  to alert faculty and staff of financial uncertainty with government funding. 

The e-mail said they could be impacted by major cuts to federal funding for universities across America as part of billionaire Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team cutting what he calls waste in government.

While the e-mail did not say which program was cut, President Donald Trump announced last week that the U.S. Social Security Administration would end the Retirement and Disability Research Consortium cooperative agreements. 

UM's Michigan Retirement and Disability Research Center is part of that consortium, along with the National Bureau of Economic Research and four other universities. UM began its program in 1998 to study Social Security, pension, disability and retirement with a multi-million dollar annually for its research.

The e-mail said, "We expect this is the first of what will likely be many orders, the combined impact of which could have significant repercussions on the university’s budget. While the university is fortunate to maintain a strong financial position, we have spent recent weeks modeling scenarios and taking prudent actions to be as prepared as possible to respond to financial events that may lie ahead."

UM is one of the nation's leaders in research, spending more than $2 billion last year.

DOGE has already proposed that the Trump administration make billions of dollars in cuts to government programs deemed as "wasteful" by Musk's team.

BY GARY ANDERSON

CCN Staff Writer

LANSING (CCN) — Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer gave her seventh State of the State address at the Capitol in Lansing last night (Feb. 26, 2025). She vowed to fight for Michigan residents, regardless of party, and called on state legislators to deliver bi-partisan cooperation to move her state forward until her term ends in 2026.

Whitmer was re-elected to a second term in 2022.

She set forth her policy goals in her State of the State speech from road funding to limiting phone use by students in schools.

After campaigning hard for fellow Democrat Kamala Harris in the last Presidential campaign against Donald Trump last year, Whitmer promised to collaborate with his administration on shared goals with some of her top priorities over the next two years that include an advanced manufacturing mega site in Genesee County's Mundy Township and a fighter mission at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County.

Her nearly one-hour long speech also touted her plans to "make life more affordable for Michiganders" and to "create more opportunities to help people in our state earn more money" as well as calling on state legislators to "make government work better for the people we all serve." 

 GOP House Floor Leader Rep. Bryan Posthumus  of Rockford gave his party's rebuttal with a six-minute speech released by video online via YouTube. 

Posthumus said:  "We all want Michigan to be a place where our kids can grow up, find a good job and raise a family of their own, rather than having to move to Tennessee, Texas, Florida. I love our state, but I was born in 1984 and Michigan has been on the decline for pretty much my entire life. We now have divided government here in Michigan, the Democrats currently control the Senate and the governor's office. Republicans control the House of Representatives. That means we're going to have to work together if we want to get anything done. I'll tell you one thing, Republicans have no intention of using our majority to obstruct. We will use it to lead." 

State Rep. Posthumus agreed with Governor Whitmer's call for bipartisan support in fixing the roads but said we don't need to raise taxes to do i, saying, "The governor is talking about raising taxes again. We don't need to raise taxes. We don't need more money. We have more than enough money already. In fact, House Republicans already proposed a plan to fix the roads without costing you an additional penny."

He spoke out against the state's rising budget, saying it has has grown from nearly $60 billion in 2019 to more than $80 billion now. "When Governor Whitmer took office, the state budget was $58 billion,"  Posthumus said. "She's proposed $86 billion for the next year. If the budget had just just kept pace with inflation, it'd only be $72 billion. What's more, last legislative session started with a $9 billion surplus. Your government squandered it, all of it."

Democrat Floor Leader John Fitzgerald of Wyoming said, “Tonight, Michigan’s legislators came together to share our dedication and passion for serving the people of Michigan. Now, we must champion policies that lend support and further the values of Michigan’s families. I am proud to help lead my fellow House Democrats who are energized to build Michigan into the best place to start and care for your family. From affordable childcare to lowering everyday expenses, we’re fighting to give families across the state more breathing room.”

Newly-named Michigan Republican Party Chairman Jim Runestad who watched the speech from his seat as a State Senator, issued a statement in response to Governor Whitmer’s State of the State address as follos:   “In 2017, the budget for the state of Michigan was about $56 billion. After nearly seven years of Governor Whitmer’s leadership, her budget has now ballooned to over $80 billion. This exponential growth represents massive expansions of the state government. More bureaucrats hired to come after honest tax payers, more taxes to pay for those bureaucrats, and more wasteful government programs that are more focused on DEI than the common sense governmental functions that Michiganders want. Last November, Michigan voters sent a clear message to Lansing politicians; they want a government that works for them, not against them. Gov. Whitmer needs to cut the pork, cut the extreme left wing policies, and cut Michigan taxes. The 2026 elections are right around the corner, and the Michigan GOP will work nonstop to ensure that Republicans take control of the state government and get Michigan back on the right track. We will Make Michigan Great Again.”  

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

BY GARY ANDERSON

CCN Staff Writer

LANSING (CCN) — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a coalition of 21 other AG's in another lawsuit against moves by the Trump administration. Last week, it was to try to block cuts to federal funding of programs she called "essential" services. This time, she says she's standing with the nation’s federal employees in a challenge to the Trump administration’s federal “buyout” plan, joining the AFL-CIO's filing for a temporary restraining order (TRO).

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management on January 28th offered most federal employees little more than a week to accept a “deferred resignation,” which purportedly would allow federal workers to resign, yet retain pay and benefits. Workers say e-mails contained implicit threats of furloughs or layoffs that may otherwise impact their employment. 

A.G. Nessel said, “Michigan is home to tens of thousands of federal employees who serve our communities in a variety of critical ways, from the medical staff at our Veterans Affairs hospitals to the Transportation Security Administration staff who secure our airports, to the National Park Service rangers who preserve Isle Royale. The offers of an alleged deferred resignation were made across the board without consideration for mission needs or appropriate staffing levels and threaten the Federal government’s ability to provide necessary services to residents.  They go so far as to threaten our security. This thinly veiled attempt to replace dedicated public servants with administration loyalists is illegal, harmful, and must not be allowed to stand.” 

Union leaders filed suit in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, emphasizing that the directive and associated FAQs — which were revised multiple times — caused widespread confusion and dismay among federal employees who were faced with an arbitrary deadline of last Friday based on a directive that the plaintiff unions assert is illegal and contrary to federal ethics regulations.  

U.S. District Court Judge George A. O’Toole, Jr., stayed the purported deadline of the “Fork directive” on Friday.

As AG Nessel emphasized in the coalition’s proposed amicus brief, the indiscriminate loss of indispensable federal employees could have a devastating effect on cooperative aspects of federal, state and local government — from those who care for veterans to those who arrive when natural disaster strikes. The brief also describes the coercive nature of the directive to our Nation’s public servants. The coalition urged the court to grant a TRO to prevent this harm to federal workers and to protect the public interest. 

AG Nessel previously urged any Michigan residents considering the offer to exercise caution. 

Other AG's joining Nessel were from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia. 

 All are Democrats except Joe Lombardo of Nevada and Phil Scott of Vermont.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel

BY GARY ANDERSON

CCN Staff Writer

WAHINGON D.C. (CCN) — One of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's cabinet members was given a chance to speak before a committee in the United States Congress.

Dr. Tim Boring, Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), testified this before the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.

He was part of a panel entitled “Perspectives From the Field: Farmer and Rancher Views on the Agricultural Economy."

“Since your invitation was extended for my testimony, I’ve been asked by producers to share with you just how vital specialty crop support programs are for their existence,” Dr. Boring said in his opening statement.

He added:  “Unfortunately, for many specialty crops, times have never been more tenuous. What once provided an avenue for farmers to diversify their products has forced many to choose whether or not their farm will welcome the next generation.”

Dr. Boring told committee members about the vital importance of public sector research which is currently supported by specialty crop block grants and the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops federal program.

He said those federal fund help Michigan growers expand domestic markets or develop new markets for their crops.

“For instance, last year, Michigan cherry farmers lost between 30 and 75 percent of their crop because of abnormal weather events that drove unpreceded insect and pest pressure,” Dr. Boring told the committee members.

He also said: “Losses such as these are becoming far more common. A farm bill that provides growers support, such as through new research, helps ensure the continuation of their family farms in the face of these unprecedented challenges are critical for the long-term viability of specialty crops in Michigan and across the country… At a time when there so many unknowns around our trade partnerships, fostering stronger domestic markets will be critical for the success of our growers.”

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Dr. Tim Boring, Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, speaking before the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry .

BY CRYSTAL BLAIR

Public News Service

WASHINGON D.C. (PNS) — Michigan's Senate congressional delegation of Democrats Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters have "aced" the National Environmental Scorecard, earning a perfect 100% in 2024.

The League of Conservation Values  uses the scorecard to track lawmakers' votes on a range of bills relating to the environment and democracy— from climate change and wildlife conservation to environmental justice.

Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, both D-Mich., scored 100%, with lifetime scores of 91% and 94%, respectively.

Nick Dodge, communications manager for Michigan's League of Conservation Voters, explained why the state consistently stands out on the scorecard.

"Water is pretty much everywhere around here, and people have a true connection to it," he said. "The people that we send to Congress get that and understand that. Anyone that goes to Congress and votes against our water, they can expect to hear that from their constituents."

The national average scores show a stark contrast between parties, with Democrats generally scoring higher than Republicans. The League said it aims to use the scorecard to hold elected officials accountable and inform voters ahead of elections.

The majority of Republican politicians view environmental policies as examples of government overreach, while most Democrats view them as a pressing need for climate action. Dodge expressed concern over the obvious divide.

"We see environmental issues as nonpartisan," he said. "You're talking about clean air to breathe, safe water to drink. To us, those shouldn't be — and are not — partisan issues."

Of Michigan's neighbors, Ohio's delegation scored 25%, Wisconsin's scored 50% and the Indiana delegation got a zero.

The National Environmental Scorecard is updated each year to reflect the most recent congressional votes.

Senator Stabenow retired at the end of the year.

Senator Peters has announced that he won't be seeking re-election to Congress in 2026.

BY CRYSTAL BLAIR

Public News Service

(PNS) — A new analysis revealed a staggering amount of livestock waste is flowing through Michigan's waterways each year, equivalent to the sewage of 81 million people.

The nonprofit For Love of Water released the analysis. The waste, primarily from concentrated animal feeding operations, contains nitrogen and phosphorus, which contribute to toxic algal blooms.

Chelsea Thompson, legal assistant for the group, said legal challenges to the most recent permit sought in 2020 left Michigan farms under an outdated 2015 permit.

"There was a lot of challenges made by the ag community as well as the environmental community. I think something we can both agree on -- both sides anyways -- is the 2020 permit, as it was written, was not in the best interest of either party."

Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy oversees permits for large operations and Thompson hopes it will apply lessons from 2020 legal issues to improve waste runoff rules, benefiting both agriculture and the environment.

She pointed out a new 2025 permit is expected in just a few months. Michigan now has nearly 300 permitted concentrated animal feeding operations, up from just 34 in 2005, producing about 4 billion gallons of untreated liquid waste and up to 60 million tons of solid manure annually.

Thompson acknowledged the issue is often framed as "farmers versus environmentalists," but she believes they are on the same team.

"I want to be able to have food. I want to be able to have all of the different things that we couldn't have without the farming community," Thompson stressed. "But I also want our water to be safe for future generations. I believe that someone working in the farming community would say the same thing."

The Environmental Protection Agency regulates concentrated animal feeding operations nationwide, under the Clean Water Act but enforcement varies by state.

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

PONTIAC (CCN) — An investigation into public corruption by current and past City of Pontiac public officials is being conducted by the FBI, according to a story by the Detroit News.

The newspaper said a grand jury probe is being done into alleged "illicit cash" going into "attempts to launch a marijuana industry."

The published report said: "Emails obtained by The Detroit News through Freedom of Information Act requests filed with the city reveal the investigation has involved the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Detroit securing a grand jury subpoena for a former city official’s bank and personnel records."

The News said FBI agents traveled on Nov. 1 to a farm owned in Missouri by a marijuana industry lawyer and an individual there who allegedly helped finance the election campaign of Pontiac City Councilwoman Melanie Rutherford in 2021. The News credited the report to four sources "familiar with the investigation" and reported that they "requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the investigation."

 Rutherford is a former field organizer for the Michigan Democratic Party.

Both the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment and no one has been charged with any crimes so far amid the ongoing investigation.

The investigation includes focusing on what the Detroit News called "alleged misspending of taxpayer dollars by former Mayor Deirdre Waterman, a staff member’s finances and questions about whether city officials received bribes or demanded money from developers and businessmen competing to grow and sell marijuana in Pontiac."

The FOIA request by the Detroit News helped define the scope of a federal investigation that has been going on for several years into Pontiac’s public officials.

Rick Johnson, the former Michigan Speaker of the House and chair of the state's marijuana licensing board, was convicted two years ago of taking $110,200 in bribes related to granting licenses. It was the biggest bribery scandal in Lansing in more than 30 years — sending Johnson, two lobbyists and a businessman to prison.

The FOIA produced a recording e-mailed to the FBI by a city official of local developer Dalen Hanna taping City Councilwoman Rutherford repeatedly asking her for cash. In a Feb. 10, 2023 recording, The Detroit News said developer Hanna told Pontiac Community Development Director Rachel Loughrin: “I am generous. I’m happy to help. But when she starts shaking me up and checking my pockets for cash, that’s where I draw the line,... She called me 1,000 times. She wasn’t taking the hint. I said ... leave me alone.”"

 Hanna is involved in a $15 million redevelopment of the Oakland Towne Center — the tallest building in downtown Pontiac.

Rutherford denied any wrongdoing in a comment to the Detroit News, saying, "I didn't do anything wrong. I never bribed anyone. I didn't extort anyone."

BY GARY ANDERSON

CCN Staff Writer

LANSING (CCN) — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel sent a team of her Assistant A.G.'s to court Monday (Jan. 27, 2025) to continue her fight to shut down the controversial Line 5 to the Straits of Mackinac.

They gave oral arguments before Judge James Jamo of the Ingham County Circuit Court in Nessel's lawsuit filed against Enbridge Inc.

 Enbridge is multinational pipeline and energy company headquartered in Canad's Calgary, Alberta. Enbridge owns and operates pipelines throughout Canada and the USA to transport crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. The company also generates renewable energy. Enbridge's pipeline system is the longest in North America and the largest oil export pipeline network in the world. 

A.G. Nessel has taken a position that the 1953 easement that authorized the location of Line 5 on the bottomlands of the Straits of Mackinac has been invalid since its inception because it violates the Public Trust Doctrine and that the presence of the pipelines in the Straits violates the Michigan Environmental Protection Act and constitutes a public nuisance.

“Enbridge has deliberately caused years of delay through procedural tactics, attempting to block Michigan courts from deciding a critical issue that directly impacts its residents,” Nessel said. “Line 5 has long been operating in the Straits on an invalid easement, posing a significant threat to the people of this state and our environment. After more than five years, I’m glad we finally had this opportunity to present our case on behalf of the People of Michigan and our Great Lakes in state court.”

Judge Jamo previously agreed with A.G. Nessel that Line 5 needed to be temporarily shut down after being struck by anchors or similar objects, and the court ordered a temporary shut down in the summer of 2020. After Enbridge sought to remove the case to federal court, Nessel's office successfully argued before the Sixth Circiut Court of Appeals that the case belongs in Michigan state court.

At the conclusion of Monday's (Jan. 27, 2025) hearing, Judge Jamo took the matter under advisement and indicated that the Court will issue a written opinion.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Dana Nessel who is Michigan's Attorney General.

(CCN) — Here are brief summaries of recent top headlines from around the state of Michigan:

ONE FAIR WAGE is an advocacy group that announced Tuesday (Feb. 25, 2025) that they will begin collecting signatures to put it before voters in a referendum to raise the tipped wages for restaurant servers. Lawmakers thwarted a higher wage last week although boosting the minimum wage for everyone else from $10.56 per hour to $12.48 per hour. The Michigan Restaurant Association said the proposed hike would have cost the state up to 60,000 jobs while forcing hundreds of restaurants to go out of business. More than 1,000 restaurant servers marched on Lansing to protest the idea to eliminate tips for them. If tips currently don't get them to minimum wage, restaurant owners must make up the difference.

A MICHIGAN DOCTOR HAS BEEN CHARGED for allegedly taking part in a multi-million dollar scheme to illegally sell and divert expensive prescription cancer drugs. Charged by the federal government after he was arrested by the FBI was Dr. Naveed Aslam, 51. He lives in West Bloomfield and his office is in Royal Oak. Dr. Naveed was arraigned in U.S. District Court in Detroit on a felony count for conspiracy to illegally sell or trade prescription drugs and 10 more felony counts of illegally selling or trading prescription drugs.

OAKLAND COUNTY SHERIFF Michael Bouchard has announced in a news release that the suspect in the child abuse of three children left unattended for years in Pontiac will be arraigned on child abuse charges some time today. The mother was identified as 34-year-old Kelly Marie Bryant. A 3-count warrant for her arrest was signed yesterday by 50th District Court Judge Rhonda Gross and Bryant is being held at the Oakland County Jail. She could face up to life in prison for leaving her children to live alone in a Pontiac house since they were 11, 9 and 8. The oldest is now a 15-year-old boy who told deputies he had been out of the house only twice in four years, each time because he wanted to feel the grass with his feet, according to Sheriff Bouchard at his press conference that was broadcast yesterday on Metro Flint News Talk Radio's Morning Gazette Radio Show. A landlord had called authorities because he feared Bryant met foul play since she had not paid rent since October and he had not talked with her since December. Oakland County Sheriff's deputies discovered the three children living in filth. They told deputies that their mother dropped off food for them but had not lived with them for years. Sheriff Bouchard said their father was in prison.

THE MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN who died of hypothermia after spending the night in a van at a Detroit casino parking structure is speaking out, saying "everybody now wants to help" but nobody helped when she reached out multiple times while homeless over the past 3 months before Monday's tragedy. Tateona Williams gave interviews to multiple Detroit media outlets yesterday, saying her children had everything "except a house" and saying she realized her 9-year-old son wasn't breathing on when she tried to wake him for school and frantically doing CPR before rushing him to a local hospital. When she arrived, Williams said she discovered that her 2-year-old daughter was also not breathing. Both were pronounced dead at the hospital.

A 13-YEAR-OLD BOY has been arrested in the City of Pontiac, suspected of breaking into homes through open windows in a series of home robberies there dating back to 2022. The minor attacked a 10-year-old girl in the latest incident and his arrest made national headlines today on ABC TV's Good Morning America.

THE MORNING GAZETTE RADIO SHOW reported earlier today that a gun found in the lunch box of a vehicle in the parking lot at Lapeer High School belonged to a Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy. He could lose his job and face a misdemeanor crime for leaving it in the vehicle while going into a high school basketball game there on Tuesday night within a "gun free" zone.

POLICE IN THE CITY OF MONROE have arrested two people in a road rage incident on I-75. A 63-year-old man and his 58-year-old passenger were taken into custody after teens in a pick-up truck say they fired a handgun into their vehicle. They subsequently chased the pair in their SUV until police made an arrest at a stoplight. Monroe police say two handguns were recovered at the scene and the woman admitted firing at the teens. Last month, Monroe police made an arrest in a hit-and-run of a bicyclist following two road rage incidents in December where guns were fired at people in traffic.

COURT RECORDS SHOW the saga over rebuilding the historic Holly Hotel is over after a settlement was reached with the owner of the former arcade property next door. Access to repairing the restaurant's west wall had been denied when trying to rebuild after the devastating downtown fire in the summer of 2023.

SCHEDULED DEMOLITION of the Lakeside Mall has been delayed due to the owner of a vacant Sears building filing a lawsuit, according to a report this morning by the Macomb Daily.

A FALL FROM A CHAIR LIFT caused a woman to suffer severe traumatic injuries at Mount Holly, according to a report by the Oakland Press.

A HIGH TECH ARREST: A 38-year-old Taylor man, Norman Newman, has been arraigned on abandoning cruelty charges resulting in the death of a dog after a new high tech license plate reader was used to track him down in the hit-and-run accident where he then fled the scene. The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office has also charged Newman, 38, with reckless driving and operating with a suspended, revoked, denied license. A $1,000 personal bond was set after the arrest. Taylor traffic investigator Corporal Anthony Borg told the Oakland Press that Newman was tracked down using the department’s new FLOCK license plate readers and its Verkada surveillance cameras.

A RESIGNATION IS RAISING EYEBROWS in the City of Pontiac. The Oakland Press online edition this morning has a report that the DPW Director has resigned in the City of Pontiac where the Detroit News reported last week that the FBI is investigating widespread public corruption.

VIOLENCE IN TWO OAKLAND COUNTY cities is being investigated, according to stories in the Oakland Press. Police in Madison Heights are investigating numerous gunshots in that city last night while Southfield police are investigating a dead body discovered in a parking lot with a gunshot wound.

OAKLAND COUNTY SHERIFF Robert Bouchard is reporting that his office is looking into a case where a baby was shaken to near fatal injuries in Springfield Township. Daniel Gracer, 31, was arraigned Saturday on one count of first-degree child abuse after a 911 call about his 2-month-old son being unresponsive. Gracer's bond was set at $1 million and he's being held at this hour at the Oakland County Jail. He faces up to life in prison, if convicted. The incident took place in the 7000 block of Meadow Lane. Sheriff Bouchard said the baby had head and brain trauma.

A BARRICADED MAN WITH A GUN died by suicide in a standoff incident with police in Farmington, according to a news release from police there. A woman was wounded after an assault prior to the standoff with police.

DETROIT MAYORAL CONTENDER: The Detroit News reported early in its online edition today that Detroit City Councilman Fred Durhal III is expected to kick off his own campaign for Mayor to replace Mike Duggan who has declared that he won't seek re-election at the end of this year, but instead is running for Governor in 2026. The mayoral field in Detroit already included Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield, former council president Saunteel Jenkins and businessman Joel Haashiim. Others still in the exploratory phase are attorney Todd Perkins, Coleman Young Jr. who is the son of former long-time Detroit Mayor Coleman Young and State Rep Joe Tate who was Speaker of the House until Republicans won control in November. 

A PLOT TO KILL EX-HUSBAND: The Oakland Press reports that a Macomb County judge has decided on no prison time as a sentence for a Warren man and Chesterfield Township woman accused of plotting to kill her estranged husband. Carmen Marchetti, 36, and Aaron Muterspaw, 37, reached plea deals about a year ago with Macomb County prosecutors and circuit Judge Richard Caretti to plead guilty to reduced charges and receive no additional time behind bars for their alleged plan to kill Justin Marchetti. His ex-wife entered a plea for conspiracy to commit assault with intent to do great bodily harm while Muterspaw entered a plea to conspiracy to commit solicitation that will be reduced to conspiracy to commit great bodily harm if he complies with conditions.

JUSTICE FOR MURDER VICTIM AHEAD? Three accused of killing marijuana businessman Sam Simko have been extradited from Ohio to Oakland County and arraigned on murder charges. Simko, 56, was shot and killed on Jan. 13 at his marijuana grow business in Pontiac. Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in a news release: “The senseless tragic murder of a businessman by these cold and calculating perpetrators must be answered with swift justice. I look forward to them being held accountable for their heinous act.” Simko, who lived in Commerce Township, was shot twice. Arraigned by 50th District Court Judge Cynthia Walker and ordered held with no bond at the Oakland County Jail were three men from Cincinnati —  William Gregory Creasy, 24, Scott Aloysius Brown, 28, and Deonte Damonte Prophett, 32. They face charges of felony murder and armed robbery.

GENERAL MOTORS is relocating its world headquarters into Michigan's second-tallest building at the Hudson site in Detroit which has construction nearly completed. GM has been in the RenCen Building on Detroit's riverfront for the past 28 years. Bedrock Detroit's conceptual plans to revitalize the RenCen includ

ALLEGED ANTI MUSLIM COMMENTS has led to two advocacy groups calling on Warren Mayor Lori Stone to dismiss city historical commission member Wesley Arnold, according to a story in the Macomb Daily. Arnold allegedly made anti-Muslim posts on social media posts and he allegedly called Islam a “cult.” 

NEW JOBS have been announced for the mid-Michigan region by U.S. Congressman Dan Kildee of Flint. "I recently secured a major new federal investment to attract businesses and create good-paying jobs in our region," he said when revealing that SK Siltron in Bay County will expand its manufacturing to produce battery materials for electric vehicles. Kildee said this major economic investment will help to create hundreds of new jobs — "good-paying jobs that can support a family." He added: "In Congress, I will continue working to ensure we make things in Michigan, not overseas, and Michigan workers are leading the way in manufacturing jobs of the future."

FIGHTING BY STUDENTS for months in Warren has led to the weekday closure of Dorothy Busch Library on Ryan Road from 2:15 pm until  4 pm weekdays, according to a story by the Macomb Daily. The decision was made unanimously by the Warren Library Commission after months of fights as students from Fitzgerald High School and Chatterton Middle School have been congregating at the library.

POURING GASOLINE in a Pontiac gas station and pulling a knife on a police officer has a Waterford Township man in the Oakland CountyJail facing multiple charges, according to the Oakland Press. The report said police told the newspaper that the suspect allegedly asked the clerk about his religious affiliation prior to the incident. He's being held on a $50,000 bond.

POSSESSION OF CHILD PORN has landed a Chatham man 135 months in federal prison. The FBI announced the sentence in a press release about Brandon Earl Lavoy, 36. U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said, “The sexual exploitation of children is reprehensible. Mr. Lavoy is a sexual predator whose egregious plan to ‘get a minor raped’ was thankfully thwarted by FBI agents. My office will not waver in our commitment to working with law enforcement partners to ensure that sexual predators who target our children are brought to justice.” Lavoy said the Michigan State Police assisted in the investigation leading to the arrest.

THREATENING TO KILL A FEDERAL JUDGE has a Macomb County man facing federal charges after he was arrested by the FBI, according to court records. James Nelson Holloway II, 33, sent more than 400 e-mails to government offices with his threats to kill a federal judge, according to a report  by WDIV TV 4 in Detroit. TV 4 said the emails appear to be in response to search warrants that were executed on his hotel rooms, car and trailer. He threatened in his e-mails to kill the judge who signed one of the search warrants.

SAGINAW POLICE are investigating an alleged assault of a student at Stone Elementary School in the Saginaw school district, according to a report by WJRT ABC TV 12. A statement from the district said officials are aware of the allegations of the assault against a 6-year-old student by a substitute teacher who has now been removed from the class room until an investigation is done.

A BAY CITY BUSINESSMAN who owns stores in Bay City and Mount Pleasant is in the Ingham County Jail after being arrested for allegedly taking money from his customers for gold, then gambling away more than $5 million. Matthew J. Burton owns Flying Eagle Coins in downtown Bay City and Jack of All Trades Coins & Collectibles in Mount Pleasant. Court records show the 52-year-old businessman faces five felony counts that could land him more than 20 years of prison time for taking money under false pretenses

BY MELISSA MARTIN

CCN Staff Writer

LANSING (CCN) — Michigan's Attorney General has joined A.G.'s in 21 other states to file a lawsuit to stop President Donald Trump from making massive federal cuts to what they claim are essential services for many residents.

They say the proposed slashing of more than a trillion dollars in funding will impact millions of Americans.

The coalition of A.G.'s across the country say that jeopardizing state funds will put Americans in danger by depriving law enforcement of much-needed resources — potentially pause support for the U.S. Department of Justice's initiatives to combat hate crimes and violence against women, support community policing and provide services to victims of crimes. They say the cuts could also  halt essential disaster relief funds to places like California and North Carolina where tens of thousands of residents are relying on FEMA grants to rebuild their lives after devastating wildfires and floods. The Trump policy would immediately jeopardize state programs that provide critical health and childcare services to families in need and deliver support to public schools.

Nessel released a video earlier this week and said:  “Freezing these critical federal funds will harm millions of Michigan residents who rely on these essential, congressionally funded programs. While we are continuing to seek clarity on the totality of what is impacted, we know that if a full freeze goes into effect, Michigan families will suffer, children will go hungry, communities will lose safety protections, and schools will struggle. Such a freeze will disrupt countless programs that Michiganders depend upon daily.” 

 While the Trump administration has attempted to clarify the scope and meaning of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB )policy that has already frozen funds to many states, officials at state agencies have outlined how the OMB memo will have a direct, immediate, and adverse impact on residents.

A.G. Nessel said Michigan residents who rely on federal financial assistance could see the following happen:

 • Gut the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), which currently receives about $26.6 billion — nearly 71% of its budget, from federal funding. Among the many programs administered by MDHHS are Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which feeds low-income families, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

 • Harm Michigan children by immediately cutting off funding for Child Development and Care. Under these programs, Michigan receives about $600 million each year to ensure the health, education, and developmental wellbeing of about 42,000 Michigan children. The next payment is scheduled to go out this Friday, and if this memo blocks those funds — the impact will be drastic, and immediate. The freeze, if not stopped, will also hit Child Development and Care payroll, causing immediate layoffs as early as this week.

• Further harm Michigan children by slashing assistance to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). MDE relies on federal funds for special education, child nutrition and other programs. If a child has special needs and relies on a 504 plan or an IEP, the federal assistance that makes those plans possible could end at any time, even though Congress has determined the funding should occur.  

Nessel added in her video statement: “This freeze not only jeopardizes the well-being of Michiganders, but it is a clear violation of the Constitution and the laws that govern our country,” Nessel continued. “It undermines the safety and security of American families, which President Trump swore an oath to protect. I will not stand idly by. My office will continue to fight for the rights of Michiganders, and today, that means holding the federal government accountable for this unprecedented and illegal attack on our citizens and our future. We will not let these critical programs be taken away. We will continue to stand up for the people of Michigan and for the laws that protect them."

 As part of their lawsuit, A.G. Nessel and the coalition of attorneys general argue that OMB’s policy violates the U.S. Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act by imposing a government-wide stop to spending without any regard for the laws and regulations that govern each source of federal funding. The lawsuit argues that the president can't decide to unilaterally override laws governing federal spending and that that OMB’s policy unconstitutionally overrides the power of Congress to decide how federal funds are spent.

Leading the lawsuit are the A.G.'s of New York, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island. All are Democrats. President Trump is a Republican.

Joining the lawsuit with Michigan A.G. Nessel are the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland,  Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. All are Democrats except Joe Lombardo of Nevada and Phil Scott of Vermont.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel in a video she released earlier this week to blast cuts by the Trump administration..

 BY MELISSA MARTIN

CCN Staff Writer

LANSING (CCN) — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has closed the case on a controversial investigation into an Oshtemo Township woman who admitted falsifying a dog's veterinary and vaccination records.

 Paige Harkema will pay a $2,00 fine and won't offer any pets for adoption over the next 10 years as part of the agreement with A.G. Nessel's office. An investigation into unlawful business practices by the Kalamaoo Couny woman was resolved when an "Assurance of Compliance and Discontinuance" document was filed in Ingham County Circuit Court on Thursday (Jan. 30, 2025).

She became the subject of an investigation when using the alias “Abby Stratiskii” to post about her dog “Toby” on a web site known as RescueMe.org. She said his barking had caused her to get an eviction notice — forcing her to rehome the dog.

Two Michigan consumers saw the listing, paid Harkema a $250 “adoption fee” and received Toby’s veterinary and vaccination records. These records were falsified, according to Nessel.

The terms of the Assurance filed in court on Thursday also also require Harkema to cease and desist from engaging in deceptive business practices and she also agreed to never again falsify vet records, post animals for sale or adoption on RescueMe.org, or use an alias or pseudonym when selling goods or services to Michigan consumers.

The Michigan Consumer Protection Act (MCPA) prohibits anyone from falsifying vaccination records for an animal they sell.

“Adopting a pet in need can be a rewarding experience, but always remember to be cautious, especially when adopting online,” A.G. Nessel said. “If you receive vet or vaccination records, always verify their authenticity with the veterinarian on file before finalizing the adoption. If you believe you were deceived during the purchase of a pet from Ms. Harkema, please do not hesitate to contact my office.” 

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

DETROIT (CCN) —.Five pro-Palestinians arrested at a May 30 protest event on the Detroit campus at Wayne State University won't face charges. That was the decision revealed today (Sept. 24, 2024) in a press release via the office of Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed felony charges against 11 pro-Palestinians on Sept. 11 after they were arrested in a protest on the campus at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Prosecutor Worthy said, "I want to make it exceedingly clear that this office will not ever tolerate protesters that engage in behavior that is not peaceful or turns violent in any way. But that is not present in these cases," 

Witnesses accused Detroit Police Department officers of arriving with riot gear as they cleared an encampment set up on Wayne State's campus.

Prosecutor Worthy wrote in her press release: "On May 30, 2024, there was a protest on the Wayne State University campus by Students for Justice on Palestine. On that date five people were placed under arrest and later released. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office received five warrant requests for alleged incidents stemming from the protest from the Wayne State Police in July 2024. The evidence included body worn camera footage from seven officers that was reviewed in conjunction with police reports."

After reviewing the body cam videos and police reports, Prosecutor Worthy said she found no reason to charge anyone because she ruled no crimes were committed. She added that tickets issued against other protesters will be dismissed.

She said a Detroit police officer arrested a protester in one case based on the allegation that she “hit” his shield, but her investigation of video footage shows that was not true. She said a female was "targeted by police" because she had a bullhorn.

Prosecutor Worthy issued a statement, saying, "The right to peacefully protest and demonstrate is deeply woven into the American fabric. The WCPO has thoroughly studied and examined these cases and we have determined that they do not rise of the level of criminal behavior. We will not be charging any of these criminal case requests that have been presented to us."

Dozens among the protesters participated in the encampment on Wayne State's campus that was both a show of solidarity for Palestinians and a protest against Israel's attack on the besieged Gaza Strip where more than 40,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed  since Oct. 7 when Hamas militants killed about 1,200 and took more than 200 hostage on an attack against Israel.

PHOTO CAPTIONP: Pictured above this story is Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy who declined to prosecute 5 pro-Palestinians arrested at Wayne State University protest on May 30.

BY IZZY ROSS

 Special Report for Public News Service

Broadcast version by Chrystal Blair for Michigan News Connection, reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News Service Collaboration 

CHARLEVOIX (PNS) —  On a Sunday morning in Charlevoix, a small town surrounded by lakes in northern Michigan, people gathered in the Greensky Hill Indian United Methodist Church. The small, one-room log building is almost 200 years old and the hymns are sung in English and Anishinaabemowin.

It was December, so Pastor Johnathan Mays was leading an Advent service, one of his last, since he would soon retire. In between reflections on scripture, Mays touched on an important venture: The church was planning to install solar panels on its larger meeting hall, working with Michigan-based nonprofit Solar Faithful to do so.

Greensky Hill has a long history of environmental care and stewardship, grounded in Anishinaabe culture, with a majority Native congregation.

One of the ministry's priorities is the "greening of Greensky Hill."

Mays said that prompts them to ask "how we can use our space and our resources to address those issues for climate care, or creation care, or what some people call Earthkeeping."

As Greensky Hill works to become more sustainable, it's switching from propane to heat pumps to become more energy efficient. Mays said solar will allow them to use renewable energy and give that energy back to the grid.

"The biggest issue was how can we get this huge building off of greenhouse gas creation?" he said, referring to the meeting hall, which was built in the 1990s.

Across the country, houses of worship are pursuing solar systems. 

 As of 2021, about 2 percent of houses of worship in the United States have solar systems, according to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, which the University of California manages for the U.S. Department of Energy. That's disproportionately high; houses of worship make up only 0.6 percent of all non-residential buildings.

But these projects can be difficult to execute. Congregations can have tight budgets, older buildings, and more pressing priorities. And switching energy systems can mean a lot of bureaucratic paperwork for which they might not have the staff.

And, because houses of worship generally don't pay taxes, they've also had trouble capitalizing on renewable energy tax benefits.

One alternative has been for them to work with third parties that could benefit from the tax credits. For instance, an investor could buy and install solar panels on a church. The church would buy that power from the investor, but wouldn't own the panels - an arrangement called a power purchase agreement.

Now, they have another option. The federal Inflation Reduction Act has made it possible for governments and tax-exempt entities, including houses of worship, to get tax credits for renewable projects. Called direct pay, the program provides them with a tax credit worth up to 30 percent of the installation cost. That can help cover some expenses, and advocates say it's critical to getting more congregations to consider solar. 

 "I expect in the coming year, it's really going to boom, the solar on houses of worship," said Sarah Paulos, the programs director for Interfaith Power and Light. "It makes a lot of sense. If they can cut their utility bill way back, then they have more money to do what they're there for, which is their mission."

Interfaith Power and Light might sound like a local utility (or maybe a prayer group) but it's actually a national network focused on climate action and religion, started in 1998 as a coalition of Episcopal churches that worked together to buy renewable energy. It has since expanded to other denominations and faiths.

Paulos has worked in this field for almost 20 years. She said when she started, there were a lot of climate deniers, especially in churches.

"In the beginning, people of faith were really, really being courageous and stepping out and talking about responding to climate change through renewable energy and energy efficiency as a moral call to care for creation," she said.

While there's increasing acceptance that climate change is happening, religious Americans are still far from unified in their views.

A 2022 Pew Research Center survey found that most religious adults believed they should protect the Earth. But for a variety of reasons, highly religious people tend to be less concerned about climate change than other adults in the U.S.

One way to reach people and engage them in climate action is through tangible efforts like solar, said Leah Wiste, the executive director of Michigan Interfaith Power and Light.

 "In the public conversation, I think we've kind of failed to see the leadership that people of faith and conscience are taking on these issues," she said.

Local involvement is critical to getting more people to install solar, and non-residential buildings - such as schools or houses of worship - are part of that.

A study published last November in the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Energy Policy found that when non-residential buildings install solar, they can spur other installations in the area.

But raising awareness of solar doesn't necessarily make it more equitable.

The researchers say it's unclear how effective houses of worship can be in encouraging more solar in their communities "without directly addressing low-income barriers to solar adoption," like budget constraints and lower home ownership rates.

And houses of worship with solar are located disproportionately in "relatively wealthy, white and educated census tracts," according to Berkeley Lab, mirroring the broader trend.

Still, many people working at the intersection of religion and renewables say these projects are an opportunity for more people in those communities to learn about solar.
 

 "Part of that can happen just through the simple physical act of putting a system on the roof," said Galen Barbose, a scientist at Berkeley Lab. "But houses of worship are also in a unique position to be able to sponsor events, talk to their membership, and potentially really serve as emissaries for solar energy."

Rob Rafson has worked to put solar panels on churches for years. He's the president of the solar energy company Chart House Energy.

About a year ago, Chart House Energy teamed up with the Climate Witness Project, Michigan Interfaith Power and Light, and climate activists in the Detroit area to launch Solar Faithful.

Rafson wanted to make it easier for houses of worship to adopt solar.

"It's been a very big challenge," Rafson said. "Because churches - they're nonprofits, they don't have a budget, they don't want to borrow money, and the size project ... is too small for investors to invest in."

Despite such challenges, congregations have managed to install panels. At the First Lutheran Church in Muskegon, a new solar array shines on the roof.

"They're hard to see," said Pastor Bill Uetricht. He's walking around the church, craning his neck, trying to get a good view of the panels. "You can see that it's on about half of that roof up there."
 

 Now that it has solar panels, the church needs to buy less power from utilities. That's expected to lower the energy bill.

It's an example of a power purchase agreement. By purchasing the solar-powered energy, First Lutheran will pay off the project cost of around $175,000 to an investor. Buying the power from their own array, they're slowly paying back their investor. Once that's done, the power that comes from the array is essentially free.

Uetricht said First Lutheran got involved with solar when a couple in the congregation gave the church two panels they didn't know what to do with.

"I contacted a cousin of mine who works in alternative energy, and I said, 'Hey, send me to someplace where I can do something with these two panels,'" Uetricht said.

They ended up working with Solar Faithful.

Uetricht said installing solar panels is one way of fulfilling the church's mission. He said that the world doesn't belong to us, but that it is a gift - one that we haven't been caring for.
"Old technologies have contributed to that lack of care," he said. "So it only makes sense that we would be at the forefront of encouraging alternative energy sources."

(Izzy Ross initially wrote this article for Grist) 

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is a small, nearly 200-year-old church in Charlevoix spurring installation of solar power in their area.  — PHOTO BY ROB RAFSON 

 BY CHRYSTAL BLAIR

Public News Service

(PNS) — Michigan's most vulnerable communities are receiving federal funding to fight the devastating effects of climate change. It's part of the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. 

This spring, Michigan was awarded $156 million to use as grants, which is the largest initiative of its kind in history. The goal is to strengthen the nation's economic competitiveness and advance energy independence, while at the same time reducing energy costs in historically underserved communities.

Shalanda H. Baker, the University of Michigan's first Vice Provost for Sustainability and Climate Action, pointed out the disparities in communities of color that this funding is poised to address.

"Over half of Black households in America experience energy insecurity, and around 47% of Latinx households experiences energy insecurity. We also know that there are many Native American households that simply lack access to electricity altogether," she said.

The program is expected to create new jobs in clean energy, strongly focusing on building an inclusive workforce in disadvantaged areas. Communities like Southwest Detroit, known for facing environmental challenges, is expected to benefit from the grant.

The funding also boosts the "MI Solar for All" program, which aims to provide affordable solar energy solutions to low-income communities across the state. Baker said these are the places where households are more likely to live in the shadows of fossil fuel production facilities - so they're also more likely to have the health impacts related to living in that environment. She added the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund should help change that.

 "This program is really designed to bring more access to clean energy to those communities, and just bring more clean energy on the grid, to overall clean up," she explained.

The program is expected to reduce energy bills by about 20% for eligible Michiganders, and support the state's goal of achieving 100% clean energy by 2040. 

INKSTER (CCN) — A press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office has announced that the former mayor of Inkster has taken a plea deal and admitted to taking bribes of $100,000.

Federal Prosecutor Dawn Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson who is the Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Patrick Wimberly, 50, served as the Mayor of the City of Inkster from 2019 until 2023. Charging documents on felony bribers counts In the spring of 2022 said Wimberly demanded $100,000 in cash payments to facilitate the sale of property owned by the city to an outside party that was referred to  “Person A” in the indictment.

Over several months, Person A provided Wimberly with monthly cash bribes to secure the purchase of this property. The monthly payments started at $5,000 but the parties agreed to eventually increase that amount. After the initial bribes, Wimberly explained that he was ready to increase the payments. Person A agreed. But when Person A later did not provide the amount Wimberly expected, Wimberly complained that he was due “10,000 a month.” Person A then increased the monthly payments to $10,000. 

In total, Person A provided $50,000 in cash to Wimberly for the purpose of winning the bid for the property he wanted. The FBI investigation intervened before the property could be transferred to Person A.

The bribery charge is a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 666, and carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

“Public officials who act in their own best interests, motivated by greed, betray the trust of their communities and the general public,” U.S. Attorney Ison said. “ We will continue to aggressively prosecute corrupt public officials for their illegal actions.”

Special Agent Gibson said, "Investigating public corruption is a primary concern and priority of the FBI in Michigan.” 

The case against Inkster's former mayor was being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eaton P. Brown until this week's guilty plea deal was reached.

LANSING (CCN) — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced a victory today (Oct. 22, 2024) in a lawsuit filed by the Republican National Committee (RNC) challenging Michigan’s voter registration database and maintenance.

 Judge Jane Beckering of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan granted A.G. Nessel’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed by the RNC against Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and State Director of Elections Jonathan Brater under the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). The RNC cited high registration numbers but Judge Beckering dismissed the lawsuit for lack of standing while also noting in her opinion that the RNC’s claims lacked any merit.

“The court’s ruling is yet another example of the Republican National Committee’s strategy to present baseless, frivolous arguments both inside courtrooms as well as on social media,” A.G. Nessel said in statement released by her office earlier today.

“Michigan should be applauded as a leader in voter registration and maintenance of its voter rolls, not the target of meritless political lawsuits that serve no purpose but to incite uncertainty in our Democratic processes," she added. "That a major national political party is engaging in lawsuits that serve no purpose other than to undermine the public’s faith in our system of elections is shameful.”

In her opinion and order, Judge Beckering found fault in the RNC’s registered voter calculations, leading them to “inaccurately conclude” that the qualified voter file  contained too many people as registrants, and further that even if their faulty census data were reliable, it “does not plausibly indicate” any violation of the law, and that the RNC’s requested relief of requiring state officials ensure that ineligible voters are removed “in telling fashion, flips the statutory mandate on its head,” because the statute requires Michigan to ensure that any eligible applicants are registered, while making a “reasonable effort” to remove ineligible voters from the voter rolls.

Judge Beckering continued in her opinion and order by writing: “...the NVRA purposes to both protect electoral integrity and protect against unlawful voter disenfranchisement.  Absent Plaintiff’s legal conclusions and unwarranted factual inferences, which this Court is not required to accept as true... there is no content in Plaintiff’s Complaint that states a plausible claim under the NVRA.”