(CAPITOL-LYING TO POLICE)
LEGISLATION THAT MAKES LYING TO POLICE ILLEGAL IN MICHIGAN HAS ADVANCED IN THE MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE.
THE STATE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) PASSED LEGISLATION THAT MAKES IT A MISDEMEANOR TO LIE TO POLICE, SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES AND DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION OFFICERS - CONDUCTING A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.
IT'S ALREADY ILLEGAL TO LIE TO THE F-B-I, BUT THERE IS NO LAW AGAINST BEING DISHONEST TO STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
HOUSE REPUBLICAN JOHN WALSH IS THE BILL SPONSOR.  HE SAYS HE HOPES IT WILL IMPROVE OUR POLICE OFFICERS' AND PROSECUTORS' ABILITY TO DO THEIR JOB MORE EFFECTIVELY AND SAFELY.


(CAPITOL-CYBER SCHOOLS)
THERE COULD BE A NEW TWIST IN THE EFFORT TO EXPAND SO-CALLED "CYBER LEARNING" IN MICHIGAN.
CYBER SCHOOLS ARE LIKE TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS IN THAT THEY WILL COVER THE SAME SUBJECT MATTER, BUT TEACHING AND LEARNING IS CONDUCTED OVER THE INTERNET.
A BILL BEFORE LAWMAKERS LIFTS THE CAP ON THE SCHOOLS, BUT THE MEASURE LARGELY AFFECTS 'FOR PROFIT' OPERATIONS THAT OFFER CYBER SCHOOLING.   THOSE OPERATORS HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A LIFTING OF THE CAP TO SERVE AN ESTIMATE WAITING LIST OF 10-THOUSAND STUDENTS.
NOW, PUBLIC SCHOOLS WANT IN.
SOME LOCAL SCHOOL OFFICIALS THIS WEEK TOLD LAWMAKERS THEY OPPOSE ALLOWING MORE 'FOR PROFIT' OPERATORS AT THIS POINT, BUT INSTEAD ASKED THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO OFFER MORE CYBER LEARNING PROGRAMS.
THEY ALSO NOTE THAT A 'BLENDED' PROGRAM OF CYBER LEARNING AND 'FACE TO FACE' LEARNING IS NECESSARY.
SOME STATE LAWMAKERS SAY THEY'LL LOOK INTO THAT POSSIBILITY OF MORE PUBLIC SCHOOL CYBER LEARNING PROGRAMS.
IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, GOVERNOR SNYDER CALLED FOR AN EXPANSION OF CYBER LEARNING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT STOPPED SHORT OF CALLING FOR MORE 'INTERNET ONLY' CYBER SCHOOLS.


(CAPITOL-FUNERAL DISRUPTION)
THE MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE HAS GIVEN FINAL APPROVAL TO A BILL CLARIFYING THE STATE LAW THAT CAN MEAN PRISON TIME FOR DISRUPTING A FUNERAL IN MICHIGAN.
THE EXISTING LAW WAS IN RESPONSE TO DISRUPTIVE PROTESTS AT MILITARY FUNERALS BY THE WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH.
BUT SOME COMPLAIN THAT THE LAW WAS MISINTERPRETED, WITH SOME SAYING THE LAW WAS APPLIED TO THEM SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY HAD POLITICAL BUMPER STICKERS ON THEIR CARS.
THE BILL THAT GAINED FINAL APPROVAL IN LANSING ON THURSDAY INCLUDES LANGUAGE THAT CLARIFIES WHAT IS, AND WHAT IS NOT A DISRUPTIVE PROTEST AT A FUNERAL.
THE BILL NOW GOES TO THE GOVERNOR FOR HIS SIGNATURE.


(PRESQUE ISLE CO-PROSECUTOR CHARGES DISMISSED)
CHARGES OF DOCTOR SHOPPING HAVE BEEN DISMISSED AGAINST PRESQUE ISLE COUNTY PROSECUTOR RICHARD STEIGER.
THE 46-YEAR OLD STEIGER HAD BEEN CHARGED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE WITH FRAUD, ALLEGING HE OBTAINED PAINKILLER PRESCRIPTIONS BY VISITING VARIOUS DOCTORS FOR THE SAME OR SIMILAR CONDITIONS.
88TH DISTRICT COURT JUDGE TED JOHNSON DISMISSED THE CASE, SAYING MEDICAL RECORDS SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF FRAUD.
STEIGER HAD PREVIOUSLY REFERRED TO THE INVESTIGATION AS A "POLITICAL WITCH HUNT" AND AFTERWARDS, CALLED THE HURON UNDERCOVER NARCOTICS TEAM A "ROGUE OPERATION".
THE CASE WAS PROSECUTED BY STATE ATTORNEY GREG TOWNSEND WHO DECLINED TO COMMENT.
(WATZ, ALPENA)


(DETROIT-ARSON ARREST)
AN ARSON SUSPECT IS UNDER ARREST, FOLLOWING A FIRE ON DETROIT’S EAST SIDE THIS (FRIDAY) MORNING.
POLICE ON A ROUTINE PATROL IN THE AREA SPOTTED TWO MEN AROUND 2:15 A.M.
ONE OF THEN MEN WAS CARRYING A LARGE GARBAGE BAG WHICH HE REPORTEDLY DROPPED WHEN HE SAW POLICE. THE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE MAN TRIED TO RUN, BUT WAS ARRESTED.
IN THE BAG, POLICE FOUND SEVERAL GAS CONTAINERS AND CLOTHING THAT SMELLED OF GASOLINE.
THE SECOND SUSPECT GOT AWAY.
MOMENTS LATER, THE OFFICERS SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE DIRECTION OF A LARGE COMMERCIAL BUILDING, WHICH HAD BECOME ENGULFED IN FLAMES.
FIRE CHIEF GARY LAUER SAID IT WAS A FAST-MOVING FIRE THAT QUICKLY WENT TO THREE ALARMS.
ALTHOUGH HAZARDOUS MATERIALS CREWS WERE ON THE SCENE, LAUER SAID THERE WAS NO DETECTION OF ANY CHEMICALS INSIDE THE BUILDING.
THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF INJURIES.
(VICKIE THOMAS, WWJ, DETROIT)


(MI-ROMNEY FUNDS)
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MITT ROMNEY IS LEADING ALL OTHER CANDIDATES IN FUND RAISING EFFORTS IN MICHIGAN.
THE FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR GENERATED MORE THAN FOUR-TIMES THE AMOUNT OF CAMPAIGN CASH FROM MICHIGAN DONORS IN 2011 THAN HIS REMAINING THREE OPPONENTS DID COMBINED.
FEDERAL CAMPAIGN RECORDS FILED THIS WEEK SHOW THAT ROMNEY COLLECTED MORE THAN ONE-POINT-SIX-MILLION DOLLARS IN ITEMIZED CONTRIBUTIONS.
THE MICHIGAN NATIVE GENERATED MORE MONEY FROM BLOOMFIELD HILLS RESIDENTS THAN THE NEXT CLOSEST CANDIDATE, TEXAS CONGRESSMAN RON PAUL, RAISED IN THE ENTIRE STATE.
(METRO SOURCE)


(HOWE-NOT DEMENTIA)
REPORTS SAYING FORMER DETROIT RED WING GREAT GORDIE HOWE HAS DEMENTIA ARE INACCURATE, ACCORDING TO HIS SON MARTY HOWE.
THE DETROIT FREE PRESS REPORTS THAT MARTY HOWE SAYS HIS FATHER DOES NOT HAVE DEMENTIA. BUT IT MAY TURN INTO IT. HE SAYS BASICALLY, HIS FATHER'S BRAIN DOESN'T FUNCTION PROPERLY BECAUSE OF PAST INJURIES.  THE DOCTORS ALSO THINK THAT HE MAY HAVE HAD A MINI-STROKE.
HOWE PLAYED 33 SEASONS OF PRO HOCKEY, 25 WITH THE DETROIT RED WINGS. HE HAS BEEN CALLED BY SOME THE GREATEST ALL-ROUND HOCKEY PLAYER OF ALL TIME.
HOWE'S WIFE COLEEN DIED IN 2009 OF "PICKS" DISEASE, A RARE FORM OF DEMENTIA.
THE FORMER HOCKEY GREAT WILL ATTEND TONIGHT'S (THURS) GAME WITH THE DETROIT RED WINGS IN VANCOUVER, TO HELP PROMOTE A PRO-AM HOCKEY TOURNAMENT.
ANOTHER SON MARTY SAYS THE 83-YEAR OLD HOWE CONTINUES TO SIGN AUTOGRAPHS AND POSE FOR PICTURES WITH FANS, BUT NO LONGER GIVES SPEECHES, AS FATIGUE TENDS TO WORSEN HIS CONDITION.
ON MONDAY, HE MET WITH THE MEDIA IN BRITISH COLUMBIA AND CRACKED JOKES, ALTHOUGH HE HAD SON MARTY AT HIS SIDE IN HELPING ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS.


(DETROIT-BING UNIONS DEAL)
A DEAL HAS BEEN REPORTEDLY REACHED BETWEEN THE CITY OF DETROIT AND ITS UNIONS.
ACCORDING TO MAYOR DAVE BING, CONCESSIONS FROM MOST OF THE CITY'S UNIONS WILL MEAN MAJOR COST SAVINGS. THESE CONCESSIONS ARE KEY TO THE MAYOR'S PLAN FOR STAVING OFF THE APPOINTMENT OF AN EMERGENCY MANAGER.
THE MAYOR SAYS THE DEAL IS NOT JUST ABOUT CONCESSIONS. HE SAYS, QUOTE, "IT'S ABOUT HOW LABOR AND MANAGEMENT CAN WORK TOGETHER IN A FAIR AND CONSTRUCTIVE WAY."
AFSCME COUNCIL 25 PRESIDENT AL GARRETT SAYS, QUOTE, "THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE CHALLENGING, BUT THIS AGREEMENT IS RECOGNITION OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OUR COALITION OF UNIONS MAKE TO THE CITY."
JOE VALENTI, PRESIDENT OF TEAMSTERS LOCAL 214 ADDS THAT THIS DEAL MEANS, QUOTE, "WE CAN ALL GET BACK TO WORK WITH A RENEWED SENSE OF MISSION TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE RESIDENTS OF DETROIT WITH THE SERVICES THEY EXPECT."
(METRO SOURCE)


(DETROIT-DRUG RAID)
FEDERAL DRUG AGENTS CONDUCTED ANOTHER RAID IN DETROIT.
ACCORDING TO THE 'DETROIT NEWS,' THE U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION STARTED EXECUTING SEARCH WARRANTS AT WAREHOUSE IN AN INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX NEAR INTERSTATE-75 THIS (FRIDAY) MORNING AS PART OF AN INVESTIGATION INTO ILLEGAL MARIJUANA PRODUCTION.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA COMPANIES BASED IN THE RUSSELL INDUSTRIAL CENTER.
A D.E.A. SPOKESMAN CONFIRMED THAT AGENTS WERE EXECUTING A SEARCH WARRANT, BUT GAVE NO DETAILS.
ON WEDNESDAY,THE DEA RAIDED THE EASTPOINTE HOME OF ALLEGED DRUG KINGPIN CARLOS POWELL AND SEIZED MORE THAN TEN-MILLION-DOLLARS IN CASH ALONG WITH 55-POUNDS OF HEROIN, AS WELL AS A FLEET OF EXPENSIVE CARS AND BOATS.
POWELL AND FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE KEN DANIELS ARE AMONG 12 INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE INDICTED ON DRUG TRAFFICKING AND MONEY LAUNDERING.


(FED BUDGET-NAT GUARD CUTS)
PROPOSED MILITARY CUTS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL HAVE AN EFFECT HERE IN MICHIGAN.
REPORTS SAY THE FIGHTER SQUADRON THAT FLIES A-10 AIRCRAFT OUT OF SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE IN HARRISON TOWNSHIP MAY BE ELIMINATED UNDER THE NEW DOWNSIZED PENTAGON BUDGET.
THE MOVE COULD END THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD'S 107TH FIGHTER SQUADRON.
REDUCTIONS ARE ALSO BEING RECOMMENDED IN STAFFING AND EQUIPMENT AT THE GUARD BASE IN BATTLE CREEK.
HOUSE SPEAKER JASE BOLGER OF MARSHALL CALLED ON THE PRESIDENT THURSDAY TO REJECT WHAT HE CALLS A "SHORT SIGHTED" PROPOSAL.
THE PROPOSED DEFENSE DEPARTMENT BUDGET MARKS THE BEGINNING OF A DECADE-LONG HALF (T) TRILLION DOLLAR CUT IN SPENDING.


(MI-HOEKSTA SUPER BOWL AD)
FORMER U-S REPRESENTATIVE PETE HOEKSTRA (HOOK'-STRAH) WILL AIR A CAMPAIGN AD DURING THE SUPER BOWL THIS SUNDAY.
THE HOLLAND REPUBLICAN'S DECISION TO RUN AN AD DURING THE SUPER BOWL ECHOES THE CAMPAIGN OF GOVERNOR RICK SNYDER, WHO KICKED OFF HIS GUBERNATORIAL BID WITH A SUPER BOWL AD TWO YEARS AGO.
GONGWER NEWS SERVICE REPORTS THE 30 SECOND SPOT WILL RUN STATEWIDE, BUT NO OTHER DETAILS WERE AVAILABLE.
HOEKSTRA IS SEEKING THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION TO CHALLENGE DEMOCRATIC U-S SENATOR DEBBIE STABENOW.


(BAY CITY-STUPAK DEATH THREAT)
THE NORTHERN MICHIGAN MAN ACCUSED OF WRITING A THREATENING LETTER TO FORMER UPPER PENINSULA CONGRESSMAN BART STUPAK HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO SIX MONTHS HOUSE ARREST.
73-YEAR-OLD RUSSELL HESCH OF WEST BRANCH ALSO WAS ORDERED TO PAY 47-THOUSAND-DOLLARS. MUCH OF THAT AMOUNT WILL BE IN RESTITUTION TO THE CAPITOL POLICE FOR THE COST OF SECURITY.
STUPAK RECEIVED AN UNSIGNED LETTER THREATENING TO PAINT THE MACKINAC BRIDGE WITH HIS BLOOD BECAUSE OF THE MENOMINEE DEMOCRAT'S VOTE TO APPROVE THE HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL.
HESCH, WHO HAS DEMENTIA, SAYS HE WAS DRINKING ALCOHOL WHEN HE WROTE THE LETTER.


(MI/WS-FUGITIVE SOUGHT)
A FUGITIVE WHO ALLEGEDLY SET HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND'S WISCONSIN HOME ON FIRE MAY BE HIDING OUT IN WEST MICHIGAN.
MICHAEL MACK HAS USED THE ALIAS, OTIS RICHARDSON, WHICH IS HIS BROTHER'S NAME. HE'S ORIGINALLY FROM BENTON HARBOR, AND TIPS CAME IN FROM CASSOPOLIS AND KALAMAZOO AFTER HIS CASE WAS SHOWN LAST WEEKEND ON FOX-TV'S "AMERICA S MOST WANTED."
MACK WAS CHARGED WITH ARSON AND A LIST OF OTHER FELONIES IN 2009 AFTER HE ASSAULTED HIS GIRLFRIEND IN HER HOSPITAL BED, THEN LATER SET HER HOME ON FIRE WITH ANOTHER FAMILY WHO LIVED IN THE DUPLEX STILL INSIDE.
THE U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE SAYS HE WAS ON PAROLE FOR COCAINE AT THE TIME.
OTIS RICHARDSON, WHO WAS PRESENT WHEN MACK ALLEGEDLY SET THE FIRE, WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ARRESTED AND SENT TO PRISON FOR IMPREGNATING A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN TEXAS.
(HELP FROM: WSJM, ST. JOSEPH/BENTON HARBOR)


(OSCEOLA CO-CHILD PORN SENTENCE)
A NORTHERN MICHIGAN WOMAN IS HEADING TO FEDERAL PRISON AFTER USING PORNOGRAPHIC IMAGES OF A YOUNG GIRL TO GET A MAN TO PAY HER CELLPHONE BILL.
32-YEAR OLD ANDREA MAST OF EVART WAS ORDERED THIS WEEK TO SPEND 30 YEARS BEHIND BARS AFTER PLEADING GUILTY IN SEPTEMBER IN FEDERAL COURT IN GRAND RAPIDS TO A CHILD EXPLOITATION CHARGE.
THE SEVEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL TOLD AUTHORITIES MAST HAD TAKEN SEXUALLY EXPLICIT PHOTOS OF HER AND EMAILED THEM TO TIMOTHY SIMS WHOM SHE MET THROUGH AN ONLINE DATING SERVICE.
MAST ALLEGEDLY TOLD SIMS HE COULD MOLEST THE LITTLE GIRL IF HE PAID HER CELLPHONE BILL.
THE 41-YEAR OLD SIMS IS AWAITING SENTENCING ON CHARGES OF PRODUCING, RECEIVING, AND PROCESSING SEXUALLY EXPLICIT IMAGES OF CHILDREN.
 

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