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DOCTOR-SEXUAL ASSAULT-MICHIGAN STATE

After 2 losses, Michigan AG won’t appeal Nassar-related case

DETROIT (AP) — Prosecutors say they won’t appeal a decision that derailed charges against the former president of Michigan State University. Lou Anna Simon was accused of lying to investigators about sexual assault complaints against Larry Nassar. But two courts have dismissed the case, citing insufficient evidence. Attorney General Dana Nessel expressed confidence about the case but says she won’t ask the Michigan Supreme Court to take a look. The charges against Simon centered on a 2018 interview with investigators who wanted to know what officials at the school knew about Nassar. Nassar was already convicted and sentenced by that time. Separately, prosecutors are asking the Michigan Supreme Court to reinstate the conviction of former MSU gymnastics coach Kathie Klages.

SNOWBOARDER-HOMETOWN

Michigan town holds parade for 40-year-old gold medalist

IRON RIVER, Mich. (AP) — A 40-year-old snowboarder who won a gold medal at the Winter Olympics has been honored with a parade in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Nick Baumgartner walked the streets of Iron River with the medal around his neck and his dog at his side Monday. He punched the air with his fist as people screamed for their hometown hero. Baumgartner and partner Lindsey Jacobellis won gold in mixed snowboardcross, an event where snowboarders raced through an obstacle course. An enormous dump truck led the parade with a sign that said, “Welcome Home Nick! Once a Wykon, always a Wykon.” It’s a reference to a three-legged creature that is the mascot at West Iron County High School.

AP-CN-VIRUS-OUTBREAK-PROTESTS

Canada’s Trudeau invokes emergency powers to quell protests

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is invoking emergency powers to weaken the protests by demonstrators who are paralyzing the capital city of Ottawa and blocking border crossings. The protests over over the country’s COVID-19 restrictions have been raging for more than two weeks. Trudeau’s move on Monday to invoke the Emergencies Act gives the federal government and law enforcement broad powers to restore order. Trudeau is warning the protesters that time to go home is now. But one of the protest organizers in Ottawa is vowing not to back down in the face of pressure from the government.

FLINT WATER

Flint water crisis trial will test contractors’ liability

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Jury selection starts Tuesday in a trial to determine if engineering contractors bear responsibility for lead-contaminated water in Flint. Veolia North America and Lockwood, Andrews & Newman were not part of the recent $626 million settlement between Flint residents and the state of Michigan and other parties. Attorneys for four Flint children claim Veolia and LAN were negligent in not doing more to get the city to properly treat water that was being pulled from the Flint River in 2014-15. Corrosive water caused lead to leach from lead service lines, a disastrous result in the majority Black community. Veolia and LAN deny liability. Veolia says it mostly addressed other issues at the city’s treatment plant. LAN says water quality was not part of its assignment.

MOSQUE FIRE-SHOOTING

Man killed by police after Dearborn mosque fire identified

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Authorities have released the name of a man who police shot and killed Saturday after officers noticed a fire at a Detroit-area mosque. Dearborn officials say 37-year-old Ahmed Taqi was fatally shot after he exchanged gunfire with Dearborn police officers. Wayne County spokeswoman Tiffani Jackson tells the Detroit Free Press that Taqi died from agunshot wound to the neck. Officers had noticed the fire early Saturday at the Al-Huda Islamic Association in Dearborn before encountering Taqi, who was armed. Police said Taqi fled the area and fired at police, beginning a pursuit that ended in Detroit when he fired again at officers, who returned fire, killing him.

OBIT-FRANK BECKMANN

Longtime voice of Michigan football, Frank Beckmann, dies

DETROIT (AP) — A heralded broadcaster who served as the voice of Michigan Wolverines football for 33 years and also called games for the state’s professional teams has died. Frank Beckmann was 72. The Detroit-based radio station where Beckmann spent most of his career, WJR-AM, reported Sunday that he suffered from a rare brain disease and had also suffered strokes. It said he died Saturday at a hospice center inClarkston.Beckmann started at WJR in the early 1970s and was, at the time, the newsroom’s youngest-ever reporter. Within several years, he became WJR’s sports director. At various times, Beckmann served as announcer for both for Detroit Tigers and Detroit Lions games. Beckmann is survived by his wife, Karen, two children and three grandchildren.

AP-US-ELECTION-2022-DEMOCRATIC-GOVERNORS

Democrats eye key governors’ races as backstop against GOP

Wisconsin is one of four states emerging as top priorities for Democrats in an election year when the party is facing fierce political headwinds. Wisconsin as well as Kansas, Michigan and Pennsylvania have Republican-controlled legislatures and Democratic-held governorships. And those governorships are on the ballot in the fall. If the governorships switch parties, a flood of GOP legislation that has been blocked so far would likely become law. If Democrats hold the northern trio of states that helped Democrat Joe Biden become president, Democrats improve their chances of holding them in the race for the White House in 2024.