Latest Michigan news, sports, business and entertainment at 9:20 p.m. EDT

MICHIGAN REDISTRICTING

Redistricting panel advances Michigan Senate map

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan’s redistricting commission has voted 11-2 to advance a proposed map to the final stage of the process, approving state Senate lines that would be fairer to Democrats than those drawn by Republican lawmakers in the last two decades. It’s the first time the panel has submitted a plan for the closing 45-day public comment period. It’s unclear if commissioners may also offer an alternative Senate proposal later in the week or stick with one map. The commission was created by voters in 2018 to handle the once-a-decade process of drawing congressional and legislative lines instead of the partisan Legislature.

SCHOOL VOUCHERS

Ballot drive launched to bypass Whitmer veto of voucher plan

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A ballot drive has been launched to sidestep Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s planned veto of Republican-proposed legislation that would authorize a school voucher-style system in Michigan. Let MI Kids Learn needs to gather 340,000 valid voter signatures to send each of the two initiatives to the GOP-led Legislature. Lawmakers then could enact the measures into law despite the Democratic governor’s opposition. The proposals would let Michigan students attend private schools and pay other educational expenses with scholarship accounts funded by people and corporations that would get equivalent income tax credits for their donations. Democrats and other critics say the initiatives are unconstitutional.

AUTO INSURANCE-REFUNDS

Whitmer: Give drivers insurance refunds of up to $675 a car

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is calling for insurance refunds of up to $675 per vehicle to be quickly issued to drivers. In a letter to the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association on Monday, the Democratic governor cited a surplus of $5 billion that she attributed to premium overcharges and a 2019 law that cut insurers’ medical costs for people injured in crashes. The association is a state-created nonprofit entity that reimburses car insurers for health care claims. MCCA Executive Director Kevin Clinton says the board, comprised almost entirely of insurance companies, will consider the request but Whitmer’s proposed surplus is too much.

MSU-MISSING MAN

College student visiting MSU friends missing since Friday

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Authorities are searching Monday for a college student who disappeared while visiting friends at Michigan State University over the weekend. Brendan Santo is an 18-year-old student at Grand Valley State University. Santo was last seen leaving Yakeley Hall shortly before midnight Friday. Police blocked off part of a parking lot near the Red Cedar River. Diving equipment could be seen. Santo’s car was located earlier. Friends from the Rochester area in suburban Detroit organized a car pool to travel to MSU and join the search.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-JOB INSPECTIONS

State giving up after Port Huron fights COVID-19 case

PORT HURON, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan agency says it will dismiss a COVID-19 workplace violation against Port Huron. The city aggressively fought the case and revealed questionable acts by an inspector. Port Huron spent more on its defense than the $6,300 fine proposed by the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration. City Manager James Freed tells The Detroit News that the citation was a “sloppy attempt” to disparage city employees and an example of unfair enforcement during the pandemic. The state in 2020 had accused Port Huron of not requiring masks and failing to keep proper records. The city denied the allegations. The state says there can be many reasons to dismiss a case.

SUGAR BEET HARVEST

Michigan sugar beet harvest could set a sweet record

BAY CITY, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan sugar beet harvest could set a record this year. Michigan Sugar is anticipating 34 tons per acre from roughly 900 farmers, up from a record of 31.6 tons in 2015. The state’s beet growing area covers roughly 20 counties and includes much of the Thumb region. Michigan Sugar was considering whether to ask growers to leave some beets in the ground. Vice President Jim Ruhlman says he doesn’t want to see beets breaking down after they’re harvested. Michigan Sugar is based in Bay City. It markets sugar under Pioneer Sugar and Big Chief Sugar brands.

AP-US-FOOD-ABRA-BERENS-GRIST

Chef Abra Berens turns her attention to grains and legumes

NEW YORK (AP) — Chef and author Abra Berens already tackled vegetables. Now its time for grains and legumes. Her new cookbook “Grist” is a guide to cooking grains, beans, seeds and legumes. It offers 140 recipes with more than 160 variations. Like her previous effort “Ruffage,” Berens puts the home cook in the driving seat. She introduces and describes each category of grains and legumes and offers techniques on how to prepare them — stewed, fried, boiled, marinated, smashed and sprouted, among them. Then she lets the reader pair them with various dressings, oils, relishes and other condiments, mixing and matching saltiness, acid and creaminess depending on what’s on hand.

JAIL-TEENS

Traverse City area struggles with housing teen offenders

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — A new Michigan law that prevents authorities from locking up teens under 18 near adults is causing challenges for communities that don’t have a separate place to keep young offenders. Traverse City police recently had to make arrangements with a Detroit-area county to house a 16-year-old. He was caught in Florida for a local road rage felony. Sgt. Matt Richmond says he had tried facilities closer to Traverse City but had no success. The reasons: no beds, out-of-county teens not accepted and a lack of staff. Grand Traverse County prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg said having a place for juvenile offenders is a “huge need.”

UP TOWN-RENTALS

Even small UP towns grapple with online short-term rentals

CALUMET, Mich. (AP) — Some of Michigan’s smallest towns are seeing ripples from short-term lodging popularized by Airbnb and other websites. Calumet is on the Keweenaw Peninsula in the far north of the Upper Peninsula. Short-term rentals came up at a recent meeting of the village council. The planning commission chairwoman says the rentals are not a permitted use under Calumet’s zoning law, but they are occurring. Colleen Kobe says even if the ordinance is changed, Airbnb-style rentals could reduce long-term rentals and cause a population loss in Calumet. Planning commissioner Virginia Dwyer says Hancock, 12 miles south, allows short-term rentals, but the owner must pay for a permit and have a property inspected.