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2002 SLAYING-CONVICTION

Woman convicted for her role in 2002 Michigan slaying

CHARLOTTE, Mich. (AP) — A woman faces a mandatory life sentence after being convicted for her role in the 2002 slaying of a man whose burned remains were found dumped in western Michigan. Prosecutors say an Eaton County jury found Dineane Rochelle Ducharme guilty Thursday of first-degree and other charges in Roberto Caraballo’s death. She was among three people charged in Caraballo’s killing, which went unsolved for 16 years. Ducharme faces a mandatory sentence of life without parole. Authorities say Caraballo, 37, was bludgeoned in the basement of a Charlotte home in 2002. His burned remains were found in a metal footlocker dumped near an Ottawa County blueberry field.

AP-US-SCI-WHITE-CHRISTMAS-MELTS-AWAY

Since 1980s US chances of a white Christmas melt a bit

A white Christmas is going from reality to more of a dream for chunks of the United States. Analysis of 40 years worth of United States snow measurements shows less of the country now has snow on the ground on Christmas than it did in the 1980s. It’s especially noticeable in a large swath in the east-west middle belt of the country. But the data is complex and some scientists caution against drawing conclusions about trends and the role of global warming. Places such as Iowa, much of the Rockies and eastern Washington have lower chances for a white Christmas.

AP-US-SCHOOLS-VIOLENCE-THREATS

TikTok posts referencing violence raise anxiety at schools

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Some parents kept their children home, police stepped up patrols and educators tightened security protocols Friday in response to viral TikTok posts alluding to unconfirmed threats of violence that raised anxiety levels at schools nationwide. With stress levels already soaring from the effects of the pandemic and a rash of hoax threats following a deadly school shooting in Michigan on Nov. 30, districts said they were taking precautions out of an abundance of caution. TikTok has said it is working with law enforcement to look into the warnings. In Twitter posts on Friday, the company said it had not found content promoting violence at schools but found videos discussing the rumor and warning others to stay safe.

AP-US-EPA-SUPERFUND-CLEANUP

EPA releases $1B to clean up toxic waste sites in 24 states

Federal environmental officials have announced a $1 billion infusion to the Superfund program. The money comes from the infrastructure bill that President Joe Biden recently signed into law. It’ll help officials tackle a backlog of highly polluted Superfund sites in 24 states. Nearly 50 toxic waste sites will be cleaned up, and ongoing work at dozens of others will get a funding boost. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan made the announcement Friday at a Superfund site in Philadelphia. He says most of the sites are in minority communities that have suffered disproportionately from contamination.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MICHIGAN UNIVERSITIES

U of Michigan, Michigan State require boosters in 2022

LANSING, Mich (AP) — The University of Michigan and Michigan State University are requiring all students, faculty and staff to receive a COVID-19 booster vaccination for the next semester in an effort to curb the spread of the virus. Both schools included mention of the omicron variant as a driver in the rules. MSU said in its news release that the deadline to get a booster shot is the beginning of the spring semester on Jan. 10, while U of M’s news release says Feb. 4. The two universities have the largest student enrollments in the state.

MICHIGAN PIPELINE

Enbridge seeks federal jurisdiction in oil pipeline dispute

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Enbridge Energy is trying to shift to federal court a Michigan lawsuit seeking shutdown of an oil pipeline that runs beneath a channel linking two of the Great Lakes. Attorney General Dana Nessel filed suit in 2019, arguing that Enbridge’s Line 5 should not operate in Michigan’s Straits of Mackinac because it risks a spill. Nessel filed a second suit in 2020 to enforce a shutdown order by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. A federal judge agreed with Enbridge last month that litigation over Whitmer’s order belongs in federal court. On Wednesday, Enbridge moved to shift Nessel’s earlier lawsuit to federal court as well. Nessel vowed to fight the effort.

AP-US-2020-CENSUS-DETROIT

Report: 2020 census may have missed thousands in Detroit

Researchers hired by the city say the Census Bureau undercounted more than 8% of the occupied homes in 10 Detroit neighborhoods during the 2020 census. They said Thursday that if that oversight rate is applied citywide, it could mean that tens of thousands of Motor City residents were missed. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan says Detroit will file a lawsuit over the census results if they aren’t changed during an appeals process. The 2020 census showed Detroit with 639,000 residents, while estimates from 2019 put the city’s population at 670,000 residents. University of Michigan researcher Jeffrey Morenoff says such a big drop is implausible. The statistical agency says it’s working on a response to the city’s allegations.

SEVERE WEATHER-MICHIGAN

Wild winds cut power, rip school roof; dozens of cows dead

SAND LAKE, Mich. (AP) — Fierce winds have knocked out power for more than 150,000 customers in Michigan. A school in Muskegon County lost its roof, and dozens of cows died at a dairy farm Thursday. Tim Butler was emotional as he described how his workers survived after a power pole landed on the milking barn in Newaygo County. Butler says “it’s a miracle” that his workers escaped. Wind gusts exceeded 60 mph in western and northern Michigan. The roof at Edgewood Elementary School was shredded, though no students were present at the time. Consumers Energy is reporting power outages across its western and northern service territory. High schools in the Upper Peninsula canceled some basketball games as rain turned to blowing snow.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-DETROIT SCHOOLS

Detroit Public Schools requiring staff vaccines by Feb. 18

DETROIT (AP) — All teachers and staff members in the Detroit Public Schools Community District must be fully vaccinated by Feb. 18. The district’s school board approved the new mandate Thursday. District officials say the new mandate will affect a small percentage of staff who haven’t been vaccinated. Staff members can get medical and religious exemptions, but they must regularly test and wear a face covering. During a Dec. 14 meeting when the school board first considered the new policy, Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said 150 positive cases in unvaccinated people forced 483 students and 99 staff members to quarantine this school year.

SCHOOLS-VIOLENCE THREATS

Schools step up security in response to threats on TikTok

Educators have announced plans to increase security in response to TikTok posts warning of shooting and bomb threats at schools around the country Friday as officials assured parents the viral posts were not considered credible. The posts circulating online warned that multiple schools would receive shooting and bomb threats. The threats had many educators on edge, as they circulated in the aftermath of a deadly school shooting in Michigan, which has been followed by copycat threats to schools around the country. TikTok said it was working with law enforcement to investigate. The posts follow a disturbing trend that has had students acting out in response to social media challenges.