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MICHIGAN GOVERNOR-KIDNAPPING PLOT-EXPLAINER-JURORS

EXPLAINER: What’s known about jurors at kidnap-plot trial?

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A foster care director, a plastics plant manager and an IT employee are among the 12 jurors and four alternates hearing testimony at the trial of four men charged with plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020. For security reasons, the presiding federal judge only let attorneys see jurors’ names. But jurors discussed their backgrounds during the public portion of jury selection. Knowledge of the case didn’t lead to automatic disqualification, but those who said they didn’t obsess over the news were more likely to be picked. So were those who said they didn’t have strong feelings about Whitmer. The 50-plus juror candidates were drawn from a 22-county section of western Michigan that’s largely Republican and conservative.

UAW-CORRUPTION

Ex-UAW official pleads guilty to embezzling $2.2M from union

DETROIT (AP) — A former official at a suburban Detroit branch of the United Auto Workers has pleaded guilty to charges that he embezzled more than $2 million in union money. Federal prosecutors say 54-year-old Timothy Edmunds pleaded guilty Friday to one count each of embezzling union funds and money laundering. He was secretary-treasurer of UAW Local 412 from 2011 to 2021. Prosecutors say Edmunds “systematically drained” the local’s bank accounts of about $2.2 million by using the labor group’s credit cards for personal purchases, cashing local checks and transferring money into his accounts. Prosecutors said he gambled with the money and spent more on guns, cars and child-support payments.

WHITEOUT ROAD CLOSURE

Police close Upper Peninsula road after cars go into ditch

MUNISING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State Police have closed a portion of an Upper Peninsula highway after lake-effect snow and high winds caused slippery pavement and whiteout conditions, leaving numerous vehicles in a ditch. M-28 was closed between Marquette County and the Munising city limits. The National Weather Service posted an advisory discouraging motorists from traveling in Alger, Luce and northern Schoolcraft counties. It predicted additional snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches.

GIRL SHOT-DRIVE-BY-MICHIGAN

Man charged in fatal shooting of Detroit-area girl, 7

PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — A 19-year-old man is facing murder charges in the fatal drive-by shooting of a 7-year-old girl outside her Detroit-area home. The Oakland County sheriff’s office says Justin Rouser was arraigned Friday on first-degree murder, assault with intent to commit murder and other charges. Ariah Jackson was in the rear seat of a car stopped in the driveway of her Pontiac home on March 18 when shots were fired at the car from an SUV. The girl’s 30-year-old mother and three other children also were in the car. Ariah was struck once in the back of her head. Her mother’s head was grazed by a bullet. Ariah’s sister and two cousins were not injured.

MICHIGAN GOVERNOR-KIDNAPPING PLOT

Man in Gov. Whitmer kidnap plot says he lied after arrest

Jurors in Grand Rapids, Michigan, now have heard from two men who said they were all-in on a stunning plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Kaleb Franks finished his testimony Friday, admitting that he lied to the FBI after his arrest in 2020 when he told agents that the group was just a “bunch of jokers” who liked to role-play. Franks pleaded guilty in February and testified this week against four men: Adam Fox, Barry Croft Jr., Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta. Ty Garbin, who also pleaded guilty, says there’s “no question” the group wanted to kidnap Whitmer over her COVID-19 policies and their overall disgust with government.

BC-US-AFFORDABLE-HOUSING-FEDERAL-FUNDING

Affordable housing, long overlooked, getting federal boost

BOSTON (AP) — States and localities are increasingly tapping federal funds to help finance efforts to build more affordable housing, repair dilapidated units or reduce their homeless numbers. Housing advocates believe the money from the $350 billion Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds could transform the way communities address the growing homelessness problem and a shortage of affordable housing. Several places, including Washington, D.C., the state of Massachusetts and Clark County, Nevada, have allocated tens of millions of dollars for new homes. Others, like the state of New York, the city of Austin, Texas, and Maricopa County in Arizona are investing in upgrades to their homelessness outreach and preventive efforts.

MICHIGAN REDISTRICTING

Michigan’s top court rejects latest redistricting challenge

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan Supreme Court has turned down a challenge by Democratic-aligned groups to a new map for state House seats. The groups claim the map unfairly favors Republicans and conflicts with the state Constitution, which says no party shall have a disproportionate advantage in redistricting. But in a brief order, the court says it won’t get involved. In 2018, voters created a 13-member commission to make maps for seats in Congress and the Legislature, taking the work out of the hands of politicians. More than 130 hearings were open to the public before new boundaries were approved in December. Justice Megan Cavanagh says the commission chose to balance partisan fairness with other constitutional criteria.

BIRD FLU-MICHIGAN

DNR confirms avian flu in wild birds in 3 Michigan counties

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The state Department of Natural Resources says avian influenza has been confirmed in wild birds found in three southeastern Michigan counties. The DNR announced Thursday that highly pathogenic avian influenza had been detected in free-ranging Canada geese and tundra swans from St. Clair County, in snowy owls from Macomb County and in a mute swan from Monroe County. The discovery comes as millions of turkeys and chickens at commercial farms in numerous states have been killed this year due to avian influenza. The spread of the disease is largely blamed on the droppings of wild birds, such as ducks and geese, which often show no signs of illness.

INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING

Michigan Legislature approves $4.8B infrastructure plan

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan lawmakers have approved $4.8 billion in spending, mostly for infrastructure upgrades, with an influx of federal pandemic and other funds that will go toward water systems, roads, parks and other priorities including affordable housing. The supplemental budget plan, which Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will sign, has about $2 billion for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure — including by replacing lead pipes — dam repairs and the remediation of “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. The House and Senate approved the main bill 95-7 and 34-3 Thursday.

ROAD CLOSURE-SALAMANDER CROSSING

City of Marquette closing road nightly to save salamanders

MARQUETTE, Mich. (AP) — An Upper Peninsula city is closing a portion of a road to vehicular traffic every night to protect migrating salamanders. The city of Marquette is closing a portion of Peter White Drive in Presque Isle Park from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily until April 15 or until the migration is completed. The closures began on Monday. Road barricades will be placed and removed daily to prevent vehicular traffic in the migration area. Only foot traffic is permitted in the area. The migrating salamanders travel from the park interior to their breeding ponds.