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WHITE SUPREMACISTS-MICHIGAN

Man linked to white supremacist group sent to prison

CARO, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan man described as a leader of a white supremacist group has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison for conspiring to train for civil disorder. Investigators say Justen Watkins and two other men entered two vacant state properties in Tuscola County in 2020 to assess whether they could be used for paramilitary training. Authorities say the 25-year-old Watkins was associated with The Base, a group that has pushed a fringe philosophy advocating mass violence to hasten society’s collapse. Four members of The Base have been convicted in Tuscola or Washtenaw counties since charges were filed in 2020.

FORD–FUEL ECONOMY-SETTLEMENT

Ford pays $19M to settle claims on fuel economy, payload

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Ford Motor Company has settled claims by 40 U.S. state attorneys general that the company made misleading claims about the fuel economy and payload capacity of some of its vehicles. The company agreed Tuesday to pay $19.2 million to the states and refrain from making misleading advertising claims. The attorneys general say Ford misled consumers about how far its 2013-2014 C-Max hybrid cars could travel on a tank of gas. They also saidsay Ford inflated the payload capacity of its 2011-2014 Super Duty pick-up trucks. Ford says in a statement that it is pleased the investigation was settled with no judicial finding of improper conduct.

AP-US-BABY-FORMULA-SHORTAGE

US safety, savings rules set stage for baby formula shortage

WASHINGTON (AP) — A massive recall is getting most of the blame for the U.S. baby formula shortage, but experts say the products have long been vulnerable to this type of crisis. They point to decades-old policies that have allowed a handful of companies to corner the market. Safety and manufacturing rules imposed by U.S. regulators make it hard for smaller companies to enter the market. And federal contracting rules also favor the largest manufacturers who can offer the lowest prices on formula. Those government rules are aimed at assuring safe, affordable formula. But they are now getting renewed scrutiny because of the shortage.

AP-US-STELLANTIS-FACTORY-ANNOUNCEMENT

Stellantis, Samsung plan Indiana electric car battery plant

KOKOMO, Ind. (AP) — A joint venture between Stellantis and Samsung plans to build an electric vehicle battery factory in Indiana that will employ up to 1,400 workers and become the company’s second such factory in North America. The venture announced Tuesday aims to spend more than $2.5 billion on the plant in Kokomo that will supply electric battery modules for a range of vehicles produced at Stellantis’ North American assembly plants. The Kokomo plant is expected to open in early 2025. Stellantis formed last year with the merger of Fiat Chrysler and France’s PSA Peugeot. It announced in March that it plans to spend $4.1 billion in a joint venture with LG Energy Solution of Korea to build electric vehicle battery factory in Windsor, Ontario.

AP-US-ELECTION-2022-MICHIGAN-GOVERNOR

Michigan GOP governor candidates short signatures

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan’s elections bureau says five Republican candidates for governor, including two leading contenders, failed to file enough valid nominating signatures and shouldn’t qualify for the August primary. The reports issued late Monday by staff are a major blow to former Detroit Police Chief James Craig, who has led in polling, and businessman Perry Johnson, who has spent millions of his own money to campaign. Democrats had challenged their petitions, alleging forgery and other issues. Another GOP candidate, Tudor Dixon, also had contested Craig’s signatures. The bipartisan Board of State Canvassers will meet Thursday to consider the elections bureau’s recommendations.

VATICAN-MICHIGAN

Pope offers solidarity to Gaylord, Michigan, after tornado

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis is offering his condolences and solidarity to the people of Gaylord, Michigan following a deadly tornado. The Vatican on Tuesday released a telegram signed by the Vatican secretary of state addressed to Gaylord Bishop Jeffrey Walsh. It said Francis was saddened to learn of the death and destruction from Friday’s tornado. The tornado killed two people, injured more than 40, knocked out electricity and flattened parts of the northern Michigan community where such incidents are rare.

UCLA-GYNECOLOGIST-SEX-ABUSE-SETTLEMENT

UCLA to pay record of nearly $700M in doctor abuse lawsuits

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The University of California system has agreed to pay $375 million to more than 300 women who said they were sexually abused by a longtime UCLA gynecologist. The announcement Tuesday brings total payouts by the university in lawsuits against Dr. James Heap to nearly $700 million. That’s the largest amount paid by a public university in a wave of sexual misconduct scandals involving campus doctors. The private University of Southern California paid out more than $1 billion to settle thousands of cases against its longtime gynecologist. Heaps worked at UCLA for 35 years and has pleaded not guilty to 21 sexual abuse charges.

VIRTUAL REALITY-TASER

Virtual reality brings portable Taser training to police

WASHINGTON (AP) — The company best known for developing the Taser is expanding virtual reality and immersive training to help encourage police officers across the U.S. to more regularly train with less-than-lethal weapons. The virtual reality training being launched by Axon on Tuesday gives officers an opportunity to train with their Tasers in different scenarios to make the weapon more effective and reduce the chance the officer would use a firearm instead. The portable training kit fits into a duffel bag. Police departments can implement such a training during roll calls or for officers between calls.