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

MICHIGAN REDISTRICTING

Expert: Michigan redistricting panel can make maps fairer

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — An expert has told Michigan’s redistricting commission that some of its draft congressional maps would be fairer to Democrats than current gerrymandered seats but legislative districts — especially in the House — would still favor Republicans. Lisa Handley, a consultant who was hired to advise the 13-member panel, provided it with partisan-fairness data Friday. The commission, which voters empowered to draw district lines instead of partisan lawmakers, is expected to make changes before voting on draft proposals. Residents will be able to weigh in on those maps at five public hearings Oct. 18-26.

BERRIEN COUNTY-POLICE SHOOTING

Man killed in southwestern Michigan police shooting

NILES, Mich. (AP) — Police officers have fatally shot a 28-year-old man in southwestern Michigan after authorities say he charged at them with a knife. The Berrien County sheriff’s office says the confrontation happened about 11 p.m. Thursday at a trailer park near Niles after a 911 caller reported a man with a knife. Sheriff’s deputies found Chaz McGowen of Benton Harbor, but he refused to drop the weapon even after deputies used what the office called “less lethal rounds” against him. The sheriff’s office says that is when he charged at the deputies and they shot him. The identities of the two deputies involved will not be released until the investigation is completed. They have been placed on administrative leave.

TAINTED WATER-ADVISORY PANEL

Panel to advise state on reducing lead in drinking water

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A panel of experts is being assembled to advise Michigan officials on how to reduce lead in drinking water. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) announced the creation of the seven-member panel on Friday. Academic and water system engineering experts will be selected for the panel which will meet on a regular schedule and be available as a resource on an as-needed basis. The state is pushing efforts to reduce lead exposures caused by aging water distribution infrastructure in several communities with the goal of removing lead contamination from drinking water statewide. The agency says its Drinking Water and Environmental Health Division regulates 2,685 public drinking water systems under the state’s Lead and Copper Rule.

SHOOTING RANGE CLOSED

Shooting range closed for 90 days after bullets hit house

BEULAH, Mich. (AP) — A state-run shooting range in northern Michigan is closed after bullets hit a house. The North Pioneer Road shooting area in Benzie County will be closed for 90 days while the Department of Natural Resources looks at ways to prevent people from shooting outside designated areas. DNR Director Dan Eichinger said the shooting area won’t reopen until safety concerns are solved. Hunters wanting to practice before the fall hunting season can look for other shooting areas at Michigan.gov/ShootingRanges.

AUTO SALES

US auto sales slump, stalled by car computer chip shortage

DETROIT (AP) — U.S. new vehicle sales tumbled about 26% in September as a global shortage of computer chips worsened, shuttering factories and limiting the selection on dealer lots. Edmunds.com said automakers sold just over 1 million new vehicles last month. With strong demand, that has forced up prices, sending many buyers to the sidelines. In the third quarter, sales fell 13% from a year ago. General Motors said its third-quarter sales were off nearly 33% from last year. Stellantis saw quarterly sales dip 19%, while Nissan was down 10%. Honda fell 11%. At Toyota, sales were off 22% for September but up just over 1% in the third quarter.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MASKS

Health agencies rescind mask orders despite governor’s vow

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Four local health departments in Michigan have rescinded their school masking requirements despite Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer saying she will not enforce Republican-written budget provisions that threaten funding for counties with COVID-19 orders. Allegan County and the Barry-Eaton District repealed their mask mandates Thursday. Berrien County did so Wednesday, while the health department for Dickinson and Iron counties acted last week. Whitmer signed the spending plan Wednesday but said the provisions related to local mask and quarantine orders are unconstitutional and have no effect. The state will not withhold funding. The issue could go to court.

DEER-TEEN RUNNER

Deer knocks down teen runner half-mile from the finish line

SAGINAW, Mich. (AP) — A teenager running a two-mile race suffered a broken collarbone after being knocked over by a deer. It happened last weekend to Madison Sylvester, who runs for Saginaw White Pine Middle School. She was in a race at Delta College when the deer hit her. Madison says she saw the doe out of the corner of her eye but figured it would go behind her. Well, it didn’t. Her sister, Maegen, was just 10 feet behind. Madison wanted to finish the race, but her father, Josh, carried her to the finish line. He says his daughter is taking the bizarre incident well and wants to compete again as soon as possible.

AP-EU-DAIMLER-TRUCK-SPINOFF

Daimler’s trucks, luxury cars to go their separate ways

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Daimler’s truck and luxury car businesses are going their separate ways. Daimler AG shareholders made the decision at an extraordinary meeting on Friday. The move gives the separate businesses the freedom to pursue different technologies as the push toward zero emission vehicles transforms the industry. The independent Daimler Truck Holding AG plans to develop hydrogen powered long-haul trucks, while Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz luxury car business is more focused on battery power. The move means that Daimler will rename itself Mercedes-Benz Group after the spinoff goes through later this year.

MUSIC-INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS AWARDS

Billy Strings wins bluegrass entertainer of the year award

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Grammy-winning bluegrass musician Billy Strings won entertainer of the year at the genre’s top awards show, a major feat for the 28-year-old guitarist who beat out veteran performers. The Bluegrass Music Awards were handed out Thursday in Raleigh, North Carolina, where Strings was also named guitar player of the year. Also picking up multiple awards was Appalachian Road Show, which won best new artist and instrumental group of the year. Sister Sadie won vocal group of the year, and song of the year went to Balsam Range for “Richest Man.”

CONFEDERATE STATUE-MICHIGAN

Allendale decides not to pursue charges in statue vandalism

ALLENDALE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — Officials in a western Michigan community have decided not to pursue criminal charges against people who vandalized a statue of Confederate and Union Civil War soldiers with a Black child kneeling between them. The Allendale Township board on Thursday said proceeding with the case would require time and resources and only create more divisiveness. The board voted in June to keep the statue in a local park, despite a recommendation from a group that the statue be replaced by one with Union soldiers who are Black, Native American and white. Calls for the statue to come down began last year following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and anti-police brutality protests around the country.