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FOREVER CHEMICALS-MICHIGAN BEEF

Toxic ‘forever chemicals’ found in Michigan farm’s beef

Officials say beef produced at a small Michigan farm was found to contain toxic “forever chemicals.” A state advisory says a PFAS compound was detected in steaks and roasts from Grostic Cattle Co. in Livingston County. Investigators say the contamination came from cattle feed that was fertilized with wastewater plant biosolids containing the compounds. They say Grostic Cattle Co. has cooperated with the state’s investigation. PFAS chemicals are found in a host of industrial and consumer products. They’ve been linked to a variety of health problems. They are known as “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in the environment or the human body.

SCHOLARSHIP ERROR

2 Michigan schools mistakenly award scholarships to students

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. (AP) — A university in Michigan says it erroneously notified students that they would receive top tuition awards, just days after another school in the state said its prospective students were mistakenly told they had won full-ride scholarships. Oakland University in Rochester Hills said Friday that due to human error email notifications were sent to about 5,500 admitted students saying they were entitled to receive its Platinum Presidential Scholar Award. Those students didn’t meet eligibility requirements for the award. Central Michigan University said Friday that its admissions director no longer works at that school after 58 youths received messages last weekend telling them they had won an award that includes full tuition and room and board.

SCHOOL EMBEZZLEMENT-JAIL DEATH

Man awaiting sentence in embezzlement case dies in jail

WEST OLIVE, Mich. (AP) — A man has died in a western Michigan jail days after pleading no contest in the theft of more than $900,000 from a school district where he worked. The Ottawa County sheriff’s office says 56-year-old Brian Wheeler was pronounced dead Thursday night in the county jail after deputies responded to a medical incident. Wheeler of Muskegon was found unresponsive about 8 p.m. The sheriff’s office says deputies, jail medical services and paramedics were unable to resuscitate him. His death was being investigated by the state police. Wheeler entered his plea Monday in an embezzlement case in the Grand Haven school district where he was technology director.

MICHIGAN REDISTRICTING

Groups to challenge partisan fairness of Michigan House map

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Several groups will sue to challenge Michigan’s new state House map, alleging it’s biased toward Republicans and should be redrawn to be fairer to Democrats. The lawsuit will be the third seeking to block congressional or legislative plans created by a new redistricting panel. The state constitution says districts “shall not provide a disproportionate advantage to any political party.” It’s the fourth-ranked criteria. The commission’s own analysis shows a pro-Republican tilt in three scores that measure partisan fairness. But a fourth metric shows the party winning the most votes statewide would control the House. That frequently didn’t happen under maps drawn by the Republican-led Legislature.

BOY KILLED-BULLDOZER

Police: Boy, 7, dies after being run over by bulldozer

MAPLE GROVE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A 7-year-old boy has died after being run over by a bulldozer operated by his father in Barry County. State police say the boy was riding on a trailer that was being pulled by the bulldozer in a Maple Grove Township field when he fell about 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The bulldozer then rolled over the boy who died at the scene near his family’s home. His death was being investigated as an accident. Maple Grove Township is southeast of Grand Rapids.

SCHOOL SHOOTING-MICHIGAN

Michigan school shooting suspect to pursue insanity defense

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (AP) — Attorneys say a teenager charged with killing four students at a Michigan high school will pursue an insanity defense. A summary of case filings says a notice was filed Thursday. The notice should lead to mental health exams of 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley, who is charged as an adult with murder and other crimes for the shooting at Oxford High School last year. The filing comes the same day as a new lawsuit alleging negligence by school officials and Crumbley’s parents over the attack. The lawsuit is on behalf of the parents of Tate Myre, who was slain Nov. 30, and other students who witnessed the shootings. The Associated Press sent an email seeking comment from the school district.

PROFESSOR-VIDEO

Judge won’t immediately put Michigan professor back in class

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan professor suspended for making a provocative video for his history students won’t be returning to class any time soon. A federal judge rejected Barry Mehler’s request for immediate reinstatement Wednesday and set a March 7 hearing on his bid for a preliminary injunction. The 74-year-old Mehler was suspended with pay earlier this month after making a sarcastic 14-minute video that included profanity and criticism of Ferris State University’s COVID-19 policies. His attorneys say the professor was wrongly punished for expressing free speech. Mehler says he was performing when he used salty language in the video.

MENINGITIS-MICHIGAN STATE

Meningitis case prompts antibiotic distribution in E Lansing

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State University and health officials are distributing antibiotics to people who attended a fraternity party after a person at the party tested positive for bacterial meningitis. The Ingham County Health Department and the university are holding distribution clinics for the antibiotic tablets Friday and Saturday from 1-5 p.m. at the MSU Room on the third floor of the MSU Union Building in East Lansing. They recommend that everyone who was present at the party receive the antibiotic within 14 days of exposure. The Jan. 22 party was hosted by Sigma Beta Rho fraternity at Club Rush in East Lansing.

ELECTION 2020-MICHIGAN GOVERNOR

‘Quality guru’ is 13th in GOP to run for Michigan governor

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Perry Johnson, a “quality guru” who founded a company that certifies if businesses are meeting industrial standards, has filed papers to run for Michigan governor. The 74-year-old from Bloomfield Hills is the 13th Republican seeking the nomination to face Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. He plans to make a formal announcement in February, joining contenders such as Detroit Police Chief James Craig, businessman Kevin Rinke, chiropractor Garrett Soldano and Tudor Dixon. Johnson says residents would have a much better state government if there was a focus on improving quality with statistical methods. The Democratic Governors Association calls Johnson an “unknown, out-of-touch millionaire.”

PANDEMIC RELIEF-BUSINESSES

Michigan House approves more pandemic grants for businesses

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gyms, movie theaters and other businesses hurt by the coronavirus pandemic would receive state grants under a $185 million spending bill that has won initial legislative approval. The 96-6 vote in the House Thursday comes more than a month after the Legislature and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer enacted $409 million in aid for businesses that lost money. Applications for those grants are due by April 1 and must be disbursed by July 1. The next round of proposed grants would go to fitness centers, convention bureaus, community development banks, cinemas, and live music and entertainment venues.