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MICHIGAN GOVERNOR-KIDNAPPING PLOT

Agent: Gov. Whitmer kidnap plotters ‘excited’ about bomb

An FBI agent who was working undercover says two key people in the plot to kidnap Michigan’s governor were excited to get their hands on explosives. Tim Bates testified Monday in federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on the 11th day of trial. Four men are charged with conspiring to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020. The government says they were armed extremists angry over Whitmer’s COVID-19 policies. In summer 2020, Bates was working undercover as “Red.” He fooled the group into believing that he knew someone in the mining industry who could get high-grade explosives. Defense attorneys deny there was an actual plan to kidnap Whitmer.

DEER CULL-MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP

About 330 deer culled from select areas in Meridian Township

MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — About 330 deer have been shot this year in one Lansing-area community. WLNS-TV reports Monday that the cull was part of Meridian Township’s Deer Management Program and is intended to reduce the deer population and the number of vehicle crashes involving deer. The cull by township police officers was to take place during evenings and overnight hours in select parks, land preserves and on private property where consent was given. Township Police Chief Ken Plaga says “targeted areas of culling herds have greatly reduced the danger of injury to people” in the community and costs resulting from property damage due to automobile crashes.

DIVISION 4 ALL-STATE GIRLS

Fowler’s Mia Riley AP Division 4 top girls basketball player

Fowler’s Mia Riley has been named The Associated Press Division 4 girls basketball player of the year. Riley was a repeat selection for the honor. The Ferris State-bound Riley averaged 16.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 2.9 assists while helping Fowler to a 24-3 season.She finished her career ranked among the top three scorers in school history and was part of two of the program’s three state championships. Fowler coach Nathan Goerge was voted the coach of the year. They were selected by a panel of eight sports writers.

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.

BOY-SCOUT-LEADER-CHARGES

Former Michigan troop leader arraigned on sex abuse charges

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. (AP) — A former troop leader has been arraigned on multiple charges that stemmed from Michigan’s review of child sexual abuse lawsuits against the Boy Scouts of America. Mark Chapman appeared Monday in Roseville District Court on first- and second-degree criminal sexual conduct charges. The 51-year-old Chapman is accused of sexually assaulting two boys at the time he was a scoutmaster in the Detroit suburb, where he also worked in and attended The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has said that starting in 2000, one victim was abused at the church — where the troop sometimes met — and other places from the time he was 13 or 14 until he was 17.

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.

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.