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

GAS TAX-FREEZE

Michigan Legislature votes to halt gas tax; Whitmer opposed

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan lawmakers have voted to suspend the state’s 27.2-cents-a-gallon gasoline and diesel taxes, finalizing a bill that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signaled she will veto. The Republican-sponsored legislation was approved 24-14 on mostly party lines Tuesday in the Senate after the House passed it last week. It would save drivers about $750 million by freezing the taxes from April through September. Whitmer, a Democrat, has instead supported halting the federal 18.4-cents-per-gallon gas tax and 24.4-cent diesel tax while calling for negotiations on permanent tax cuts to commence. Legislative leaders may look at removing the 6% sales tax on fuel.

DIAPER TAX

MIchigan diaper tax repeal gets chucked from the House

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Legislation to repeal the sales tax on diapers has not received enough votes to pass the Michigan state House. After the tampon tax got repealed last year, legislation was introduced to eliminate the sales tax on diapers for adults and children. But a vote to pass the bills failed Tuesday. Bill sponsor Rep. Julie Alexander said in a news release after the vote that the vote lets down Michigan families who will continue to face the added cost on necessary hygiene items.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-UPTON

Congressman Upton announces positive test for COVID-19

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Fred Upton says he has tested positive for COVID-19. He tweeted Tuesday that he tested positive after taking a routine test. The southwestern Michigan Republican reported he was experiencing mild symptoms. He says he’s vaccinated and has had his booster. Upton will isolate for the next five days as recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Other members of the Michigan delegation to disclose COVID infections include Dan Kildee, Tim Walberg and Bill Huizenga.

MICHIGAN LAWMAKERS-THREATS

Ohio woman charged with threatening Black Michigan lawmakers

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — An Ohio woman has been charged with leaving threatening, racist voicemails for two Black state lawmakers in Michigan. Sandra Bachman, 58, is from Batavia east of Cincinnati. She is accused of calling Democratic Rep. Sarah Anthony of Lansing last May about a bill and saying “you won’t see the bullet coming.” In a message left for Democratic Rep. Cynthia Johnson of Detroit last June, Bachman allegedly called her racial slurs and threatened to kill her. Bachman is charged in Lansing district court with making a terrorist threat or false report of terrorism, ethnic intimidation and malicious use of telecommunications services.

TRAIN-TEEN INJURED

Court rules against railroad that struck Detroit-area teen

WYANDOTTE, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan Court of Appeals has reinstated a lawsuit against a railroad, 10 years after a teen listening to music was struck by a train and severely injured in suburban Detroit. The appeals court says a judge misinterpreted a case from the 19th century and made other incorrect conclusions while ruling in favor of Grand Trunk Western Railroad. Jacob Marion, who was 14 at the time, was struck by a train as he walked down tracks in Wyandotte in 2012. The conductor and engineer saw the boy and sounded a horn, but the train’s emergency brake wasn’t activated in time to avoid the collision. The case now will return to Wayne County court.

DRUNKEN BOATER-FATAL

Boater who killed swimmer on Gull Lake is sent to prison

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — A man who was drunk when his boat struck and killed an 18-year-old swimmer in southwestern Michigan has been sentenced to at least 15 months in prison. Tyler Boyd was on Gull Lake over the July 4 weekend last year when his boat hit Jack Mitchell. His blood-alcohol level was well over the legal limit. Boyd pleaded guilty to operating a boat while intoxicated causing death. Jennifer Mitchell says her son was a “perfect child.” The 39-year-old Boyd acknowledged the family’s loss and says the decision to drink and drive the boat that day was the “single worse choice” he’s ever made.

MICHIGAN GOVERNOR-KIDNAPPING PLOT

COVID-19 delays trial in plot to abduct Mich. Gov. Whitmer

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — The trial of four men accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has been postponed until Thursday because an “essential” participant has tested positive for COVID-19. U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker hasn’t identified the infected person. Masks are optional in the courtroom. Adam Fox, Barry Croft Jr., Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta are charged with planning to kidnap Whitmer in retaliation for her tough policies during the early months of the pandemic. Undercover FBI agents and informants are expected to testify in the coming weeks, along with two co-conspirators who pleaded guilty prior to trial. Testimony began last Wednesday.

CHEMICAL ATTACK-CHARGES

Teen charged with homicide after chemical burns kill father

GROVELAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan teenager accused of burning her father by throwing chemicals on him last fall is facing a homicide charge following his recent death at a hospital. Eighteen-year-old Megan Joyce Imirowicz of Groveland Township was initially charged with one count of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and one count of domestic violence. But WDIV-TV reports she has been taken back into custody and charged with homicide following her father’s death this month. She is accused of creating a dangerous mixture containing drain cleaner last October and throwing it on her father, who suffered burns all over his body.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-DETROIT ARCHBISHOP

Detroit archbishop has COVID-19, reports mild symptoms

DETROIT (AP) — Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron says he has tested positive for COVID-19 and reports “very mild” symptoms. The 73-tear-old spiritual leader of 1.2 million Catholics in southeastern Michigan said on Twitter Monday that he was “fully vaccinated and boosted.” He offered “prayers for members of our community who have been affected by this virus _ particularly those who have died, suffered serious illness, or lost loved ones.” He said he also was praying ”for healthcare workers who continue to tirelessly offer their compassionate service and healing to those who need it.”

LIVE SCORPION IMPORTS-PLEA

Oregon man pleads guilty to importing live scorpions

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon man has pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally importing and exporting hundreds of live scorpions. The Oregon Department of Justice says Darren Drake pleaded guilty Monday to conspiring with others to commit Lacey Act violations. Court documents say from September 2017 into March 2018, Drake imported and exported dozens of live scorpions from and to contacts in Germany without obtaining an import-export license from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Documents say one intercepted parcel had been falsely labeled as chocolates. Drake also mailed or received several hundred live scorpions from other U.S. states, including Michigan and Texas, in violation of federal mailing laws.