Michigan News

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan will create a statewide mental health hotline under legislation signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The telephone referral system will be available 24 hours a day, seven days of week and refer people experiencing a mental health crisis to service providers.

A spending law approved in 2018 included $3 million to develop, operate and maintain a hotline pilot program.

The new law, which was enacted Monday and takes effect in three months, will expand that program statewide.

President Donald Trump will visit a Michigan factory to tout a new North American trade agreement.

He will tour and give remarks at the Dana Inc. facility in the Detroit suburb of Warren on Thursday, a day after he holds a signing ceremony for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade deal in Washington.

The deal to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement passed on bipartisan votes in Congress, scoring the president a political victory amid his Senate impeachment trial.

ALLEGAN, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan priest accused of wrapping a teenager in bubble wrap has been sentenced to 60 days in jail.

The Rev. Brian  Stanley had pleaded guilty to attempted false imprisonment. Stanley was accused of wrapping a boy in bubble wrap and tape in 2013 in a janitor’s room at a church in Allegan County.

The alleged incident occurred in 2013 at St. Margaret Church in Otsego and lasted for more than an hour before the boy was released.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A third woman has accused a Michigan state legislator of sexual harassment.

Melissa Osborn who works as a regulatory affairs specialist for a trade group.

She tells Crain's Detroit Business that state Sen. Peter Lucido commented on her appearance and clothes while scanning her body and touching her lower back area.

Osborn says it happened at the Michigan Credit Union League's annual government affairs conference in May.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) — Michigan regulators have approved a rate increase for Indiana Michigan Power, though one significantly smaller than initially sought by the utility.

The Michigan Public Service Commission approved an agreement Thursday allowing the Fort Wayne-based company to boost its Michigan customers' rates by a total of $36.4 million annually.

That's about 38 percent lower than the proposed $58.5 million increase.

Regulators say a customer who uses 500 kilowatt hours of electricity a month will see an increase of $12.14, or about 15 percent.

Voting is underway in Michigan's presidential primary more than a year after the option was greatly expanded through the passage of a ballot measure.

Today it was announced that Michigan's Democratic Governor, Gretchen Whitmer, will deliver her party's response following President Trump's State of the Union address.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A group has launched a ballot drive that would target lobbying in Michigan's Capitol by banning free food and drink for state elected officials, requiring former lawmakers to wait two years to become lobbyists and creating a new system to track lobbying activities.

The Coalition to Close Lansing Loopholes filed language for the proposed constitutional amendment with the state elections board on Thursday.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A new study says Michigan is among 16 states where the lowest-poverty school districts receive less state and local funding than the highest-poverty districts do — a 5-percentage points disparity that ranks fifth-worst nationally.

The report from Education Trust-Midwest, a Royal Oak-based advocacy group, is the latest to urge the state to provide K-12 funding based on student need and significantly boost spending on low-income students, English language learners and those with disabilities.

Tesla will be able to sell and service its vehicles in the back yard of Detroit's three automakers under a lawsuit settlement, a person briefed on the matter says.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has declined to take a case stemming from the 2014 water crisis in Flint, Michigan.

Approximately 25,000 people have sued over the crisis, in which a change in the source of the city's water resulted in lead contamination.

The case the justices turned away without comment Tuesday involves a lawsuit against the city and water regulators.

The lawsuit claims the officials failed to protect residents from a foreseeable risk of harm.

A Michigan lawmaker who is under investigation for allegedly making a sexist comment to a reporter now faces a sexual harassment complaint from a fellow senator.

State Sen. Mallory McMorrow filed the complaint Tuesday against Republican Sen. Peter Lucido over an incident that occurred during an orientation near the Capitol shortly after the November 2018 election.

McMorrow, a Democrat, says Lucido held his hand on her lower back for an extended period of time while suggesting she beat an incumbent Republican because of her looks. Lucido denies the allegation.

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State University is considering a fall break next school year, which could give students Election Day off.

But some think the schedule change could undercut efforts to encourage student voting on campus.

Classes could be canceled on Monday, Nov. 2, and Tuesday, Nov. 3, which is Election Day.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A technology change is forcing Michigan's corrections department to spend about $4.6 million to fit more than 4,000 parolees and others under state supervision with new ankle monitors.

Michigan Department of Corrections Public Information Officer Chris Gautz says the change is necessary because the 3G-enabled monitors won't work because Verizon is upgrading its network from 3G to 4G.

He says the process of swapping out devices for those wearing the ankle bracelets is expected to take about 45 days.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Annual fees that allow unlimited access to Michigan's state parks is rising by $1.

Starting March 1, it will cost $12 for the Recreation Passport when it's bought with one's license plate registration renewal.

It's the first fee increase in seven years.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources attributes the fee change to a provision in the law that ensures the funding source keeps pace with inflation.