Michigan News

Longtime Michigan State football coach George Perles has died at the age of 85.

Perles coached the Spartans to a Rose Bowl victory in 1988 after helping the Pittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowls as an defensive assistant.

Perles played football at Michigan State and later was an assistant, head coach, athletic director and member of the school’s governing body.

He won Big Ten titles in 1987 and 1990 as coach and guided the school to seven bowls.

The Michigan Supreme Court says the public can bring laptops, tablets and phones into local courthouses.

The court announced the groundbreaking policy change Wednesday.

The new rule covers the use of electronic devices in courtrooms and clerk's offices, where public documents are stored. 

The public can bring electronic devices into courtrooms to take notes, use the internet or exchange email and text messages.  

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A group is launching a 2020 ballot initiative to expand Michigan's civil rights law to include anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people.

Fair and Equal Michigan submitted petition language to the Board of State Canvassers on Tuesday.

Once it's approved, the committee of business, political and philanthropic leaders will try to collect 340,000 signatures to place the initiated bill before lawmakers.

If the Republican-led Legislature doesn't adopt the legislation, the initiative would go to a statewide vote in November.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is considering adding an alternative to the male or female designation on driver's  licenses.

Such a designation might be an "X." Fourteen other states that offer an option other than male or female.

Erin Knott is with Equality Michigan. 

She says it would help people who are transgender or who don't conform to traditional gender roles.

"It's saying that all Michiganders, including members of the transgender community, deserve to live with dignity and respect," Knott says. 

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — President Donald Trump's nominee to serve as the top federal prosecutor in Grand Rapids is being held up by Michigan's two Democratic senators.

The Detroit News reports former state House Speaker Tom Leonard's nomination, announced in August, is being blocked after Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters declined to meet with him.

Typically, a nominee isn't confirmed without two positive blue slips from his or her home-state senators - but the Republican-controlled Senate has approved some appeals court nominees anyway.

EAST LANSING, Mich (AP) — An official with Michigan State University Federal Credit Union says 2,300 cards were charged with false transactions to an international televangelist network.

Officials with the Lansing-area credit union say it's unclear who was behind the fraudulent charges to LoveWorld TV.

Each charge was under $100 and will be refunded.

The credit union says it is also issuing new cards to members who were affected.

DETROIT (AP) — U.S. Census Bureau data shows that Michigan's population grew by less than 3,000 residents last year, apparently keeping the state on track to lose one congressional seat following the 2020 Census.

The Detroit News reports the figures released Wednesday reveal Michigan saw an increase of 2,785 residents, bringing its total to 9,986,857.

An online apportionment tool from the University of Michigan Population Studies Center indicates that Michigan appears on pace to lose a congressional seat due to other states surpassing its growth.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Authorities are looking for a man accused of threatening to shoot up Ohio State University and hurt players on the football team in 2018.

A September indictment unsealed last month accuses Daniel Rippy of making the “electronic communication” threat from California during the annual game between Ohio State and the University of Michigan in 2018, which was played in Columbus that year.

Ohio State won the game 62-39.

Rippy was arrested Dec. 28 in Livermore, California, and released on bond Monday.

DETROIT (AP) — A Michigan university is out with its 45th annual list of words or phrases that should be retired. At the top of the list: quid pro quo. The Latin phrase got new life during the impeachment investigation of President Donald Trump.

Lake Superior State University each year invites the public to nominate words and phrases that seem tired or annoying through everyday speech, news coverage and more.

NEW: 

Michigan environmental officials say drastic steps may be needed to clean-up chemicals that produced a green ooze in portions of Macomb County.

DETROIT (AP) — A federal judge in Detroit is making it easier for independent candidates to run for statewide office.

Judge Victoria Roberts says the 30,000-signature threshold is too high and doesn't reflect a “compelling state interest.”

She set the bar at 12,000 petition signatures for the 2020 election.

The ruling could immediately affect independent candidates who want to run for U.S. Senate or president.

There are no races next year for Michigan governor, attorney general or secretary of state.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — An audit of Michigan’s Bureau of Elections released Friday found discrepancies that allowed an unauthorized user to access the state's voter file and inadequate training of elections officials in over 500 local governments.

The audit by the Office of Auditor General found that 32 counties, 83 cities and 426 townships lack fully accredited clerks nearly two weeks before a general election year begins.

The audit also found that an unauthorized user accessed the state’s file of 7.5 million qualified voters.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan Supreme Court says it won't take an expedited appeal from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in a dispute over flavored e-cigarettes.

The court says any appeal should follow a traditional course to the Court of Appeals.

A Court of Claims judge in October blocked Whitmer's ban on flavored e-cigarettes, saying health officials can't justify short cuts to adopt the new regulations.

The judge also expressed concern about the impact on adults who might be vaping to avoid regular cigarettes.

Experts say a change in Michigan’s election law could bring a big change to how candidates campaign in the state.