News

By AP

DETROIT – Marco Scutaro's second error of the game allowed Brandon Inge to score from second base in the bottom of the 10th inning, and the Detroit Tigers rallied to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 on Monday night.

Pinch-hitter Aubrey Huff belted a tying three-run homer in the ninth and Ryan Raburn also went deep for the American League Central-leading Tigers.

Adam Lind and Edwin Encarnacion homered for Toronto.

By AP

KALAMAZOO, MI – One of two teens accused of beating a 15-year-old boy because he is gay will spend six to nine months in juvenile detention after pleading guilty to aggravated assault.

The 16-year-old defendant was sentenced Monday in Kalamazoo County Family Court.

Portage's Steve Harmon says he was attacked Aug. 13 in a Portage parking lot. He says his attackers used anti-gay slurs as they struck him about 20 times in the head and face.

By AP

LANSING, MI – Michigan will get about $19.6 million in federal stimulus money for energy efficiency and conservation projects.

The U.S. Department of Energy said in a release Monday the block grant will go toward energy efficiency projects and programs, and to building audits, upgrades and codes.

The Michigan package is part of $354 million awarded to 22 states.

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – There are 16 days until the deadline to complete a new state budget. Talks will resume in Lansing this week to try and resolve the impasse. The Democratic leader of the state House says he expects there will be budget votes this week.

AUDIO:

By AP

LANSING, MI – Facing an Oct. 1 deadline to get a budget in place, Democratic House Speaker Andy Dillon is talking about adopting all $1.2 billion in cuts that Senate Republicans passed in June.

In return, the Republican Senate majority might agree after Oct. 1 to put money back into the budget for some programs important to Democrats, who want to to keep a college scholarship program and money for early childhood development and local police and firefighters.

By AP

DETROIT – Gerald Laird and Brandon Inge each had two RBIs, helping the Detroit Tigers snap a season-worst five-game skid with a 7-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.

Rick Porcello won a matchup with fellow rookie Ricky Romero. Porcello (13-8) gave up two runs on four hits in six innings to improve to 3-0 in his last four starts.

Romero (12-8) also went six innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits.

By AP

NEW ORLEANS – Drew Brees looked even better than last year, which was bad news for a Detroit Lions team trying to win for the first time since 2007.

Brees tied a Saints record with six touchdown passes and threw for 358 yards as the Saints beat the Lions 45-27 Sunday to extend Detroit's regular-season losing streak to 18.

Two of Brees' touchdown passes went to Jeremy Shockey, who hadn't scored since being traded from the New York Giants to New Orleans last season.

By AP

DETROIT – Detroit Mayor Dave Bing says the economically troubled city will focus on core public safety services while outsourcing or privatizing others.

Bing described his plan in an interview published Sunday in the Detroit Free Press.

Detroit faces a $300 million budget deficit and its revenue could be $80 million short as the city tries to pay bills this fiscal year.

Bing said he must shrink the city's 13,000-member work force by 10 percent, lower labor costs and cut services to keep the city afloat financially.

By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – A state lawmaker says Michigan's constitution should be amended so high school graduates can go to in-state universities and colleges for free.

By Gretchen Millich

Lansing, MI – Michigan State University President Lou Anna Simon says a proposed multi-use facility for the building that now houses the state library and historical center would benefit downtown Lansing.

MSU is proposing a new state museum called the Center for Innovation and Reinvention. President Lou Anna Simon says the facility would combine the Historical Center collections with exhibits from the MSU Museum and also serve as a new headquarters for the Impression 5 Science Center.

By WKAR

East Lansing, MI – Central Michigan football coach Butch Jones discusses the heart of his team after the Chippewas thrilling 29-27 victory over Michigan State.

By WKAR

East Lansing, MI – Central Michigan makes good on a second chance 42 yard field goal with just 3 seconds remaining clinched a 29-27 victory at Spartan Stadium.

By Mark Bashore, WKAR News

GRAND LEDGE, MI – A national Medicare advocate says federal health care reform would strengthen the program. Max Richtman is an executive with the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. He says there's a misperception that reform would reduce benefits for seniors:

"Actually it's just the opposite," he says. "Without health care reform, seniors on Medicare are going to suffer. They're gonna pay more for their deductibles, premiums, co-payments they're gonna get less care "

By AP

LANSING, MI – Viewers statewide will have ringside seats as lawmakers struggle to reach a budget deal and avoid an Oct. 1 government shutdown.

Michigan Government Television said Friday it will begin providing around-the-clock coverage Monday that will continue until 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9. The cable station usually is on from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays.

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – Flags were at half-staff at state office buildings to commemorate the 8th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. A small group of people gathered at the state Capitol to read the names of everyone who died in the attacks.

Friday was also a national day of service and remembrance by an act of Congress. In her weekly radio address, Governor Granholm says there are more than 100 service projects underway in Michigan.

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – Governor Granholm is headed to Japan this weekend on a business recruitment trip.

By AP / Rob South, WKAR News

OWOSSO, MI – A Michigan prosecutor says a man has been charged in the shooting deaths of an anti-abortion activist and a business owner and that he planned to kill a third man.

Shiawassee County Prosecutor Randy Colbry says Harlan James Drake is accused of shooting 63-year-old James Pouillon and 61-year-old Mike Fuoss Friday morning. It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney.

Shiawassee County Sheriff George Braidwood says police are trying to determine the exact motive for the killing.

By AP

DETROIT, MI – A person familiar with the matter says General Motors Co. is telling employees in an e-mail that it will restore white-collar pay cuts made earlier this year, as of Sept. 1.

The person requested anonymity because no official announcement
has been made.

The company cut executive-level pay by 10 percent, manager pay by 7% and most other salaries by 5% in the spring as it struggled to avoid bankruptcy protection.

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – Governor Granholm is to meet again Friday with legislative leaders to talk about the budget. The deadline for completing the budget or risking a state government shutdown is three weeks away.

By AP

KANSAS CITY, MO – Alex Gordon and Alberto Callaspo homered, leading the last-place Kansas City Royals past the Detroit Tigers 7-4 on Thursday for a surprising three-game sweep of the AL
Central leaders.

It was the first three-game sweep of an American League team at home this season for the Royals. They've won four straight overall for the first time since June 12-16.