News

By AP

DEWITT TWP., MI – A motorcycle-riding Clinton County sheriff's deputy died in a traffic accident on his way to work.

DeWitt Township police Chief Brian Russell says Douglas Alward was killed on northbound U.S. 127 Monday after he hit a deer that jumped in front of him, was thrown from his motorcycle and was struck by a semitrailer.

Alward's wife, Alicen, tells the Lansing State Journal her husband would ride his motorcycle from his Lansing home to the agency's headquarters in St. Johns.

By WKAR

LANSING, MI – The Lansing Lugnuts defeated the South Bend Silver Hawks 5-3 yesterday at Oldsmobile Park. The two clubs wrap up their four-game series tonight in Lansing.

By AP

DETROIT – DETROIT (AP) - Mike Jacobs hit a go-ahead solo homer in the ninth and closer Joakim Soria held on, giving the Kansas City Royals a 4-3 win over the Detroit Tigers on Monday night.

Willie Bloomquist drove in three runs for the Royals, connecting on a home run in the sixth and a two-run triple in the eighth.

Detroit's Ryan Raburn homered in the sixth and had an RBI double in the eighth, making it 3-all.

By AP

ANN ARBOR, MI – University of Michigan economists say the state's hard times will stick around for the rest of the year and into 2010.

Economic forecaster George Fulton says he and colleague Joan Crary "see some improvement, but it will continue to be slow and difficult."

They predict unemployment will average 15.8% in 2010, the highest rate since the current counting system began in 1970.

By AP

DETROIT – DETROIT (AP) - Mayor Dave Bing says he is bringing in one-time political opponent and Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans as Detroit's third police chief in less than a year.

At a news conference Monday morning, Bing says the 60-year-old Evans will replace James Barren, who was fired Friday. Barren was brought out of retirement and appointed chief in September by then-Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr. after Ella Bully-Cummings retired.

By Mark Bashore, WKAR News

LANSING, MI – For decades, Michigan's community colleges have been centers of vocational education. Now, during a debilitating recession, a collaborative new program promises to expand that role. Participants, which include Lansing Community College, say the Michigan New Jobs Training Program could breathe life into the state's shattered manufacturing economy. But as WKAR's Mark Bashore reports, planners want to avoid the problems of a similar Iowa program.

By Associated Press

Detroit, MI – (AP) - Two Boston newspapers are reporting the Celtics
have reached an agreement with free agent Rasheed Wallace. Wallace,
who played the last six seasons in Detroit, has averaged 15 points
and 6.9 rebounds in 14 NBA seasons and averaged 12 points and 7.4
rebounds last season in Motown.

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

EAST LANSING, MI – The federal government has released the first round of funding for Michigan to hire and train workers to help low-income families save money on their heating bills.

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – A new law allows homeowners to freeze foreclosure proceedings for 90 days while they try to work out new payment arrangements with their lenders. The law took effect yesterday.

AUDIO: Homeowners who freeze their foreclosures have to contact credit counselors who, in turn, will help them negotiate new terms with their lenders. Lenders are required to cooperate.

By AP

DETROIT – DETROIT (AP) - A city fund intended to cover emergencies was used for expenses that included a publicist hired by ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick during the text-message scandal that drove him from office last year.

Records obtained by the Detroit Free Press under the Freedom of Information Act show the city issued 900 so-called quick checks from the fund to cover routine or questionable expenses.

By AP

DETROIT – DETROIT (AP) - Detroit's police chief says he feels like he's been kicked in the stomach after learning he was being fired by the mayor.

James Barren told WXYZ-TV for a Saturday report no reason for the firing was given, and he didn't ask.

Assistant Chief Ronald Fleming told reporters Saturday that Barren told him Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans would take over as chief starting today. Fleming said he also was leaving the department.

By AP

LANSING, MI – Most state government offices are shut down Monday as Michigan has its second of six unpaid furlough days for most employees.

The furlough days are an effort to cut $22 million from the budget.

State police road patrols will continue and prisons and veterans' homes will be staffed. Unemployment call centers also will be open.

State government operations will be similar to those observed on public holidays.

By AP

NEW YORK – A bankruptcy judge says General Motors can sell the bulk of its assets to a new company, clearing the way for the automaker to quickly emerge from bankruptcy.

U.S. Judge Robert Gerber ruled late Sunday that the sale is needed to avoid "immediate and irreparable harm" to GM.

GM's government-backed plan for a quick exit from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection hinges on the sale, which will allow the automaker to leave behind many of its costs and liabilities.

By Rob Bennett, WKAR

DETROIT – After losing quite a bit this off season via free agency the Detroit Redwings kept one of their promising young talents; Ville Leino. The twenty-five year old winger signed a two year contract worth $1.6 million to stay in Detroit. Leino in thirteen regular season games had nine points and had two assists in the playoffs for the Western Conference champions.

By AP

AUBURN HILLS, MI – Erin Phillips scored six of her 19 points in overtime, leading the Connecticut Sun to a 95-92 victory over the Detroit Shock on Sunday.

Sandrine Gruda, playing her first game of the season after representing France in the European championships, had a career-high 23 points for the Sun (5-4).

Detroit, which lost star Deanna Nolan to a pulled hamstring in the third quarter, fell to 2-7. Katie Smith had 28 points and rookie Shavonte Zellous added 20.

By WKAR

LANSING, MI – The South Bend Silver Hawks beat the Lansing Lugnuts 7-1 on Sunday afternoon at Oldsmobile Park. The two teams will play the third game in a four-game series tonight at 7:05.

By AP

MINNEAPOLIS – MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Detroit Tigers starting pitchers Edwin Jackson and Justin Verlander and center fielder Curtis Granderson have been selected for the All-Star game.

The rosters were revealed on Sunday afternoon. Third baseman Brandon Inge is one of five finalists for the last spot on the American League team, to be selected via internet voting.

By AP

MINNEAPOLIS – MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Justin Morneau punctuated a productive series - and celebrated another All-Star game selection - with a two-run homer for the Minnesota Twins in a 6-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday.

Blackburn (7-4) took a shutout into the ninth inning before left fielder Denard Span dropped a line drive for an error and Brandon Inge followed with a two-run home run, his 19th.

By AP

TRAVERSE CITY, MI – Meijer Inc. and a developer have agreed to pay $75,000 to a group that fought their proposed superstore in a rural Michigan community.

Under a deal signed Wednesday, Concerned Citizens of Acme Township agreed not to sue Meijer or the Village at Grand Traverse LLC. Also released from liability were a law firm and a public relations firm that represented the companies.

By AP

LANSING, MI – Gov. Jennifer Granholm plans to leave Monday for a trade trip to Germany and Belgium.

It will be the Democrat's eighth overseas trade trip. She plans to talk with leaders of high-tech companies she thinks can help Michigan move toward gaining jobs in green technology and alternative fuels, although her office hasn't provided specifics.

The governor has made previous trade trips to Germany, Austria, Japan, Sweden and the Middle East.