By WKAR

DAYTON, OH – The Lansing Lugnuts beat the Dayton Dragons 7-3 last night at Fifth Third Field. The victory gave the Lugnuts a fifth consecutive series split of a four-game series, one against each opponent in the Midwest League's Eastern Division. It also pulled Lansing within three games of South Bend for the final playoff spot in the division, setting up a battle tonight between the Lugnuts and Silver Hawks.

By AP

DETROIT – Carlos Pena hit his AL-best 38th homer and drove in four runs to help the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Detroit Tigers 11-7 on Monday for a split of their four-game series.

Tampa Bay scored six times in the first inning, capped by Pena's two-run drive. James Shields remained unbeaten against Detroit, and Jason Bartlett added a solo homer as the Rays moved within five games of idle Boston in the wild-card race.

Tampa Bay hosts the Red Sox on Tuesday night, the start of a three-game series.

By AP

TROY, MI – An 88-year-old Michigan man accused of helping the Nazis during World War II as a Ukrainian policeman says the government's decision to try to deport him is "terrible."

The Justice Department charges that John Kalymon personally shot Jews while serving in the Nazi-sponsored Ukrainian Auxiliary Police.

Kalymon told The Associated Press on Monday that he didn't shoot anybody during the war.

By AP

LANSING, MI – Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alma Wheeler Smith has revised a plan to raise Michigan income taxes and use the money to cover tuition for college students and preschool for all 4-year-olds.

The state representative from Washtenaw County's Salem Township said Monday her bills now make all taxpayers eligible for full tuition reimbursement through a tax credit. An earlier plan had limited full reimbursement to those making $107,000 or less.

By AP

LANSING, MI – Given the tone of an e-mail sent out Monday by the Oakland County GOP, a Tuesday night health care town hall meeting sponsored by U.S. Rep. Gary Peters could be rowdy.

County GOP Chairman David Law urged supporters to ask the Bloomfield Township Democrat to "stop the government takeover of health care."

By Vincent Duffy, Michigan Public Radio Network

ANN ARBOR, MI – University of Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez is defending his program against allegations the school violated NCAA rules.

The Detroit Free Press reported that players say the amount of time they spend on football training and practice greatly exceeds NCAA limits. Rodriguez says his staff knows the rules and obeys the rules. At an emotional press conference, Rodriguez said he understands the value of athletes spending time on their studies:

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – The state is once again refusing to send its monthly revenue sharing payment to Detroit. The cash-strapped city is late filing a legally required audit of its books with the Michigan Treasury.

By AP

DETROIT – State Superintendent Mike Flanagan wanted schools to rethink the way they educate children, and dozens of districts have responded so far to the Michigan Department of Education's Project Reimagine.

Yet the Detroit Free Press reports that it remains to be seen whether the ideas suggested are the type of bold plans that can help children learn while boosting the state's chances of winning a slice of federal stimulus money.

By AP

SAUGATUCK TOWNSHIP, MI – The bloom could be off Michigan's $124 million per year blueberry industry after two
destructive viruses infected bushes in three locations.

Particularly upsetting to scientists is where one of the outbreaks occurred -- Michigan State University's agricultural research station in Allegan County's Saugatuck Township, about four miles from Lake Michigan.

An outbreak of blueberry shock is forcing scientists to destroy plants that represent two decades and millions of dollars of research.

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – A Democratic lawmaker and candidate for governor will turn in legislation this week that would guarantee free tuition for in-state students attending public universities and community colleges. Smith says her plan would be an improvement on the Michigan Promise scholarship.

The Michigan Promise is a $4000 scholarship. That covers roughly the cost of two years at a community college.