By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – The Michigan Supreme court has decided to reconsider a court ruling that prevented car accident victims for suing for pain and suffering.

The court ruling known as Kreiner essentially kept anything short of death or paralysis caused by car accidents out of court. David Christiansen is with the Michigan Association for Justice.

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

EAST LANSING, MI – The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says Michigan once again has the nation's highest jobless rate. Michigan's jobless rate has led all other states for most of the past two years.

By Mark Bashore, WKAR News

EAST LANSING, MI – General Motors highest-ranking local executive is retiring. In a message on his Facebook page, Lansing Regional Plant Manager Randy Thayer says he looks forward to "new opportunities" after 36 years with the automaker. The on-line message did not say when he would leave GM.

Thayer currently heads operations at both of the company's Lansing plants. He is a Lansing native and serves on the boards of a number of community organizations.

By WKAR

FORT WAYNE, IN – Fresh off their only off-day in August, the well-rested Lansing Lugnuts scored eight runs in the first inning en route to a 15-7 thrashing of the first place Fort Wayne TinCaps in the opener of a four-game series last night at Parkview Field. The two teams play the second game of the series tonight at 7:05.

By AP

EAST LANSING, MI – Big Ten member Michigan State plans to play games at each of the Mid-American Conference's in-state programs.

The rare football road trips to Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan are part of a 12-game "Celebrate the State" series covering the 2011-2020 seasons announced Thursday.

The Spartans will play four games each against the MAC programs from Michigan. Most of the games will be in East Lansing but each MAC team will host the Spartans once.

By AP

DETROIT – Clete Thomas' two-out, RBI single capped a two-run rally in the ninth inning and lifted the Detroit Tigers to a 7-6 win Thursday over the Seattle Mariners.

The AL Central-leading Tigers trailed 6-2 before scoring three times in the sixth and two more in the final inning, setting off a celebration around Thomas at first base.

Bobby Seay (4-2) earned the win for pitching a scoreless inning, getting Jarrod Washburn off the hook after a poor performance against his former team.

By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network

EAST LANSING, MI – A state House committee took testimony Thursday on whether drivers with unpaid parking should be allowed to renew their licenses.

AUDIO:
The bill would prevent scofflaws from renewing their licenses if they have three unpaid parking tickets. Current law revokes the ability to renew after six unpaid tickets. Those who support the bill say it would create incentives to pay down tickets and allow local governments to collect lost revenue.

By Kevin Lavery, WKAR News

EAST LANSING, MI – About 70 Michigan Army National Guard soldiers are leaving home for what will be a 10-month deployment to Iraq. Members of the 238th Aviation Battalion based in Grand Ledge held a deployment ceremony Thursday in Lansing.

The unit's mission is to transport wounded troops to medical installations. Major General Jerry Cannon commands the unit's headquarters. He says resources in Iraq to support the troops continue to improve.

By AP

ANN ARBOR, MI – More than 900 current or former female inmates have filed claims for a piece of a $100 million settlement with the state resolving claims that prisoners were sexually
assaulted by male corrections staff.

A judge on Thursday gave final approval to the settlement in Ann Arbor after preliminarily signing off last month.

It was previously thought up to 500 women could qualify for the settlement. But an attorney told the judge that more women came forward when the class-action settlement was announced.

By Gretchen Millich, WKAR News

Lansing, MI – What's it like to be convicted of a felony at age 16 and spend the next nine years in an adult prison? Dwayne Betts tells his story in a new book called "A Question of Freedom: A Memoir of Learning, Survival and Coming of Age in Prison".