State Roundup

Highland Park Man charged in school union embezzlement HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. (AP) -- A man who worked as an assistant principal in the Highland Park School District has been charged in the embezzlement of more than $36,000 from a school union. The office of Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette on Wednesday announced charges against 54-year-old Samuel Craig of Belleville. An investigation began after the Highland Park Association of School Administrators discovered funds were missing. Craig, who served as the union's treasurer, has denied any wrongdoing since the investigation began. He told WDIV-TV that he denied using any money for personal use. Investigators say Craig embezzled more than $36,000 for his own use between April 2009 and March 2011. He's charged with embezzlement and fraudulent use of a financial transaction device. Bad Axe Health care provider pays $3.49M for billing error BAD AXE, Mich. (AP) -- A Michigan nonprofit health care provider has agreed to pay the government $3.49 million after disclosing its billing for chemotherapy treatments at a Bad Axe facility didn't comply with Medicare and Medicaid requirements. The U.S. attorney's office in Detroit said this week that Saginaw-based St. Mary's of Michigan discovered it had violated rules prohibiting billing for chemotherapy performed in an outpatient clinic unless a physician is present. St. Mary's had operated a clinic at the Huron Medical Center in Bad Axe and administered chemotherapy several days a week without a physician. St. Mary's spokeswoman Christine Bergman said in a statement the supervision rules are complex and vary depending on location of the treatment. She called it an "unintended billing error" and St. Mary's is committed "to honest and responsible conduct." Plymouth Twp. Wayne County exec pushes energy park on Asian trip PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) -- A 1,000-acre site in Plymouth Township is being unveiled to Asian companies as an energy park by Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano. The county says Ficano will push the site in Plymouth and Northville townships to battery suppliers and energy-related firms this week on his seventh trade mission to Asia. The proposed Advanced Energy Technology Park includes land containing a vacant women's correctional facility. Most of the land is owned by the two townships and the state. Ficano says the county is "looking to fill the supply chain in the battery and advanced-energy industries." He wants to cluster high-tech battery makers and suppliers in western Wayne County. He left Michigan Saturday and is traveling with Gov. Rick Snyder in Japan, South Korea and China. Ann Arbor $750K sculpture installed at city hall ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- A German artist's $750,000 water sculpture is being installed in front of Ann Arbor's city hall. AnnArbor.com reports a public dedication is scheduled for next Tuesday. Artist Herbert Dreiseitl is expected to be on hand. The sculpture was commissioned as part of the city's development of the Ann Arbor Municipal Center, which includes a new Justice Center building and a newly renovated city hall. The bronze sculpture includes glass that lights up as water flows over it. The project has attracted criticism in part because of its cost as well as the selection of an artist who wasn't from Michigan. The city's Percent For Art Program, which funds public art using a mix of mostly city millage and utility funds, is the subject of current debate. Published: Thu, Sep 29, 2011