State Roundup

Flint
Lawyer wants ban on weapons lifted for county building

FLINT, Mich. (AP) — A lawyer has challenged a ban on weapons at an administration building for Genesee County in Flint, saying it interferes with the right to carry a gun.
The Board of Commissioners is considering lifting the ban on weapons inside county offices downtown or at least making changes that will give gun owners more freedom of movement if they are carrying a gun, The Flint Journal reports .
“I think it’s an issue that’s important,” said lawyer K.C. Baran, who asked the county to remove signs posted at the building’s main entrance.
County board Chairman Jamie Curtis said the signs that say “No weapons beyond this point” have been in place for several years. He said he’s not sure about the circumstances under which the signs were put in place or exactly how long they’ve been there.
“I don’t want to get a lawsuit over it,” Curtis said.
Michigan law prohibits people from bringing concealed guns into schools, child care centers, sports arenas, churches, certain entertainment facilities, hospitals and colleges. But there is no statute prohibiting weapons from being brought into other public buildings.

Ann Arbor
Report on tuition for some at U-M going to regents

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — A report to be presented to the University of Michigan Board of Regents is expected to discuss whether the school should offer illegal immigrants in-state tuition if they’ve been living in Michigan.
The Detroit Free Press reports Tuesday the report lays out pros and cons about making such a move. School spokesman Rick Fitzgerald Provost Phil Hanlon could make a specific recommendation when he sends it to the regents.
A group of students gathered Monday outside the Fleming Administration Building in Ann Arbor to advocate for the university to change its policies about those living in the country without legal permission. The Coalition for Tuition Equality has been seeking a change for more than a year.
The university currently charges those students out-of-state tuition, which is much higher.

Empire
Sleeping Bear Dunes affected by federal cuts

EMPIRE, Mich. (AP) — Officials with Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore say they’re making cuts because of the automatic reduction in the federal budget.
The cuts amount to about 5 percent of its about $4.7 million budget. WPBN-TV reports the popular Michigan tourist destination has cut travel, training, overtime and supply purchases, and reduced the number and length of seasonal employee positions.
Superintendent Dusty Schulz says the park “remains open, welcoming visitors and continuing to protect the resources entrusted to our care.”
Among employee cuts, the park has shortened 22 seasonal jobs and cut an additional five seasonal jobs. The park is headquartered in Empire.

Hastings
Thief returns $800 from 1980s Michigan burglary

HASTINGS, Mich. (AP) — A burglar expressing guilt about stealing $800 from a western Michigan store three decades ago has repaid the money, plus some interest.
The anonymous thief sent a note and $1,200 in $100 bills to the Barry County sheriff’s department in Hastings, and they arrived Monday, WOOD-TV reported.
The writer admitted breaking into the Middle Mart on Michigan 37 in Thornapple Township north of Middleville about 30 years ago.
In a letter packed with emotion and spelling errors, the writer asks for “help in locating a man” to whom the writer owes the money.
“Anyways, I did a very bad thing that I am shamed of and have lived with this guilt,” the writer said. “I can’t begin to say how sorry iam but have lived with this guilt too long,” the letter went on to say. “If you do find him, please tell him that I was afoolish stupid man when I did that and iam sorrie.”
The letter was unsigned and had no return address.
The $1,200, while it includes some interest, falls short of making up for the loss in the dollar’s purchasing power over the intervening years. The stolen $800 would be worth about $1,800 today, based on changes in the consumer price index.
WOOD-TV said the former owner of the store, now called Greg’s Get-N-Go, confirmed it was broken into in the 1980s. The store was sold in 1988.
Undersheriff Bob Baker said the letter and cash came as quite a surprise.
“This doesn’t happen every day,” Baker said. He said the department isn’t interested in reopening the case because of the time that has passed.?