State Roundup

Lansing
Road funding opponents launch ad campaign

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - The fight over the May ballot proposal on road funding in Michigan is coming to the airwaves.

The Coalition Against Higher Taxes and Special Interest Deals, a group opposing Proposal 1, announced Monday that it's launching a statewide ad campaign on TV, radio, and digital platforms.

Proposal 1 would increase Michigan's sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent, giving the state $1.3 billion a year more to mend transportation infrastructure.

In the newly released ad, opponents argue approval of Proposal 1 would send nearly 40 percent of the money raised to special interests.

The ad shows a woman receiving her receipt at a store and remarking that the total seems high. The cashier tells her it's because of the sales tax hike.

Ann Arbor
Center aims to boost critical care

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - A new center at the University of Michigan Health System has opened to create a new place for the most critically ill and injured adults it serves to get initial emergency care.

The Emergency Critical Care Center, or EC3, opens Monday to its first patients. Located within the adult emergency department in University Hospital, it offers a dedicated space for such patients.

The center is officially called the Joyce and Don Massey Family Foundation EC3, in honor of a gift announced earlier this month.

The new 7,800-square-foot unit includes five resuscitation/trauma bays and nine patient rooms. It uses an area of University Hospital that served children before the opening of Children's Emergency Services in the new home of the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.

Schoolcraft
Home invasion suspect shot by homeowner

SCHOOLCRAFT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - Authorities say a home invasion suspect was shot by a homeowner this weekend in Schoolcraft Township.

According to the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office, the homeowner noticed two people at the front door late Saturday night after hearing loud knocking and the door handle rattling. The homeowner reported he heard glass shatter and saw a male suspect enter the home. The homeowner told authorities he then shot the suspect out of fear.

A press release states the second suspect fled the scene and was later arrested by police.

The suspect who was shot was taken to the hospital.

Frenchtown
License for nuclear plant moves forward

FRENCHTOWN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's staff has recommended approval of an operating license for a proposed addition to DTE Energy Co.'s Fermi nuclear plant in southeastern Michigan.

The NRC staff said the Detroit-based utility should get a combined operating license for the Fermi 3 plant, the Monroe News reported (http://bit.ly/1FhmAKI ), and a construction license also is included for the reactor.

Guy Cerullo, manager of nuclear communications at Fermi, said that if the 40-year operating license is granted it would give DTE more options when considering energy alternatives. The company is closing some coal-fired plants in the coming years and replacing them with natural gas plants.

"We have not announced or committed to building a unit at this time," he said of Fermi 3. "We're keeping our options open."

The existing Fermi 2 plant is in Monroe County's Frenchtown Township, near Monroe, and provides 1,170 megawatts. The proposed Fermi 3 plant would provide 1,560 megawatts, and DTE said it could help meet tighter carbon emissions regulations.

"Nuclear power is the only large-scale, reliable base load source of energy that doesn't emit greenhouse gases," Cerullo said.

The Fermi 1 plant has been offline since 1972.

The application for Fermi 3 was submitted in 2008. Before making a decision, the commission must consider two petitions against the license. One requests a supplemental environmental impact statement and the other requests the commission consider possible effects on habitat for a snake.

Despite these petitions, Cerullo said he expects the license will be granted in March.

Published: Tue, Feb 17, 2015