Rochester Hills
Woman who shot at shoplifters gets probation
ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. (AP) - A woman described as a "sharpshooter" was sentenced to 18 months of probation Wednesday for firing a gun at the getaway car as shoplifters fled a Home Depot in suburban Detroit.
Tatiana Duva-Rodriguez, who was licensed to carry a concealed weapon, said she heard a scream and feared the incident was worse than a theft. She acknowledged the shooting in the parking lot was a mistake.
"I made a decision in a split second," the 46-year-old Clarkston woman told a judge. "Maybe it was not the right one, but I was trying to help."
Her gunfire flattened a tire on the thieves' SUV on Oct. 6 at a Home Depot in Auburn Hills. No one was hurt.
Duva-Rodriguez pleaded no-contest to reckless discharge of a firearm.
"I don't believe any malice was involved in what you were doing, but I believe you have to think about what could have happened," Judge Julie Nicholson said.
Duva-Rodriguez' permit to carry a concealed weapon is revoked until at least 2023. Defense attorney Steven Lyle Schwartz said she's a "sharpshooter."
"We need more people like Tatiana Duva-Rodriguez in our society," he said.
Detroit
Quicken Loans: Free-speech rights not violated
DETROIT (AP) - Quicken Loans' book of employee rules didn't violate its workers' free-speech rights because it was irrelevant to daily operations and was largely ignored by staffers, the mortgage giant said.
Attorney Russell Linden told the administrative law judge hearing a case this week against Detroit-based Quicken brought by the National Labor Relations Board that the handbook known as the Big Book was "an afterthought at best after it was distributed."
Joanna Cline, chief marketing officer for Quicken spinoff firm Fathead, echoed that in her testimony during the hearing, as did other Quicken employees.
"I am not aware of the Big Book being used" for any personnel decisions, Cline testified. Saying she received a copy at her orientation when hired in 2011, Cline said she never read the document. "I put it in a drawer" and later discarded it, she said.
The judge could take up to several weeks to issue a decision, the Detroit Free Press reported. If he rules against Quicken, the company can appeal to the full National Labor Relations Board and in federal court.
The NLRB complaint brought earlier this year said Quicken overly restricted employees' free speech and should rewrite its rules for workers and educate employees about their rights.
The handbook cautioned employees against speaking to media and restricted conduct Quicken deemed damaging to its interests. The complaint said the rules violated the National Labor Relations Act, which permits workers to discuss pay and other policies for organizing for collective bargaining.
NLRB attorney Patricia Fedewa described the rules as "overly broad," saying they "chill" the right to discuss forming a union.
Quicken CEO Bill Emerson said the company told employees Friday that the handbook was rescinded. Quicken earlier denied that its work rules were overly restrictive and both sides participated in settlement talks in recent weeks, but they didn't avert the trial.
In a statement Tuesday, Quicken said "meritless and frivolous claims" were brought by "overzealous government officials seeking company admissions to untrue and trivial allegations."
River Rouge
State: Finances for city improve; oversight ending
RIVER ROUGE, Mich. (AP) - The state says the Detroit suburb of River Rouge has improved its finances and no longer needs the oversight it had in recent years.
The Treasury Department announced Wednesday the city performed well under an agreement with the state signed in 2009 to deal with its financial issues. As a result, River Rouge no longer will be subject to the agreement and is being returned to local control.
State Treasurer Nick Khouri says in a statement that the city has made "significant operational and financial progress" since entering the agreement and "circumstances which led to the financial emergency have been corrected." Previous deficits also have been eliminated.
The 2009 agreement avoided the appointment of an emergency financial manager. The Treasury Department still plans to meet with River Rouge officials quarterly.
Lansing
Bill OK'd to offer immunity for reporting ODs
LANSING, Mich. (AP) - People under age 21 could avoid criminal charges when reporting a prescription drug overdose under legislation nearing final passage in Michigan.
The bill exempts people age 20 and younger from prosecution for illegally using painkillers and other prescription drugs if a health emergency is reported to authorities.
The Senate approved the legislation Wednesday. The House, which previously passed the bill, is expected to send it to Gov. Rick Snyder for his expected signature.
Rep. Al Pscholka introduced the legislation after a teen died when party goers reportedly didn't get him help because they feared getting in trouble. Some feel the criminal immunity should apply to all ages and heroin and cocaine overdoses.
Michigan already has a "Good Samaritan" exemption for minors assisting someone in danger from alcohol intoxication.
Grand Rapids
New name for plant recognizes power of words
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - Officials in Grand Rapids say a new name for the city's wastewater treatment plant is a testament to the power of words.
The Grand Rapids City Commission on Tuesday approved changing the name of the Wastewater Treatment Facility to the Water Resource Recovery Facility. Officials say the new name better represents the plant's growing focus on energy efficiency and other sustainability practices.
Mayor George Heartwell says in a statement that: "Words are powerful, and the new name recognizes Grand Rapids as a leader in preserving the environment."
The plant already uses energy recovery to heat and cool an administration building. A solar power project is planned to provide renewable energy.
Built in 1930 and expanded over the years, the plant serves 11 communities within a 125-square-mile area of western Michigan.
Hamburg Twp.
Antique religious posters found at county museum
HAMBURG TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - Ten religious posters that are more than 115 years old have been found amid a renovation project at a museum in Livingston County.
The Livingston Daily Press & Argus reports that the antique posters were rolled up and left under shutters in the attic in a section of the Hamburg Township Historical Museum that was originally a 168-year-old Methodist church. Museum president Wayne Burkhardt says the attic was sealed except for a trap door and no one had been up there for well over 50 years.
The 2-foot-by-3-foot posters were published in 1899 by David Cook Publishing Co. in Illinois.
Each of the posters depicts a scene from the Bible, including one of baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph and a lamb.
Burkhardt says the museum likely will sell the posters online.
Ypsilanti
Relatives of girl killed hope case will be solved
YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) - Family members of a 23-year-old Eastern Michigan University student who was killed in 2012 say they haven't given up hope that the case will be solved.
Friday marks three years since 23-year-old Julia Niswender was found drowned in the bathtub of her off-campus apartment in Ypsilanti. The Ann Arbor News reports family members plan to spend time together this week and visit her grave.
Kim Turnquist says her daughter "lives on in all of us and is in our hearts every day."
Jennifer Niswender says the family hasn't given up hope following her twin sister's death. She says: "Three years later, we still believe that one day justice will be found for Julia."
Police continue to work on the investigation.
Flint Township
Panhandling restrictions affect charity efforts
FLINT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - A Flint-area community's decision to tighten restrictions on panhandlers and those collecting donations for charities on the street is affecting the annual Old Newsboys fundraising effort.
The Flint Journal reports that for the first time in decades Old Newsboys' volunteers won't meet drivers in the middle of streets in Genesee County's Flint Township. They'll be at other locations, such as parking lots.
The fundraising campaign kicks off Friday. The nonprofit Old Newsboys focuses on providing resources for needy families.
The Flint Township Board of Trustees earlier this year voted to create an ordinance to make it, "unlawful for any person, without authority, to receive or to attempt to receive money or any other object or thing from an occupant of a motor vehicle" on a public street.
Published: Thu, Dec 10, 2015
