Ex-Michigan lawmaker expelled in scandal sues for back pay
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A former Michigan lawmaker kicked out of the House because of a sex scandal says she was illegally expelled and deserves back pay.
Cindy Gamrat, a Republican from Allegan County, says House leaders violated her rights in 2015. She filed a new lawsuit last week in federal court in Grand Rapids.
Gamrat is seeking back pay as well as money for distress and humiliation. She says she had struck a deal to be censured, not removed from office.
Attorney Sarah Riley Howard, a lawyer representing two former House aides, says the lawsuit “has no merit.”
Gamrat’s former husband is also named in the lawsuit. He’s accused of using listening devices to try to catch Gamrat and Todd Courser, a Lapeer County Republican, in their affair. Courser quit the House.
Michigan’s top court wants to hear more about permit dispute
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan Supreme Court is looking at a dispute between environmental groups and a steel factory in suburban Detroit.
Environmental groups sued in 2014 after Michigan regulators changed an air-quality permit at the AK Steel plant in Dearborn, formerly known as Severstal.
AK Steel argued that critics waited too long to challenge the permit in court. But a Wayne County judge and the Michigan appeals court have ruled against the company.
In an order dated Friday, the Supreme Court said it will hear arguments at a future date. The court could take some action or it could allow the appeals court decision to stand.
Detroit ‘Shakespeare in Prison’ program to expand to help juveniles
DETROIT (AP) — Detroit Public Theater’s Shakespeare in Prison program says it has received a grant to expand to work with juveniles.
The program currently works with female prisoners at the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Ypsilanti. It says the Michigan Humanities Council grant will allow it to do a 12-week workshop with young people who are in treatment or detention.
The Detroit Public Theater says it also has received a grant from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.
The program works with inmates for nine months, helping them produce and perform a fully staged Shakespeare play. Advocates say program alumni have lower recidivism rates.
The five-year-old program will stage Richard III for the prison community in June.
2nd Annual Jesuit Day of Service April 22
Join Detroit Mercy Law students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 22 at Ss. Peter & Paul Jesuit Church, 629 E. Jefferson Ave. in Detroit for the 2nd Annual Jesuit Day of Service.
Working together to make a difference in the community is part of a national initiative for Jesuit schools. The day of service will benefit Ss. Peter & Paul Jesuit Church and its Pope Francis Warming Center.
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