Daily Briefs

Former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder named Harvard fellow


LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A former Michigan governor who’s been criticized for his administration’s role in the Flint water crisis is headed to Harvard University to teach and study subjects related to state and local government.

Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government announced Friday that Rick Snyder begins work as a senior research fellow Monday. His fellowship is with the school’s Taubman Center for State and Local Government.

Center Director Jeffrey Liebman says in a statement the two-term Republican governor brings “expertise in management, public policy and promoting civility.” Snyder says he looks forward to sharing his experiences.

He’s previously said he’s most proud of Detroit’s turnaround and keeping young people in Michigan.

He’s acknowledged failure at all levels of government for the lead-contaminated water crisis in Flint that began in 2014.

 

Michigan Supreme Court removes Theresa Brennan from office
 

BRIGHTON, Mich. (AP) — A judge facing criminal charges and ethics violations was removed from office Friday by the Michigan Supreme Court.

The court’s decision against Livingston County Judge Theresa Brennan was unanimous and came just nine days after justices heard arguments. The Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission had recommended her removal.

Brennan was accused of many ethics violations in how she ran her office as well as for a relationship with a state police detective during a murder trial. Separately, she was ordered to trial this week on charges of perjury and destroying evidence in her divorce case.

“We adopt the commission’s findings of fact because our review of the record reveals that they are amply supported,” the Supreme Court said.

In a footnote, the court added: “We are not often confronted with the multifarious acts of misconduct that are present in this case.”

Brennan’s attorney, Dennis Kolenda, told the court that phone calls and text messages between her and a state police detective weren’t proof of an improper relationship with a key investigator during a murder trial.

“Maybe there was a little, a little — I don’t think there was — a little misconduct that ought to be dealt with less than a hanging,” Kolenda said, adding that removing Brennan from the bench was “way out of proportion.”

Brennan had been a judge since 2005. Her term would have ended at the end of 2020.

 

Small businesses to get $500K in grant program
 

DETROIT (AP) — A matching grant competition that supports entrepreneurship in Detroit is providing funding or other help to 53 local small businesses.

The Detroit Economic Growth Corp. says that 11 of the businesses are receiving nearly $500,000 in cash grants through Motor City Match.

The program builds retail density, awards resources that include help with building plans, space and design. More than 1,300 entrepreneurs have been helped as the program enters its fifth year.

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