State Roundup

Detroit
Grand Cherokee cleared in fire probe by NHTSA
DETROIT (AP) — A U.S. safety agency has cleared the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee after an investigation into possible engine fires.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating 107,000 of the SUVs in July after getting complaints about power steering hoses coming loose and leaking fluid onto the engines. But the agency closed the probe last month and said the problem didn’t pose a serious safety risk.
During the investigation, the agency found 24 cases in which hoses had blown off their fittings. The problem was traced to a defect inside the hose that was fixed at the factory shortly after the SUVs went into production. The agency says none of the leaks caused crashes or fires, and it’s unlikely that leaking fluid would reach any ignition sources. All the problems occurred within seven months of when the SUVs were sold, and all were fixed under warranty by Chrysler, which makes Jeeps.
All of the problems happened in Grand Cherokees made between Nov. 22, 2011 and Dec. 23, 2011.
“There have been no reports of loss of steering control, crashes or injuries as a result of this condition,” NHTSA said in documents posted on its website Tuesday. “There is no indication of loss of motive power or unreasonable safety risk associated with the alleged defect.”
NHTSA said that changes by the company that makes the hoses have eliminated the likelihood that the hoses will come loose. Still, the agency said it will continue to monitor the vehicles.
The investigation found five reports of engine fires, but NHTSA determined that all were caused by other factors.

St. Johns
MSU veterinarian  is charged with animal neglect
ST. JOHNS, Mich. (AP) — Authorities have charged an assistant professor at Michigan State University’s veterinary school with animal neglect after allegedly finding 17 dogs and two cats in poor condition at her home.
Patricia Schenck, 55, was charged with a felony last month in Clinton County District Court, Lansing State Journal reported. A preliminary hearing to determine whether there’s enough evidence for trial is planned for Thursday.
Schenck’s lawyer Mick Grewal said negotiations with prosecutors were ongoing.
“I’m trying to do something that’s beneficial for my client, as well as the animals,” he said.
Schenck is suspended with pay from the College of Veterinary Medicine pending the case’s outcome, university spokesman Kent Cassella said in a statement.
“In her role at the college, Schenck did not treat animals nor do the charges against her pertain to her work with the college,” Cassella said.
Schenck, who in 2010 published a book titled “Home-Prepared Dog and Cat Diets, Second Edition,” is listed as an assistant professor who specializes in endocrinology.
Officials said the animals were found Dec. 12 at the home north of Lansing in Olive Township, where Schenck lives with her elderly parents. The Clinton County sheriff’s department went to the home after getting a 911 call from someone who hung up.
Schenck was arraigned Dec. 20 and was released after posting bond. She has been ordered not to have any animals in her possession, records show. Most of the animals were taken to local shelters for care, and Grewal said one dog was euthanized.
Schenck faces up to four years in prison if convicted.

Flint
Cash-strapped city plans online surplus item sale
FLINT, Mich. (AP) — The cash-strapped City of Flint is planning its first online auction to sell surplus equipment including trucks, tractors and office furniture.
The city said in a statement that the auction will be conducted on by Orbitbid.com on Jan. 15.
Other items including mowers and power tools will be auctioned off along with office equipment. A list of items is being posted online.

Howell
Man standing trial in 2008 slaying of brother and wife
HOWELL, Mich. (AP) — A 66-year-old man is standing trial in the 2008 shooting deaths of his brother and sister-in-law at the couple’s Livingston County home.
Jury selection took place Monday in Livingston County Circuit Court for Jerome Kowalski. He’s charged with open murder in the case.
Authorities say the bodies of 65-year-old Richard and 58-year-old Brenda Kowalski were discovered on May 1, 2008, at their home in Oceola Township, about 45 miles northwest of Detroit. They say the man from the Detroit suburb of Warren confessed.
Defense lawyer Walter Piszczatowski says the confession was only given after a lengthy interrogation.
Jerome Kowalski faces life in prison with no parole if convicted of first-degree murder. The jury also may consider a second-degree murder conviction or acquittal.

Muskegon
Authorities shut down Michigan abortion clinic
MUSKEGON, Mich. (AP) — Authorities investigating a break-in shut down a West Michigan abortion clinic after discovering unsanitary conditions there.
Police responding to Women’s Medical Services Dec. 26 in Muskegon found hypodermic needles in unsecured containers and blood on the floor and walls.
Documents and photos released to The Muskegon Chronicle in response to a Freedom of Information Act request detail the findings that led Muskegon’s fire marshal to shut down the clinic until conditions could be remedied.
Women’s Medical Services remained closed this week.
Clinic operator Dr. Robert Alexander declined to comment, but Muskegon Public Safety Director Jeffrey Lewis says Alexander told city officials he wouldn’t try to reopen the facility.
Authorities also found biohazard bags on the floor and in closets and buckets containing “unknown fluids” in the operating room area.

Pontiac
Two week trial expected for ex-convict in slaying
PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — The trial of an ex-convict in the home invasion and knife-slaying of an 80-year-old suburban Detroit woman is expected to take about two weeks.
Jury selection was Monday in Pontiac for 49-year-old Alan Wood in the death of Nancy Dailey. Wood is charged with first-degree murder.
Co-defendant Tonia Watson pleaded guilty last month to second-degree murder and agreed to testify against Wood. With the plea, the 41-year-old could be freed one day.
Watson could testify later this week or next week.
Dailey was found tied up in her Royal Oak home on Nov. 20, 2011. Authorities say the parolees befriended Dailey and did yard work for her, then robbed her and slit her throat.
The case has prompted scrutiny of the Michigan Department of Corrections for its supervision of parolees.

Bay City
Man gets jail in buried motorcycle insurance fraud
BAY CITY, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan man who authorities say buried a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in 2009 and claimed it was stolen to collect insurance money has been sentenced to six months in jail.
MLive.com reports a judge Monday also ordered 40-year-old Chad Dejongh of Bay County’s Beaver Township to pay nearly $23,000 in restitution to an insurance company and about $2,500 to the Bay County sheriff’s department.
Dejongh declined to speak as the judge sentenced him.
Dejongh earlier pleaded no contest to two counts of false report of a felony. The plea isn’t an admission of guilt but is treated as such for sentencing.
Authorities say Dejongh in October 2009 reported his Rocker C motorcycle stolen, but police were tipped in September 2011 that it had been buried.
Investigators didn’t find the motorcycle.

Detroit
Man convicted in 1989 slaying gets  prison for 40-90
DETROIT (AP) — A man convicted in the 1989 slaying of a Detroit woman after being arrested in 2011 in Mexico has been sentenced to prison.
A judge in Detroit on Monday sentenced Juan Cruz to 40-90 years in prison for second-degree murder in the death of Rose Marie Woolwine. Cruz, who now is in his late 50s, apologized to Woolwine’s family during the hearing. An appeal is planned.
A task force in August 2009 began to re-examine the June 1989 slaying of Woolwine, who was shot after leaving a bar in Detroit. Her body was found in a house on the city’s southwest side.
Police believe Cruz left the country after Woolwine was slain. He was identified as a suspect and authorities sent information to a U.S. Marshals Service office in Mexico.

Lansing
Ex-con charged with murdering his baby daughter
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Lansing police say a 37-year-old ex-convict has been arrested on murder and abuse charges in the death of his 3-month-old daughter.
Police say they arrested John H. Sanders of Lansing on an open murder charge, as well as charges of first-degree child abuse and being a habitual offender.
Police say detectives went to a hospital Friday afternoon after getting a report that a baby was being treated for serious internal injuries. Janayjah Sanders was pronounced dead Friday night.
District Judge Louise Alderson ordered Sanders jailed until a pre-exam conference Jan. 15 and a preliminary examination Jan. 17.
The jail says Sanders also is being held on an out-of-state warrant and says there’s no record of whether he has a lawyer.

Lansing
Welfare workers get extra shields against lawsuits
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Private child welfare agencies and their workers in Michigan will get extra protection from lawsuits if they're under contract with the state under a new law signed by Secretary of State Ruth Johnson.
They'll be immune from liability for personal injuries or property damages unless their conduct amounts to "gross negligence or willful misconduct."
The law's designed to mirror legal protections already given to state employees who provide services to private agencies. The bill was sponsored by Republican Sen. David Hildenbrand of Lowell.
Johnson is serving as acting governor with Rick Snyder and Lt. Gov. Brian Calley out of the state until later Monday.
She signed five other bills Monday. About three-dozen remain on Snyder's desk from the end of the legislative session.

Detroit
Agency to require electric cars to make some noise
DETROIT (AP) — A government safety agency wants electric and hybrid vehicles to make more noise when traveling at low speeds so pedestrians can hear them coming.
The cars and trucks, which are far quieter than conventional gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles, don't make enough noise at low speeds to warn walkers, bicyclists and the visually impaired, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Monday in a statement.
The proposed rule would require the cars to make additional noise at speeds under 18 miles per hour. NHTSA says the cars make enough noise to be heard at higher speeds.
Automakers would be able to pick the sounds that the cars make from a range of choices. Similar vehicles would have to make the same sounds. And the government says pedestrians must be able to hear the sounds over background noises.
The public has 60 days to comment on the proposed rule. The agency will use public input to craft a final rule.
NHTSA estimates that the new noise would prevent 2,800 pedestrian and cyclist injuries during the life of each model year of electric and hybrid vans, trucks and cars.
The rule is required by the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act that was passed by Congress in 2010.