State Roundup

Lansing 37 agencies in Mich. get $7M crime-fighting grants LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Thirty-seven criminal justice agencies will receive a share of $7 million in federal grants to strengthen anti-drug and crime fighting efforts in Michigan. Gov. Rick Snyder on Tuesday announced the grants in a release from Michigan State Police. The money is from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program and the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners program. Agencies have until Sept. 30, 2012, to spend their awards. A list of agencies getting grants is posted online. Saginaw Police officer charged in death of pregnant woman SAGINAW, Mich. (AP) -- A Michigan police officer has been charged in the strangulation death of a woman near the end of her pregnancy whose body was found in August near his department's gun range. WEYI-TV and The Saginaw News report Kenneth Bluew was due in court Tuesday to face charges in the death of 32-year-old Jennifer Webb. Saginaw County Prosecutor Mike Thomas says charges include first-degree murder and a charge related to the death of the unborn child. Thomas told The Associated Press he didn't know whether Bluew had a lawyer. WNEM-TV earlier reported details of Monday's arrest. Webb's father Donald Webb told the station he was relieved a suspect was held. Buena Vista Township police said an officer found her body Aug. 30 near the department's gun range located east of Saginaw. Muskegon Ex-state senator may keep pension despite charges MUSKEGON, Mich. (AP) -- One of Michigan's top Republicans in the 1990s is allowed to continue getting his $79,000 a year state pension regardless of the outcome of his trial on sex charges involving children. The Muskegon Chronicle reports Tuesday documents it obtained under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act say Phillip Arthurhultz has a monthly pension benefit of $6,620, or $79,440 annually, from his 15 years representing the Muskegon area. Robert Geake, chairman of the Michigan Legislative Retirement System, says Michigan law would prohibit stripping Arthurhultz of his pension in this case. Arthurhultz in June waived his right to a hearing to determine if there is probable cause for trial, and is awaiting trial. The former Republican state senator faces charges in Lansing. A message seeking comment was left Tuesday with his attorney. Detroit 101-year-old Detroit woman evicted over tax bill DETROIT (AP) -- A 101-year-old woman has been evicted from the southwest Detroit home where she lived nearly six decades after her 65-year-old son failed to pay taxes on the home. WXYZ-TV reports Texana Hollis was evicted Monday and her belongings placed outside the home. Warren Hollis tells the station he didn't pay the taxes for several years and several eviction notices had been received earlier, but he didn't tell his mother. The home was paid for and Texana Hollis lived there 58 years. Her son lived with her. A neighbor is letting them live in a rental house, and her belongings were being moved there. Others are working to get Texana Hollis back into her home. On Monday night, she was taken to a hospital for evaluation after she became disoriented. Detroit Man pleads guilty to threatening mixed couple DETROIT (AP) -- The Justice Department says a 40-year-old Detroit man has pleaded guilty to accusations of mailing a noose and photos of lynchings to a black man and his white wife. The department announced the plea Monday by Glenn E. Morgan Jr., who was charged with making a mailed threat. It says Morgan admitted that in November 2008, he mailed a noose and photos of black men being lynched and the slain body of Nicole Brown Simpson to the couple. The government says the envelope also contained messages saying black men who marry white women should be lynched and white women who marry black men would die like Simpson. Phone and email messages seeking comment was left for federal defender Nancy McGunn after business hours Monday. Lansing Source: Conyers to run in new Mich. district LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- A person who has spoken to Democratic U.S. Rep. John Conyers says the 24-term congressman from Detroit will seek election in the newly drawn 13th District. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Conyers hasn't made a formal announcement. But that follows speculation that Conyers would switch from the 14th District he now serves. Democratic Congressman Gary Peters of Oakland County's Bloomfield Township announced Thursday he will run in the redrawn 14th District. The Associated Press has left messages for a Conyers campaign spokesman seeking comment. The redrawn 13th District takes in more of the area Conyers currently represents. It stretches from Detroit south to Ecorse and west to Westland, Wayne and Romulus. Freshman lawmaker Hansen Clarke announced last month he's also running in the 14th District. Published: Wed, Sep 14, 2011