Property maintenance ordinance struck down
HOWELL (AP) — A judge has struck down rules in Howell requiring homeowners to maintain areas between sidewalks and city-owned streets.
The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus reports the case was brought on behalf of homeowner David Shoemaker.
His lawyer Liz Downey said the case first centered on the lack of an appeal process for homeowners. On Tuesday, however, U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Zatkoff struck down the entire ordinance.
City officials said they might appeal.
The ordinance required homeowners to maintain the areas or have the city do it and add maintenance fees to their tax bills. The judge said the ordinance violated “the right not to be forced by a municipal government to maintain municipal property.”
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Court weighs man’s objection to home search
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has said that police may not search a home without a warrant when two occupants disagree about allowing the officers to enter. Hearing arguments Wednesday, the justices seemed unlikely to order the police to stay out after the resident who refuses permission to search is arrested and taken away.
The court took up the case of Walter Fernandez, who is serving a 14-year prison term on robbery and guns charges. Police found a shotgun, ammunition and a knife when they searched the Los Angeles apartment Fernandez shared with his girlfriend, Roxanne Rojas.
Fernandez told police they could not enter his apartment. But about an hour after his arrest, officers returned and persuaded Rojas to let them in.
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Security planned after Heidelberg project fire
DETROIT (AP) — Security cameras and other measures are planned after another house that makes up the internationally known Heidelberg Project outdoor art installation in Detroit burned.
The building known as the “House of Soul” was destroyed early Tuesday. The fire at the house, which had been covered with old vinyl albums, is being investigated as suspicious.
A statement from Heidelberg Project officials announced the planned measures, which could include additional lighting.
Last month, a fire burned the Heidelberg Project’s Obstruction of Justice House for a second time.
Tyree Guyton, project creator, transformed his decaying, crime-ridden neighborhood into an interactive sculpture park.
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Prosecutors respond to Blagojevich challenge
CHICAGO (AP) — Prosecutors have filed a response to Rod Blagojevich’s corruption conviction appeal.
The 169-page government filing submitted urges the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reject the imprisoned former governor’s request for a new trial.
Defense lawyers filed the appeal on the Illinois Democrat’s behalf in July, asking theappellate court to toss his convictions or at least reduce his 14-year prison sentence.
In 2011, jurors convicted the 56-year-old former governor of engaging in wide-ranging corruption, including seeking to profit from his power to appoint someone to the Senate seat that Barack Obama vacated when he became president.
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