Blind Michigan voters may struggle with new voting machines
LANSING TOWNSHIP (AP) — New voting machines in Michigan may cause problems for residents with a visual disability.
The Detroit Free Press reports that today’s primary will feature $40 million of new equipment that replaced aging voting machines.
Blind voters in the state have used AutoMark Voter Assist Terminals for more than a decade. The terminals have a touch screen and a keypad with Braille.
Most Michigan counties will now use Dominion Voting Systems. The equipment doesn't have keypads with Braille and feature verbal instructions that can be difficult for a blind person to follow.
Fred Woodhams with the Michigan Secretary of State's Office says the device is federally certified and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
A 2015 survey estimates that about 221,000 state residents have a visual disability.
Event to showcase potential of vacant houses in Detroit
DETROIT (AP) — The Michigan Historic Preservation Network and the Detroit Land Bank Authority are presenting a walking tour showcasing vacant houses in an eastside neighborhood.
Organizers say the Aug. 18 Vacant not Blighted event is intended to highlight the beauty and potential of homes in Detroit's Riverbend/Jefferson Chalmers area.
It will feature storytelling about the community with stops outside three Land Bank-owned homes.
Michigan Historic Preservation Network Executive Director Nancy Finegood says "learning about a building's past inspires people to see these empty houses as potential future homes, rather than another future demolition."
Man launches horse-and-buggy ride-hailing service
COLON (AP) — Look out Lyft, move over Uber: A southern Michigan man has launched a horse-and-buggy ride-hailing service.
WWMT-TV reports Timothy Hochstedler dubs his service "Amish Uber," though he's not a driver for the company. A sign on the side of his buggy reads, "Amish Horse & Buggy Rides $5," and he offers trips around the St. Joseph County community of Colon.
Hochstedler says he enjoys the conversations with customers. And his horse is friendly — "a people's horse."
Still, there's no app to hail this horse-and-buggy: Would-be customers have to flag it down.
Woman locked out ends up locked up for false report
PRATTVILLE, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama woman who really wanted a deputy to unlock her car is being locked up herself.
Citing court records, the Montgomery Advertiser reports that Kimberly DeShun Gardner pleaded guilty recently to filing a false report.
Records show Gardner, 30, had called the sheriff's office seeking help to unlock her vehicle. The dispatcher told her that wasn't part of their job.
Around 15 minutes later, she called back, reporting a vehicle break-in. This time a deputy did respond, and arrested her after she asked to unlock the car.
Gardner received a 365-day sentence, suspended to serve 10 days, and two years' unsupervised probation. She also must pay a $100 fine and court costs.
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