At a Glance

Judge blocks shutdown of dozens of marijuana businesses in Michigan

LANSING (AP) — A Michigan judge has halted plans by state regulators that would have shuttered nearly 100 medical marijuana businesses as part of a newly approved set of licensing rules.

Court of Claims Judge Stephen Borrello granted an injunction last Thursday requested by a lawyer for a medical marijuana business. The state is reviewing the judge’s order.

Regulators last Tuesday extended the deadline to Dec. 15 for medical marijuana businesses to be licensed, allowing 108 facilities to continue operating while warning that 98 others would be issued cease-and-desist letters. Borrello’s order tells the state to allow all to keep operating.

It was the third time the licensing deadline has been extended or softened as Michigan continues the process of more tightly regulating the medical marijuana industry under a 2016 law.

Community sues to keep Upper Peninsula prison open

MARENISCO TOWNSHIP (AP) — A township in Upper Michigan is suing to stop the closing of a prison.

Marenisco Township in Gogebic County says the state didn't do an economic-impact study as required by law. The Corrections Department in August announced plans to close the Ojibway prison in the months ahead.

The prison has 203 employees, including some who live in Wisconsin. Local officials say closing the prison would greatly harm the economy.

A Corrections Department spokesman declined to comment on the lawsuit but did sai officials know the economic impact is significant. Ari Adler, a spokesman for Gov. Rick Snyder, says the state is following up on recent meetings about economic-development efforts in the area.

Trial in shooting stays in Chicago

CHICAGO (AP) — A judge has decided that the murder trial of a white Chicago police officer charged in the 2014 shooting death of a black teenager should not be moved out of the city.

Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan announced his decision Monday morning.

Defense attorneys requested that the trial be moved because the extensive publicity since the 2015 release of the video that shows Officer Jason Van Dyke shooting 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times makes it impossible to find impartial jurors needed for a fair trial.

But attorneys were able to select a jury in less than a week.

Opening statements began Monday.
 

Careless whiskers: Train commuter caught on video shaving

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A man caught on video lathering up and giving himself a shave while riding on a New Jersey train was violating the agency’s rules.

A fellow rider on the Northeast Corridor line of New Jersey Transit took the video Thursday night and tweeted it. Some commenters said they were impressed by the unidentified man's shaving skills, while others felt “grossed out.”

NJ Transit says it prohibits bathing or shaving aboard trains and buses. Conductors can ask customers to stop and, if they refuse, the conductor can notify police. But that didn’t happen in this instance.

Pete Bentivenga posted the video. He told NJ.com it was “one of the strangest things I’ve seen” in his 20 years as a commuter.

He says the clean-shaven man then ordered himself a beer.

––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
http://www.legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available