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BY JESI MUNGUIA
The Isabella County Correctional Facility is the target of a lawsuit filed this week by the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan.
Charges include cruel and unusual punishment, the ACLU suit said the jail is violating prisoner rights by not allowing them out of their cell to exercise.
The Isabella county sheriff has responded by saying, "we're in a bind, the jail is old," noting too that the facility is landlocked with no room to expand.
Also in the suit are charges of sex discrimination citing female inmates not being able to serve in a trustee positions, jobs done within the jail to shorten the inmate's sentence.
Sheriff Leo Mioduszewki of Isabella county said they're not trying to personally discriminate against women...
"Anywhere from 85 to 90 percent of our inmates are male population we have very few females. Because we house both males and females they have to be separated there can be no contact it has to be sight and sound barrier there. So unfortunately because we have so few females there's no way we can have females be trustees without coming into contact with a male inmate. We're once again in a bind based on the configuration of our jail."
Sheriff Mioduszewki said many modern jails are able to have separate areas where there can be male and female trustees.
He adds that officials are "doing their best to comply" with the charges.
BY CONSUELO MCABOY
As technology continues to evolve, we feel the pressure of having to keep up by buying the next iPhone or purchasing a tablet computer.
But the Identity Theft Assistance Center warns that those devices could lead to identity theft.
October marks National Cyber Security Awareness Month.
That's why the Identity Theft Assistance Center wants to remind people how identity theft happens and how to take measures to avoid it.
Anne Wallace is the President of the center.
"What the thieves have learned is that we all store lots of information on our mobile phones and we don't always have a password protecting our mobile phones or our ipads or notebook computers. They also know that consumers go on to these sites whether it's facebook or myspace and post lots of information. Sometimes they're not careful about the kind of information that they post and the information, gives the cyber criminals the opportunity to take advantage of us."
Wallace said it all comes down to password strength.
She said to ensure safety, we should create complex and long passwords, use a password that reminds you of an event, avoid entering your password on a public computer, and never use the same password for each site.
BY RICK PLUTA
A state House panel opened hearings Tuesday on what Michigan must do to comply with a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling. It struck down mandatory-life-without-parole sentences for juvenile felons.
There are 366 people serving life without parole sentences in Michigan prisons for crimes they committed as juveniles. Dawn Van Hoek of the State Appellate Defenders Office said maybe a third of the juvenile lifers have a strong case to make for some kind of leniency.
"The juvenile was a getaway driver and was less culpable, came from horrible circumstances. It's not going to be everybody, obviously. There are some really, really bad cases."
"I want to know when my nightmare can end? When can I get some kind of... judicial closure." Jody Robinson's brother was murdered 22 years ago. One of the convicted killers was a 16-year-old at the time of the crime. Robinson said now her family will have to return to court, and maybe attend parole hearings.
By Laura Weber
A proposal to drastically alter the state's auto no-fault insurance law could come up for a vote as soon as this week in the state House. The House proposal includes a 50-thousand dollar appropriation that protects the measure from a voter-led ballot initiative to overturn the law via a referendum.
Democratic state Senator Bert Johnson said using referendum-proof language to shield controversial measures from being overturned by voters is a dangerous political game.
"We think that that limits voter protection as well. People should always be able to come and petition their government for what they believed the right thing is. And that's the foundation of democracy in America, that's what we're built on."
If the proposed changes to the no-fault insurance law are approved as currently written, it would be the fourth time this year the Republican-led Legislature passed referendum-proof bills that were not part of the state budget.
By Mike Horace Governor Rick Snyder has signed legislation ending lifetime health insurance benefits for a majority of Michigan lawmakers. Members of the state senate, by and large, will get to keep their health benefits. The legislation eliminates lifetime health benefits for any lawmaker that doesn't have six years of service completed by January 1st, 2013. In all, 97 of Michigan's 148 lawmakers will lose their lifetime benefits. State Representative Joel Johnson sponsored the legislation, and will lose his benefits as a result. "It's really important that we have folks run for office and serve in office who truly want to serve the people, not a situation to make themselves a better retirement program or anything like that." Lawmakers elected before 2007 will get to keep their benefits. That includes 36 of Michigan's 38 state senators, and another 15 state representatives. List of lawmakers that keep their lifetime benefits
| Name |
Party |
District |
| Rep.
Barb Byrum |
D |
67 |
| Rep.
Bob Constan |
D |
16 |
| Rep.
Chuck Moss |
R |
40 |
| Rep.
Dave Agema |
R |
74 |
| Rep.
Joan Bauer |
D |
68 |
| Rep.
Jud Gilbert |
R |
81 |
| Rep.
Ken Horn |
R |
94 |
| Rep.
Mark Meadows |
D |
69 |
| Rep.
Marty Knollenberg |
R |
41 |
| Rep.
Paul Opsommer |
R |
93 |
| Rep.
Richard Hammel |
D |
48 |
| Rep.
Richard LeBlanc |
D |
18 |
| Rep.
Shanelle Jackson |
D |
9 |
| Rep.
Steven Lindberg |
D |
109 |
| Rep.
Tim Melton |
D |
29 |
| Sen.
Arlan Meekhof |
R |
30 |
| Sen.
Bert Johnson |
D |
2 |
| Sen.
Bruce Caswell |
R |
16 |
| Sen.
Coleman Young II |
D |
1 |
| Sen.
Darwin Booher |
R |
35 |
| Sen.
Dave Hildenbrand |
R |
29 |
| Sen.
David Robertson |
R |
26 |
| Sen.
Geoff Hansen |
R |
34 |
| Sen.
Glenn Anderson |
D |
6 |
| Sen.
Gretchen Whitmer |
D |
23 |
| Sen.
Hoon-Yung Hopgood |
D |
8 |
| Sen.
Howard Walker |
R |
37 |
| Sen.
Jack Brandenburg |
R |
11 |
| Sen.
Jim Marleau |
R |
12 |
| Sen.
Joe Hune |
R |
22 |
| Sen.
John Gleason |
D |
27 |
| Sen.
John Moolenaar |
R |
36 |
| Sen.
John Pappageorge |
R |
13 |
| Sen.
John Proos |
R |
21 |
| Sen.
Judy Emmons |
R |
33 |
| Sen.
Mark Jansen |
R |
28 |
| Sen.
Mike Green |
R |
31 |
| Sen.
Mike Kowall |
R |
15 |
| Sen.
Mike Nofs |
R |
19 |
| Sen.
Morris Hood III |
D |
3 |
| Sen.
Phil Pavlov |
R |
25 |
| Sen.
Randy Richardville |
R |
17 |
| Sen.
Rebekah Warren |
D |
18 |
| Sen.
Rick Jones |
R |
24 |
| Sen.
Roger Kahn |
R |
32 |
| Sen.
Steve Bieda |
D |
9 |
| Sen.
Tom Casperson |
R |
38 |
| Sen.
Tonya Schuitmaker |
R |
20 |
| Sen.
Tory Rocca |
R |
10 |
| Sen.
Tupac Hunter |
D |
5 |
| Sen.
Virgil Smith |
D |
4 |
By Chelsea Hagger Michigan could soon require more protection for amateur mixed martial arts fighters. A bill that would add regulations to the fighting industry was approved by a state Senate committee Thursday. The bill requires amateur mixed martial arts fight promoters to be licensed with the state. It also calls for promoters to ensure a medical professional is present at a fight and that fighters are in the same weight class. Chris Jones works for Representative Dave Agema, who sponsored the proposal. Jones said the legislation will help protect the fighters. "A lot of people out there who are holding these events without any protections for fighters. And the whole goal of a fighter getting into this sport is to become a pro." Fight promoters said they want their fighters to be protected. Copyright 2010, MPRN
By Amanda Harrison
A policy change in Traverse City public schools is inspiring discussion for change across the state.
The American Civil Liberties Union met with the Traverse City superintendent to encourage the school to revise its zero tolerance offenses.
Rodd Monts is the field director for ACLU. He said zero tolerance policy is a list of offenses that require notification of a school resource officer or law enforcement.
"On that list was the offense of petty theft of five dollars or more, which seemed troubling to us."
Monts said his organization is working to keep kids out of the judicial system by encouraging schools to reevaluate their zero tolerance policies.
He said the group will visit cities on the southeast side of the state, focusing on cities that house ACLU branch offices. He said he hopes other schools will follow Traverse City's change in policy.
By Chelsea Hagger People who win a thousand dollars or more playing the lottery could lose food assistance under a measure before the Legislature. A proposal before a state House panel would require the Michigan Lottery to report winnings to the state Department of Human Services. The proposal would include lottery winnings in an assets test for people who receive food assistance. It would limit families on food assistance to no more than 5-thousand dollars in savings or other liquid assets. State Representative Dave Agema sponsors the bill. He said he is not sure how much the state would save. "We don't know how much yet, that will come out a little bit further. But we know we shouldn't be paying people food assistance when they don't need it." Agema said as many as 15-thousand people could be taken off food assistance if Lottery winnings are counted. He said he became interested in the issue when a report surfaced of a man in Detroit who won 2 dollars in the lottery, and continued to receive food assistance. Copyright 2010, MPRN
By Laura Weber A proposal before a state Senate panel would set specific guidelines for what kind of protesting is unacceptable at funerals in Michigan. The proposal was designed to protect families of service men and women who died in combat. The idea behind a law previously approved by the Legislature was to protect military funerals from hate speech against homosexuals from the traveling, Kansas-based, Westboro Baptist Church. But, as a federal court determined, the law was too vague. That ruling came after one family was pulled out of a funeral processional. "...Because they had some sort of anti-political sticker on the back of their window. And this clarifies so you don't get into those little nit-picky situations." That's state Representative Kurt Damrow, who sponsored the new legislation. He said the bills clarify what is unacceptable behavior within 500 feet of a funeral. And he said the bills would apply to all funerals. Copyright 2010, MPRN
By Rick Pluta A coalition of African-American and civil rights groups is expected to challenge Michigan's new congressional and legislative district maps approved earlier this year by the Republican controlled Legislature. The leader of a group of African-American lawmakers say he expects the lawsuit to be filed in federal court by the end of the month. State Representative Fred Durhal chairs the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus. He said the new maps violate voting rights laws. He said that's because they diminish the voting power of urban minority voters and the evidence of that is how many Democratic incumbents from minority districts will be forced next year to run against each other. "We want to see new lines drawn that are more fair than the lines that we have and that recognize and allow all African-American and minority citizens in this state to be able to participate in the franchise." Republican leaders say a court challenge to any redistricting plan is normal, and was entirely expected. G-O-P leaders say the maps reflect population shifts, and they were very careful to comply with the law. Copyright 2010, MPRN
By Laura Weber Most state lawmakers would lose their so-called lifetime health benefits under a proposal approved Wednesday in the state Senate. Many state senators would be exempt from losing their benefits. The proposal would allow current lawmakers who have already served about five years in the Legislature to keep their retirement health benefits. Anyone who has served less than that, and all future lawmakers, will be dropped from the benefits offering that costs taxpayers an estimated five million dollars a year. State Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville would still receive benefits. He said he understands some voters might be cynical about why sitting senators chose not to forfeit their benefits as well. "Well, I suppose. And if so, then I don't think you're going to satisfy a lot of cynics anyways. And I don't think there's a way to win that battle; you get compensated the way you get compensated." Only one senator voted against the proposal, and said lawmakers should either eliminate the benefits for everyone, or no one. Copyright 2010, MPRN
By Rick Pluta A state Senate panel has voted to forbid mandatory no-fault auto benefits from paying for medical marijuana. The panel approved the bill over the objections of medical marijuana advocates. Patient groups said marijuana should be covered as an alternative to narcotic painkillers. Insurance companies said claims have been filed by people who want their coverage to pay the costs of medical marijuana as a treatment for chronic pain from an auto accident. State Senator Rick Jones said that was never the intent of voters who approved the medical marijuana law in 2008. "I have been very concerned about this ever since the ballot initiative passed because I think it will drive up the cost of auto insurance." Jones is one of the Legislature's loudest critics of the law. He and other lawmakers are trying to enact some additional rules on medical marijuana including a one-year residency requirement before someone could qualify for a Michigan medical marijuana card. © Copyright 2010, MPRN
By Laura Weber State Senate Republicans said they want to work this fall to make Michigan a more attractive place for businesses. Their fall agenda also includes finalizing a ban on a controversial abortion procedure. The Senate intends to add rules to the state's medical marijuana law. A few Senate Republican lawmakers have become passionate and vocal about Michigan's medical marijuana law. They said they are concerned that teenagers are getting medical marijuana cards for small injuries, that too many medical marijuana plants could result in illegal drugs on play grounds, and that people who are high on marijuana could be driven to suicide. Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville said whatever the effects, the medical marijuana law as approved by voters in 2008 is too vague. "That amendment was very very loose, and I think what we're trying to do is tighten it up to make sure it goes where it's supposed to go." Richardville said he thinks the law has gone beyond what voters intended. He said he would not be opposed to asking voters again to clarify on the ballot what parameters they want around the Medical Marijuana Act. © Copyright 2010, MPRN
By Laura Weber The state Legislature is expected to vote today on a ban on a controversial abortion procedure performed after 21 weeks of pregnancy. The procedure is already illegal under federal law. Dilation and extraction has been illegal in the U-S for a few years. Republican state Senator Geoff Hansen said the proposals in the Legislature would help ensure the procedure remains illegal in Michigan, no matter what. "We want to make sure that our attorney general has every tool that he needs to make sure that we don't have this practice happening in Michigan." The proposed ban is set for votes this week in the state House and Senate, just before a meeting this weekend in Lansing of the anti-abortion group Right to Life of Michigan. One of the sponsors of the proposal is expected to update the group on the status of the state ban. © Copyright 2010, MPRN
By Rick Pluta A Republican lawmaker wants to dock Michigan State and Wayne State universities millions of dollars in state aid for skirting the intent of a law meant to hold down tuition increases. State Representative Bob Genetski chairs the House higher education budget subcommittee. He said Michigan State and Wayne State used a calendar trick to exceed a seven percent cap on tuition increases. Governor Rick Snyder's budget director ruled grudgingly that the two universities are in technical compliance with the law, but Genetski said that's not good enough. "The spirit of what we wanted to protect people from has been violated." Genetski has submitted an amended higher education budget that would dock M-S-U 18 million dollars and Wayne State 17 million dollars. Genetski said every other state university complied with both the letter and the spirit of the tuition restraint law. © Copyright 2010, MPRN
By Rick Pluta A guard at the state prison in Newberry is being held in the Mackinaw City jail awaiting felony charges of trying to smuggle contraband to inmates. John Cordell is with the Michigan Department of Corrections. "It appears from the investigation that he was trying to introduce contraband, both heroin and contraband tobacco, which is illegal inside facilities inside the correctional facility." Cordell said the man is facing at least three felony charges. He said the scheme was detected from monitoring phone traffic into the prison and information from a cell phone that was seized from a prisoner. The guard was stopped and arrested in downtown Mackinaw City. Cordell said the contraband was in the corrections officer's car. The guard has also been suspended without pay from his job at the prison in the eastern Upper Peninsula. © Copyright 2010, MPRN
By Laura Weber Groups for and against a proposal to change Michigan's no-fault insurance law are ramping up their arguments as the state Senate prepares to begin hearings on the measure. Representatives of Michigan's insurance industry said allowing drivers to choose what level of auto coverage they have could save people a lot of money. They said drivers could save up to 40 percent on their auto insurance. But the Coalition Protecting Auto No-Fault said as many as 9 in 10 drivers would choose to pay less for less coverage under the proposal. Bill Buccalo is with the coalition. He said medical costs would go up for accident victims and other drivers would end up paying more to maintain more coverage, and taxpayers would be forced to cover more Medicaid costs. "So even though there might be a savings on one hand, we know there's going to be an increase in certain components of the insurance product immediately." Lobbyists opposed to changing the state's no-fault law said they do not think the measure has broad support in the Legislature. The proposed changes are sponsored by both a Republican and a Democratic lawmaker. © Copyright 2010, MPRN
Contract negotiations between the Central Michigan University and its Faculty Administration may resume as early as today.
This
comes after what was largely an unexpected move. Last night, the
faculty union voted to give its bargaining team the final decision on
any future job action.
The university said last night's union
vote was a "positive development" because in addition to empowering the
7-member bargaining team with any and all job action decision, it also
formally requested that CMU once again join the union at the bargaining
table. CMU said this is the first time since mid July that the faculty
requested that negotiations resume.
The union insists that CMU is quote "financially flourishing" and should be able to afford a more generous offer.
But CMU spokesmen Steve Smith said that's not the case.
"Numerous
matters still remain unresolved, most significantly is a compensation
and benefits package that they have proposed that costs approximately 10
million dollars. This comes on the heels of a 12 million dollar
reduction in state appropriations." Said Steve Smith.
However the
dollar and cents work out Smith said the good news is the two sides are
once again talking. He said negotiations are likely to begin this week;
possibly as early as today.
After negotiations stalled in July, the Central Michigan Faculty Association voted last night to allow its bargaining team to decide what action the union will take next.
Laura Frey is the president of the union. She said the contract currently offered by the administration would significantly reduce pay and benefits and thus, the quality of the teachers.
She said ultimately students will suffer the most.
"To me the administration has shown to me how little they care about faculty and how little they care about students. I have been stating in interviews since July 14th when the third mediation session ended that our FA bargaining team wants to come back to the table."
A university spokesman is calling last night's vote a "positive development". He said it's the first time since mid July the faculty bargaining team as formally requested that negotiations resume between the two sides.
He said the two sides could meet again this week, perhaps as early as today.
BY RICK PLUTA
Attorney General Bill Schuette is backing some legislative reforms to Michigan's medical marijuana law. He said the law has been taken far beyond what voters intended when they adopted it in 2008.
Bill Schuette opposed the law when it was on the ballot, and his critics said that's why now he is trying so hard to limit its scope. Schuette said the law was poorly drafted, and it's being mis-used by entrepreneurs and not just to provide relief to people with a terminal illness or a painful chronic condition. "This law has been hijacked by drug dealers who want to make money, line their pockets, by selling drugs and making a huge profit." Said Schuette.
Legislative hearings on the proposed changes are to begin next month. The rules would ban marijuana dispensaries near schools and churches, and make it tougher for doctors to prescribe marijuana. Some of the measures would require super-majorities in the Legislature because they would change a voter-enacted law.
BY LAURA WEBER Michigan Public Radio Network Governor Granholm and some Democratic lawmakers think the early release of about 75,000 prisoners through good-behavior credits would be a good way for the Department of Corrections to save money. However, some Republicans in the Senate say they won't even entertain the discussion because Michigan has laws that require "truth in sentencing." Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings says truth in sentencing was demanded by voters in the mid-1990s. "The Legislature listened to the outcry of the people, who wanted to be safe in their committees and who wanted some certainty that if somebody got 5-15, they're going to do the five." The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee says there is no timeline to approve the legislation and discussions could continue well into the spring. © Copyright 2010, MPRN
BY LAURA WEBER Michigan Public Radio NetworkCorrections officials told a panel of state Senators last week that the transfer of Pennsylvania prisoners to Michigan was going to happen before the end of the week. Democratic state Representative Andrew Kandrevas was sitting in on the meeting. He says that was the first time anyone knew the corrections contract between the states was official. "That's when I knew the green light had been given and that the contract was signed and everything was a go. But the week before that, it was still kind of up in the air. It was imminent, but it wasn't really sure when it was going to happen. So yeah, that surprised me." Kandrevas chairs the subcommittee that will be updated on the transfer of the prisoners that will continue over the next couple weeks. He says he wants to draw more attention and understanding to the five-year contract between Pennsylvania and Michigan, and what it means for state finances and jobs. © Copyright 2010, MPRN
BY RICK PLUTA Michigan Public Radio Network State Senator Alan Cropsey says the governor's plan to close four or five prisons relies too heavily on releasing thousands of inmates. Cropsey says her plan would threaten public safety without saving money in the coming fiscal year. And he said she does not have the votes in the Legislature to get it approved. "It's DOA in the House and the Senate. Her policy changes won't fly and she has built it on policy changes that won't fly, thereby giving us a false budget." Cropsey told the administration he wants to a revised corrections budget in front of his committee by early March. A spokesman for the Corrections Department says Cropsey and the Legislature are free to make changes they want to the governor's budget proposal. © Copyright 2010, MPRN
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