Capital News Service

17-year-olds to be treated as teenagers, not adults by courts

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RAISE THE AGE: Now that 17-year-old youth will no longer be tried in adult courts system for certain crimes, court and county officials are figuring out how to make that transition. The law passed two years ago kicked in Oct. 1. And now they have to shuffle new funds and administrators to help handle an increased workload for the juvenile court system. We interview court officials in Livingston and Ottawa counties, the Michigan League for Public Policy, Michigan Association of Counties and the Michigan Center for Youth Justice in Ann Arbor. By Barbara Bellinger. FOR HOLLAND, LUDINGTON, FOWLERVILLE and ALL POINTS.

Capital News Service

Civil rights case backlog “sky high” 

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CIVIL RIGHTS CASE BACKLOG: The backlog of Michigan civil rights discrimination cases numbers in the thousands due to complications from the pandemic and a staffing shortage.“Our complaints remain sky high at 2,500 investigations,” said John E. Johnson Jr., the Michigan Department of Civil Rights’ new executive director. We also spoke with a Lansing civil rights attorney and fair housing directors of Detroit, Southeast Michigan and Mid-Michigan. By Barbara Bellinger. FOR ALL POINTS.

Capital News Service

If officers lose qualified immunity, they’ll have to pay their own damages

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QUALIFIED IMMUNITY: Police and other Michigan government employees could be sued and held liable if they hurt or kill someone while on the job, under proposed legislation. A police reform package pushed by Detroit House Democrats would reduce the blanket protections. They say it \would allow police departments and other government agencies to more easily weed out bad apples. But police say the protections are not as encompassing as critics portray and that they are needed to protect them from unfounded charges. By Barbara Bellinger. FOR DETROIT, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS

Capital News Service

Terrorism threat needs sharper definition, lawmakers say

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DEFINING TERRORISM: Lawmakers from the Upper Peninsula, Grand Rapids area and Oakland County want to redefine terrorism after a Lake Superior State University student was charged for posting an image on social media of an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle that he said would make the “snowflakes melt.” By Barbara Bellinger. For BAY MILLS, MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. MARIE, ST. IGNACE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, DETROIT and ALL POINTS.

Capital News Service
Spreadsheet of the teenage homicides in Michigan counties and major metropolitan areas in 2019 and 2020 recently reported in the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports.

Teenage homicides on sharp rise in Michigan

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TEENAGE HOMICIDES: The number of Michigan teenagers killed by homicide jumped by 70% from 50 in 2019 to 85 in 2020. That’s more than double the 31% increase of all homicides for the same period, according to the FBI’s recent Uniform Crime Report. Social media, music and environmental triggers may be among the causes, say some experts who work with youthful offenders. We talk to Lansing and Flint youth counselors. By Barbara Bellinger FOR ALL POINTS

Capital News Service

Backyard birders get a win in the state legislature

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BACKYARD BIRDSEED LAW: Fewer Michigan residents with sloppy backyard birds could be ticketed for potentially spreading disease among deer and elk under a bill the state Senate recently sent to the governor’s desk. Bird lovers now can be ticketed for allowing feed to spill or otherwise feed deer in areas where Chronic Wasting Disease has been detected. But in the unlikely event that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs the bill, it would allow recreational feeding of birds and wildlife anywhere as long as the feed is within 300 feet of the residence and not more than 2 gallons is placed out. By Barbara Bellinger. FOR ALL POINTS

Arts & Entertainment

Snowmobile helmet exemption proposed just in time for winter

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SNOWMOBILE HELMET LAW: Off-road vehicle and snowmobile riders who get panic attacks would not have to wear a helmet under a bill already passed by the Senate. A doctor’s note would give a “get-out-of-jail” free card – similar to excuses some people receive to not wear seatbelts – to Michigan outdoor enthusiasts who have certain physical or mental conditions. We talk to snowmobilers from Acme and Harbor Springs and bill sponsor Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Wauceda, By Barbara Bellenger. FOR HARBOR SPRINGS, PETOSKEY, TRAVERSE CITY, CHEBOYGAN, ST. IGNACE, SAULT STE. MARIE, MARQUETTE AND ALL POINTS.

Agriculture

Fresh produce more accessible for low-income Michiganders

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DOUBLE UP FOOD PROGRAM A program that gives low-income Michiganders fresh fruit and vegetables and a path to healthier nutrition recently got a $2 million boost from state lawmakers. That’s up from the $900,000 program that gives participants a dollar-for-dollar match on fresh fruits and vegetables. Families receive twice the quantity of produce for half the price. By Barbara Bellinger. FOR PETOSKEY, TRAVERSE CITY AND ALL POINTS.

Capital News Service

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy high among Michigan prison inmates

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INMATE VACCINE HESITANCY: Inmate requests for vaccinations have slowed to a trickle in recent months despite posters in the halls and testimonials from Michigan sports figures and doctors, which playing nonstop on the prison television channel. “That’s not going to make a difference,” said Aaron Kinzel, professor of criminology and criminal justice at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and a criminal justice reform advocate. Local prison numbers available on vaccine dashboard at https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98178_103214_103272-547150–,00.html
We interview a state prison spokesman and inmate advocates at Michigan State University and University of Michigan-Dearborn. For IONIA, MARQUETTE and ALL POINTS

Capital News Service

Crimes committed by human trafficking victims would be forgiven under bill package 

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HUMANTRAFFICKING: Police have made arrests this year for human trafficking in Oakland County and more recently in Mecosta County. Yet legislation that would keep victims of human trafficking from being arrested, charged and jailed when they are coerced to commit crimes has not moved since legislative hearings were held in early March and the end of April. Interviews with Attorney General Dana Nessel, DeWitt and Casco Township lawmakers and an MSU task force leader. BY BARBARA BELLINGER For LANSING and ALL POINTS.