News Headlines for June 8

Teen Killed in Emmett Twp.

Police have identified the Harper Creek High School students involved in a fatal  Sunday morning car crash.  Police say  16-year-old Christopher Powell, the driver of the red PT Cruiser, was killed as he lost control on Verona Road and hit a tree. 15-year-old  passenger, Ethan Surprenent, remains in critical condition at Bronson-Battle Creek.   Police say there’s no evidence to implicate drug or alcohol use as a factor in the crash.  Harper Creek has scheduled grief counseling for its students today and tomorrow in the high school library; a candlelight vigil will be held at 8:30 p.m. today at the Harper Creek football stadium.

Kalamazoo Death Suspicious

Kalamazoo police say a woman found dead in a home Sunday was murdered.    Officers say she had been dead for several days when they found her in a home in the 200 block of Edgemoore around 11:30 Sunday morning.   Police confirm that they have a person of interest in the case.  An autopsy is planned for today.

Bus Trouble

A bus carrying several kids was trapped under a live power line on M-40 just north of Paw Paw this morning.  Van Buren County deputies said crews were able to get the power to the lines cut before they were removed.  No one was injured and the students were able to make it to school. It happened on Hillside Drive near Paw Paw.

Man Dead in Kalamazoo Crash

Police are still trying to figure out what led up a fatal in Kalamazoo Sunday.   Family members confirm that Casanova McFarland died around 4:30 a.m. after he lost control on Westnedge, jumped a curb and then hit a tree near Willard Street.  Tire marks stretch two blocks leading up to the site of the crash.

Man Crashes into House

A car has crashed into a house on Nichols Road in Kalamazoo for the 7^th time in 10 years.  It happened again on Sunday morning after a police chase ended at Barney and Nichols Road.  The driver attempted to take off, but officers caught and arrested him.  Five people, including three children, were at the home at the time of the incident. No one was injured.  The homeowners say the boulders in front of the home were put there specifically to avoid the issue.

Gas Prices

AAA Michigan says gas prices statewide have dropped by about 1 cent over the past week to an average of $2.71 per gallon on Sunday.  That's about $1.23 less than at the same time last year.  Gas Buddy lists the lowest price in Battle Creek at $2.59 this morning.

Sexual Assault Prevention

First Lady Sue Snyder will host Michigan’s first campus sexual assault prevention summit today at the Lansing Center in downtown Lansing. The day long summit aims to make Michigan a model state in the fight against sexual assault amongst the college age population.  It will bring together college and university representatives, legislators, law enforcement officials, and students for a series of discussion panels and networking sessions.

Ban on Smoking in the Car

An East Lansing lawmaker is making another run at banning smoking in a car when a child is present. State Representative Sam Singh has introduced a bill that would net a smoker a $500 fine if they light up when someone under 18 is in the car with them. Singh, a Democrat, introduced the same bill last session but couldn’t get a hearing on the legislation.

La-Z-Boy

Furniture maker La-Z-Boy Incorporated has opened its new global headquarters in southeasternMichigan.  The Monroe-based company marked the opening Friday of its roughly $60 million facility. Speakers included Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and actress-spokeswoman Brooke Shields.  The nearly 90-year-old company's headquarters is about a mile from its previous location and is located inMonroeand neighboringFrenchtownTownship.

Green Vehicle Fees

Owners of electric and hybrid vehicles would pay more toward funding the state's roads with registration fee increases proposed as part of a House Republican package.

The bill's supporters say hybrid and electric vehicles aren't paying their fair share for road repairs because they use less gas. That means they pay less of the state gas tax that goes to support transportation.  Opponents say the proposed registration fee increases unfairly target a developing technology while only generating a few million dollars toward a more than $3 billion transportation budget. They say the Legislature should develop an approach to funding roads that doesn't rely as much on gas-tax revenues that have declined as fuel efficiency improves for all kinds of vehicles.

MI Abortion Increase

Michigan is among just two states with increases in abortions, partly due to women coming from Ohio, where several abortion clinics recently closed. Abortions rose by 18.5 percent in Michigan between 2010 and 2014. Louisiana is the other state where abortions increased, according to an Associated Press tally of 45 states compiling data.

Bridge Owner Fined

Reports show Ambassador Bridge owner Matty Moroun's companies paid Detroit roughly $150,000 in April for code violations and blight citations on various properties. The Detroit Free Press reported yesterday a document finds Moroun's companies paid for about 200 violations at several dozen properties, including the vacant Michigan Central depot.