more bh drug convictions overturned
Berrien County Prosecutor Art Cotter announced this week that he's asking for over a dozen more drug convictions to be dismissed as the investigation into misconduct by former Benton Harbor police officer Andrew Collins continues. Collins was indicted late last year after an FBI and state police probe determined that he'd improperly handled evidence from narcotics cases, and even made false claims to justify bogus raids. Since then, the prosecutor has been reviewing hundreds of cases in which suspects were convicted as a result of investigations handled by Collins. Last month, Cotter asked a court to dismiss seven of them -- four of which involved individuals still in prison...and on Tuesday, Cotter said that he's asked that 15 more convictions be set aside, the charges dismissed, and the defendants discharged from any remaining sentences. The charges in the 15 cases range from delivery of narcotics to possession of marijuana and maintaining a drug house. In a press release, Cotter said that he's concluded the cases in question "can no longer be sustained as a result of false information contained in police reports, false information provided in affidavits to obtain search warrants, and other credibility issues". Additionally, Cotter is asking that two more cases be retried without the involvement of testimony from Andrew Collins. Cotter added that his investigation continues, and if more cases involving misconduct by Collins are found, he will take "further appropriate action".
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The Berrien County Prosecutor's office is asking that 15 more drug cases be dismissed as a result of alleged misconduct by former Benton Harbor police officer Andrew Collins. Collins faced federal indictment resulting from an FBI investigation into the improper handling of evidence from narcotics cases. He's also accused of making false claims to get search warrants. On Tuesday, Art Cotter said that he's asked the court to set aside 15 more convictions, and release any defendants in them who might still be serving jail time. He's also asking that two more drug cases be retried, without any testimony from Andrew Collins. Last month, Cotter asked the court to dismiss seven drug convictions as his review of cases handled by Collins continues.
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bears in swm?
Bear sightings around the lower peninsula are becoming more common. Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Biologist Steve Chadwick says that black bears -- the only kind in Michigan -- are usually spotted in Southwest Michigan during the summer:
He says the bears' population is growing, and that's got them moving more...and added that black bears usually don't bother people unless they're cornered. They're also not known to attack pets. Anyone who spots one is asked to call the DNR to report it.
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Bears in Michigan are moving farther south. DNR Wildlife Biologist Steve Chadwick says that every summer, he gets reports of black bears being spotted around the southwestern part of the state -- including the occasional Berrien County sighting. But he says the bears really aren't anything to worry about:
Chadwick said that the bear population is growing...and the younger ones have been venturing further south each year. If you spot one, you're asked to report it to the DNR.
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Bear sightings around the lower peninsula are becoming more common. Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Biologist Steve Chadwick says that black bears -- the only kind in Michigan -- are usually spotted in Southwest Michigan during the summer. It's happening more, since their numbers are increasing:
He added that black bears usually don't bother people, unless they're cornered. They're also not usually known to attack pets. Anyone who spots one is asked to call the DNR to report it.
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Bears in Michigan are moving farther south. DNR Wildlife Biologist Steve Chadwick says that every summer, he gets reports of black bears being spotted around the southwestern part of the state -- including the occasional Berrien County sighting. Usually, they don't go near people:
He said the most recent sighting he's heard of in Berrien County was two summers ago, in Niles, where someone say a black bear in a tree in their yard. Anyone who spots one is asked to call the DNR to report it.
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Bear sightings around the lower peninsula are becoming more common. Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Biologist Steve Chadwick says that black bears -- the only kind in Michigan -- are usually spotted in Southwest Michigan during the summer:
He says the bears' population is growing, and that's got them moving more...and added that black bears usually don't bother people unless they're cornered. They're also not known to attack pets. Anyone who spots one is asked to call the DNR to report it.
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Bears in Michigan are moving farther south. DNR Wildlife Biologist Steve Chadwick says that every summer, he gets reports of black bears being spotted around the southwestern part of the state -- including the occasional Berrien County sighting.
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"grand rapids"
He says the bears' population is growing, and that's got them moving more...and added that black bears usually don't bother people unless they're cornered. They're also not known to attack pets. Anyone who spots one is asked to call the DNR to report it.
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harbor shores lawsuit request
Backers of Harbor Shores last week asked a federal judge in Grand Rapids to speed up a lawsuit seeking to stop the development's use of part of Jean Klock Park in Benton Harbor for its golf course. Wendy Dant Chesser, with the Cornerstone Alliance, says it's not that the suit is stopping physical progress on the development -- the issue is simply the uncertainty it creates:
It's up to the judge whether to move the lawsuit through faster. No word yet on when he'll respond to the request.
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A federal judge in Grand Rapids is considering a request from supporters of Harbor Shores to expedite the lawsuit seeking to stop the development's use of part of Jean Klock Park for its golf course. Wendy Dant Chesser, with the Cornerstone Alliance, says that the uncertainty the suit creates could stifle independent investment around the project...and the sooner the case is settled, the better. It's all up to the judge to decide on a timetable:
She says the suit isn't interfering with the physical progress of the development, however. The judge has already rejected a restraining order request for construction made by the plaintiffs.
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Backers of Harbor Shores last week asked a federal judge in Grand Rapids to speed up a lawsuit seeking to stop the development's use of part of Jean Klock Park in Benton Harbor for its golf course. Wendy Dant Chesser, with the Cornerstone Alliance, says it's not that the suit is stopping physical progress on the development -- the issue is simply the uncertainty it creates:
It's up to the judge whether to move the lawsuit through faster. No word yet on when he'll respond to the request.
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A federal judge in Grand Rapids is considering a request from supporters of Harbor Shores to expedite the lawsuit seeking to stop the development's use of part of Jean Klock Park for its golf course. Wendy Dant Chesser, with the Cornerstone Alliance, says that the uncertainty the suit creates could stifle independent investment around the project...and the sooner the case is settled, the better. She says the suit isn't interfering with the PHYSICAL progress of the development, however.
It's all up to the judge to decide on a timetable. No word yet on when or if he'll respond to the request.
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Backers of Harbor Shores last week asked a federal judge in Grand Rapids to speed up a lawsuit seeking to stop the development's use of part of Jean Klock Park in Benton Harbor for its golf course. Wendy Dant Chesser, with the Cornerstone Alliance, says it's not that the suit is stopping physical progress on the development -- the issue is simply the uncertainty it creates:
It's up to the judge whether to move the lawsuit through faster. No word yet on when he'll respond to the request.
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harrison talks lmc
The new interim President of Lake Michigan College says that he looks forward to taking on the position this week. On Monday, Doctor Randall Miller retired, and the LMC Board of Trustees appointed Doctor Robert Harrison, current Executive Dean of the Bertrand Crossing Campus, to serve in the role for at least six months. He says that he'll take a more cooperative approach to running the college:
Harrison also served as the LMC interim president about three years ago, in the period before Miler's hiring.
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Doctor Robert Harrison should be taking the held at Lake Michigan College today, as the retirement of former President Randall Miller takes effect. The current Executive Dean of the LMC Bertrand Crossing Campus, Harrison has served as interim president before...and he says he looks forward to the job. The biggest challenge will be getting by on limited funding...but he says don't expect to see any more millage requests:
Harrison also said that he'll take the input of staff and faculty seriously as he moves forward.
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The new interim President of Lake Michigan College says that he looks forward to taking on the position this week. On Monday, Doctor Randall Miller retired, and the LMC Board of Trustees appointed Doctor Robert Harrison, current Executive Dean of the Bertrand Crossing Campus, to serve in the role for at least six months. He says that he'll take a more cooperative approach to running the college, and take seriously the input of faculty and other staff:
Harrison also served as the LMC interim president about three years ago, in the period before Miler's hiring. he said he was approached about taking on the job again over the weekend.
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Doctor Robert Harrison should be taking the held at Lake Michigan College today, as the retirement of former President Randall Miller takes effect. The current Executive Dean of the LMC Bertrand Crossing Campus, Harrison has served as interim president before...and he says he looks forward to the job:
He says the biggest challenge will be getting by on limited funding...and adds that he'll take the input of staff and faculty seriously as he moves forward.
Michigan's unemployment claims application system is getting swamped as the economy continues to worsen. Callers to a Michigan statewide phone line handling applications for jobless benefits got an ``all circuits are busy now'' message Tuesday afternoon. The state's Internet system for unemployment claims was running but at times was slowed down by heavy volume. Ohio and New York are among the other states reporting similar problems with heavy volume in their jobless benefits application systems. Michigan had the nation's highest unemployment rate at 9.6 percent in November. State officials urge applicants for jobless benefits to consider filing over the Internet, particularly during evening and weekend hours.
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