2 guilty in security officer's car-dragging death
PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) - A Pontiac couple has been convicted of murder in the death of a Kmart loss prevention officer who was dragged and crushed while trying to prevent the shoplifting of $400 in CDs. An Oakland County Circuit Court jury on Tuesday found 20-year-old Samantha Lomasney and 40-year-old James Woodworth guilty of first-degree felony murder. They also were convicted of unarmed robbery, and Lomasney was convicted of driving without a license causing death. They face mandatory penalties of life in prison without parole at their sentencing Nov. 23. Thirty-six-year-old Greg Wainio was working at a Waterford Township Kmart store when he was killed Jan. 14. Defense lawyers sought a lesser charge, saying the couple panicked and meant no harm to Wainio.
STATE BUDGET-EDUCATION
Granholm vetoes education bill for violating rules
LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Gov. Jennifer Granholm has vetoed most of a bill spelling out how $316 million in federal money should be spent on public schools. The governor announced the veto Tuesday. She encourages lawmakers to correct the legislation, which includes money for K-12 and intermediate school districts. She cites a letter from the U.S. Department of Education saying the way lawmakers wrote the bill could cause Michigan to forfeit the $316 million. The veto doesn't affect the $13 billion school aid budget passed earlier this year. But it could keep school districts from getting the higher per-pupil amounts they were promised until the bill is fixed. The governor signed the higher education spending bill cutting operations funding at state universities by 2.8 percent.
JUDGE-PERJURY
Ex-prosecutor ordered to stand trial in Detroit
DETROIT (AP) - A judge has ordered Detroit's former top drug prosecutor to stand trial on perjury-related charges in a 2005 cocaine case. Karen Plants is accused of conspiracy and other crimes linked to concealing the identity of a paid police informant who led authorities to a 103-pound cocaine bust in suburban Detroit. Informant Chad Povish says he was repeatedly told to lie about his role as an informant when he testified at a 2005 trial. Detroit District Judge David Robinson Jr. said Tuesday that a prosecutor must be a "minister of justice," not just an advocate who wants a conviction. Robinson didn't rule on whether three other people will face trial, including retired Wayne County Judge Mary Waterstone. The hearing resumes Wednesday.
STATE BUDGET-LIQUOR
Granholm vetoes bill expanding Sunday liquor sales
LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm has vetoed a bill that would have allowed Sunday morning liquor sales. The governor has pushed for the change in past years. But she said in a Tuesday letter to state lawmakers that the bill makes other changes that could open the state to a court challenge similar to the one Michigan lost when it tried to limit alcoholic beverage sales by out-of-state businesses. The governor says she supports allowing Sunday alcohol sales to start at 7 a.m., rather than being banned from 2 a.m. to noon. She also favors expands options for wine and beer-tasting functions. The veto leaves a hole in the budget since the state was counting on extra money from a special license sellers would need to buy for the extended liquor sales.
BEAR ATTACK-MICHIGAN
State wants to euthanize bear that attacked hunter
BEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - Michigan wildlife officials will try to euthanize a mother black bear that mauled a bow hunter in a tree stand. Twenty-one-year-old Chad Fortune tells the Detroit Free Press the mother bear and three large cubs attacked him Saturday evening. The stand is in Emmett County's Bear Creek Township in the northern Lower Peninsula. The Walloon Lake resident was hunting deer. He says he punched, kicked and screamed at the bears as they separately tried to reach the stand, about 15 feet off the ground. Fortune was rescued two hours later and needed 40 stitches in his leg. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment says the mother is dangerous because she's lost her fear of humans, and the cubs can survive on their own.
SNOOP-ICE CUBE-CANCELLATION
Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube show at Joe Louis canceled
DETROIT (AP) - Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube aren't coming to Detroit after all. Joe Louis Arena says Saturday's scheduled Championship of Hip Hop concert at Joe Louis Arena has been canceled. The Detroit Free Press says the venue announced the move Tuesday, citing "unforeseen circumstances." It isn't being rescheduled. Detroit promoter Quentin Perry was putting on the show and was billing it as an "old school versus new school" event. Other scheduled performers were Young Jeezy, Fat Joe and the Game. --- Information from: Detroit Free Press, http://www.freep.com
EPA-ETHANOL br> AP sources: EPA expected to OK more ethanol in gas
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to approve higher concentrations of ethanol for newer vehicles, raising the maximum blend of the corn-based fuel with gasoline from 10 percent to 15 percent. According to people with knowledge of the announcement, the EPA is expected to say as soon as Wednesday that cars manufactured since 2007 are able to handle the higher ethanol content. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the decision. The ethanol industry has maintained that there is sufficient evidence to show that a 15 percent ethanol blend in motor fuel will not harm engine performance. But the auto industry, small engine manufacturers and environmental groups have argued against an increase.
