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MAN BURNED-OXYGEN TANK

Detroit-area man with oxygen tank burned over 80% of body

PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — A 75-year-old Detroit-area man has been burned over more than 80% of his body after a fire started in his apartment. The Oakland County sheriff’s office says Monday that firefighters were called to a Pontiac apartment building late Sunday night on a report of a man burning. A neighbor told investigators that she heard the man yelling “fire” and tried to put the flames out with a blanket and fire extinguisher. Firefighters arrived and put out the flames. The man’s daughter said she was speaking with him on the phone when his oxygen tank fell over in the apartment where he had several candles burning. He suffered second-degree burns and was listed in critical condition at a hospital.

REDISTRICTING COMMISSION-MEETINGS

Whitmer limits redistricting panel’s use of closed meetings

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed legislation to prohibit Michigan’s new redistricting commission from citing exceptions under the Open Meetings Act to hold closed sessions. Her signature last week came days after the state Supreme Court ruled against the panel in a test of a constitutional requirement that it conduct all of its business at open meetings. The bill sponsor, Republican Sen. Ed McBroom of Vulcan, has said the commission — which was created by a 2018 voter-approved constitutional amendment — should not be able to justify a closed meeting by pointing to the 1976 law.

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS

Whitmer signs bill so non-teaching staff can work as subs

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan public schools can use non-teaching staff as substitute teachers the rest of the academic year under a law designed to address a shortage during the coronavirus pandemic. Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Monday that she signed the bill last week, calling it a “temporary stopgap.” It lets secretaries, paraprofessionals and other school employees without a teaching certificate work as subs if they have a high school diploma or equivalency certificate. The Republican-sponsored legislation was approved by lawmakers on largely party lines. Michigan generally requires subs to have an associate’s degree or at least 60 hours of college credit.

FATAL SHOOTINGS-MICHIGAN

Police: Man kills twin, wounds father before shooting self

TROY, Mich. (AP) — Police say they believe a 23-year-old man fatally shot his twin brother and shot and wounded their father before apparently taking his own life in suburban Detroit. Police say a 64-year-old woman was also in the home in Troy during the shooting Monday but was not harmed. Officers responding to 911 calls about shots fired found one of the twins shot and killed in the basement and the other twin dead inside a vehicle from what police believe was a self-inflicted gunshot. A family dog was also found shot to death. Police found the twins’ father wounded upstairs. Police say a 62-year-old man had called 911 and said his 23-year-old son had shot him.

BEATING DEATH-GIRL

Man charged in fatal beating of girlfriend’s daughter, 3

PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — A 23-year-old Detroit-area man has been arrested in the fatal beating of his girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter. The Oakland County sheriff’s office says Shean Amerson of Pontiac was arraigned Saturday on felony murder and child abuse charges. Deputies responded Dec. 18 to a home in Pontiac on a report of an unconscious child. Aziya Matthews was rushed to an area hospital and later transferred to Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit. She was pronounced dead on Dec. 20. The sheriff’s office says hospital staff told investigators the girl had suffered severe head trauma, a collapsed lung, broken ribs that were in various stages of healing, wounds consistent with being burned by a cigarette and black eyes.

MICHIGAN GOVERNOR-KIDNAPPING PLOT

Whitmer kidnapping plot defense seeks to dismiss indictment

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — Defense attorneys have sought to dismiss the indictment against five men accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer because of what they describe as “egregious overreaching” by federal agents and informants. The Detroit News reports that defense attorneys filed a 20-page motion on Saturday night. They’re asking U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker to dismiss the conspiracy charge, which would effectively end the federal government’s case and other connected charges. The request comes after allegations and developments about the government’s team in the case, including the conviction of an FBI special agent who was arrested on a domestic violence charge and later fired and convicted of a misdemeanor.

TWO SLAIN-DETROIT

Detroit police seek man after wife, her teen daughter slain

DETROIT (AP) — Detroit police are searching for a man after his 57-year-old wife and her 13-year-old daughter were found shot to death Saturday by relatives arriving for Christmas dinner. Detroit Police Chief James White said Sunday the victims’ bodies were found Saturday afternoon at their home when the woman’s adult daughter and her family showed up for dinner. Police say the 57-year-old woman’s husband, 62-year-old Dwayne McDonald, who also lives at the home, has not been found and police are searching for him. The Detroit News reports police are describing McDonald as a person of interest and they want to speak to him.

LAWYERS-FEES

Michigan Supreme Court considering fee hike for lawyers

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — It could cost more to be a Michigan lawyer. The Michigan Supreme Court is accepting public comment on a proposal to raise dues for most lawyers by $70 a year to $385 or 22%. The State Bar of Michigan has not had a dues increase since 2003. The court says the increase would help “continue the valuable services and resources the Bar provides for its members.” Lawyers help pay for the operations of the State Bar and the attorney discipline system. The Supreme Court is accepting comments until April 1. It also will hold a public hearing.

ODD-PARAKEETS-ANIMAL SHELTER

Hundreds of parakeets dropped off at Michigan animal shelter

ROMEO, Mich. (AP) — An animal shelter in Michigan has been inundated with hundreds of parakeets. The Detroit Animal Welfare Group in Romeo said in a Facebook post that the small, colorful birds were dropped off Thursday night. Director Kelley LeBonty told the Detroit Free Press that the son of an animal hoarder called to say he was surrendering 60 to 80 parakeets from his father’s house. But he showed up with 497 parakeets. The shelter said the birds were “crammed in seven cages” and needed immediate help. Temporary housing for the parakeets was found and food was donated for the birds. The Detroit News reports that adoptions were expected to begin Jan. 23.

AP-US-OBIT-YOUNG

Wanda Young, member of Motown’s The Marvelettes, dies at 78

DETROIT (AP) — Wanda Young, a member of Motown’s chart-topping The Marvelettes, has died in suburban Detroit. She was 78. Meta Ventress tells The New York Times for a story Saturday that her mother died Dec. 15 in Garden City, Michigan, of complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Young and other members of The Marvelettes were teenagers when they recorded “Please Mr. Postman” for Berry Gordy Jr.’s Motown Records in 1961. The song became Motown’s first No. 1 pop hit. The group later would record such hits as “Don’t Mess With Bill” and “My Baby Must Be A Magician.” Young sang lead on “Don’t Mess With Bill.”