BRIDGE WALK

Labor Day walk returns to the Mighty Mac; 21,000 join

ST. IGNACE, Mich. (AP) — More than 20,000 people participated Monday in the Labor Day walk on the Mackinac Bridge, an annual event that was canceled last year because of COVID-19. Officials say attendance was down compared to past years but there still were “thousands of very happy faces” on the bridge between the Lower and Upper peninsulas. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer led the pack. People had many options: They could walk the entire bridge, walk to the middle and return to St. Ignace or Mackinac City or make a 10-mile round trip.

GAS LEAK

Risks ease from gas leak but people still out of homes

FLAT ROCK, Mich. (AP) — Organizers have canceled a popular two-day festival that was planned for the upcoming weekend in Flat Rock. It's part of the fallout from a gasoline leak in the sewer system that was traced to a Ford Motor factory. Authorities say the factory is no longer releasing contaminants into the Flat Rock system. But some residents agreed to voluntarily leave their homes. Drinking water lines have not been affected. Flat Rock officials are awaiting air-monitoring equipment from the state. Meanwhile, Flat Rock Riverfest, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, has been canceled. Ford Motor has created a $1 million relief fund and lined up hotel rooms for people.

HORSE ATTACKED-DOGS

Court affirms death sentence for 2 dogs in horse attack

ROGERS CITY, Mich. (AP) — Two American bulldogs blamed for an attack on a horse could be put to death. The Michigan Court of Appeals has affirmed a decision to euthanize the dogs. The horse was attacked in its barn in Presque Isle County in 2019. The injuries were so severe that the owner decided to euthanize the horse. In a 2-1 decision, the appeals court says there's no evidence that any other animal had been in the barn with the horse. In a dissent, Judge Amy Ronayne Krause wasn’t entirely convinced. She says the dogs might have fought off a wild animal that had attacked the horse.

CLASSIC CARS-FIRE

Fire destroys classic cars in shop near Traverse City

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Authorities say fire destroyed about a dozen classic cars at a restoration shop near Traverse City. Sensors triggered a fire alarm Sunday morning at the shop in East Bay Township. Firefighters were able to save a few cars but many were destroyed. Grand Traverse Metro Fire Chief Pat Parker says, “It's sad to see that kind of loss.” He said there was no easily accessible water to fight the fire. Water was trucked to the site with assistance from at least five townships. There were no injuries.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-COURTHOUSES

Federal courthouses in eastern Michigan reopening Tuesday

DETROIT (AP) — Five federal courthouses in eastern Michigan will fully reopen Tuesday for the first time since COVID-19 restrictions were put in place in March 2020. Lawyers, news reporters, jurors and court spectators will be required to answer questions about their health and have their temperature checked. Masks will be required. Courthouse employees who have not been vaccinated will be required to share the results of two weekly COVID-19 tests at their own expense. The main courthouse is in downtown Detroit, but there are other federal courthouses in Flint, Bay City, Ann Arbor and Port Huron.

MYANMAR-US-JOURNALIST

Myanmar court extends pre-trial detention of US journalist

BANGKOK (AP) — A court in Myanmar extended for two weeks the pre-trial detention of Danny Fenster, an American journalist in the military-led Southeast Asian nation who was arrested in May. Fenster was detained at Yangon International Airport on May 24, as he was about to board a flight to go to the United States to see his family. He is the managing editor of Frontier Myanmar, an online magazine based in Yangon, Myanmar’s biggest city. Fenster has been charged with incitement for which he could be sentenced to up to three years’ imprisonment. The military-installed government that took power in February has tried to silence independent news media by withdrawing their licenses and arresting dozens of journalists.

CONGRESS-STEVENS

US Rep Haley Stevens of Michigan marries software engineer

LIVONIA, Mich. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens of Michigan has married software engineer Rob Gulley in an outdoor ceremony. The Democrat's office released a statement Sunday saying Stevens married Gulley on Friday evening "in their home state of Michigan."' Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel officiated the ceremony. Stevens' office says that in order to attend guests had to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival. The 38-year-old Stevens and 37-year-old Gulley met while attending high school and reconnected in 2017. Stevens is in her second term. Her district includes parts of Wayne and Oakland counties.

BENZENE-VAPOR-MICHIGAN-SEWERS

State officials recommend more evacuations after fuel leak

FLAT ROCK, Mich. (AP) — State health officials are recommending more home evacuations in a Detroit suburb following an earlier fuel leak at the Ford Flat Rock Assembly Plant that was the source of flammable vapor in the sewers. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Wayne County said response teams are going door-to-door in Flat Rock on Sunday to inform affected areas. State officials say it's unclear which specific homes are at risk but anyone concerned about potential exposure to benzene vapor should consider evacuation. State officials on Friday confirmed the source was a fuel leak at the Ford Flat Rock Assembly Plant.

UP FAIR

After year off, people flock to UP State Fair, set records

ESCANABA, Mich. (AP) — Who doesn’t like a corn dog? Attendance at the Upper Peninsula State Fair in Escanaba was up 3% to nearly 100,000 people, with records set on four of the seven days. The mid-August fair was canceled in 2020 because of COVID-19. Organizers attributed the good turnout to dry weather and a desire to again enjoy a summer tradition. Skerbeck Entertainment Group, which supplies the rides, says unlimited ride passes were sold out two weeks earlier than usual. Sonja Skerbeck says that was an indicator that attendance would be strong. Livestock auctions raised more than $491,000 for young exhibitors.

FIREARMS SEIZED

Men sue to try to recover firearms seized from hunting cabin

MERRILL, Mich. (AP) — Nearly four years later, two men are turning to federal court to try to recover 13 guns seized from a hunting cabin in Saginaw County. The sheriff’s office seized the guns after responding to a dispute between a man and a woman who were using the cabin in 2017. The man grabbed a shotgun and was subsequently charged with domestic violence. The case ended in 2019, but the sheriff’s office has refused to release the firearms. Attorney Philip Ellison says the 13 guns had nothing to do with the incident. The owners of the guns and the cabin weren't present. So far, Saginaw County Sheriff William Federspiel isn’t backing down.

News from © The Associated Press, 2021