AP-US-UNIVERSITY-OF-MICHIGAN-DOCTOR-ASSAULT

U. of Michigan reaches $490M settlement over sexual abuse

The University of Michigan has agreed to a $490 million settlement with more than 1,000 people who say they were sexually assaulted by a sports doctor during his nearly four-decade career at the school. The university confirmed the settlement Wednesday. Dr. Robert Anderson died in 2008. The university had been in mediation to resolve multiple lawsuits by mostly men who said Anderson sexually abused them during routine medical examinations. Anderson worked at the university from 1966 until his 2003 retirement and was director of the university’s Health Service and a physician for multiple athletic teams, including football.

AP-US-UNIVERSITY-OF-MICHIGAN-DOCTOR-ASSAULT-MISSED-OPPORTUNITIES

Chances were missed to stop U. of Michigan doctor Anderson

DETROIT (AP) — Complaints that a University of Michigan sports doctor was committing sexual assault went back decades, long before a $490 million settlement with victims. But no one stepped forward to ensure that Robert Anderson would be kicked off campus. The many missed opportunities were described in detail last May when a law firm hired by the university released its findings about Anderson, who died in 2008 after working at U-M for nearly 40 years. The WilmerHale law firm found many significant events that could have made a difference if someone had intervened, but no one did, leaving Anderson with “countless occasions” to harass, abuse and assault patients.

UNIVERSITY-OF-MICHIGAN-DOCTOR-ASSAULT-GLANCE

U. of Michigan settlement latest in school sex abuse payouts

A financial payout for more than 1,000 people — mostly men — who say they were sexually assaulted by former University of Michigan sports doctor Robert Anderson is the latest multimillion-dollar settlement involving schools faced with sexual misconduct scandals. The $490 million settlement announced Wednesday by the Ann Arbor school is just $10 million shy of the $500 million Michigan State University agreed in 2018 to pay to sexual assault victims of its own sport doctor, Larry Nassar.

GAS LEAK EXPLOSION-US STEEL

Explosion injures 2 workers at US Steel near Detroit

ECORSE, Mich. (AP) — An explosion from a gas leak has injured two workers at a U.S. Steel Corp. plant in suburban Detroit. The Pittsburgh-based company confirmed that both people hurt Wednesday were employees. The incident occurred in the main plant boiler at the Great Lakes Works in Ecorse. A company spokeswoman says “there do not appear to be any life-threatening injuries.” Narda Bruno, public safety director for the city of Ecorse, says the explosion was contained to the main plant boiler. Day-to-day operations are continuing at the plant.

DETROIT COUNCIL-INVESTIGATION

Ex-Detroit council member gets 2 years in prison for bribes

DETROIT (AP) — A former Detroit City Council member who quit after pleading guilty to a bribery scheme has been sentenced to two years in prison. Andre Spivey acknowledged “very poor choices” in accepting $36,000 but still had hoped to get probation. His prison sentence is far below the 40 months recommended by federal prosecutors. Spivey pleaded guilty to conspiracy, admitting that he and an aide accepted bribes related to oversight of towing. Defense attorney Elliott Hall says Spivey’s influence “never ripened” into actual action at the City Council. But federal Judge Victoria Roberts says the crime was completed when Spivey took the cash.

BALLOT PROPOSALS-MICHIGAN

Minimum wage, abortion rights, audit ballot drives advance

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Organizers of 2022 ballot drives to raise Michigan’s minimum wage, enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution and conduct another audit of the presidential election have cleared a procedural step after the state elections board approved summaries to appear atop their petitions. Michigan's $9.87 minimum wage will gradually rise annually to $12.05 in 2031 under current law. It would gradually increase to $15 by 2027 and then go up with inflation under the ballot initiative. Michigan still has a 90-year-old abortion ban on its books if the landmark Roe v. Wade decision is reversed by the Supreme Court.

AP-US-PROFESSOR-VIDEO

Suspended professor threatens to sue if he's not reinstated

DETROIT (AP) — A Michigan professor who was suspended after making a provocative video for his students is threatening to file a lawsuit if Ferris State University doesn’t lift the sanction. An attorney for Barry Mehler warned the school in a letter Tuesday. Matthew Hoffer says the history teacher is protected by the First Amendment and a contract between Ferris State and its faculty. Mehler’s 14-minute video at the start of a new term was peppered with profanities and unusual remarks about grades, plagiarism and classroom attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ferris State President David Eisler says he was “shocked and appalled.” Mehler has been placed on leave.

UNIVERSITY-OF-MICHIGAN-DOCTOR-ASSAULT

Accusers: New U of Michigan leader must change abuse culture

Two men who say they were sexually assaulted by a former sports doctor at the University of Michigan are hoping that a change in leadership with the weekend firing of President Mark Schlissel will allow the school be more accountable toward abuse victims. Keith Moree and Robert Stone told reporters Tuesday that the Ann Arbor school is ripe for a culture change as its board conducts a search to permanently replace Schlissel who was removed due to an alleged “inappropriate relationship with a university employee.” They say Schlissel’s abrupt firing and the revelations and litigation over decades of sexual abuse by Dr. Robert Anderson have tarnished Michigan’s reputation.

GENERAL MOTORS-HYDROGEN GENERATORS

GM expands market for hydrogen fuel cells beyond vehicles

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors is finding new markets for its hydrogen fuel cell systems. The automaker announced Wednesday that it will work with another company to build mobile electricity generators, electric vehicle charging stations and power generators for military camps. The emissions-free generators will be designed to power large commercial buildings in the event of a power outage. But GM said it’s possible that smaller ones could someday be marketed for home use. GM will supply fuel cell power systems to Renewable Innovations of Lindon, Utah, which will build the generators and rapid charging stations. The partnership adds more products and revenue from GM’s hydrogen power systems that now are being developed for heavy trucks, locomotives and even airplanes.

ELECTION 2020-FAKE ELECTORS

Nessel expands on why feds should probe fake GOP electors

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is expanding on why she believes it's better for federal authorities to investigate 16 Republicans who falsely claimed they were Michigan’s presidential electors. GOP officials in seven states submitted Electoral College certificates despite Democrat Joe Biden defeating then-President Donald Trump in their states. Nessel says that from a jurisdictional standpoint, the Justice Department can determine if there was a multistate conspiracy. Nessel, a Democrat, cites potential difficulties interviewing people outside Michigan or using subpoena powers to bring them to the state. She also says she attended the state’s Electoral College ceremony, making her a witness.

News from © The Associated Press, 2022