AP-US-EPA-MIDWEST-CHIEF

Biden appoints Debra Shore to lead EPA Midwestern office

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — President Joe Biden has appointed Chicago wastewater official Debra Shore to direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Midwestern office. Shore will oversee EPA’s Region 5, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin — along with 35 indigenous tribes. The office oversees efforts to clean up the Great Lakes and deals with matters including industrial and agricultural pollution and tainted drinking water. Shore is an elected member of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. That agency handles wastewater treatment and stormwater management.

MICHIGAN VIOLENCE-KALAMAZOO SHOOTINGS

2 Kalamazoo 13-year-old boys shot by masked man

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — Police say two 13-year-old boys have been hospitalized in western Michigan after being shot by a man wearing a ski mask. Chief Vernon Coakley of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety says a group of teens were walking down a street about 4 p.m. Tuesday when the man started shooting at them. The suspect then took off running. The condition of the boys isn't clear. Coakley says, "This has to stop.”

SOCCER RECORD-BACKLASH

School concerned about sportsmanship after new soccer record

KINGSLEY, Mich. (AP) — A school board in northern Michigan plans to send a protest over sportsmanship following a soccer player’s 16-goal record-setting game against a winless team. The backlash over Kevin Hubbell’s performance continued Monday night at a meeting of the Kingsley board. There's support for sending a protest to the Benzie Central school board. Hubbell is one of the best players in Michigan. He scored 16 goals in a 17-0 victory by Benzie Central over Kingsley, setting state and national records for most goals. Kingsley Superintendent Keith Smith says it was a "cheap shot" against a young team. The Benzie Central coach says he wasn't trying to humiliate an opponent by keeping Hubbell on offense.

ELECTION AUDIT

Trump allies call for 'audit' of 2020 results in Michigan

LANSING, Mich (AP) — About 300 people gathered outside the Michigan State Capitol building to call for a “forensic audit” of the 2020 presidential election as speakers repeated former President Donald Trump's false assertions that the election was stolen. Michigan is one of a handful of battleground states where Trump allies continue to demand further review of the election. Speakers included Trump-backed candidates for Michigan offices: Secretary of state candidate Kristina Karamo and attorney general candidate Matthew DePerno. Election officials and others including a Republican-led legislative committee have concluded that there was no widespread or systemic fraud in Michigan.

MICHIGAN REDISTRICTING

Michigan redistricting panel advances maps to hearing stage

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan’s redistricting panel has voted to advance multiple draft congressional and legislative maps to public hearings and gave commissioners more time to submit their own plans. The proposals that received support Monday were collaboratively drawn by the commission of four Democrats, four Republicans and five members who affiliate with neither major party. They would be fairer to Democrats than gerrymandered lines created by the GOP-controlled Legislature after the 2010 census. They also could provide more opportunities to elect minority candidates, though there is concern in the Black community that “unpacking” Democratic voters may actually result in fewer Black lawmakers.

FATAL CRASH-DEER

Zeeland man killed when deer crashes through windshield

OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich. (AP) — A man driving in southwestern Michigan is dead after a deer crashed through the windshield of his car. The Zeeland man was driving in Ottawa County's Zeeland Township at about 8:30 on Tuesday morning when his vehicle struck the deer with enough force that it burst through the windshield and went out the rear window. The 55-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. His name has not been released.

MISSING WOMAN-SEARCH

Rural property searched for clues about missing woman

TECUMSEH, Mich. (AP) — Investigators have returned to the rural home of a Michigan woman who has been missing since spring. They walked through harvested fields Monday and other areas of the property for any clues about 52-year-old Dee Warner. Warner lived near Tecumseh in Lenawee County but hasn’t been seen since late April. Sheriff Troy Bevier says the new search isn't based on a big tip. Investigators are using dogs and ground-penetrating radar. Yellow police tape was stretched around the scene in Franklin Township, 70 miles southwest of Detroit. The sheriff says a lot of people know Warner, so the mystery "really hits close to home.”

AP-US-SOCCER-RECORD-BACKLASH

School unhappy after soccer opponent sets record for goals

KINGSLEY, Mich. (AP) — A soccer player has broken the Michigan high school and national records for most goals in one game, but not everyone is cheering. Kevin Hubbell of Benzie Central is one of the best high school players in the state. He recently scored 16 goals against Kingsley in a 17-0 blowout. Kingsley coach Tim VanWingerden says it was a “little uncalled for” to set records “at the cost of another team’s dignity.” The Kingsley school board planned to discuss the issue Monday night. Benzie Central coach Chris Batchelder says any criticism should be directed at him, not his player. Hubbell figures his 16 goals will be surpassed at some point.

ELECTION 2020-ABSENTEE BALLOTS

State files charges in 3 cases tied to absentee ballots

CENTER LINE, Mich. (AP) — Authorities have announced charges in three cases of alleged fraud in the absentee ballot process a year ago. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says Michigan's “election system is secure” but attempts at fraud sometimes occur. In one case, an employee at a suburban Detroit nursing home is accused of filling out absentee ballot applications for two dozen residents without consulting them. In another case, a Detroit woman is accused of signing her grandson’s name on an absentee ballot and returning it, even though he had decided to vote in person. In a third matter, a woman who served as a guardian is accused of fraudulently submitting 26 absentee ballot applications and seeking to have ballots mailed directly to her.

DUNE CRASH-FATAL

Teen dies, cousin injured after ATVs flip at Michigan dunes

MEARS, Mich. (AP) — Police say a teenager has died after an all-terrain vehicle crash at sand dunes in northern Michigan. Another 13-year-old was injured Sunday at Silver Lake Sand Dunes in Oceana County. The two were cousins from Illinois. Sheriff Craig Mast says the teens were riding ATVs at a high speed when the vehicles flipped at a steep spot. The dunes, 75 miles north of Grand Rapids, are a popular place for ATVs, Jeeps and other off-road vehicles.

News from © The Associated Press, 2021