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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

City to install cameras that record license plate numbers

WYOMING, Mich. (AP) — A western Michigan city plans to install a dozen cameras that will record license plate numbers. MLive.com reports that the effort in Wyoming is aimed at solving and reducing violent crime. The 12 automatic license plate recognition cameras will be installed within the next two months at six intersections. They’ll capture video as well as every license plate and the make, model and colors of vehicles that pass by them. The locations of the cameras can be changed. License plate numbers or descriptions about vehicles involved in crimes can be entered into a system which will notify officers if and when vehicles matching the plates or descriptions are detected passing through intersections equipped with the cameras.

Donor replacing school football field, creating scholarships

ITHACA, Mich. (AP) — A family is giving more than $1 million for a new football field at a central Michigan high school and to create a college scholarship fund for students. Artificial turf would replace grass at the field used by Ithaca High School. The stadium would also be available for other schools in Gratiot County and would likely host state sports events. Ithaca Superintendent Steve Netzley says it will be “top of the line.” The donor family, who wants to be anonymous, also is also starting a Veterans Memorial Scholarship Fund for students in the Alma, Ashley, Breckenridge, Ithaca, Fulton and St. Louis districts.

Prosecutors: Big bond needed for parents in school shooting

DETROIT (AP) — Prosecutors in Michigan are striking back against the parents of a boy charged with a school shooting that killed four students. James and Jennifer Crumbley are charged with involuntary manslaughter in the case. They want a judge to lower their $500,000 bond so they can get out of jail. But prosecutors claim the Crumbleys will flee if they’re released. The parents are charged under a theory that they made a gun available to their son and had opportunities to prevent the bloodshed. On the day of the shooting, the parents were summoned to discuss Ethan’s disturbing drawings. The Crumbleys say they had no idea that he would commit violence. Their next court hearing is Jan. 7.

New federal judge for Michigan sworn into office

DETROIT (AP) — Michigan’s newest federal judge has been sworn into office just days after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Shalina Kumar, took the judicial oath during a Thursday ceremony at the federal courthouse in Detroit. Kumar is a former Oakland County Circuit Court chief judge. Her father is from India and she is the first person of South Asian descent to be nominated for a federal judgeship in Michigan. Kumar said in a statement that she was deeply humbled by the faith and trust President Joe Biden and senators had given her. Kumar will be based at the U.S. Courthouse in Flint.

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