US adds more gun charges in Mich. militia case
DETROIT (AP) - Federal prosecutors have filed more charges against members of a Midwest militia who are accused of conspiring to wage war against the United States. The indictment returned Wednesday mostly adds new weapons charges against members of the Hutaree, a southern Michigan-based group that is described as anti-government. Nine people were charged in March. The government alleges that militia members planned to kill a police officer and then attack law enforcers attending the funeral. The nine have pleaded not guilty, and defense lawyers say they only engaged in stupid, hateful talk. Many of the new gun charges involve Hutaree leader David Stone, his son, Joshua Stone, both of Lenawee County, Mich., and Joshua Clough of Blissfield, Mich.
DETROIT MAYOR-BUDGET
Detroit mayor vetoes proposed City Council budget
DETROIT (AP) - Mayor Dave Bing has vetoed a proposed budget by the Detroit City Council. Bing says Wednesday in an e-mailed statement that the council's budget "would impose service cuts that run counter to the priorities of" his administration. The council wants to cut $32 million more from the budget than Bing has recommended, including $6.7 million from police. General services also would have gotten $9 million less in funding than what Bing has proposed. The budget has to be approved by the start of the fiscal year July 1. A super-majority of the 9-member council is needed to override Bing's veto. Bing says his budget reduces a $300 million deficit to $85 million. A council analyst says that figure will be closer to $125 million.
MACKINAC CONFERENCE-GINGRICH
Gingrich calls for Mich. `courageous conversation'
MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. (AP) - Ex-U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich says Michigan has to fundamentally change its approaches to education, job training and government to rebuild its struggling economy. The man responsible for the 1994 "Contract with America" spoke Wednesday at the Detroit Regional Chamber Mackinac Policy Conference. He says the changes will require "a courageous conversation." He says if a company wants to build a factory in Michigan, the state needs to retrain workers quickly so they're ready when the factory opens. Gingrich says Michigan can't say it's reforming education, "and in 26 years we'll have someone who can do" those jobs. He also called for making Detroit a tax-free enterprise zone for the next decade to encourage job growth.
GOVERNOR'S RACE-POLL
Poll: Hoekstra leads in gubernatorial primary race
LANSING, Mich. (AP) - A new poll shows U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra leading other Republican candidates in the party's gubernatorial primary. The EPIC-MRA poll of 400 likely Republican voters found 30 percent say they'd vote for Hoekstra in August. Attorney General Mike Cox has 18 percent, while businessman Rick Snyder has 17 percent and Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard has 16 percent. Of 400 likely Democratic voters polled, 29 percent favor House Speaker Andy Dillon. Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero gets 23 percent. Seventy-one percent were unfamiliar with Bernero's name. Results of the May 22-26 phone polls for the Detroit Free Press and TV stations WXYZ, WJRT, WOOD and WILX have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.
POLL-OBAMA-GRANHOLM
Mich voters' opinion better of Obama than Granholm
LANSING, Mich. (AP) - President Barack Obama continues to be more highly thought of in Michigan than governor and fellow Democrat Jennifer Granholm. A new statewide poll shows 49 percent of 600 likely voters hold a favorable opinion of Obama and 42 percent an unfavorable one. Thirty-six percent said they have a favorable opinion of Granholm, while 59 percent have an unfavorable one. The telephone poll was conducted May 22-26 for the Detroit Free Press and TV stations WXYZ, WJRT, WOOD and WILX. The results have a margin of sampling error of 4 percentage points.
BUSH-MICHIGAN
Bush would waterboard Khalid Sheik Mohammed again
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - Ex-President George W. Bush says if he had it to do over, he'd still waterboard Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the man accused of masterminding the 9/11 attacks. Bush made the comment Wednesday night in Grand Rapids. During a question-and-answer session at the Economic Club of Grand Rapids, Bush acknowledged use of the interrogation technique against Mohammed. Bush says he'd "do it again to save lives." In his speech, Bush said ousting Saddam Hussein "was the right thing to do and the world is a better place without him." Bill Clinton spoke at the group's annual dinner in 2007. Other past speakers include ex-British Prime Ministers John Major and Margaret Thatcher and ex-Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
GREAT LAKES DRILLING
Stabenow: Canada should stop Erie gas production
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) - Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan says U.S. officials should talk with Canada about the safety of natural gas drilling in Canadian waters of Lake Erie. Stabenow said Wednesday she'd like Canada to ban drilling in Erie. It's prohibited on the U.S. side of the Great Lakes, although Michigan allows a few wells drilled under the lakes from land. Canada has 500 offshore gas wells in Lake Erie and 23 that run under the lake from shore. Both nations prohibit offshore oil drilling in the lakes. Stabenow says U.S. officials should seek assurances Canada could deal with an emergency like the Gulf of Mexico spill. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources says there are strong rules and tests to prevent such disasters.
FAMILY SLAYINGS-MICHIGAN
Man gets life-no parole for killing stepdad, uncle
SANDUSKY, Mich. (AP) - A judge has sentenced a Sanilac County man to life in prison without possibility of parole for fatally stabbing his stepfather and uncle and injuring their wives. On April 23, a Sanilac County Circuit Court jury convicted 48-year-old Gary L. Gould of Fremont Township of two counts each of first-degree murder and attempted murder. Judge Donald Teeple gave Gould the mandatory sentence Tuesday. Gould was convicted of killing his 70-year-old stepfather Jacob Wurmlinger and 68-year-old uncle Harry Reynolds on July 22, 2009. Gould testified that his aunt fatally stabbed the men and he intervened. His comments were contradicted in court by the injured women and a five-minute 911 recording. --- Information from: Huron Daily Tribune, http://www.michigansthumb.com
THIRD GRADER-LOADED GUN
Police: Boy, 9, got loaded gun from dad's house
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. (AP) - Authorities say a 9-year-old boy who brought a fully loaded semiautomatic gun to his Bloomfield Hills elementary school got it from his father's house. Bloomfield Hills Schools Superintendent Steve Gaynor said in a letter to parents the Eastover third-grader showed the gun and a bullet to another student during recess Tuesday. The student who was shown the gun reported the incident. Bloomfield Township police were notified, the gun was confiscated, and the child and his parents were questioned. No one was injured. Police Lt. Dan Edwards tells the Detroit Free Press the boy got the registered gun from his father's house in Detroit. He says an investigation continues. The boy has been suspended for the rest of the school year.
DETROIT AIRPORT-SECURITY BREACH
Man in airport breach in federal diversion program
DETROIT (AP) - An Ohio man accused of prompting an evacuation at Detroit Metropolitan Airport when he walked through a passenger screening checkpoint without a boarding pass has entered a federal pretrial diversion program. The U.S. attorney's office in Detroit says Kalyan Policherla last month agreed to a year of psychiatric treatment and other terms. In exchange, a misdemeanor charge of violating federal security requirements was dismissed. Defense lawyer William Hill says his client has a history of mental illness. Authorities say the Bryan, Ohio, man walked through a checkpoint in Romulus Feb. 8. Policherla also faces a misdemeanor in Wayne County Circuit Court of resisting and obstructing police. His next hearing is June 22.
