State Roundup

Dearborn
History attraction gets rare studio glass collection
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — The suburban Detroit history attraction The Henry Ford has acquired a studio glass collection that includes about 300 pieces.
Officials announced Tuesday that the donation from Bruce and Ann Bachmann of Chicago is an encyclopedic history of the Studio Glass Movement, which began in the 1960s.
Patricia Mooradian, president of The Henry Ford, says the acquisition “undeniably furthers the importance and significance” of The Henry Ford’s glass collection.
The Henry Ford in Dearborn includes Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. Fundraising is under way for a glass gallery as part of Greenfield Village.

Kalamazoo
Woman yanked from car settling suit for $1.1M
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — A woman who was yanked from her car by two sheriff’s deputies in Michigan who mistook her for a chase suspect has agreed to settle a lawsuit for more than $1.1 million.
MLive.com reports the settlement involving Kalamazoo County, the deputies and Michelle Selbee of Scotts was reached in November.
Details were filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids. The agreement must be approved by a judge.
The sheriff’s department said the deputies believed Michelle Selbee was an armed suspect who had been shooting at officers in 2010. When they realized they had the wrong person, they left. An investigation by authorities from outside Kalamazoo County cleared the deputies.

Traverse City
Officers fatally shoot man after Michigan chase
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Police say officers fatally shot a motorist who pulled out a high-powered rifle following a multi-county chase in Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula.
The Traverse City Record-Eagle reports the 56-year-old Oscoda man fled deputies in Crawford County. Police say Tuesday morning the man was chased into Grand Traverse County and he was fatally shot at a Traverse City home where he confronted officers.
Police say Crawford County sheriff’s deputies and Traverse City police fired at him. No officers were wounded.
Other agencies including the Kalkaska County sheriff’s department were involved in the chase. The shooting is under investigation.

Coldwater
City getting $11M for recreation and  aquatic centers
COLDWATER, Mich. (AP) — A southern Michigan community is getting an $11 million gift to build an aquatic center and expand an area recreation facility.
WWMT-TV and WTVB-AM report Coldwater city leaders on Monday announced that Dr. Robert W. Browne, and his wife Lynn, are donating the money.
The aquatic center is planned for the grounds of Legg Middle School. The Heritage Independence Recreation Gym is to be expanded.
The project is set to break ground in 2013 and is expected to be completed in early 2014.

Traverse City
School board rejects book ban request by parent
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — A school board has rejected a request from parents of a student at Traverse City West Senior High School to have a book banned.
Heather and Jeff Campbell complained about “The Glass Castle,” and the Traverse City Area Public Schools Board of Education weighed in on the matter on Monday. The Traverse City Record-Eagle reports the board rejected a recommendation to remove the book from a freshman honors English course summer reading list.
Jeannette Walls’ memoir includes explicit language and references to child molestation, adolescent sexual exploits and violence.
The book was assigned to the Campbells’ daughter. Jeff Campbell says he’s disappointed in the board’s decision.
Both the board’s curriculum committee and a committee formed to address the Campbells’ complaint said the book wasn’t appropriate for a summer assignment.

Constantine
Teacher cleared after children’s sex play report
CONSTANTINE, Mich. (AP) — A southwestern Michigan kindergarten teacher who was suspended with pay while officials investigated a report that two 5-year-old boys engaged in sex play in a classroom has been cleared.
Constantine Public Schools initially notified parents of the matter earlier this month. Constantine police investigated the report from Eastside Elementary School. WLKM-FM and WWMT-TV say the instructor resumed teaching duties Monday and there is no criminal negligence on her part.
The matter came to light Nov. 27 when several parents contacted the southwestern Michigan school. The two boys are temporarily out of the classroom.
MLIve.com reports the school also has reorganized the classroom so that students are visible at all times and brought in an additional classroom aide.

Lansing
Inmate can sue 2 officials over care for breasts
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan prison inmate with gender identity disorder can sue a doctor and a guard who are accused of ignoring problems with her breasts.
Vonlee Titlow says a corrections officer snickered and failed to seek medical care when she complained about pain in her breasts in 2006. It took three years for officials to approve a bilateral mastectomy.
Titlow was born a male but considers herself a female and had received silicone injections to increase her breast size before entering prison in 2002.
A federal appeals court on Monday says a corrections officer and a doctor are not immune to a civil trial over delays and their alleged indifference to Titlow’s medical problems.
The 45-year-old Titlow is in prison for second-degree murder in Oakland County.