Flint
Rep. Dan Kildee gets nod for post on Budget panel
FLINT, Mich. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee of Flint is joining the House Budget Committee.
In a news release sent Wednesday by his office, Kildee says that as Michigan's "sole representative on the committee," he "will be a strong advocate for the needs of cities like Flint, Saginaw and Bay City."
According to the statement, the freshman Democrat's appointment was announced Tuesday night by House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.
Kildee was granted a waiver by the House Democratic leadership to serve on both the House Financial Services and Budget committees.
The Budget Committee is responsible for enacting budget policy and legislative oversight of the nation's budget.
The committee on Wednesday is to consider a Republican plan to try to balance the budget within 10 years.
Royal Oak
Ted Lindsay gives $1 million for autism program
ROYAL OAK, Mich. (AP) — The foundation of hockey Hall of Famer Ted Lindsay is donating $1 million to a center in Michigan to help children with autism and their families.
Beaumont Health System announced Wednesday support from the Ted Lindsay Foundation will expand and create a new facility for the Hands-On Parent Education Center, which offers services for families of children with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disorders.
Previously known as the HOPE Center, the facility is part of the Royal Oak-based health system's Beaumont Children's Hospital. In recognition of the gift, the Beaumont Health System is renaming the center as the "Ted Lindsay Foundation HOPE Center."
Lindsay played in the NHL for Detroit and Chicago. His foundation has supported autism research and programs for more than a decade.
Rockford
School bus driver faces charges in fatal traffic crash
ROCKFORD, Mich. (AP) — A West Michigan school bus driver has been charged in a crash that killed an 86-year-old motorist.
Kent County assistant prosecutor James Benison said Wednesday LeAnn Antuma faces a misdemeanor count of a moving violation causing death.
According to authorities, Ione Potter of Cannonsburg died when a school bus driven by Antuma collided with her car on Feb. 24.
Benison says arrangements were being made for Antuma to turn herself in for processing.
Messages seeking comment on the case were left Wednesday with defense lawyer Fil Iorio.
Reese
Authorities: 1 dead in flaming fuel tanker crash
REESE, Mich. (AP) — Authorities say one person is dead following a fuel tanker crash in rural Michigan that sent flames 150 to 200 feet into the air.
The Saginaw News reports crews responded about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday to the crash near the Tuscola County community of Reese, about 80 miles northwest of Detroit, and flames scorched about a 100-yard radius on the ground.
Richville Fire Chief Eric Brown says the truck was carrying about 13,000 gallons of fuel. Details on the person who died weren't immediately released.
Brown says firefighters arrived and assessed the environmental impact of putting out the blaze, making the decision to let it burn out.
Muskegon
Plans to demolish smokestacks of old plant on hold
MUSKEGON, Mich. (AP) — Officials say plans to demolish smokestacks at the site of a shuttered paper mill in western Michigan have been postponed.
The Muskegon Chronicle reports the smokestacks were originally scheduled to come down by implosion on April 27, but project manager Ken Callow says more work must be done before that happens.
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality spokesman Brad Wurfel says the delay is due to a glaze on the 200-foot smokestacks that contains asbestos. Wurfel says this type of demolition is uncommon, since smokestacks often are repurposed instead of removed.
Last year, a 10-story former power plant at the site was demolished using explosives. That demolition drew crowds of onlookers.
The paper mill closed in 2009, idling about 200 workers.
