State Roundup

Lansing Audit cites problems with Mich. jobless payments LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- A new audit says that efforts to prevent, detect and recover overpayment of unemployment benefits in Michigan haven't been effective. The report released Tuesday by Michigan's auditor general says the control weaknesses may cost millions of dollars. The audit estimates a benefit payment control unit may not have detected and recovered as much as $55.7 million to $61.3 million in unemployment benefit overpayments and associated penalties over a period of two fiscal years. The audit says the Unemployment Insurance Agency also did not assess some fraud-related penalties or have procedures in place to identify and recover payments improperly paid to deceased claimants. The agency did report recovering overpayments of nearly $90 million from 2007 through 2009. A message was left seeking comment with the state's Unemployment Insurance Agency. Pittsfield Twp. Video of Mich. officer shooting man prompts review PITTSFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) -- A decision to clear a Michigan police officer of criminal wrongdoing in the January shooting of an unarmed man is being reviewed after a new video of the shooting became available, prosecutors said. The patrol car video of the Jan. 15 shooting in by Pittsfield Township Officer Tracy Yurkunas previously wasn't available because of problems with the recording system that have since been overcome. The review will include an examination of the video, as well as other evidence, Washtenaw County Chief Deputy Assistant Prosecutor Steve Hiller said Monday. "We are certainly going to re-examine the original decision," Hiller said. The video was released to AnnArbor.com following a request under the Freedom of Information Act. It shows Yurkunas shooting domestic violence suspect Devin Reddick once in the abdomen at a condominium complex shortly after he got out of a car. Immediately after the shot was fired, another officer yells: "Put your hands up." Yurkunas has indicated that Reddick was reaching for something. Police say he was holding a mobile phone and didn't have a weapon. Reddick's lawyer Ronald Brown did not immediately respond early Tuesday to an email seeking comment by The Associated Press. Reddick, 30, of Pittsfield Township, was charged in January with domestic violence, operating with a suspended license and refusing to be fingerprinted, all of which are misdemeanors. State police Sgt. Dale Smith investigated the case and says Monday he doesn't expect the video to change anything. "As far as we're concerned, the investigation is done," he said. "We turned it over and our findings have not changed." The video was shot from a patrol car that was stopped behind Yurkunas' patrol car. The recording system had previously shown an error message, but it later was retrieved. Police learned of the video March 10, and a copy was turned over to prosecutors the next day. Prosecutors had ruled in February that Yurkunas acted in self-defense. Yurkunas has been back at work on desk duty since late February, and Pittsfield Township police chief Matt Harshberger said an internal investigation is on hold pending the outcome of the new review. Saginaw Court turns down appeal in GM worker's death SAGINAW, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan's Supreme Court is staying out of a dispute between General Motors and the family of an autoworker who died in 2004 after striking his head in the bathroom at a Saginaw factory. Henry Harris' widow has been trying to show that his death was directly related to his job, which would entitle her to more than $300,000. But workers' compensation officials and the state appeals court had ruled against her. The Supreme Court heard arguments and voted 6-1 last week not to consider a full appeal. There is no dispute that Harris' death was due to his fall in the restroom. The case centers on whether he was moving when he fell or whether he simply fainted. Not every injury is open to compensation. Detroit Physician charged with health care fraud DETROIT (AP) -- A physician facing prison for her role in a Detroit Public Schools corruption case is accused of submitting Medicare claims for patients who already were dead. Gwendolyn Washington was arraigned Monday on health care fraud charges in federal court in Detroit. She also is accused of writing phony prescriptions and faces a hearing Tuesday. Defense attorney Anthony Chambers told reporters he will address the charges at a later date. Washington is to be sentenced July 26 in the schools case. She and her sister, Sherry Washington, were named in indictments last April charging bribery, fraud, extortion and money laundering involving the district's former Risk Management director. Their company proposed $150,000 in fees for an employee health awareness program, but more than $3 million was paid to the company's four partners. Published: Wed, Mar 23, 2011