State Roundup

Muskegon State prison expected to close this year MUSKEGON, Mich. (AP) -- A Michigan prison in Muskegon is expected to close in the coming months after word that a deal with Pennsylvania to house that state's prisoners will end. Muskegon Correctional Facility's Warden Michael Curley tells The Muskegon Chronicle that a June 1 closing date recently was announced to prison staff. The medium-security prison currently employs about 200 people. Some workers are expected to be able to transfer to vacant positions at other prisons. The Muskegon prison currently houses more than 1,000 Pennsylvania inmates under a contract with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. Pennsylvania last month told Michigan officials that they planned to cancel the arrangement announced in December 2009 to house inmates. Curley says the state plans seek some use for the facility but will "mothball" the prison. Ithaca Theft of grandparents' wedding rings nets prison ITHACA, Mich. (AP) -- A Michigan man who pleaded guilty after being charged in the theft of his grandparents' wedding rings has been sentenced to up to 15 years in prison. Nineteen-year-old Calvin Jeffrey Custer of St. Johns was sentenced Monday in Gratiot County Circuit Court in Ithaca. He received two to 15 years in prison for second-degree home invasion and 18 months to five years for larceny of firearm in the October break-in at the home in Fulton Township. The Morning Sun of Mount Pleasant reports other jewelry, a handgun, watches and cash also were taken. Nearly all of the items were recovered from a pawn shop. Charlevoix Twp. Daughter, 74, charged in elderly mother's slaying CHARLEVOIX TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) -- A 74-year-old woman has been charged in the death of her 94-year-old mother in Michigan's Charlevoix Township. The Petoskey News-Review reports Monday that Sandra Gregory claims in an affidavit that her mother may have had to go into a nursing home due to a neurological problem and that Amelia Gregory said she would rather be with her dead husband. Police found Amelia Gregory's body Sunday night in their home about 190 miles north of Grand Rapids. They were looking into whether she had been suffocated with a pillow and then hit with a lamp. An autopsy was scheduled. The News-Review and The Grand Rapids Press report that Sandra Gregory was expected to be arraigned Tuesday in 90th District Court. She was being held in the Charlevoix County Jail. New Baltimore Tip leads to abuse charges against mom NEW BALTIMORE, Mich. (AP) -- A St. Clair County woman is accused of offering her 4-year-old daughter to a man for sexual purposes. The Macomb County sheriff's department says Andrea Ziza sent a video of herself and her child in a compromising position to a man she met on a dating website. The 28-year-old Ziza of St. Clair was arraigned Monday on charges of child sexually abusive activity, illegal use of a computer and accosting a child. Sheriff Anthony Wickersham says a man who came in contact with Ziza called the FBI, which contacted deputies. Ziza's children were given to a relative. She was being held in the Macomb County jail. The name of her attorney was not immediately known. Ann Arbor Man who shook mom's parrot gets 10 months in jail ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- A 50-year-old Jackson man has been sentenced to 10 months in jail after being convicted of violently shaking his mother's pet parrot while carrying it in his backpack. Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Melinda Morris sentenced Christopher Alan Turpen on Monday, crediting him for 101 days served. Police have said that witnesses reported the colorful bird was shaken so violently that its feathers were scattered. Three 911 calls were made following the September incident on an Ann Arbor street. Turpen told officers he was disciplining and training the bird. The parrot fought back, leaving one of his thumbs scratched and bloodied. AnnArbor.com reports the Amazon parrot named Labamba is living with the Humane Society of Huron Valley. East Lansing New partnership aims to boost Michigan exports EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- A new partnership between a Michigan State University center and a federal agency aims to boost exports from the state. The East Lansing-based school on Monday announced that its International Business Center would be working with the Commerce Department's U.S. Commercial Service. The school says it's a unique partnership in Michigan for fostering economic development. The International Business Center will conduct market research and analysis for companies interested in becoming exporters. The U.S. Commercial Service will provide international networking and support. Midland Dow reaches deal to make refrigerant in China MIDLAND, Mich. (AP) -- Dow Chemical Co. said Tuesday it has agreed on a deal with Befar Group Co. Ltd. to make a key refrigerant chemical in China. The 50-50 joint venture will produce perchloroethylene, a building block for refrigerants used in industrial, automotive, consumer, building and other cooling applications, the Midland, Mich.-based Dow said in a statement. Dow said the companies will explore development of a new factory in Binzhou, China, that could produce 40 kilotons of perchloroethylene per year with the possibility of doubling production later. The companies estimate that production would begin in 2014, according to the statement. Specific financial terms were not released. The companies said the deal is subject to government approvals. Carol Williams, Dow's president of chemicals and energy, said in the statement that the memorandum of understanding with Befar will help Dow grow in China and also meet the world's rapidly expanding need for more sustainable product offerings. Perchloroethlene does not deplete ozone, the company said. Lansing Mayor proposes cuts to close $20 million budget gap LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- The Lansing mayor's plan to eliminate the city's projected $20 million budget deficit would cut as many as 78 positions from the police department and as many as 71 from the fire department. The Lansing State Journal reports that Virg Bernero's plan for the 2012 fiscal year also would eliminate all of the city's neighborhood watch and school liaison officers, and close as many as three fire stations. Bernero described it as the "worst-case budget" in a presentation Monday to City Council. The proposal also includes cuts in road, sewer and parks maintenance. The cuts could be less drastic if voters agree to raise the city's property tax limit, if the state's revenue sharing doesn't fall and if the city can negotiate cost-saving measures with its unions. Edwardsburg Body of missing Indiana woman found in SW Michigan EDWARDSBURG, Mich. (AP) -- Authorities say a road commission worker has found the body of an Indiana woman who had been missing since last week in a southwestern Michigan field. The Cass County sheriff's department tells the Kalamazoo Gazette, WWMT and WSBT that the body of 38-year-old Kim Stout of Mishawaka was found Monday northeast of Edwardsburg. Cause of death wasn't immediately known but the sheriff's department says it "appears suspicious in nature." Authorities say Stout was missing since early March 23 when she reportedly was out with friends and a friend drove her home. Published: Wed, Mar 30, 2011