State Roundup

East Lansing Prof accused of plagiarism in Mich. school study EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan State University says a professor who wrote a report on how money could be saved by consolidating schools lifted material by others. A campus research committee says Sharif Shakrani committed "research misconduct" in 2010. The Grand Rapids Press reported Monday that his conclusions remain the same, but he failed to attribute some background material to others. The Press is part of Booth Newspapers, which asked Shakrani to look at the financial impact of consolidating schools or sharing administrative services. Michigan State also found that Shakrani committed plagiarism in 2008 and 2009 in a campus publication. Some type of discipline is possible. Shakrani told The Associated Press on Tuesday he won't comment until he reads the report. Detroit NAACP seeks school district, state records DETROIT (AP) -- The Detroit NAACP branch is seeking records from the city's public schools about the district's reorganization and Gov. Rick Snyder's office on his plans to cut school funding across the state. The civil rights organization says Tuesday it has filed Freedom of Information Act requests about school closings and increased class sizes. NAACP officials say they are concerned about the impact on students. The district faces a $327 million deficit. Financial manager Robert Bobb submitted a plan to the state that called for closing about half of the district's 141 schools and increasing some classes to 60 students. Bobb now says he will close some schools and turn others over to charter operators to cut costs. The Associated Press left messages Tuesday seeking comment from Snyder's office and Bobb's office. Bay City Man gets 5-20 years for Mich. taxi robbery, theft BAY CITY, Mich. (AP) -- A Michigan man who told police he planned to use a stolen taxi to re-enact a scene from the television show "The Dukes of Hazzard" has been sentenced to prison. Thirty-year-old Zachary J. Chevalier of Essexville says he was high and remembers little about what happened July 22, when police say he robbed a taxi driver and drove off. He was sentenced Monday in Bay City to five to 20 years in prison for auto theft and armed robbery. The Bay City Times reports Chevalier told the court "it was like a black-out." He pleaded guilty in March to the charges in a deal with prosecutors. Police say Chevalier called a cab to take him to Saginaw but then robbed the driver with a pellet gun and took the taxi. Big Rapids Remains found amid search for missing Mich. woman BIG RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) -- Authorities who have been investigating the disappearance of a young woman in Big Rapids last May say human remains have been found. The Morning Sun of Mount Pleasant and WWTV-WWUP report the remains were found Monday in Mecosta County's Austin Township, near Big Rapids. A medical examiner was expected to use dental records to help identify the remains. Earlier this month, four people were charged in an investigation related to the disappearance of Kristin Spires of Barryton. They're not charged with harming her. Rather, they are charged with being accessories after the fact, a felony. Authorities have said they believe she was dead. The 20-year-old Spires was last seen at a gathering at a Big Rapids home, 55 miles north of Grand Rapids. Mount Clemens Judge: Parts of Michigan smoking ban 'confusing' MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. (AP) -- A judge says parts of Michigan's smoking ban are "confusing" and has tossed out a fine levied against a bar owner who claimed patrons should be allowed to smoke in his establishment as they can in Michigan's casinos. Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Edward Servitto, however, denied the bid by Sporty O'Toole's owner Boyd Cottrell to have the smoking ban declared unconstitutional. Servitto on Monday noted the "confusing language" of the law as a reason for throwing out the fine. Cottrell says the ban is unfair because it prohibits people from lighting up at bars that offer Keno and other wagering games. The county filed a complaint against Cottrell in November ordering him to pay a $500 fine -- his second offense. The county says the ruling is a setback. Ann Arbor Judge to hear arguments on Michigan no-parole law ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- A judge in Ann Arbor has scheduled arguments this week in a challenge to a Michigan law that bars parole for juveniles convicted of certain murders. The American Civil Liberties Union claims the law violates the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The state of Michigan is defending the law and will ask federal Judge John Corbett O'Meara to dismiss the lawsuit Thursday. The state says the nine plaintiffs waited too long to bring a challenge or should have raised the issues during earlier appeals. The convicted killers say it's wrong that they can't go to the parole board and seek release based on rehabilitation in prison. The plaintiffs include a 28-year-old man who was convicted of a Huron County slaying that occurred when he was 14. Kalamazoo Man who killed 2 gets 20-50 years KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) -- A man convicted of fatally shooting two people because he was upset they wouldn't move their cars from in front of his house in Kalamazoo has been sentenced to 20 to 50 years in prison. Tommy Emory was sentenced on Monday. The 57-year-old was found guilty in March of killing Sheron Wright and Lawanda Rogers last year. Both victims were 37. Emory told the judge he plans to appeal the sentence and asked for a new lawyer. He says he acted in self-defense. Published: Wed, Apr 20, 2011