BARBERSHOP CHALLENGE-DETROIT

Detroit museum hosting exhibit on narrative of Black men

DETROIT (AP) — An exhibit that advances the narrative of Black men through art, photographs and stories is coming to Detroit. The public opening of the “Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth.” exhibition is scheduled Sunday at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. It is part of an exhibition tour created by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. The Ford Motor Co. Fund also is involved in two community initiatives — the Men of Courage Leadership Forum and Men of Courage Barbershop Challenge — connected to the exhibit. The barbershop challenge is an expansion of the Men of Courage grassroots program that launched in 2015.

MICHIGAN REDISTRICTING

Michigan redistricting commission to vote on draft maps

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — After seven weeks of mapping, Michigan’s new redistricting commission is starting to vote on much-anticipated draft congressional and legislative plans. The maps, while not final and subject to future revisions, will give early indications of the panel’s approach after voters empowered it — and not lawmakers — to draw lines to minimize partisan gerrymandering. The commission is under a crunch because of an unprecedented four-month-plus delay in census data needed for the once-a-decade redistricting process. Once multiple drafts of congressional and legislative maps are approved in coming days, the public will be able to give feedback at five hearings.

ORCHARD PLANS-DNR

DNR to discuss plans for tree seed orchard at public meeting

GENOA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — Plans to reclaim two parcels of land in Livingston County’s Genoa Township for use as a tree seed orchard will be the subject of a Michigan Department of Natural Resources public meeting. The meeting is scheduled Tuesday at Brighton High School. The 50-acre and 77-acre parcels are near the DNR’s Tree Improvement Center. Both were listed as surplus and destined for auction. The DNR says steps include completing a timber sale that is in progress, contouring the land through a mineral lease, and then planting and maintaining trees on the property.

DEER FOREST-SALE

Site of popular amusement park for sale in SW Michigan

COLOMA, Mich. (AP) — A rural amusement park popular for decades in southwestern Michigan is on the auction block. Visitors could pet animals, ride a Ferris wheel or train and listen to music at Deer Forest in Coloma. The 25-acre site in Berrien County is for sale, along with many buildings that are in rough shape but still standing. Rick Levin of Rick Levin & Associates says many people have called him with fond memories of Deer Forest. He says it might be a good spot for new homes. The suggested opening bid is $450,000, though the property had been valued at $3.2 million. The deadline for the sealed bid auction is Oct. 14.

EXCHANGE-SUMMER TOURISM

Traverse City tourism strong during 2021 vacation season

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Tourists flowed through Traverse City at a strong pace during vacation season 2021. But the hospitality industry still had to deal with a bumpy road as the COVID-19 pandemic lingered. Traverse City Tourism CEO Trevor Tkach says that toward the end of summer, the area started to see occupancy numbers similar to 2019, “which was a relief … because it was a fairly underwhelming start in 2021, consistent with what we’d been experiencing in 2020 with the pandemic.” Pre-pandemic hotel room occupancy in 2019 was strong. Numbers in 2020 were depressed because of travel and meeting restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

HOMELESS CAMP CLASH

7 arrested, 4 officers hurt in homeless camp skirmish

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — Seven protesters have been arrested and four police officers have been injured during a skirmish at a Kalamazoo homeless camp. The clash occurred two days after police cleared people out of the camp and signs were posted warning that trespassing enforcement would begin at noon at noon Friday. Activists were present when officers with the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety arrived and told everybody to leave. Police say the activists clashed violently with officers. Three were cited for trespassing and seven others were taken to jail and face charges including trespassing, resisting arrest and obstruction of justice. One person also faces a felony charge of assaulting an officer.

BIRD FEEDING-VETO

Whitmer vetoes bill to ease restrictions on feeding birds

GAYLORD, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has vetoed a bill that would have eased restrictions on feeding birds in areas where deer and elk roam. Whitmer says the bill clashes with state efforts to keep certain animals from congregating and spreading disease. Feeding birds is not illegal. But it’s illegal to put out food that can lure or attract deer. Rep. Ken Borton’s bill would have explicitly allowed people to place or spread feed within 300 feet from their house. The Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Farm Bureau opposed the bill. Years ago, Borton was accused of not doing enough to keep deer from his feeders in Otsego County. He said the case was dismissed.

STATE TROOPER SHOT

Judge: Man charged in shooting of trooper to remain jailed

FINDLAY, Ohio (AP) — A Michigan man accused of causing a shooting that seriously injured an Ohio state trooper during a traffic stop will remain jailed without bail. A judge made the ruling Friday during the initial court appearance by Robert Tramaine Hathorn. The 42-year-old Muskegon man is charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. It’s not clear if he’s retained an attorney. Authorities say trooper Josef Brobst stopped Hathorn’s car for speeding late Wednesday on Interstate 75 near Findlay, and Brobst asked Hathorn to exit the vehicle because he smelled marijuana. Authorities say the two men were standing behind the patrol cruiser when they began struggling over the trooper’s service weapon and Brobst was shot in the lower body.

PREVAILING WAGES

Whitmer restores prevailing wages on state projects

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says Michigan will pay higher “prevailing” wages on state construction projects, three years after Republican legislators repealed a long-standing law that required better pay. The Democratic governor said Thursday the cancellation of the law doesn’t preclude her from implementing a prevailing wage policy for state contracts. She calls it the “right policy” and one that benefits workers and the government. The announcement is drawing criticism from conservative groups and an association of nonunion contractors that funded a ballot initiative that enabled lawmakers to rescind the law. They say Whitmer’s move is illegal. A lawsuit appears likely.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-WMU SPORTS

WMU loses appeal over athletes and virus vaccine requirement

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of athletes at Western Michigan University. They sued to play sports without getting a COVID-19 vaccination, citing religious reasons. The appeals court declined to freeze a decision by a judge who said WMU’s vaccine policy likely violates the constitutional right to follow a religion. The appeals court says at least 16 athletes sought the religious exemption but were ignored or denied. WMU can require them to wear a mask or be regularly tested for COVID-19, under an injunction from a judge in Grand Rapids. In their lawsuit, the athletes say they are “devoted Christian people” who believe that the Bible and their faith preclude them from getting a COVID-19 shot.

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