MICHIGAN PIPELINE

Enbridge seeks federal jurisdiction in oil pipeline dispute

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Enbridge Energy is trying to shift to federal court a Michigan lawsuit seeking shutdown of an oil pipeline that runs beneath a channel linking two of the Great Lakes. Attorney General Dana Nessel filed suit in 2019, arguing that Enbridge's Line 5 should not operate in Michigan's Straits of Mackinac because it risks a spill. Nessel filed a second suit in 2020 to enforce a shutdown order by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. A federal judge agreed with Enbridge last month that litigation over Whitmer's order belongs in federal court. On Wednesday, Enbridge moved to shift Nessel's earlier lawsuit to federal court as well. Nessel vowed to fight the effort.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MICHIGAN

Michigan COVID hospitalizations dip; situation still dire

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan’s record-high number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients has dipped, the first drop in 49 days as health leaders continue to urge vaccinations while describing a dire situation inside hospitals. The state recorded 330 additional deaths, including 100 in the most recent 48-hour period. The seven-day average of daily deaths, 120, was up substantially from 67 two weeks before. Henry Ford Health System, which has five hospitals in the Detroit area and Jackson, on Wednesday reported roughly 500 coronavirus patients, a 34% increase over the past month. The state health department is urging residents to be vaccinated and those who are fully vaccinated to get a booster shot if eligible.

DOG FOUND

Texas dog missing in Michigan for months finally is found

SODUS TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A dog that disappeared in Michigan last summer while visiting from Texas has been returned to his grateful owners. Jennifer Hysell and her husband drove 15 hours from Dallas to be reunited Tuesday with Parker, their beloved pit bull. Parker ran away in July while Hysell was in Bangor, Michigan, for her father’s funeral. Hysell searched but eventually had to return to Texas. In late November, Parker was spotted behind a store in South Haven. Finally, on Dec. 11, the dog was lured into a kennel and caught. Parker's owner, Jennifer Hysell, calls him “Parker the Marker” because the dog has left a positive mark on people.

BC-US—MICHIGAN-LEAD IN WATER

Tests show lead in Benton Harbor tap water finally dropping

ST. LOUIS (AP) — New test results show that the amount of lead in Benton Harbor, Michigan’s drinking water has declined. The latest round of water sampling marks the first time in three years that the majority Black city’s lead levels did not exceed Michigan's standards. But state officials say residents should still use bottled water for basic tasks such as drinking and cooking. The Environmental Protection Agency is still studying the effectiveness of at-home lead filters in Benton Harbor. State officials say that preliminary results indicate they're working as designed. The state provides free bottled water for Benton Harbor’s residents, but picking it up can be time consuming and tasks like cooking can quickly use up personal supplies.

ELK DEATHS-ICE

A dozen elk fall through ice and die in Otsego County

GRAYLING, Mich. (AP) — A dozen elk fell through ice and died, despite a desperate rescue effort by hunting guides in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula. The director of the Department of Natural Resources calls it a “very tragic and unfortunate event.” The elk died Tuesday at Crapo Lake, a private lake in Otsego County, about 20 miles northeast of Grayling. It was a group of bulls, females and calves. A hunting party saw the elk heading down a slope and onto the ice. Two hunting guides in a rowboat tried to cut a path through the ice with a chainsaw but didn’t make much progress. Authorities recovered 11 carcasses Wednesday. The meat will be donated to local charities.

MICHIGAN REDISTRICTING

News groups argue for more access to redistricting panel

DETROIT (AP) — The Michigan Supreme Court has heard arguments in a challenge to whether a new state commission creating maps for the Legislature and Congress can keep certain business a secret. News organizations are suing to get access to a recording of a closed meeting and memos at the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. The commission has refused, citing attorney-client privilege. Voters in 2018 created the commission, taking the job of mapmaking out of the hands of politicians. Commissioners will meet Dec. 28 to vote on final maps. More than 130 hearings have been open to the public.

XGR-SCHOOL SHOOTING-MICHIGAN-FUNDING

$100,000 grant will support mental health services in Oxford

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A nonprofit in Oakland County that provides mental health crisis services will receive $100,000 in state funding following the mass shooting at Oxford High School. The aid for Common Ground was included in an $841 million supplemental spending bill that won legislative approval Tuesday night and will be signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The grant is intended to support mental health services for students, educators, parents and first responders in the Oxford High School community. Common Ground offers 24-hour services to more than 80,000 people each year, according to Sen. Ruth Johnson.

AP-US-SEVERE-WEATHER-MIDWEST

Strong winds in Midwest whip up dust, blow over semitrailers

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A powerful storm system is blowing through the Great Plains and Midwest, combining with unusually warm temperatures to close highways and prompt numerous tornado warnings. The winds gusting up to 80 mph hit parts of Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa. The winds caused dust storms that closed down a section of Interstate 70 and many state highways in western Kansas. The National Weather Service said there have been 13 tornado reports in the Plains states. The agency issued a high wind warning from New Mexico to upper Michigan, including Wisconsin and Illinois. Fires were reported in Kansas Wednesday afternoon, prompting evacuations but no immediate reports of damage to buildings.

SCHOOL BUS CRASH-DRIVER ARRESTED

Suburban Detroit school bus driver arrested after bus crash

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. (AP) — Authorities say a suburban Detroit school bus driver was arrested for suspected drunk driving after her bus carrying dozens of students crashed in Sterling Heights. Police say the driver for Utica Community Schools was arrested after Tuesday afternoon's minor crash, which did not injure any of the 30 to 40 Henry Ford II High School students aboard. Sterling Heights police say responding officers determined only the bus was involved in the crash. Police say the driver was arrested after officers detected a strong smell of intoxicants on the woman’s breath. A preliminary breath test indicated the woman’s blood-alcohol limit was 0.10, or above Michigan’s legal limit of 0.80 for driving.

SCHOOL SHOOTING-MICHIGAN

Michigan school district sets new safety plan after shooting

OXFORD, Mich. (AP) — Administrators in a Michigan school district where four students were shot to death have announced that a zero tolerance policy toward threats was being adopted, as well as other initiatives aimed at improving safety. The Oxford Community Schools Board of Education was told of the changes at its meeting Tuesday — two weeks after the Nov. 30 shooting at Oxford High School that also wounded six students and a teacher. An official told the board that "anything that is remotely violent immediately goes to the administration and law enforcement.” Students also will be removed from the school until a mental health evaluation is done. Ethan Crumbley, 15, has been charged as an adult with murder and other crimes.

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