No new sentence for Larry Nassar. Ferris State professors are ordered back to the classroom. A second death due to West Nile Virus in Michigan this year.
(MPRN) The Ingham County judge who sentenced Larry Nassar to at least 40 years in prison says she isn’t changing her mind. Nassar is the former Michigan State University sports doctor who sexually assaulted his patients for decades. Nassar’s attorneys said he should be resentenced because Judge Rosemarie Aquilina was biased against him. While handing down Nassar’s sentence, Aquilina said things like “I just signed your death warrant” and that she wished she could impose cruel and unusual punishment. But Aquilina says Nassar was sentenced fairly. She says Nassar got the sentence that he bargained for when he pleaded guilty. Nassar’s attorneys are appealing Aquilina’s ability to even decide Nassar’s sentencing. They’ve filed a motion with the Court of Appeals to have her removed from the case.
(WCMU) Ferris State University professors are being ordered back to the classroom Tuesday morning, after striking on the first day of classes Monday. A Mecosta County Circuit Court judge ordered the educators back to work, as the university and the professors union continue negotiations over a new contract. Officials with the Ferris Faculty Association say roughly 300 teachers walked the picket line, calling for salary increases better classroom equipment and other improvements. Following the judge’s order, professors will be back in the classroom Tuesday. The union says its members will continue to picket during free periods.
(Battle Creek Enquirer) Battle Creek officials aren't happy about the cost of keeping prisoners sent to the Calhoun County Jail. The Battle Creek Enquirer says the city is threatening to stop the monthly payments of nearly $32,000. But county officials say a 1906 state law requires the city to pay up. The issue has been simmering for years. City commissioners say they'll cut off the payments unless the county's prosecutor asks for a ruling on the dispute by the state attorney general within 30 days.
(WGVU) Health officials have confirmed a second death in Michigan this year due to West Nile Virus. Eight total cases have been confirmed statewide. Kent County health officials say mosquitos carrying the West Nile Virus in the Grand Rapids area have quadrupled this year. Health officials say only 20 percent of those infected by the West Nile Virus will experience any type of symptoms, which typically include a fever, body aches and fatigue. Meanwhile 1 percent will develop neuro-invasive disease where the virus attacks the central nervous system. Repellent that contains DEET is recommended for avoiding West Nile. Property owners are advised to drain any standing water.
(MPRN) A federal judge says an independent candidate for Michigan’s Attorney General might be able to go on the ballot. That is, if he has 5,000 valid signatures. Current law says a candidate for Attorney General without a party affiliation must get at least 30,000 valid signatures to be on the ballot. Candidates with party affiliation, however, are nominated at party conventions. Christopher Graveline tried to get the 30,000 signatures, but got less than half. He sued the state. And a federal judge says 30,000 is too high a requirement and the number has no real meaning behind it. The state argued that it’s trying to protect the integrity of the election process by not having too many candidates on the ballot that would confuse voters. Graveline collected more than 14,000 signatures. If at least 5,000 of those are valid, as it stands now he can be on the November ballot.
Western Michigan has been picked to finish third in the Mid-American Conference West division this season in a poll of the MAC’s football coaches. Northern Illinois is first in the pre-season poll and Toledo second in the MAC West. Ohio is picked first in the conference’s East Division. The Broncos open the football season on Friday when they host Syracuse. Kickoff is at 6:00 Friday night at Waldo Stadium.
In men’s soccer, Western Michigan lost at DePaul Monday 1-0. The Broncos have split their first two matches this season. Western will host Butler on Thursday at the WMU Soccer Complex.