The state Supreme Court will hear arguments about “adopting and amending” two potential ballot proposals. Interlochen says it has cut ties with the financier accused of sex crimes. The Growlers and Bombers enter the All-Star break with losses.
(MPRN) The Michigan Supreme Court will hear arguments on Wednesday on a request for an advisory opinion. The issue revolves around how the state Legislature handled two measures that were headed for the ballot last year. The two measures were to raise the minimum wage and to require employers to offer earned sick time. The state Legislature adopted the two proposals that were headed for the ballot…and then made major changes to them…all in one session. The question is whether they could adopt and then amend ballot proposals in the same session. The court has not said whether it will issue an advisory opinion on the matter. Only that it will hear arguments.
Michigan and 32 other states say they have reached a settlement with pharmaceutical manufacturer Reckitt. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says Reckitt improperly marketed Suboxone to physicians. The drug was used to suppress opioid withdrawal symptoms, but Nessel says the company promoted the sale based on false and misleading claims. She says that resulted in improper spending of Medicaid money. Under the settlement with the 33 states, Reckitt will pay a total of 700-million dollars. Over 400-million dollars will go to the Medicaid program.
(Interlochen Public Radio) Jeffrey Epstein the billionaire financier accused of sex crimes against many young women and girls visited and donated to Interlochen Center for the Arts. Epstein was a student camper at Interlochen in the late ‘60s. In an email to Interlochen staff President Trey Devey says Epstein made contributions to the school and sponsored the building of a visitors cabin on campus. Devey says Epstein stayed at that lodge for a week in August, 2000. But he says there are no accusations against Epstein from current or former students. In a statement Interlochen said quote “Our policies, both presently and during the time in which Mr. Epstein was an active donor, do not permit unsupervised contact between students and donors.” The last donation the school received from Epstein was in 2003. Interlochen cut ties with him in 2007 including removing his name from lodge he sponsored.
(WKAR) Democratic Presidential candidate Kirsten Gillibrand say she’s trying to appeal to voters who were promised better things by President Donald Trump. The Senator from New York made her second visit to Michigan Friday since launching for campaign president. Gillibrand says Trump broke his promises to bring back jobs, lower prescription drug prices and end gun violence. President Trump was the first Republican Presidential candidate to win Michigan since 1988, he captured the state’s 16 electoral votes by just a few thousand votes in 2016.
In baseball, Battle Creek lost both games of a double header to Traverse City Sunday, 5-3 and 10-0. The Northwoods League is off for the next three days for the All-Star game and home run derby. The Bombers next game is Thursday night against Rockford at C.O. Brown Stadium in Battle Creek.
Kalamazoo lost to Wisconsin Sunday 12-9. The Growlers and Woodchucks combined for 21 runs on 25 hits. The Northwoods League is off for the next three days for the All-Star game and home run derby. Kalamazoo’s next game is Thursday at Kokomo.