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Southwest Michigan Today: Wednesday April 24, 2019

State Capitol - file photo. Photo by Cheyna Roth, Michigan Public Radio Network
Cheyna Roth
/
Michigan Public Radio Network
The Michigan Capitol building in Lansing where the State House recently passed a proposal that would allow residents to formally reject discriminatory language in housing deeds.

Legislation to crack down on selling vaping products to minors doesn’t go far enough for public health groups. A new president and dean is named for WMU’s Cooley Law School. The K-Wings are eliminated from the ECHL playoffs. 

(MPRN) Republicans and Democrats in the state Senate have voted to get tougher on retailers that sell nicotine-infused vaping products to minors. But public health groups say the legislation falls short. The legislation is controversial because it would treat smoking and vaping differently under the law. Republicans and Democrats voted for the bills. But Angela Clock says whether they’re smoking or vaping, people are inhaling nicotine. She says anti-tobacco groups will continue to try to get the bills changed as they make their way to Governor Gretchen Whitmer for her signature.

Western Michigan University’s Cooley Law School has named its next president and dean. James McGrath is currently associate dean for academic support and bar services at Texas A&M’s Law School. Cooley announced on Tuesday that its board of directorschose McGrath to be the third president and sixth dean since the law school was founded in 1972. McGrath succeeds Don LeDuc who retired after 16 years as president and dean at Cooley.

(Detroit Free Press) A Saudi Arabian man who at one time planned to attend Western Michigan University was beheaded by the government. The Detroit Free Press reports that Mujtaba Al-Sweikat’s name was one of 35 on a list released by the Saudi Arabian government. He was 17 when he was arrested in 2012, preparing to fly to the United States and begin his studies at Western. Al-Sweikat had reportedly attended a pro-democracy rally earlier that year during what was known as the Arab spring.

(WKAR) People who have lost loved ones to gun violence rallied at the state capitol Tuesday for change to state gun laws. The group is called Mom’s Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Volunteers want state legislation that would keep guns away from people deemed a danger to themselves or others. They also want state law to keep guns from people convicted of domestic abuse. Legislation that would keep guns from people deemed a danger themselves or others was introduced in the state house earlier this year. Opponents of the proposal say the measure does nothing to help a person in crises and takes away the person’s due process.

(Michigan Radio) The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that a passenger in a car can challenge a police search of his personal property found in the vehicle. The court said the passenger in this case had a legitimate expectation of privacy for his backpack. That's because the evidence showed the backpack was clearly his. And the police did not get his consent to the search. The State Supreme Court held the warrantless search of his backpack was unreasonable and unconstitutional.

(Detroit News) Bethany Christian Services says it's changing its adoption policies. The Detroit News says the faith-based agency in Grand Rapids will now work with same-sex couples. A settlement agreement announced earlier this month requires adoption and foster care agencies that get state money to work with LGBTQ couples. But the order has drawn two lawsuits, including one by Saint Vincent Catholic Charities. The suits say the state's rule amounts to religious discrimination.

(Interlochen Public Radio) A controversial plan for a wind farm in the Upper Peninsula has been cancelled. Developers wanted to put 49 wind turbines near Mount Arvon in L’Anse Township. Wind turbines could still be built there in the future under current zoning rules. But voters could change that in a referendum next month.

In hockey, Kalamazoo’s season ended with a 4-0 loss at Cincinnati Tuesday night. The Cyclones took the best of seven first round playoff series from the K-Wings in six games.