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The 8th

Judge approves state, townships' settlement with Wolverine Worldwide, calls it "model resolution"

Federal district judge Janet Neff approved a settlement agreement between the state of Michigan, two Kent County townships, and Wolverine Worldwide.

Independence Square, Accra, Ghana. — Author: Rjruiziii / Wikimedia Commons http://bit.ly/1xMszCg

Two Detroiters on how time in Ghana gave them a new perspective on both their past and present

Government officials discuss how to respond to the Great Lakes' rising water levels

Wayne County overturns man's wrongful conviction after 25 years

By Sarah Cwiek • 1 hour ago

Hands gripping jail cell bars — maxpixel

Ramon Ward walked out of a Detroit courtroom a free man on Thursday, after serving 25 years in prison for two murders he didn’t commit.

Ward was just 18 in 1994, when he was accused of killing two women in Detroit. His 1995 conviction was based on a supposed confession. Ward never signed that confession, and insisted it was false.

University of Michigan to freeze new investments in fossil fuel industry

By Caroline Llanes • 1 hour ago

U-M student speaks at regents meeting — Caroline Llanes / Michigan Radio

The Board of Regents of the University of Michigan announced at a meeting on Thursday that it will put a freeze on new fossil fuel investments. This means that it will not make new investments in the fossil fuel industry while it studies its own investment policy.

The announcement came from Regent Mark Bernstein, right after U-M Central Student Government President Ben Gerstein discussed a Big Ten resolution, where student governments from Big Ten universities called on their institutions to freeze fossil fuel investments.

UM president apologizes to "anyone harmed" by late doctor

By The Associated Press & Caroline Llanes • 2 hours ago

University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel at podium — Steve Carmody / Michigan Radio

The president of the University of Michigan has apologized to "anyone who was harmed" by a late doctor after several former students said he molested them during medical exams at the school. UM President Mark Schlissel made the remarks at a meeting of the university's Board of Trustees on Thursday.

Whitmer nominee for Michigan Natural Resources Commission grilled by Senate panel

By Rick Pluta • 3 hours ago

A state Senate committee met on Thursday to grill Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s choice to chair the Michigan Natural Resources Commission.

But the Senate Advice and Consent Committee adjourned without making a recommendation to confirm or deny the appointment.

Public Service Commission sends much of DTE Energy plan "back to the drawing board"

By Tracy Samilton • 4 hours ago

In a decision that energy analyst Joe Daniel of the Union of Concerned Scientists called a "Midwest Nice" rejection, the Michigan Public Service Commission sent much of DTE Energy's first proposed Integrated Resource Plan, or IRP, "back to the drawing board."

Michigan Republican leader against legislation to allow early absentee ballot processing

By Virginia Gordan • 4 hours ago

Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake) said on Wednesday that he is opposed to proposed legislation that would help county clerks process an anticipated spike in absentee ballots.

Late U of M physician under investigation for accusations of sexual misconduct

By MaKayla Ealy & The Associated Press • 4 hours ago

University of Michigan sign — Anna Schlutt / Michigan Radio

Updated Feb. 20, 2020 at 4:53 p.m.:

A sixth person is accusing a late University of Michigan physician of sexual abuse. The university says it has received more than 20 calls to a hotline since it announced an investigation into Dr. Robert E. Anderson Wednesday.

Stateside: Absentee ballot debate continues; what record shops are spinning; road bonds explained

By Stateside Staff • 5 hours ago

An absentee ballot in an envelope. — Nadya Peek / FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS HTTP://MICHRAD.IO/1LXRDJM

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Stateside for February 20, 2020

Today on Stateside, a bill to give local clerks a head start on absentee ballot counting has hit a wall in the Legislature. We'll hear from one clerk who's going back to the drawing board. Plus, a conversation with the owner of an Ann Arbor record store owner about the albums he's listening to and loving right now.

Coronavirus Is Contagious, But Kids Seem Less Vulnerable So Far

By Allison Aubrey • 6 hours ago

As the case count of coronavirus infections continues to rise in China, the number of reported infections among children is remarkably low.

"We're seeing [about] 75,000 total cases at this point, but the literature is only reporting about 100 or so pediatric cases," says Terri Lynn Stillwell, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan.

Needle Drop: What record store owners can't stop spinning

By Stateside Staff • 6 hours ago

arms in striped shirt going through a record crate — Annie Theby / Unsplash