Lawmaker wants death penalty for cop killers
There’s a new push to bring back capital punishment in Michigan for anyone convicted of killing a police officer.
One state lawmaker is calling for the death penalty for cop killers.
Detroit officers Matthew Bowens and Jennifer Fettig were shot and killed while on a traffic stop here on Golbert Street at Michigan Avenue in Feb. 2004.
The convicted killer, Eric Marshal, was convicted of both murders and died in prison in 2010.
Bowens’ father Jim Bowens persuaded State Senate Democrat from Detroit, Virgil Smith, to offer a resolution. It would change the state’s constitution and bring the death penalty for murder convictions of police officers and correction officers killed in the line of duty.
“I lost my son,” Bowens said. “The American people, especially the people of Michigan, should decide this issue. Not a few people up in Lansing.”
Jim Bowens has tried this before and failed. He says his chances of succeeding legislation with Smith will be improved this time.
“Now we have Republicans … who are supportive of this,” Bowens said. “Virgil is a Democrat from Detroit, so that shows what a help it is going to be. We’re going to try to get ground roots support from all the media, all the police departments, all the people. All the people who have lost ones in Detroit or any other city. Get on board and let’s get this passed to protect you and your family.”
In 1847 Michigan became the first state in the country to abolish capital punishment.
To succeed changing the state constitution, it requires a two-thirds majority in the State House and Senate as well as a vote passed by state voters.
Unvaccinated child turned away from Farmington Hills day care
One Farmington Hills mother chose not to get her daughter the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine also known as Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccine but not for reasons you may think
Rebecca McCallum’s daughter has a food allergy to eggs and recently suffered an upper respiratory infection. Her daughter’s doctor advised her to wait until Madelyn got better.
McCallum then got a medical waiver to inform Madelyn’s day care.
“It’s from the doctor stating that she could not get it,” said McCallum. “Under their medical care they didn’t want to give it to her because she was so sick last week. But they were fine giving it to her in the next week.”
But her child’s daycare JTots Childcare and Preschool told her Madelyn could not return until she received the MMR vaccine.
“That left us for at least a week without any day care,” McCallum said.
An owner for JTots says the school is following licensing requirements including those of vaccinations and immunizations, and it would not be appropriate to comment on the vaccinations on any child.
But Beaumont Dr. Devang Doshi has plenty to say on the topic of vaccines.
He says although some vaccines are made with egg products it’s still safe to vaccinate some with an allergy to eggs.
“Go ahead and proceed with vaccine irrespective of their food allergy and monitor those individuals for any side effects after the vaccine,” he said.
But Doshi says there is cause for concern if a child is sick.
“Their immune system is already fighting something,” he said. “So we typically like to vaccinate an individual when they are healthy.”
Doshi says the key with vaccines for any parent, is education.
“The running thought in the medical community is there has never been a published or documented paper that shows an increased adverse reaction or effect with any of these vaccines,” Doshi said.
Doshi said there is no reason to exclude children from day care.
“Yes we do have isolated cases of measles in Michigan,” he said. “It is a concern and it is a concern in the United States, but I don’t think the numbers are as high yet to start excluding individuals based on their vaccine status.”
1 killed, 1 injured in shooting near MSU
A 22-year-old man has died and another man was injured following a shooting in East Lansing.
The shooting happened just before midnight Thursday in the Grove Street parking garage, which is across the street from the campus of Michigan State University and near the East Lansing Police Department.
When officers arrived they found two men suffering from gunshot wounds.
A 22-year-old Lansing man later died at the hospital.
The second victim, a 21-year-old Lansing resident, suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Police are still searching for two, unidentified suspects in the shooting.
Detectives are in the process of interviewing witnesses.
Police said a detailed description of the suspects will be released as soon as it is available.
Bloomfield Hills varsity basketball head coach accused of slapping player
A varsity basketball head coach has resigned after he allegedly slapped a player and touch another player’s hair during practice, Bloomfield Hills Schools officials said.
Bloomfield Hills Schools administrators were made aware Thursday of two incidents involving varsity basketball head coach Duane Graves and two student athletes on the basketball team, the district said.
According to the district’s investigation, during basketball practice Wednesday evening, Graves became upset with a player on the team and used his palm to slap the player on the face.
Graves told district administrators that he spoke with the student and apologized for his actions.
Also during Wednesday evening’s practice, Graves touched another player’s hair and reportedly made a reference to “nappy hair,” according to Bloomfield Hills Schools officials. Graves later apologized to the student for the incident.
Over the course of the investigation, the district said it found that players do not believe Graves intended to hurt either student and asked both students if they were all right at the end of practice.
Graves contacted administration early Thursday to apologize for his actions and offer his resignation, the district said.
“Notwithstanding the intent of Mr. Graves, the interaction with the student athletes is unacceptable,” the district said in a statement. “Mr. Graves is employed by EduStaff, a third-party employer, and assigned to Bloomfield Hills Schools.”
Nick Stration will serve as the head varsity basketball coach for the balance of the season. The school district said Stration is the current freshman boys’ basketball coach and will continue in both positions.
Administrators met with the basketball team Thursday to advise them of the resignation and coaching change.
A letter was also sent to the families of the basketball players, the district said.
Written by LBeasley (Lauren Beasley), Digital Producer of The Morning Heat and Sports Editor of Radio One Detroit
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Lawmaker Wants Death Penalty For Cop Killers In Michigan was originally published on hothiphopdetroit.com
