By Ron Fonger
9th Ward Councilwoman Eva Worthing made the comment off her microphone during a committee meeting on Wednesday, May 4.
“It was a knee-jerk reaction. I said, ‘That’s ghetto’ under my breath ...,” Worthing said Friday, May 6. “I felt threatened” by “unprofessional and unsophisticated” comments made by 5th Ward Councilwoman Jerri Winfrey-Carter, who is Black....
Stories of success from Flint kids (click here) filled the Mott Memorial Building Auditorium on Friday afternoon.
Flint Southwestern Classical Academy’s 74 members of the senior class announced plans for after graduation during a “Decision Day” event at Mott Community College.
Students will soon be moving on to the workforce, armed forces and colleges all across the country.
Many are headed to Mott Community College and the University of Michigan-Flint, but the list doesn’t end there.....
The Michigan Supreme Court (click here) heard oral arguments Wednesday on whether defendants in the Flint water criminal case were denied a key constitutional right. If they win, charges against defendants going all the way up to ex-Gov. Rick Snyder could be thrown out.
The specific issue before the court is whether three of the defendants were denied their right to a preliminary hearing. The preliminary hearing is where prosecutors have to show a judge they have enough evidence to take a case to trial. But the government says that step’s been covered because these charges were brought in this unique process where a judge acts as both prosecutor and grand jury.
The state’s lawyers focused on the argument that even if it’s unusual, the law allows for a one-judge grand jury to decide whether to charge or not to charge.
Assistant Attorney General Christopher Kessel said the Flint water case is an unusual situation “…where the allegations of government corruption at the highest level do result in the victimization of an entire city. Now, I appreciate that defendants want to have a preliminary exam, but defendants are not entitled to choose their right of prosecution.”
The defendants are former state Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon, who is charged with involuntary manslaughter. Former state health official Nancy Peeler is charged with misconduct in office and willful neglect of duty. Richard Baird, a top adviser to then-Gov. Rick Snyder, faces charges of misconduct, perjury and extortion.
Defense counsel Harold Gurewitz represents Nancy Peeler. He said the preliminary examination protects defendants’ rights....
