×

State briefing

Injured runner settles suit for $4.5M

CHELSEA, Mich. (AP) — A runner who sued his high school cross-country coach after he was severely injured during a dark early-morning practice has settled the case for $4.5 million.

In 2011, Kersch Ray was a 13-year-old member of the Chelsea High School cross-country team. Runners stopped at an intersection for a “do not walk” symbol but then crossed a road. A vehicle struck Ray and another teammate.

Ray’s family blamed the coach, Eric Swager, and filed a lawsuit. The Ann Arbor News reports that Ray suffered a traumatic brain injury and is permanently disabled.

Attorney Ven Johnson says the settlement will be covered by the Chelsea district’s insurance carrier.

Ray now is 20 years old.

Heart center project gets $5M gift

ROYAL OAK, Mich. (AP) — A $5 million gift from a suburban Detroit couple will help create a new heart center at Beaumont Hospital.

The money from Orchard Lake residents Max and Debra Ernst will go to the $9 million Max and Debra Ernst Heart Center at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak. Max Ernst is a former Arbor Drugs executive. The center will be dedicated to consolidating cardiac care, particularly for patients with heart failure.

The gift brings the couple’s total giving to support heart and vascular care at Beaumont to $8 million. They earlier gave $3 million to open the Ernst Cardiovascular Center in Memory of Ellen Ernst.

The new Heart Center will be located adjacent to the hospital’s East Tower entrance near the Ernst Cardiovascular Center. It’s scheduled to open in the fall 2019.

Man charged in slaying infant case

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — A 38-year-old western Michigan man has been charged in the death of his girlfriend’s 7-month-old son.

Sonny Larson was arraigned this week on murder and first-degree child abuse charges.

The child’s mother called 911 after finding him unresponsive Wednesday in her Kalamazoo apartment, southeast of Grand Rapids. He later was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Police said an autopsy showed the infant suffered head and neck trauma.

Priest is removed from ministry

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Catholic Diocese of Lansing says it has removed a senior priest from public ministry because of what it calls a “credible allegation” of inappropriate sexual behavior with a minor dating to the 1960s.

The diocese announced Friday it had taken the action against the Rev. Joseph Aubin, who was not assigned to a parish since he was on senior status.

A residential phone listing for Aubin in the Lansing area rang busy Friday afternoon and he could not be reached for comment.

The diocese announced in September that it plans to invite an external agency to review how it handled sexual abuse allegations. Its report has not yet been published.

Catholic dioceses across Michigan have surrendered documents to state officials investigating sexual abuse by priests.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today