Court: No lawsuit immunity for Michigan official who had rifle during online meeting

June 2, 2023

DETROIT — A lawsuit can go forward against a Michigan official who flashed a rifle during a public meeting over video conference, a federal appeals court said Wednesday. Patricia MacIntosh is suing Ron Clous, alleging he tried to silence her right to free speech when he displayed the rifle during a 2021 meeting of Grand Traverse County commissioners. Clous has no governmental immunity at this stage of the litigation, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in a 2-1 opinion. “Virtually smirking and displaying a high-powered rifle at someone during a tension-filled public ...

Michigan Supreme Court to hear dispute over drone photos of a salvage yard

June 1, 2023

LONG LAKE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan Supreme Court will hear a dispute over the legality of using a drone to take pictures of a salvage yard near Traverse City. Aerial photos were used as evidence in a lawsuit against Todd and Heather Maxon, who were accused of violating a zoning ordinance and creating a nuisance with cars and other salvaged material in Long Lake Township. The Maxons argue that aerial photos violated their constitutional right against unreasonable searches. But a local judge and the state Court of Appeals have ruled against them. “Like every American, ...

US opens probe into Freightliner trucks automatically braking without obstacle in road

May 31, 2023

DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. government’s highway safety agency is investigating complaints that the automatic emergency braking on big Freightliner trucks can stop unexpectedly for no apparent reason. It’s at least the third recent investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into glitches with the technology, which has the potential to save lives because it can make vehicles stop or slow down for stopped or slowed traffic. The probe covers about a quarter-million trucks made by Daimler from the 2017 through 2022 model years. The agency says in documents ...

Chassell lighthouse on list to be auctioned

May 30, 2023

By MARK PRATT Associated Press BOSTON — Ten lighthouses that for generations have stood like sentinels along America’s shorelines protecting mariners from peril and guiding them to safety are being given away at no cost or sold at auction by the federal government. The aim of the ...

Who offers hands-free driving for 2023?

May 26, 2023

DETROIT (AP) — Fully automated self-driving cars are still a thing of the future. But you can get a taste of what they’ll be like if your vehicle has what’s commonly described as hands-free driving capability. A vehicle so equipped can automatically accelerate, brake and steer for the driver without the driver needing to keep hands on the steering wheel. It can seem like a neat feature, but there’s more that car shoppers should know before making a purchasing decision. First off, only a few automakers offer hands-free driving currently, and each gives its own system a ...

Michigan man charged in Sleeping Bear Dunes river tampering

May 25, 2023

EMPIRE, Mich. (AP) — Federal prosecutors filed misdemeanor charges against a man who is accused of diverting a river within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in northern Michigan. Authorities last August described a “dramatic shift” at the mouth of the Platte River as it meets Lake Michigan in Benzie County. MLive.com said a channel was cut, likely with shovels, a condition that could make it easier for boats to get to the lake. Andrew Howard, 62, of Frankfort was charged Tuesday with tampering and vandalism. A message seeking comment wasn’t immediately returned ...