Michigan Public Radio Network

DETROIT, MI (MPRN)--   A federal judge in Detroit will hear arguments today about alleged strong-arm tactics against Iraqi detainees. 

The ACLU represents several hundred Iraqi immigrants who face deportation orders for crimes – many of which were committed years ago and for which sentences were already served.

The ACLU of Michigan says immigration agents are telling detainees if they don’t sign a document saying they want to go back to Iraq, they’ll be criminally prosecuted – and detained indefinitely.

Miriam Aukerman is an ACLU attorney.

EAST LANSING, MI (MPRN)--   Michigan State University Interim President John Engler is under fire for emails he exchanged with an aide about victims of Larry Nassar.

Nassar is the former MSU sports doctor who sexually assaulted his patients for years.

Now, members of the university’s governing board want Engler to resign.

LANSING, MI (MPRN)--   Enbridge Energy has submitted a report to the state on possible alternatives to continuing to run an oil and gas pipeline on the bottomlands of the Straits of Mackinac. 

Neither of the alternatives would shut down the line.

Shutting it down is what environmental groups are calling for. Enbridge has proposed digging a tunnel 100 feet below the bottom of the straits, or encasing Line 5 in a trench covered with concrete and stone.

ANN ARBOR, MI (MPRN)--   Vice President Mike Pence will be back in Michigan Friday. 

Last month the Vice President delivered the commencement address at Hillsdale College. Friday he’s back in Michigan to help deliver some campaign cash.

He’s speaking at a campaign fundraiser for Attorney General Bill Schuette, who’s running to be Michigan’s next governor. Schuette not only has the Vice President raising money for him he’s also received the president’s endorsement.

LANSING, MI (MPRN)--   A new state rule requires local water systems to get rid of all their lead service lines over the next 20 years. 

Those are the types of pipes that contributed to the Flint water crisis.

Governor Rick Snyder says a confusing federal lead and copper rule helped create the Flint crisis, and called for Michigan to adopt its own standard covering roughly 2,000 water systems.

“So Michigan will now have its own rule that’s stricter than the federal standard.”

LANSING, MI (MPRN)--   The ACLU of Michigan wants a Detroit judge to order immigration authorities to stop coercive tactics against Iraqi immigrants in its custody. The immigrants face deportation orders for crimes – usually committed years ago. 

LANSING, MI (MPRN)--   Environmental groups say a bill headed for Governor Rick Snyder’s desk could increase the amount of invasive species in the Great Lakes. 

The bill involves ballast water. That’s water large ships collect to help stabilize their vessel. The ships gather the water in one region, taking plant and animal species with them, and then when the ship doesn’t need the water, it dumps it someplace else. The bill loosens the treatment regulations on that water before it’s dumped into the Great Lakes.

LANSING, MI (MPRN)--   The decision on whether voters will decide to overhaul how Michigan draws congressional and legislative districts is now before the state Supreme Court. 

The business-backed group fighting the campaign says the proposed amendment to the state constitution is too sweeping and complex to be decided as a ballot question. The group Citizens Protecting Michigan’s Constitution asked the Supreme Court to block any action on the proposal while the case is argued.

LANSING, MI (MPRN)--   The Legislature has sent Governor Rick Snyder the new state budget, including a provision that attempts to cut funding to Planned Parenthood. 

Snyder and the Legislature’s disagree on the provision, which could lead to a showdown on whether it will be enforced.

The provision in the budget would require county health departments to favor family planning clinics that don’t also offer abortions. State law already forbids the direct use of public money funds for abortions, so this would apply to money for services unrelated to terminating a pregnancy.

LANSING, MI (MPRN)--   A new law extends the statute of limitations for victims of sexual assaults to file lawsuits, and for suspects to face prosecution.

It was signed Tuesday by Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley while Governor Rick Snyder is out of the country.

The legislation had an army of advocates behind it – the survivors of 20 years of sexual abuse by disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar. But they also say the new law is not enough.