Traverse City Record-Eagle

Michigan

June 26, 2012

Michigan in Brief: 06/26/2012

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Colleges getting $300M for projects

DETROIT — Michigan will invest more than $300 million in infrastructure projects at colleges and universities under a new law signed Monday by Gov. Rick Snyder.

The governor signed the legislation at Wayne State University, which is getting $30 million toward construction of a biomedical research building. In all, the plan includes a commitment of $304 million to fund 18 construction projects statewide.

Other projects include $25 million to replace Jamrich Hall at Northern Michigan University, $750,000 for building renovations at Gogebic Community College, $30 million for a bio-engineering facility at Michigan State University and $30 million for renovations to the G.G. Brown Memorial Laboratory at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Michigan Marine, 23, killed in Afghanistan

DETROIT — A Marine from Detroit killed while serving in Afghanistan will never get to see his son in person, family members said Monday.

Pfc. Steven P. Stevens II went to Afghanistan on March 21, about a week before his son was born. The Defense Department announced Monday that Stevens died Friday while conducting combat operations in Helmand province. He was 23.

"I'm sorry that he never got a chance to see his son," his 85-year-old grandmother, Dorothy Atkins, told the Detroit Free Press. "I wish he could have had that blessing."

Stevens' body was scheduled to arrive at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Monday. His wife, Monique, and his parents were there, relatives said.

WXYZ-TV reported his body is expected to reach Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County's Harrison Township on Wednesday.

Stevens grew up in Detroit, attended Cass Technical High School and went to Florida A&M University on a swimming scholarship, said his uncle, Dwight Atkins.

Relatives said he left college to join the Marines.

A funeral is set for Saturday at Hope United Methodist Church in Southfield.

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