Traverse City Record-Eagle

Michigan

June 21, 2012

Michigan in Brief: 06/21/2012

FROM WIRE REPORTS ----

Temps reaching 97, cooling centers open

YPSILANTI — With Michigan temperatures pushing into the upper 90s, authorities have opened cooling centers to offer relief to those who lack air conditioning.

Detroit's Recreation Department and library say they've made air-conditioned cooling centers available throughout the city. In Wayne County's Canton Township, officials have declared Summit on the Park a cooling center. It's open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. through today.

Temperatures reached well into the 90s Tuesday, with Ypsilanti reporting a high of 97 and Troy reporting 96.

The National Weather Service said that by 4 p.m. Wednesday, the temperature had reached 96 in Ypsilanti and 94 in Kalamazoo.

The weather service has announced air quality alerts in parts of southern Michigan.

Cooler temperatures are expected by the weekend.

Council meeting called on lawyer issue

DETROIT — Mayor Dave Bing has called a special meeting Friday of the Detroit City Council to discuss his attempt to fire the city's chief lawyer.

The meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. at City Hall.

Bing asked Corporation Counsel Krystal Crittendon to resign Monday. She refused.

He has criticized Crittendon for filing a legal challenge to a consent deal between Bing and Gov. Rick Snyder designed to head off the appointment of an emergency manager.

Crittendon says the deal violates a portion of the City Charter. The state said it would withhold revenue sharing money Detroit needed to pay its bills.

A judge dismissed the challenge, but Bing says it prompted a ratings agency to drop Detroit's bond rating.

Bing needs six votes from the nine-member council to fire Crittendon.

Former lawmaker Joe Young Jr. dead at 61

LANSING — Former Michigan lawmaker Joe Young Jr., who followed his father into politics and represented Detroit and nearby suburbs for 24 years in the state House and Senate, has died. He was 61.

Close family friend Brandi Boone of Dimondale told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Young had a fatal heart attack June 12 in Wisconsin, where he was living. He served in the Michigan House from 1979-1994 and in the Senate from 1995-2002.

Born Nov. 4, 1950, Young graduated from Nativity Diocesan High School in Detroit and Michigan State University. He attended Cooley Law School and earned a master's degree from Western Michigan University.

His funeral is set for 11 a.m. Monday at Nativity of the Lord Parish in Detroit. The family will be receiving callers at 10 a.m.

Text Only