MDOT Cited After Fatal Construction Zone Crash

The Michigan Department of Transportation is facing safety violations in connection with a crash that killed two construction workers in a US-127 work zone in Mason last May.

The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited MDOT, alleging the department failed to follow proper safety protocols by not closing a lane while construction crews were present.

MDOT said in a statement that it disagrees with the findings.

The driver involved in the crash, 24-year-old Tyler Reck of DeWitt, was later arrested and charged in connection with the deaths of Bruce Wagner and Steve Spenle.

Ingham County Man Sentenced in High-Speed Chase Case

A 62-year-old Genesee County man has been sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison for charges connected to a high-speed chase through Ingham and Livingston counties in 2024.

The charges against Golden Allen Brown include first-degree home invasion, carjacking, and fleeing and eluding.

Okemos Doctor Charged in Federal Drug and Money Laundering Case

An Okemos doctor is among five people charged in a wide-reaching drug and money laundering scheme, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Dr. Prashanti Franklin was indicted on charges involving the alleged prescription of illegal drugs and money laundering during her time at Woodward Boulevard Medical Building in Detroit between 2018 and 2024.

Authorities allege Franklin and two other doctors at the facility unlawfully prescribed opioids, with patients paying between $250 and $500 in cash for prescriptions.

Bernie Sanders to Campaign for Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan

U.S. Senator and former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is scheduled to visit Michigan to campaign for Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed.

Sanders is set to participate in a rally Sunday night at DeVos Hall in Grand Rapids, followed by a town hall Monday night at the Michigan Theatre in Ann Arbor.

The visit comes amid other high-profile political appearances in Michigan. Former President Barack Obama is scheduled to rally for Democrats Saturday in Detroit, while President Donald Trump is campaigning for Republicans Sunday in Port Huron.

Former Eminem Employee Pleads Guilty to Copyright Infringement

A former employee of Michigan rapper Eminem has pleaded guilty to copyright infringement after federal authorities said he reproduced and sold unreleased music for $50,000.

Joseph Strange worked for Eminem from 2007 to 2021 at a studio in Ferndale. He faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced in January.

Actor Tom Skerritt Dies at 93

Award-winning actor Tom Skerritt, a Detroit native known for his roles in the films Alien and Top Gun and the television series Picket Fences, has died at age 93.

Skerritt earned recognition throughout his career for his work in film and television.

Lansing Principal Named Michigan’s High School Principal of the Year

Amy Boyles, principal of Everett High School in Lansing, has been named Michigan’s High School Principal of the Year by the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals.

Boyles will represent Michigan as the state’s nominee for National High School Principal of the Year, with the national selection expected to be announced next spring.