Girl's call brings authorities, who find mom dead
WATERFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - Authorities in Oakland County say they answered a girl's phone call and found her mother dead from apparent carbon monoxide poisoning from a vehicle running in their garage. Four children ages 10 to 14 were hospitalized. Police in Waterford Township near Pontiac say they got the girl's call about 8:20 a.m. Monday. Police and fire personnel say they found 37-year-old Shanda Lou Yenglin dead on the garage floor. Authorities say they took children ages 10, 11, 13 and 14 to the hospital for apparent carbon monoxide poisoning. Sgt. Scott Good says two were in very serious condition and two in less serious condition. Good says police were withholding further comment on the investigation until Tuesday. ---
UNCLAIMED BODIES-MILITARY BURIALS
Bodies of unclaimed Army vets get military burials
HOLLY TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - The bodies of two unclaimed U.S. Army veterans held at the Wayne County morgue in Detroit have received free military burials. Anthony Bullock and William Roland Jr. were laid to rest Monday in the Great Lakes National Cemetery as part of the Dignity Memorial Homeless Veterans Burial Program. The cemetery is in Oakland County's Holly Township, about 40 miles northwest of Detroit. The program has provided about 1,000 free burials for homeless and indigent veterans in 35 cities. Wayne County and funeral homes in the program's network are covering the costs. County Executive Robert Ficano says "military veterans deserve our deepest respect and gratitude in life and death." Investigators were unable to find any relatives after the 58-year-old Bullock and 78-year-old Roland died of heart disease in their Detroit homes. ---
ARETHA FRANKLIN
Aretha Franklin on feelings, Grammys, marriage
BIRMINGHAM, Mich. (AP) - Producers of "The Wendy Williams Show" say Aretha Franklin talked about how she's feeling following her recent surgery, her tribute at the Grammy's and her views on marriage during a taping of a show to be broadcast Wednesday. Wendy Williams interviewed Franklin on Friday at the Townsend Hotel in the Detroit suburb of Birmingham. The show declines to release details of the interview but says an excerpt should be out Tuesday. The 68-year-old Franklin underwent surgery for an undisclosed ailment in December. The "Queen of Soul" has refused to reveal the nature of the operation but has told The Associated Press it was "more than minor surgery." ---
OFFICER SHOT-DETROIT-TRIAL
Jury selection starts in officer's slaying trial
DETROIT (AP) - Jury selection is under way in the Wayne County Circuit Court trial of a man charged in the shooting death of a Detroit police officer and wounding of several others at a suspected drug house. Jason Gibson is charged with first-degree murder and assault in the May 3, 2010, slaying of Officer Brian Huff at a vacant east side duplex. Four other officers were shot or injured, but later recovered. The officers were investigating a complaint involving the duplex. Gibson was shot while trying to flee the house. Jury selection started Monday and continues Tuesday. Police say a .45-caliber handgun and a pound of marijuana were recovered at the house. Huff was a 12-year veteran of the department. ---
MOOSE CENSUS
Survey: U.P. moose population shows little growth
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) - As state officials consider allowing moose hunting in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, a survey indicates the population has grown little in the past two years. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment says its biennial census turned up 433 moose in Marquette, Baraga and northern Iron counties. Combined with a smaller herd estimated at fewer than 100 in the eastern U.P., officials say the entire population is around 500. That doesn't include the hundreds living on Isle Royale in Lake Superior. Department biologist Dean Beyer says it appears the growth in moose numbers has slowed lately, but it's too early to know whether that will continue. Legislation enacted in December allows the Natural Resources Commission to establish a moose hunt. A panel was created to study the matter and make recommendations. ---
ROBOTICS-MICHIGAN
First Robotics competitions starting in Michigan
FLINT, Mich. (AP) - The First Robotics competition season is getting under way with district events hosted at Kettering University in Flint and at Traverse City Central High School. They're set for Friday and Saturday. More district tournaments will be held each weekend though April 2. Locations include Mott High School in Waterford, Wayne State University in Detroit, Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Skyline High School in Ann Arbor, Niles High School, Churchill High School in Livonia and Athens High School in Troy. The goal is to qualify for the Michigan State Championship April 7-9 at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti. ---
ALLEN PARK-FIREFIGHTERS
Allen Park city attorney: Layoffs can be prevented
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) - An attorney for a Detroit suburb facing a $663,000 budget deficit says he's confident an agreement can be reached on concessions that will prevent laying off all Allen Park firefighters. Todd Flood tells The Associated Press he's confident an agreement will be reached between the city and firefighters union. He said other city employees also will be asked to make similar concessions. Flood blamed declining revenues and increasing costs for the city's financial problems. He said a decision by Unity Studios to relocate in Detroit is not a factor. Flood said "everything is on the table" including using another city to battle fires. A message seeking comment was left Monday with Fire Chief Doug LaFond. City Administrator Eric Waidelich resigned Sunday over the rift. ---
ONLINE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
Man pleads guilty in child sex exploitation case
(Story contains graphic content)
DETROIT (AP) - A Michigan man has pleaded guilty to persuading mothers in several states to sexually assault their young children and send him images. Steven Demink of Redford Township pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in Detroit to six charges as part of an agreement with prosecutors. Seven charges were dropped. All counts related to the sexual exploitation of children. Demink was arrested in October and faces 15 years to life in prison when he is sentenced June 9. Authorities say the 41-year-old Demink went by the name Dalton St. Clair, met the women online and had them send images of the assaults. The indictment says he posed as a therapist in the communications with mothers in New Hampshire, Idaho and Florida. Authorities say seven children were rescued and four mothers arrested. ---
PISTONS-HAMILTON
Hamilton, Kuester say they've talked things out
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) - Detroit's Richard Hamilton says he met with coach John Kuester recently in an effort to repair their relationship. Hamilton has played only once since Jan. 10. He was benched for the latter part of January, and although he played Feb. 5 in Milwaukee, scoring 15 points, he's been out since then because of what the team has said is a groin injury. On Friday, Hamilton was one of several players who missed at least part of a shootaround before a game at Philadelphia. The coaching staff used only six players that night, sticking with those who were at the full shootaround. Hamilton wouldn't specify when he and Kuester spoke. He took passes from the coach while shooting at the end of practice Monday. ---
MICHIGAN ST-NCAA HOPES
Michigan State faces must-win games for NCAA hopes
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Michigan State can't afford to close the regular season on a slide if it wants to make the NCAA tournament for the 14th year in a row. The Spartans lost by 20 points to Purdue on Sunday - their worst loss at home since 2003 - and fell to 16-12 overall and 8-8 in the Big Ten. They host last-place Iowa on Wednesday night and travel to play rival Michigan on Saturday after losing to both teams earlier this season. Michigan State coach Tom Izzo says he's telling his players that every game is like an NCAA tournament game for the team now. Izzo is trying to deflect pressure from slumping senior Durrell Summers, saying he'll take all the blame for the way the season has gone.
