TexasTowelie
TexasTowelie's JournalFuture of Gene Roddenberry Planetarium up in the air as El Paso ISD seeks grant to fund move
The future of El Paso's only planetarium isn't as clear as the night sky over West Texas, but a city grant could help provide funding for a new home in the Northeast.
The Gene Roddenberry Planetarium — named after the El Paso-born creator of Star Trek — does not have a designated home after the El Paso Independent School District vacates its current central offices at the end of 2019. But the district is hoping a city development grant could help fund a new space for the 48-year-old planetarium.
Carmen Arrieta-Candelaria, chief financial officer for EPISD, said if the district does not get this grant, there's a possibility of the planetarium closing down.
"The planetarium is really a community asset. We serve students from throughout the region and beyond," Arrieta-Candelaria said. "We don’t necessarily have a plan right now for the planetarium, due to funding. If we got $1.4 million towards the moving of this asset, then the community would be able to continue to enjoy it."
Read more: http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/education/episd/2017/12/04/episd-gene-roddenberry-planetarium-future-uncertain/909514001/
Former Griffith resident sentenced for tax fraud
HAMMOND — A former Griffith resident was sentenced to 46 months in prison for filing a fraudulent tax return.
Arthur Lee Smith, 60, of Chicago, was also ordered to serve two years of supervised release following his release and to pay $313,871 in restitution to the government.
Smith pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to filing a fraudulent tax return with the Internal Revenue Service on behalf of an individual to increase the taxpayer's refund. He also admitted to taking similar actions when it came to other individuals, according to court documents. From Jan 1, 2014, to at least April 23, 2014, he allegedly held himself out as a tax preparer using the names "King Solomon" and "Buddy", according to the indictment in the case.
According to the government, when preparing tax returns for clients, Smith sometimes fraudulently reported an overinflated salary and federal income tax withheld for his clients and other times fraudulently reported unearned wages, unpaid federal income tax withheld, and/or false dependents. The fraudulent filings led to fraudulent refunds being issued to Smith's clients, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Read more: http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/former-griffith-resident-sentenced-for-tax-fraud/article_a9276461-80e8-5600-85c8-5ceca5aa786e.html
Rep. Rokita wants to imprison sanctuary city officials who help undocumented immigrants
Indiana Congressman Todd Rokita introduced a bill Friday that could imprison and fine public officials $1 million if they obstruct federal immigration authority efforts.
The legislation targets sanctuary cities, which shelter undocumented immigrants or don't cooperate with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Under Rokita's Stopping Lawless Actions of Politicians (SLAP) Act, violators could face up to five years of prison time and a fine of up to $1 million for ignoring the federal government's requests for custody of undocumented individuals.
“The American people are rightfully infuriated watching politicians put their open-borders ideology before the rule of law, and the safety of the people they represent," Rokita said in a statement. "Politicians don't get to pick and choose what laws to comply with."
Read more: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2017/12/04/rep-rokita-proposes-bill-threatening-jail-time-1-million-fine-sanctuary-city-leaders/919546001/
Jeff Miller goes from court to Indianapolis council, greeted with handshakes, hugand a reduced role
Jeff Miller on Monday made an awkward return to the Indianapolis council, greeted by colleagues with handshakes, shoulder pats and a hug — as well as a diminished role and renewed calls for him to step down.
An evening City-County Council meeting capped a long day of public appearances for Miller. He entered the council chambers moments before the start of a 7 p.m. meeting, moving past reporters in a navy blue coat and red tie — the same type of walk, in the same attire, he had made hours earlier in Hendricks Superior Court.
Miller was embraced by colleagues, including a hug from fellow Republican Susie Cordi, and took his council seat. It was Miller's first meeting since he was charged with three level 4 felony counts of child molestation alleging that he fondled two 10-year-old girls at his Fletcher Place home.
Council leadership on Monday removed Miller from the three committees on which he served, effectively limiting Miller's role to debating and voting on proposals during full council meetings, which occur once or twice a month. Although all 10 of Miller's Republican colleagues have called on him to step down, the second-term councilman has signaled he isn't going anywhere.
Read more: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/marion-county/2017/12/04/indianapolis-council-reduces-jeff-millers-authority-he-faces-child-molestation-charges/920457001/
Earlier thread:
Jeff Miller expected to resign from Indianapolis/Marion Co. Council amid child molestation charges
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1050981
Reports say massive steel plant planned for 1,000 acres in Michigan known as 'Project Tim'
Efforts to assemble 1,000 acres in mid-Michigan raised questions earlier this year as the secretive so-called Project Tim promised hundreds of jobs and a $4- to $6-billion development.
Now the nature of the mysterious project is known: Steel.
An Ohio-based steel technology company is taking the lead on the land options in Durand, off I-69 between Flint and Lansing, according to a report in Crain's Detroit Business.
John Schultes, CEO of New Steel International Inc., confirmed to Crain's that his company is among "a lot of companies trying to make this happen."
Schultes' company is seeking a "$7 billion federal loan through the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program for construction of a plant in Durand that would produce new high-strength steel," according to Crain's.
Read more: http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2017/12/project_tim_reports_indicate_m.html#incart_river_home
Test results show Flint water system has 'stabilized,' state DNR director says
FLINT, MI -- No home with a new service line tested above the federal limit for lead in water during sampling in November, the state Department of Environmental Quality says.
All 146 homes with replacement lines that were tested last month registered less than 15 parts per billion of lead, the DEQ said in a news release Monday, Dec. 4, and the 90th percentile of homes tested was 2 ppb, meaning 90 percent of tests registered less than 2 ppb of lead.
"Consistency of several types of extensive testing data is reassuring and further supports that Flint's water system has stabilized," Michigan Department of Natural Resources Director Keith Creagh said in a statement.
Creagh, former interim director of the DEQ, has been active in Flint water issues since the resignation of former director Dan Wyant two years ago.
Read more: http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2017/12/states_point_man_on_flint_says.html
Michigan releases emergency medical marijuana rules
LANSING, MI - Less than two weeks before medical marijuana facilities apply to do business in Michigan, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs has officially released the rules that will govern their operation.
"The emergency administrative rules are designed to preserve patient protections and provide them with access to safe medical marihuana," said Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation Director Andrew Brisbo.
"These rules also allow growers, processors, secure transporters, provisioning centers, and safety compliance facilities to operate under clear requirements."
The legislature last year passed new laws allowing licensed businesses to grow, process, transport, test and dispense medical marijuana. The laws brought businesses like medical marijuana dispensaries out of a legal grey area and put LARA and its newly-formed BMMR in charge of hammering out the details of what would be allowed and disallowed under the new system.
Read more: http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/12/michigan_releases_emergency_me.html
Former Lansing City Council president faces trial for embezzlement charge
LANSING -- A former City Council president charged with embezzlement is scheduled to go to trial Monday in Ingham County Circuit Court.
Harold Leeman Jr., is scheduled to be in Judge Joyce Draganchuk's courtroom at 8:30 a.m. Monday. He's charged with one count of embezzlement between $1,000 and $19,999.
Leeman is accused of embezzling money over a five-month period in 2016 while working as a volunteer manager of a concession stand in the city-owned Gier Park.
Leeman, 60, said Friday he still owes the Gier Community Center board, of which he was a member, $1,109. Leeman said he's of the belief that board members were going to allow him to pay back the money in installments.
Read more: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2017/12/04/former-lansing-city-council-president-faces-trial-embezzlement-charge/913952001/
Attorney says John Conyers' announcement on political future coming Tuesday
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. John Conyers will make an announcement about his political future on Tuesday morning, his attorney said late Monday afternoon.
In a tweet, Southfield attorney Arnold Reed said he has talked to Conyers, D-Detroit, and that "we will make an announcement" at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday on Mildred Gaddis' show on WPZR-FM (102.7).
Reed also spoke to the Free Press shortly after making the remark on Twitter and said that he expects the congressman to be on the program — either in the studio or by phone — and discuss whether he will remain in the U.S. House or resign in the wake of several sexual harassment allegations.
"The important thing is he'll be there," Reed said of Conyers, 88, who has been hospitalized since the middle of last week with unknown symptoms believed to be related to stress.
Read more: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/politics/2017/12/04/john-conyers-announcment-sexual-harassment/921404001/
McLaren to build $450 million hospital adjacent to Michigan State
LANSING — McLaren Greater Lansing will consolidate operations at its two south Lansing facilities into one $450 million hospital on what was once farm land near Michigan State University, the hospital announced Monday.
“We’re only going to get one chance to do this," McLaren Greater Lansing President and CEO Tom Mee said, "and it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be given the latitude to spend this kind of money and design something from the ground up.”
The new health care campus will be developed on land acquired from the MSU Foundation in the foundation's University Corporate Research Park between Collins Road and US 127 south of Forest Road.
Work on the project will begin in spring and should be completed by 2021. The new campus will be paid for through bonds, Mee said.
Read more: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/2017/12/04/mclaren-build-450-million-hospital-adjacent-michigan-state/914008001/
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