News@noon: Trump's jab; MSU scandals
Today is Thursday, February 16, 2017, and the Michigan State University Police department has submitted warrant requests regarding their investigation of an alleged on-campus sexual assault.
On Feb. 9, the university announced that MSU Police were investigating a sexual assault that involved three student-athletes for an alleged incident that occurred in late January. It also began a Title IX investigation and said an outside law firm would conduct and independent review of the football staff’s handling of the incident. One staff member was also suspended.
There's even more controversy swirling at MSU: The school's former head gymnastics coach told the mother of a gymnast being seen for back pain that the vaginal penetration to her daughter by Doctor Larry Nassar was a proven medical treatment, according to a civil lawsuit and the daughter’s attorney.
Kathie Klages’ left her position after 27 seasons — a move described by her attorney and the university as a retirement.
Nassar, a former MSU and USA Gymnastics doctor is under investigation for allegedly sexually assaulting dozens of athletes over several decades. He's also facing federal and state charges for possession of child porn, assaulting a girl at his home and destroying evidence.
Here's what else is happening:
Trump jabs the media
- President Donald Trump is blaming the media and “illegally leaked” intelligence information for bringing down his national security adviser Michael Flynn, one day after the White House said Trump had asked Flynn to resign because he misled Vice President Mike Pence about his contacts with Russia.
- Meanwhile, things are moving forward with Trump's other nominees. Supreme Court pick Judge Neil Gorsuch's confirmation hearings will begin March 20. Mick Mulvaney, a tea party lawmaker from South Carolina, is set for a narrow confirmation to the budget office today. David Friedman, the firebrand attorney Trump picked to be his ambassador to Israel, faces a rocky confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee after Trump signaled a dramatic shift in strategy for pursuing peace in the Middle East.
More to love at Supino
- When La Rondinella closed next door to Supino Pizzeria in Eastern Market, it expanded its space. So now there's plenty of room for pizza lovers. Which is a good thing, because according to our restaurant critic, the place is better than ever.
More to love from Ford
- Auto critic Henry Payne is really taken by the Ford F-250. It's not often he finds a vehicle that easily fits his 6-foot-5 frame. But it's more than that. Check out his review to see why he likes the beast so much.
Free fishing
- The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has scheduled its Winter Free Fishing Weekend for Saturday and Sunday. No license is required, although other fishing regulations will remain in force. And just in time for the good weather, too!
Monopoly ditches the thimble
- You can still pass “Go” and collect $200 on the Monopoly board, but you soon won’t be able to do it with the thimble game piece.
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