May 12, 2021 By Jon King / jking@whmi.com
The issue of diversity, equity, and inclusion was at the center of public discussion Monday night during the Hartland Consolidated Schools board meeting.
During his regular report to the board, Superintendent Chuck Hughes wanted to address a rumor that was spreading in the community that the district planned to be teaching CRT, or critical race theory. CRT has become a hot-button topic among conservatives who see it as a system designed to indoctrinate liberal social values in students through the lens of race. Scholars generally define it as an attempt to understand how victims of systemic racism are affected by cultural perceptions of race and how they are able to represent themselves to counter prejudice.
May 7, 2021 By Jon King / jking@whmi.com
A local township clerk was arraigned today after being charged for an election law violation related to last Novemberâs election.
Genoa Township Clerk Polly Skolarus was charged in March by the Livingston County Prosecutorâs Office on a single, misdemeanor charge of Election Law - Failure to Perform Duty. It was filed following an investigation by Michigan State Police.
In 53rd District Court today, Skolarus appeared in front of Magistrate Jerry Sherwood along with her attorney Jim Metz, who entered a not guilty plea on her behalf. Sherwood set a standard $500 bond on the 90-day misdemeanor count. A probable cause conference on the case was also set for June 21st in front of District Court Judge Daniel Bain.
April 28, 2021 By Jon King / jking@whmi.com
A competency exam has been ordered for a Grand Rapids man shot earlier this month in Howell Township by a Michigan State Police trooper.
20-year-old Tristan Stavedahl was shot April 16th on Milett Road, north of North Burkhart Road by a Detective Trooper with the Livingston and Washtenaw Narcotics Enforcement Team (LAWNET) who was in the area searching for a car theft suspect. State Police say that Stavedahl was armed when he encountered the trooper, who opened fire. Officials have not said if Stavedahl fired on the trooper first, or what actions he took prior to being shot. A press release issued after the incident only said that Stavedahl was armed and shot after a brief encounter. Stavedahl was taken to U of M Hospital for treatment, but has since been released and is lodged in the Livingston County Jail.