New School Bus Policy Terrifies Parents on State

This year some public grade school students are not eligible for school bus service, which prompts concern on Staten Island. "City forces seventh- and eighth-graders from their comfort zone -- namely, the yellow bus," reports the Staten Island Advance. "At 7 a.m. in the wintertime," they lede, "Anna Nieves imagines the Staten Island Mall parking lot as dark, desolate and possibly dangerous." The borough's public transportation is not as comprehensive as is that of the rest of the city, which alarms parents such as Donna Perez, who says "It just concerns me because [her 12-year-old daughter is] a little girl traveling alone." All the borough's city councilmembers have complained. Interestingly, the Times had a story this weekend about parents who are terrified by the prospect of children walking to school even when the children are not their own. The horrific case of Jaycee Dugard is mentioned. An Advance commenter says, "Why do Island kids have to be driven every place until they are 16, when they are handed a brand new BMW? Is it any surprise that our Island 25 year olds act like they are 9?"

Flu shots make early debut

The seasonal flu vaccine has arrived unseasonably early.

It was still summer vacation for most, but several local distributors started offering the flu shot early last week.

Typically, the shot is first advertised in late September and early October, but distributors offering the shot now say they are acting in compliance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation.

Health officials are predicting an early flu season in which the seasonal flu will spread rampantly. For that reason, and to gear up for the swine flu vaccine which will be available this fall, CDC recommends getting the seasonal flu shot now.

“There’s going to be such a complex schedule this year with the H1N1 vaccine,” said family nurse practitioner Mitch Borskin of Eugene Urgent Care. “If we wait (until later) it’ll be too clustered. People will be confused.”

Eugene Urgent Care has about 1,500 doses chilling in its refrigerator and at least 1,000 more on the way. The clinic offers the vaccine on a walk-in basis.

The vaccine protects against three seasonal viruses that health officials believe will be the most common this year. The vaccine does not protect against the swine flu.

A separate vaccine against the swine flu will be made available in October or November, according to the CDC. The vaccine may require more than one dose, but the details have yet to be released.

Borskin said the only potential risk in getting the seasonal flu shot this early is that if the flu season hits late this year — say, not until February or March — a person’s immunity to the virus could weaken. But the CDC says early protection is worth that risk.

If the flu doesn’t hit until late winter, clinics will offer booster shots, Borskin said.

Amid concerns of the swine flu reaching pandemic levels, the CDC also expects the seasonal flu to hit hard.

Since the vaccine is the best way to guard against the flu, Borskin said, this year it’s not just the elderly and very young who should be vaccinated. It’s “pretty much everybody,” he said.

Bruce Hight, store manager of the Walgreens on Coburg Road, said Walgreens has “plenty” of the vaccine. Despite the early delivery, he said, the vaccine has been in high demand.

Walk-ins are welcome, but Hight recommends that people call ahead to make vaccination appointments because not all pharmacists at the store are certified immunizers.

Hight said he has noticed some confusion over whether the vaccine is for the swine flu or seasonal flu.

Both Eugene Urgent Care and the Coburg Road Walgreens have applied to be swine flu vaccine distribution sites. They expect to find out whether they will receive the swine flu vaccine soon.

Lane County Public Health will make the seasonal flu vaccine available starting in October, according to its Web site.

For those paying cash and not billing through their health insurance plans, the vaccinations are $24.99 at Walgreens, $25 at Eugene Urgent Care and $28 at Lane County Public Health.

Texas and Southwest news briefs

Samaritan hit by car beats ticket

A Texas A&M University student was ticketed this week after he stopped to help a woman whose car was on fire, stepped into traffic and was hit by an oncoming vehicle.

J.D. Swiger was in the College Station Medical Center wearing a neck brace when a College Station Police Department officer wrote him a $300 ticket for failure to yield the right of way to the vehicle.

Kate Shafer, the woman whose car was on fire, was surprised. "I just couldn't believe it," she said. "Here was this good Samaritan, trying to help me."

Prosecutors, upon hearing the story, dropped the citation against the junior finance major from San Antonio.

Deaths prompt CPS case review

HOUSTON –The deaths of three Houston-area children are prompting a state review team to probe Texas Child Protective Services' abuse investigations.

Katy infant Amber Maccurdy, 3-year-old David Tijerina of Conroe and 4-year-old Emma Thompson of Spring died of abuse since April despite the fact that all three had been reported to CPS as possible child abuse victims.

The Austin team will review a random sample of nearly 200 open cases being handled in the Houston CPS district, which includes Harris and 12 surrounding counties.

Robbed gem broker uninsured

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The bad news for Peter Kaplan is even worse than first reported. The North Carolina diamond broker, whose $1.5 million inventory was stolen in Albuquerque this week, didn't have insurance.

"My business is finished. I have no capital to restart it," said Kaplan, a diamond broker for 40 years who lives in New Port, N.C. "This was a three-minute lapse of time that destroyed my life."

Santa Fe is festive for its 400th

SANTA FE, N.M. – The colorful banners and tents are up as Santa Fe celebrates its 400th anniversary this weekend. Two daylong family fairs and two evening concerts are the first in a series of commemorative events planned spread over the next 16 months as part of the festivities.FROM WIRE REPORTS

Oakland County news: Oakland University negotiations to continue

AUBURN HILLS: University negotiations to continue

Negotiations were to continue this morning to resolve a contract dispute that canceled classes at Oakland University last week.

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Classes were to begin for the fall term on Thursday, but the university canceled classes after the OU chapter of the American Association of University Professors called on faculty to boycott classes.

Negotiators wrapped up a full day of bargaining around 10 p.m. Saturday, said Lizabeth Barclay, a management professor and grievance officer for the union. Though the union filed an unfair labor practice grievance against the university Friday, she said the goal still is to have the negotiations wrapped in time for classes to begin Tuesday.

Higher medical insurance costs, pay freezes and limited input in university affairs are among the sticking points in negotiations.

NOVI: Code enforcement on city Web site

City officials have put information on ordinances and code enforcement on the city's Web site, www.cityofnovi.org.

The information, which went up on the Web site last month, is accessed via an icon on the city's site. The link connects Web surfers to resources and contacts, such as ordinance enforcement officers, police and fire department staffers and Oakland County's health department and road commission.

WIXOM: You could join emergency response team

The city is looking for members for its Community Emergency Response Team.

Participants must live in Wixom, be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver's license.

Team members assist police and firefighters in emergencies, performing duties such as searching for lost children, staffing operations centers, managing other volunteers and assisting aid organizations.

Team members will receive 20 hours of training during a seven-week class.

For information or to sign up, call Clarence Goodlein, the city's director of public safety, anytime at 248-624-6114.

ROYAL OAK: Panel to address wills and guardians

Speakers at a Sept. 22 seminar are to address end-of-life legal issues including wills, court-appointed guardians and conservators.

The Removing the Mysteries of Probate Court seminar is to be from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Mahany-Meininger Senior Community Center, 3500 Marais. The event is free.

Registration is required. Call 248-246-3900 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

Local news main: Detroit | Oakland | Wayne | Macomb | Michigan | Politics | Lottery Posted: Sept. 6, 2009 Wayne County news: Man found beaten at Tiger

DETROIT: Man found beaten at Tiger Stadium

A man found bound and badly beaten inside the remains of Tiger Stadium on Saturday was in critical condition at a hospital, Detroit police said.

DETROIT: Man found beaten at Tiger Stadium

A man found bound and badly beaten inside the remains of Tiger Stadium on Saturday was in critical condition at a hospital, Detroit police said.

A security guard found the man. There were reports that a noose was around his neck, but police could not confirm them, Sgt. Eren Stephens Bell said.

It was unclear how the man ended up there.

"We haven't been able to speak to him," she said.

12-year-old charged in sex assault, robbery

A 12-year-old boy has been charged with sexually assaulting and robbing a 24-year-old woman.

A pretrial date has not been set for the child, who is being held at the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Center in Detroit without bond.

The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office said that at 10 p.m. Thursday, the boy pushed his way into a home on Lakewood while carrying a BB gun, struck a 24-year-old woman in the face, sexually assaulted her, then robbed her. He was arrested after fleeing the woman's house when someone upstairs heard the woman scream.

Maria Miller, spokeswoman for the Prosecutor's Office, said the boy was charged as a juvenile Saturday with one count of home invasion, one charge of assault with intent to rob while armed, one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.

HARPER WOODS: Cages for small animals available to borrow

Residents who need help catching small animals can borrow one of five new animal cages that police bought to replace older cages that were not returned.

There is a $20 deposit for a cage that must be paid in cash. It will be given back when the cage is returned and if the cage is good condition. Residents can keep the cage for 14 days.

Dogs and cats that are caught can be brought to police, who take the animals to a veterinarian to find them a new home, Lt. Tamera Eschendal said.

SOUTHGATE: Resident charged in attack on mail carrier

The case of a man accused of attacking a female postal worker Aug. 24 was transferred to Wayne County Circuit Court following a hearing Friday in 28th District Court in Southgate.

Bruce W. Edwards, 42, of Southgate was charged with assault and attempted false imprisonment after police said he tried to force a mail carrier into her truck at Mercier and Barberry in Southgate.

Bail was set at 10% of $1 million. His next court hearing was set for Sept. 11.

A security guard found the man. There were reports that a noose was around his neck, but police could not confirm them, Sgt. Eren Stephens Bell said.

It was unclear how the man ended up there.

"We haven't been able to speak to him," she said.

12-year-old charged in sex assault, robbery

A 12-year-old boy has been charged with sexually assaulting and robbing a 24-year-old woman.

A pretrial date has not been set for the child, who is being held at the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Center in Detroit without bond.

The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office said that at 10 p.m. Thursday, the boy pushed his way into a home on Lakewood while carrying a BB gun, struck a 24-year-old woman in the face, sexually assaulted her, then robbed her. He was arrested after fleeing the woman's house when someone upstairs heard the woman scream.

Maria Miller, spokeswoman for the Prosecutor's Office, said the boy was charged as a juvenile Saturday with one count of home invasion, one charge of assault with intent to rob while armed, one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.

HARPER WOODS: Cages for small animals available to borrow

Residents who need help catching small animals can borrow one of five new animal cages that police bought to replace older cages that were not returned.

There is a $20 deposit for a cage that must be paid in cash. It will be given back when the cage is returned and if the cage is good condition. Residents can keep the cage for 14 days.

Dogs and cats that are caught can be brought to police, who take the animals to a veterinarian to find them a new home, Lt. Tamera Eschendal said.

SOUTHGATE: Resident charged in attack on mail carrier

The case of a man accused of attacking a female postal worker Aug. 24 was transferred to Wayne County Circuit Court following a hearing Friday in 28th District Court in Southgate.

Bruce W. Edwards, 42, of Southgate was charged with assault and attempted false imprisonment after police said he tried to force a mail carrier into her truck at Mercier and Barberry in Southgate.

Bail was set at 10% of $1 million. His next court hearing was set for Sept. 11.