Michigan News Digest

Here's a look at how AP's general news coverage is shaping up today in Michigan. Questions about today's coverage plans are welcome and should be directed to the AP-Detroit bureau at 800-642-4125 or 313-259-0650 or [email protected]. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit Coverage Plan at newsroom.ap.org.

A reminder this information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change. Expected stories may not develop, or late-breaking and more newsworthy events may take precedence. Advisories, digests and digest advisories will keep you up to date. All times are Eastern.

Some TV and radio stations will receive broadcast versions of the stories below, along with all updates.

TOP STORY:

OPIOID-KICKBACK-SCHEME

The founder and former top employees of a pharmaceutical company are being sentenced in a bribery scheme that prosecutors say helped fuel the national opioid epidemic. Starting Monday, seven people who worked for Insys Therapeutics will appear in Boston federal court for their sentencing. The case against company founder John Kapoor and his associates was considered the first to hold an opioid maker criminally liable for an epidemic that's claimed nearly 400,000 lives over two decades. Prosecutors say the Arizona-based company paid millions of dollars in bribes to doctors to over prescribe a powerful, addictive opioid painkiller for cancer patients. Sunrise Lee, a Michigan resident and the former regional sales director, will be sentenced on Jan. 22 along with Michael Babich, an Arizona resident and a former company CEO. By Philip Marcelo. SENT: 570 words, photos.

AROUND THE STATE:

DRIVER’S LICENSE-THIRD GENDER

LANSING, Mich. — Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's office is working to add a third gender option on Michigan licenses and ID cards. According to The Detroit News, Benson had previously attempted for a third gender designation, but the department's software prevented her from doing so. She instead opted for a new policy making it easier for people to change their gender designation from male to female or female to male on state-issued driver's licenses and ID cards. The possibility to add a non-binary option might be completed by 2021. SENT: 283 words.

BEACHES CLOSED-SPILL

PORTAGE, Ind. — A steelmaker in Indiana is denying manipulating results from toxic readings that were required after a chemical spill killed more than 3,000 fish last year. The Post-Tribune reports state regulators claim that ArcelorMittal's steel plant is redoing daily ammonia and cyanide tests, reporting the lower score. An Indiana Department of Environmental Management official says the company's attempt to redo daily tests “undermines the integrity” of its self-disclosures. ArcelorMittal denies all allegations. The steelmaker was required to do daily testing after the spill of cyanide and ammonia led to the fish kill and prompted closures of beaches along Lake Michigan. SENT: 223 words.

EASTERN MICHIGAN-DONATION

YPSILANTI, Mich. — A group of Eastern Michigan University alumni have contributed $1 million to the Student-Athlete Performance Center on the school’s Ypsilanti campus. Eastern Michigan says the contribution by GameAbove was made in honor of Brian Clouse, a member of the school’s football team in the 1980s who died last June. The center’s main entrance has been named the Clouse Family Atrium. The 1,288-square-foot welcome room displays Eastern Michigan’s athletic successes, including a 1987 football conference championship season and bowl win during Clouse’s final year on the team. The 63,000-square-foot center opened in August and houses sports medicine, performance and equipment operations areas. SENT: 200 words.

SNOW STATUES-MICHIGAN TECH

HOUGHTON, Mich. — Work has started on massive snow statues to be featured during Michigan Technological University’s Winter Carnival. WLUC-TV reports that student groups on Friday began their prehistoric times-themed projects for the annual event at the school in Houghton, northwest of Marquette in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Statues are to be built from natural snow that falls in the area. Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity statue chair Eric Eschenburg says students will “work every night after classes until about midnight.” Statues are to be judged Feb. 6 before viewing at the carnival. The school says the Winter Carnival was started in 1922. SENT: 162 words.

IN BRIEF:

— HEALTH CARE GRANTS-MICHIGAN: Health Care Grants-Michigan: Nearly four dozen clinics will share $860,500 through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s Strengthening the Safety Net program.

SPORTS:

BKC--T25-MICHIGAN ST-PURDUE

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue Boilermakers will try to stop a two-game losing streak Sunday when it hosts No. 8 Michigan State. The Spartans have won eight straight. But the Boilermakers have won four of their last five home games against Top 10 foes. By Michael Marot. UPCOMING: 650 words, with photos. Game started at noon.

BKC--T25-MICHIGAN-MINNESOTA

MINNEAPOLIS — No. 19 Michigan visits Minnesota at Williams Arena in a Big Ten game. By Patrick Donnelly. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Game started at 12 p.m. CST.

HKN--SABRES-RED WINGS

DETROIT — The last-place Red Wings try to extend their modest winning streak to three when they host Buffalo. By Noah Trister. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Game starts at 5 p.m. ET.

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