Anthony Bennett arraigned in Bay City on federal indictment of assaulting Carnel Chamberlain

For the second time in three weeks, Anthony M. Bennett has been charged in federal court with assaulting Carnel Chamberlain, an Isabella County 4-year-old who went missing in Bennett’s care and was later found dead. Bennett, his hair slicked back with gel and clad in orange from his neck to his feet, appeared before U.S. District Magistrate Charles E. Binder this afternoon for arraignment on a charge of assaulting a person younger than 16 causing substantial bodily injury. The charge is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Read the full story here!

CMU uses $6.1 million in reserves to fund $442 million budget

To fund this year’s $442 million budget, Central Michigan University administrators dug in to the school’s reserve accounts. CMU leaders at Thursday''s Board of Trustees meeting budgeted $6.1 million from the contingency fund to make up for a decrease in enrollment and a $1 million shortfall. President George Ross described it as one-time use, Central Michigan Life reported. In April, CMU raised tuition by1.96 percent and earned $69.5 million from the state, a 2.2 percent increase from last year. CMU should receive $205.6 million from tuition and fees.


Read the full story here!

Man charged in assault of 4-year-old

A federal grand jury has charged a man with assaulting 4-year-old Carnel Chamberlain weeks before the boy's remains were found buried and badly burned under his house on the Saginaw Chippewa Indian reservation near Mt. Pleasant. Anthony Bennett, 20, is not charged in the boy's death. The indictment filed Wednesday replaces a temporary assault charge that has kept him in jail since late June.

Read the full story here!

Family of Aaron Ullom, Midland sailor killed by enemy fire in Afghanistan, plans balloon release on 1-year anniversary of his death

One year ago, U.S. Navy Corpsman Aaron Ullom was helping a wounded Marine while his patrol was under fire in Afghanistan. The 20-year-old Midland native was lying on top of the Marine to apply a tourniquet. He then suffered a fatal gunshot wound fired by the enemy. Ullom died July 12, 2011. His family and friends plan to celebrate his life on the 1-year anniversary of his death. There will be a balloon release at 7 p.m. Thursday in the back section of Midland Cemetery, 3017 Orchard Drive. 


Read the full story here!

New assault charge in Mt. Pleasant boy's death

A mid-Michigan man in jail on a charge of assaulting a 4-year-old boy weeks before he died has been indicted by a federal grand jury. Anthony Bennett is not charged with the death of Carnel Chamberlain. The indictment filed Wednesday replaces a temporary assault charge that has kept him in jail since late June. The one-sentence indictment says Bennett "caused substantial bodily injury." A search for Carnel ended June 28 when his remains were found under his house on the Saginaw Chippewa Indian reservation near Mount Pleasant. The body was buried and extensively burned.


Read the full story here!

CMU announces second associate dean resigns from College of Medicine

Before the Central Michigan University College of Medicine has opened, two associate deans have resigned. Central Michigan Life reports Dr. Lori Arviso Alvord, associate dean of student affairs, will resign as of Aug. 31 for a position at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. The University of Arizona established its medical school about 40 years ago and has graduated 3,000 physicians. In January 2011, Nehad El-Sawi, associate dean of medical education and faculty development, resigned after less then a year at CMU.


Read the full story here!

CMU's plans for $89.5 million biosciences building include 26 research labs, 40 faculty offices

Preliminary plans are in for Central Michigan University's future $89.5 million Biosciences building. Central Michigan Life reports the 157,000-square-foot, four-floor building will have three classrooms, a 200-seat auditorium, a herbarium, a facility to house animals for testing, 26 open research labs, office space for 40 faculty and open study space for students. Last month, Gov. Rick Snyder signed into law a bill that will grant CMU $30 million in capital outlay for the project contingent on the university first raising approximately $60 million first.

Read the full story here!