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u.s. news Diasabra 12 Maart 2022
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Whitmer kidnapping trial symbol of discord in west Michigan

(AP) — Four men de- were among a candidate pool Henry, a political scientist,
scribed by prosecutors drawn from a 22-county and physicist Vernon Ehlers.
as radicals who schemed section of the federal court Their cerebral, non-confron-
to kidnap Michigan Gov. district covering western tational approach played well
Gretchen Whitmer are Michigan. It extends from back home.
on trial in a federal court- just below Grand Rapids —
house named for Ger- the state’s second-largest city, But the region’s bonhomie
ald R. Ford, a political where Ford’s museum and has frayed in recent years
Mr. Nice Guy revered for gravesite are located near the amid nationwide upheaval.
moderation and bridge- courthouse — northward to
building after the Water- the tip of the Lower Peninsu- Another heir to Ford’s seat,
gate scandal. la, a distance of roughly 250 first-term Rep. Peter Mei-
miles (400 kilometers). jer, drew attacks from fellow
To some extent, the jarring Republicans and even death
contrast reflects the direction None of the defendants is threats for voting to impeach
politics and public discourse from that part of the state. former President Donald
have taken since the former But prosecutors say planning Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, plaining of bullying and aside and render a verdict
president represented the and preparations for the ab- assault on the U.S. Capitol. threats from critics of her based solely on the evidence.
Grand Rapids area in Con- duction — including training Trump is backing a primary decision to impose a school Whitmer’s job performance
gress — and particularly in exercises and the scouting challenger in this year’s elec- mask mandate. numbers are lagging in the
recent years. of Whitmer’s house — hap- tion. region, especially up north,
pened there. Strong feelings about Whit- said Bernie Porn, president
Anger and intense partisan- Farther north in Grand Tra- mer’s pandemic orders, in- of the Lansing polling firm
ship tearing the U.S. social Aside from Grand Rapids, a verse County, the board of cluding temporarily staying EPIC-MRA. She carried
fabric are showing up in thriving center of manufac- commissioners came under home and wearing masks in only three of the 22 counties
western and northern Michi- turing, retail and health care, fire for welcoming a pro-gun public places, were evident in her successful 2018 run.
gan, where the trial’s jurors the broad swath is mostly presentation from members during this week’s jury selec-
live, despite the area’s long- farmland and forests dot- of the far-right Proud Boys in tion for the kidnapping trial. Former U.S. Rep. Bart Stu-
time reputation for Midwest- ted with small cities, some 2020. When a local resident pak, a Democrat who repre-
ern congeniality. economically struggling. Its later criticized the move dur- “I really don’t like Whitmer,” sented many of the northern
lakes and rivers draw hunters ing a livestreamed meeting, a a long-haul truck driver said, counties as well as the Upper
Adam Fox, Brandon Caserta, and anglers. Summer tour- board member brandished a while another man voiced Peninsula before retiring in
Barry Croft and Daniel Har- ists flock to its Lake Michi- rifle. general distrust of govern- 2010, said they’ve become
ris were charged in Octo- gan coastline. “Life, liberty, ment and a third described more Republican and their
ber 2020 with conspiring to beaches and pie” is the slogan And disclosure last year that himself as affiliated with a politics “more personal,” as
abduct Whitmer from her for Cherry Republic, a com- white students at a local high group called Stand Up Mich- in much of the nation.
northern Michigan vacation pany near Traverse City that school had conducted a mock igan that opposed the lock-
home. Prosecutors allege sells products made with the social media “slave auction” down. All were dismissed, Political extremism isn’t new
they were members of ex- region’s signature fruit. of Black classmates fueled a as was a woman who praised to the area, he said. It was a
tremist paramilitary groups community clash over com- the governor. hotbed of antigovernment
angry over the Democrat’s The area is largely Repub- bating racism, with some “militia” activity in the 1990s.
COVID-19 restrictions. De- lican and conservative, yet conservative parents alleging U.S. District Judge Rob-
fense attorneys say there was known for producing mild- “critical race theory” indoc- ert Jonker repeatedly told But regardless of how people
no plot and the men were mannered leaders, includ- trination. would-be jurors the trial feel about Whitmer, he add-
cajoled by undercover FBI ing Ford, who served in the wasn’t about politics but that ed, few if any would condone
agents. House from 1949-73. Among The public health officer strong opinions wouldn’t what the defendants allegedly
his GOP successors were for- for four northern counties disqualify them. What mat- were plotting.
The 18 jurors and alternates mer college professors Paul resigned in February, com- tered, he said, was whether
they could set their views
Legislative fix could let UC Berkeley admit more students

(AP) — California Demo- enrollment because of a makers, who said it wasn’t unenforceable all judgments perience.
crats have agreed to back dispute with Berkeley res- fair to students who had affecting enrollment — al-
legislation that could let idents over growth. worked hard to get into UC lowing UC Berkeley to ad- The California Environ-
the University of Califor- Berkeley. mit the number of students mental Quality Act requires
nia, Berkeley to accept The decision by Califor- officials had planned to for government to evaluate and
thousands more students nia’s high court last week to The proposal introduced 2022 instead of forcing a re- disclose the significant envi-
this fall after the state Su- cap enrollment at one of the Friday by Assembly mem- duction in the size of the ronmental effects of building
preme Court let stand a world’s most prestigious uni- ber Phil Ting, a San Fran- freshman class. projects and to find ways to
judicial freeze on student versities stunned state law- cisco Democrat, would give lessen those effects.
universities more time and Because of the court deci-
flexibility to comply with the sion, university officials said It is aimed at protecting the
California Environmental they would need to reject environment, but has been
Quality Act before judges can 5,000 applicants this spring to weaponized in recent years
resort to imposing caps on reduce enrollment by 3,000 throughout California to
student enrollment. students to maintain overall slow or stop development
enrollment at 2020-21 levels. projects, including new
It also highlighted how Cali- They have since lowered the housing and transportation.
fornia residents have used a figure to about 2,600.
landmark state environmen- The state Supreme Court in
tal law to halt the construc- University officials had a 4-2 decision declined the
tion of badly needed housing pleaded with lawmakers for university’s emergency re-
and in this case, dictate uni- an emergency fix, saying the quest to lift an enrollment
versity admissions policies. university needs the tuition cap ordered last year by an
revenue and that students Alameda County Superior
The proposal would be retro- should be able to have a vi- Court judge.
active and if approved, make brant on-campus college ex-