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A4 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 8 June 2019
Michigan task force to evaluate Upper Peninsula energy needs

By JOHN FLESHER offered to replace the un-
Associated Press derwater section with a
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) new pipe that would be
— Gov. Gretchen Whitmer housed in a tunnel beneath
established a panel Friday the straits. The company
to assess energy needs in pledges to cover the $500
Michigan's Upper Peninsu- million cost and complete
la amid a dispute with the the project by early 2024.
company whose pipeline Whitmer wants the under-
plays a key role in supplying water segment shut down
the region with propane. even sooner. Enbridge says
Among the task force's jobs it can't move any faster
will be finding ways to get and won't decommission
propane for the far-flung the existing pipes before
peninsula that don't in- the new one is ready.
volve Enbridge Inc.'s Line The company filed a law-
5, which transports natural suit Thursday, asking the
gas liquids used in the fuel, Michigan Court of Claims
in addition to crude oil. The This July 19, 2002, file photo, shows the Mackinac Bridge that spans the Straits of Mackinac from to rule on the legality of a
pipeline extends 645 miles Mackinaw City, Mich. tunnel construction deal it
(1,038 kilometers) between Associated Press struck last year with former
Superior, Wisconsin, and Republican Gov. Rick Sny-
Sarnia, Ontario, crossing a tween Enbridge and Whit- "Such an event would be 65% of the U.P.'s propane der. Whitmer, a Democrat,
large section of the Upper mer's administration over catastrophic for the Great and 55% of the propane has refused to carry out the
Peninsula. replacing it appeared to Lakes and our economy, used statewide. agreement since Attorney
A 4-mile (6.4-kilometer) break down. and would send energy The Canadian company General Dana Nessel said
segment divides into two "Enbridge has a disappoint- costs skyrocketing for U.P. has emphasized the pipe- legislation authorizing it vio-
pipes beneath the Straits of ing safety record in Michi- families." line's function as a carrier of lated the state constitution.
Mackinac, a channel that gan, and the dual pipelines About 25% of the penin- the fuel in its battle against Enbridge said Friday the
connects Lakes Huron and that run through the Straits sula's residents use pro- environmental groups tunnel "is the best long-term
Michigan. That underwa- of Mackinac create an un- pane for home heating pushing to shut it down. opportunity to secure the
ter section is the focus of a acceptable risk of an oil and much of it is delivered Enbridge contends the energy needs of the state
lengthy debate that boiled spill by anchor strike or oth- through Line 5, she said. En- 66-year-old pipeline is in while making an already
over this week as talks be- er means," Whitmer said. bridge says Line 5 delivers good condition but has safe pipeline even safer."q

Lawyers for church leader say Attorney General tainted jury

By STEFANIE DAZIO ber of the church from Salt
Associated Press Lake City, said Friday the
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Re- "false allegations" have
marks by the California at- caused La Luz del Mundo
torney general regarding "a deep sadness."
the arrest of the leader of "We will return the apostle
a Mexico-based mega- to his flock," Rosenfeld said.
church charged with hu- "Five million faithful stand
man trafficking and child behind a wrongly accused
rape may have tainted a man."
potential jury, defense at- The three defendants in
torneys said Friday. custody made their first
Attorney General Xavier court appearance in Los
Becerra said Thursday he Angeles on Wednesday.
believed there were more They did not enter pleas.
child sex abuse victims of They will return to court
La Luz del Mundo leader Monday for arraignment.
and self-proclaimed apos- Joaquín García was origi-
tle Naasón Joaquín García nally represented by Dmitry
and he feared the church's Gorin and Alan Eisner. But
millions of followers could he has since changed his
raise his $50 million bail, lawyers to Rosenfeld and
believed to be the larg- The exterior of a La Luz del Mundo church branch is seen Thursday, June 6, 2019, in Los Angeles. Sawyer, who said the other
est ever set in Los Angeles Associated Press lawyers only handled the
County. first appearance.
Attorneys Ken Rosenfeld an east Los Angeles tem- ed in California this week, "Yesterday was a sad day The Sacramento Business
and Allen Sawyer said ple of La Luz del Mundo, and a fourth remains at for the criminal justice sys- Journal called Rosenfeld
Joaquín García and his with Joaquín García's fam- large. They face a 26-count tem in California," Sawyer "one of the most success-
family are paying their le- ily and church followers felony complaint that al- said, noting that Becerra ful criminal defense lawyers
gal fees and the evangeli- standing beside them, and leges crimes including child had called Joaquín García in the state" last month af-
cal church's finances are called their client innocent rape, statutory rape, mo- "demented." ''How is Mr. ter he defended "tax lady"
not involved. The lawyers of "false charges." lestation, human traffick- García's supposed to get a Roni Deutch from a lawsuit
spoke Friday at a bilingual Joaquín García and two ing, child pornography and fair trial?" filed by former Attorney
press conference outside co-defendants were arrest- extortion. Bibiana Ochoa, 42, a mem- General Jerry Brown.q