St. Clair County’s high-profile child murder case against Amanda Maison slowed Friday as Judge Cynthia Lane only ruled on a few of the 11 defense motions. Lane barred jurors from hearing about the similar 2016 child-murder conviction of Maison’s brother, saying it would unfairly sway a jury. She also blocked an ex-girlfriend’s claim that co-defendant Maurice Houle once hit the child. Most motions, including venue change and CPS history, were delayed until a Nov. 7th hearing. Maison faces life if convicted.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Blue Water’s longtime home-care agency has a new name. After more than 70 years serving St. Clair County and its neighbors, Visiting Nurse Association & Blue Water Hospice is now called Blue Water Home Care & Hospice. Leaders stress nothing else is changing. The nonprofit remains locally governed and independent, with the same staff and the same home-health and hospice services across St. Clair, Sanilac, Lapeer and Macomb counties. The new name will roll out over the next few weeks.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A Port Huron woman accused of killing a man at a local gas station faced a judge last week. Thirty-six-year-old Amber Lee Oile was denied bond after being charged with open murder in the shooting death of 30-year-old Reginald Franklin of Detroit. Prosecutors say Oile followed Franklin to the Marathon station on Military Street after a domestic dispute, then shot him multiple times outside the pumps. Security footage reportedly captured the incident. Police later arrested Oile without incident. This marks Port Huron’s fourth domestic-related homicide of the year.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet