An effort to overturn Michigan's emergency manager law in the fall election took an extraordinary turn Friday as the state appeals court said the question belonged on the ballot but suspended its decision for a second look by other judges.

An abandoned beagle is receiving medical attention after being found in a urine-soaked trash bag on Detroit's east side.

The Detroit Tigers' spectacular start is almost entirely forgotten. Chone Figgins hit a two-out, tiebreaking double in the seventh inning that was misjudged by right fielder Brennan Boesch, and Seattle completed a three-game sweep of the Tigers with a 5-4 victory Thursday. Miguel Cabrera hit his sixth home run for the Tigers, who have lost six of seven after a 9-3 start. "We're not getting big hits late in the game. We're not making some plays, we're not pitching real good, we're not managing good enough, we're not coaching good enough," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. "We're all involved in this together, that's just the way it is. You just gotta get aggressive and take charge and get after somebody." The Tigers also released veteran Brandon Inge after the game. "It's one of those things you can kind of see how things are going before they come. But it's no hard feelings whatsoever," said Inge, who was hitting .100 with a home run and 2 RBI. "This is my family, this is where I've been my whole career. I'll miss the guys, I will. But I have a chance to go play maybe somewhere else." Detroit also called up first baseman Brad Eldred from Triple-A Toledo

The 48-year-old former pastor of a Detroit church has been sentenced to at least 40 years in prison after being convicted of raping a girl in the congregation.