MICHIGAN

Mother, 5 children killed in motel fire

SODUS TOWNSHIP — A fire swept through a southwestern Michigan motel early Saturday, killing a woman and five of her children. The Cosmo Extended Stay Motel in Sodus Township was fully in flames when firefighters arrived shortly after 1:45 a.m., the Berrien County sheriff’s office said. Kiarre Samuel, 26, and five of her children, who ranged in age from 2 to 10 years old, were killed. Samuel’s husband and another child survived. All eight were in the same room. (AP)

TEXAS

Related shootings leave 5 people dead

CORPUS CHRISTI — Five people were killed in shootings at a house and nursing home in Robstown, a Corpus Christi suburb. Officials said three people were killed Friday in a shooting at the Retama Manor nursing home. Two men were found dead in a house owned by one of the victims of the nursing home shooting. Officials believe the attacks are related but have not determined a motive. (AP)

ILLINOIS

Sanctuary city suit allowed to proceed

CHICAGO — A federal judge ruled Friday that the Justice Department does not have the authority to withhold grants from Chicago because it provides sanctuary to immigrants. The city sued after the Justice Department ordered sanctuary cities to give 48-hours’ notice before releasing from custody immigrants who entered the country illegally. The department also sought access to jails and the sharing of citizenship information. The lawsuit will go forward. (AP)

INDIANA

Panel might drop pollution controls

EVANSVILLE — An interstate commission that monitors the Ohio River’s health is considering eliminating its pollution control standards, raising concerns among representatives from states. A majority of the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission voted last month to advance the idea of dropping its pollution standards, leaving regulation to the states. The panel oversees an agreement between eight states with watersheds draining into the river. (AP)

IDAHO

Prisoners built up credits on tablets

BOISE — A quarter-million dollars in credits were improperly applied to the JPay computer tablet accounts of 364 Idaho inmates, officials said. The credits occurred when individuals placed products in digital shopping carts and then removed them in a way that added to their total funds. The state Department of Correction has taken disciplinary action against those who received credits. Inmates use tablets for e-mail and entertainment. (AP)