In the aftermath of school shootings, theater shootings, and bombings, the question of security screening has become real and important.

How do we balance privacy concerns and rights with the need to screen for potential threats?

A University of Michigan professor is working on that challenge: building a better security detector.

Dr Kamal Sarabondi is a professor of electrical engineering, and he's the director of the Radiation Laboratory at the University of Michigan.

He's gotten funding from the U.S. Department of Defense and is developing a long-range radar technology as a means to detect a concealed object. He explains what it is and how it differs from what we have today.

Listen to the full interview above.

DETROIT (AP) - The family of a former Marine detained in Iran for nearly two years says he's finally receiving visits from an uncle there and has been able to send letters to immediate family members in the United States.

The Flint Journal reports Amir Hekmati's family holds out hope the developments could signal some movement toward the 29-year-old's release and eventual return to Michigan.

Sarah Hekmati says the letters are "the first time he's been directly able to express his thoughts." Hekmati's family says he went to Iran in 2011 to visit his grandmothers.

She says her brother's letters didn't provide details about his condition but he says he is "staying strong."

The State Senate Judiciary Committee takes up bills today that would greatly change Michigan’s indigent defense system.   

James Samuels is the president of the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan.    He says the current system Michigan uses to provide attorneys for poor defendants is “broken”.

Samuels likes the proposed changes, including the way attorneys get contracts to represent indigent defendants.

“It’s not uncommon for attorneys not to put up a vigorous defense because they don’t want to irritate the judge who’s in charge of giving them assignments,” says Samuels.

Samuels says he’s also glad the proposed changes call for scrapping the current “low-bid” contracts for defenses attorneys.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Gov. Rick Snyder is urging residents to help prevent arson fires in Michigan's communities.

Snyder has proclaimed May 5-11 Arson Awareness Week in Michigan. This year's theme is "Reducing Residential Arson."

The state says that residential arson fires throughout Michigan resulted in more than $10 million in property losses last year. There were 782 residential arson fires in the state in 2012.

State Fire Marshal Rich Miller says in a statement that communities should set up Arson Watch Programs where citizens can team with local fire department and law enforcement officials to report suspicious activity.

He says people may carry out residential arson to conceal another crime, to vandalize the property or for revenge.