A state court has struck down a Lansing library’s ban on people openly carrying guns in its branches.

The Capitol Area District Library instituted its policy banning patrons from openly carrying firearms in 2005.

A group called Michigan Open Carry challenged the ban, claiming the ban violated a state law which blocks local units of government from instituting rules that restrict gun owners.     And a majority of the Michigan Court of Appeals agreed.

From the conclusion of the opinion released by the Court of Appeals:

Police are searching for the person responsible for a series of shootings along the I-96 corridor. From  October 16-18, 22 people were reported being shot and although no one was injured, there were some close calls.

Complaints came from Oakland, Livingston, Ingham and Shiawassee counties.

These random attacks evoke memories of the 2002 Washington D.C. shootings that left 10 people dead and three critically wounded.

Often these violent acts are accompanied with a considerable amount of worry and fear- their erratic nature is the source of our distress.

It seems nearly every leader who takes office, including President Barack Obama and Governor Rick Snyder, promises to make transparent the dealings between lobbyists, special interest groups and our elected officials.

The results of these promises, however, are often underwhelming.

The Center for Public Integrity recently gave Michigan an “F” on its Corruption Risk Report Card.

With this dismal grade comes the question: Why is Michigan lacking in the areas of ethics and transparency?

Jocelyn Benson, founder and director of the Michigan Center for Election Law & Administration, spoke with Cyndy Canty to further investigate this question.

WIXOM, Mich. (AP) - The Oakland County sheriff says authorities are investigating at least 16 shootings for any common threads in many Michigan communities.

Sheriff Mike Bouchard says no one has been injured but there have been "some very close calls." He told reporters Friday that cars and people appear to be the targets. Shootings have been reported in Oakland, Livingston and Ingham counties.

Bouchard says the shootings occurred Tuesday through Thursday. Someone shot at five vehicles in Wixom in just a few minutes Thursday.

In Ingham County, the sheriff's office says five vehicles were targeted by a gunman in Webberville.

A lawsuit filed this week alleges the state Department of Corrections has been too lax in supervising roughly 18,000 paroled felons in Michigan.

The lawsuit was first reported by The Detroit Free Press.

It was filed by the family of an elderly Royal Oak woman who was murdered in her home. Two fugitives on parole have been charged with the killing.

Spokesman Russ Marlan says the department won’t comment specifically on the lawsuit. But he says the department has stepped up efforts in the past year to better track parolees and capture those who violate their parole rules.