Poll: Obama Leads Romney Among Michigan Voters

(LANSING, Mich.) -- President Barack Obama is gaining momentum in Michigan over Republican residential hopeful Mitt Romney, according to a poll released Tuesday.

The Detroit Free Press reports that Obama has a 53 percent hold over Romney’s 39 percent. An earlier Michigan poll revealed that Obama led Romney 54-38 percent in February.

The poll was conducted by Public Policy Polling, a Democratic-leaning firmed in North Carolina, and surveyed 500 Michigan voters between May 24-27 by telephone.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Report: Sellek will Run Romney's Michigan Campaign

(MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich.) -- John Sellek, communications director for Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, will run presumed Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's campaign in Michigan, Romney's home state, according to a report in the Detroit Free Press.

The 40-year-old Sellek, who resides in Lansing, was formerly the communications director for the state House.  He has also worked for former Governor John Engler and helped run former President George W. Bush's campaigns in Michigan and Ohio in 2000.

Sellek will be at the Detroit Regional Chamber Mackinac Policy Conference in Mackinac Island, which starts Tuesday, according to the report.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

DNR: Despite Rainfall, High Risk of Wildfires Remains

(LANSING, Mich.) -- State officials warn that there remains a high risk of wildfires in northern Michigan.

In a release Monday, the Department of Natural Resources said that although there has been rainfall in some parts of the state, moisture levels across Michigan continue to be below normal, meaning there is still the increased chance of wildfires.

"The rainfall will help reduce the risk of wildfires in the short-term for those areas receiving precipitation," Bill O'Neill, acting chief of the DNR's Forest Resources Division, said in a statement. "However, it's important for the public to understand that the high risk of wildfire is expected to increase again in these areas. With our firefighting resources stretched to the limit, the DNR strongly encourages all residents and visitors in all parts of the state to avoid open burning and use of any fireworks to minimize the possibility of more wildfires."

Governor Rick Snyder has ordered a ban on outdoor burning in 49 counties in northern Michigan through June 21.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Michigan Priest Trades Hugs for Fist Bumps

(GRAND HAVEN, Mich.) -- A Michigan priest well-known for giving hugs to children during Mass will now use fist bumps going forward, according to an ABC News report.

Rev. Williams Langlois has never been accused of any wrongdoing, but decided to eliminate the hugs after 15 years of giving them.  Ed Carey, chancellor of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids, told ABC News that giving the hugs was "out of step with, unfortunately, where were are in society."

Carey said he has received calls from people voicing their disappointment about the decision, while other people called to say they understood why the priest will stop hugging.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Manhunt Underway for Convicted Sex Offender Escapee

(DENTON TOWNSHIP, Mich.) -- State Police are conducting a manhunt for a convicted sex offender who escaped during transportation to a county jail on Monday.

Officials believe 29-year-old Everett Robinson is in northern Michigan after a woman says she was approached by a gun-wielding man desperate for her to let him into her home. Once the man realized she was phoning police, he fled the scene.

Robinson, who stole a deputy's gun and squad car during his escape earlier this week, spent nine years in prison on sexual conduct charges and was re-arrested for an alleged home invasion during his latest run-in with the law.

He is described as 5-foot-10, 220 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio