Minuteman group planning fences

A civilian border-patrol group said Tuesday that it plans to build two short security fences on a ranch in southern Arizona, the busiest illegal entry point on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Chris Simcox, a leader in the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, said last month that the group would break ground on the fence unless the White House deployed U.S. troops to the border by May 25 and endorsed more secure fencing.

“We are not anticipating that the White House will make any effort in the next 2 1/2 weeks as far as putting troops on the border,” Minuteman spokeswoman Connie Hair said.

Todd Fraser, a U.S. Border Patrol spokesman in Washington, said the agency has no position on such fencing.

“If private citizens want to construct something on their property … who is the Border Patrol to say they can’t do it?” Fraser said.

Detroit

Rosa Parks estate going to mediation

Two groups fighting over the estate of Rosa Parks agreed Tuesday to submit the dispute to mediation in hopes of avoiding a trial.

Family members have been feuding for years with the people Parks appointed to handle her affairs. Last week, they filed a legal challenge over the will of the civil rights pioneer, who died in October at 92.

Parks’ family members started legal proceedings in December for control of the legal rights to use Parks’ name, photos and other yet-to-be-determined intellectual property. Relatives have said they would probably use the rights in a limited way to benefit nonprofit organizations such as libraries or arts centers.

The main beneficiary of the will is the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development, a Detroit-based organization founded by Parks to teach young people leadership and character development.