Obama lead narrowing in Michigan, poll says

Detroit Free Press

New polling data out today continues to suggest Barack Obama’s lead in Michigan over John McCain is narrowing.

Public Policy Polling of North Carolina surveyed 883 likely voters in Michigan from last Wednesday to Sunday and found Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, leading McCain 46%-43% in the state, with 10% undecided. The poll has a margin of error of 3.3 percentage points.

A month earlier, the firm’s Michigan poll had Obama leading McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, by 48%-39%.

LeFevre arraigned on escape charge

Detroit Free Press

A woman arrested more than 32 years after she fled a Northville Township prison was arraigned Monday on an escape charge.

Susan LeFevre, 53, faces up to 5 additional years in prison if convicted of the charge. She is currently serving a 10- to 20-year sentence in the Robert Scott Correctional Facility in Plymouth Township for her original conviction for selling heroin. She escaped from a different prison -- the Detroit House of Corrections Women's Division facility in Northville Township -- in 1976.

Global Warming Impact On Lake Michigan

WSJM

A new study says global warming could cost Michigan billions of dollars. The report says lake levels have fallen in recent years, and if they keep falling, the annual cost of dredging could rise as much as 154-million dollars. Michigan Department of Environmental Quality spokesperson Robert McCann says warmer temperatures mean less ice on the lake, causing more water to evaporate. And he says that could have a huge impact on Lake Michigan.

Holy hooligans! Phony 'Joker' arrested in Michigan

iWon News

Police in Michigan have arrested a man who they say tried to steal posters and other items related to the new Batman movie from a cinema lobby while dressed up as the Joker.

Detective Mike Mohney said Monday 20-year-old Spencer Taylor of Three Rivers has been booked for investigation of larceny and malicious destruction of property.

Taylor is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 5 in St. Joseph County District Court.

Bringing the Election Battle to Michigan

WWMT Newschannel 3

Michigan is playing an increasingly important role in the November election. One of the latest polls out shows Michigan, a key battle ground state, is up for grabs. Senator Barack Obama currently has a narrow 3-point lead over Senator John McCain among voters in our state.

The Obama campaign is trying to turn up the heat here in West Michigan. Saturday the campaign officially opened four regional offices in Grand rapids, Muskegon Heights, Battle Creek and Holland.

The McCain campaign believes it has a shot to carry Michigan as well.

The campaigns have been running nonstop for over a year now. But over the weekend both parties decided to step things up a notch and proving that Michigan will be an important state to win.

Deputies Tell Court Detroit Mayor Kilpatrick Shoved Officer, Drug Testing Ordered

FOXNews.com

A judge struck down the conditions of Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's bond on Friday, ordering him to pay $7,500 and undergo random drug testing following allegations he berated and attacked investigators trying to serve a subpoena to a close friend of the mayor.

District Court Judge Ronald Giles' ruling came after the two investigators with the county prosecutor's office testified an irate Kilpatrick launched into a profanity-laced tirade and shoved one of them as they tried to serve the subpoena to Detroit businessman Bobby Ferguson on Thursday.

Kilpatrick's previous bond was $75,000, but he was not required to pay. Now, he owes 10 percent.

Kilpatrick and his former top aide, Christine Beatty, are charged with perjury, misconduct and obstruction of justice, all tied to their testimony in a civil trial last year.

Wrigleyville an 'Octopus Free Zone' on New Year's

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley is a Blackhawks fan. It goes without saying he hates the Detroit Red Wings.

So when Quigley put together an official resolution Tuesday celebrating the Hawks' outdoor showdown against the Red Wings on New Year's Day at Wrigley Field, he included a secret message to the reigning Stanley Cup champions and their fans.

He used red capital letters in the last line of his resolution to spell out a favorite chant he learned while growing up a Hawks fan ''in the second balcony in Chicago Stadium.'' The letters spelled out, ''DETROIT SUCKS.''

Besides declaring Jan. 1 will be ''Chicago Blackhawks Day'' in Cook County, Quigley's resolution designates Wrigley Field and the surrounding area an ''Octopus Free Zone'' -- a dig at Red Wings fans' tradition of throwing octopi on the ice after their team scores.

Ford targets more plants for buyouts; shares rally

MarketWatch

Ford, in the midst of a broad restructuring, is looking to slash deeper into its payroll by expanding its buyout program to 14 more plants in Michigan and Ohio by mid-August.

"We're going back to the plants where we've been having various capacity actions and we're taking steps to match output with customer demand," Ford spokeswoman Anne Marie Gattari said.

The Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker is also cutting back on overtime, as well, in a belief that buyouts may look more attractive if the opportunity for extra pay is eliminated, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The plant-by-plant buyout program came about when Ford fell short of its target of cutting about 8,000 workers during an incentive offered earlier this year, with only about 4,200 choosing the option, according to the Journal.

Detroit Mayor's Charges Broadened After Texts to Other Women Surface

FOXNews.com

An investigator's report says the Wayne County prosecutor's office has determined that Kilpatrick sent and received text messages with "intimate or romantic content" to several women who were not his wife or former Chief of Staff Christine Beatty.

The report says the office was able to locate and identify the women, but it does not list their names.

The allegations led the prosecutor's office to amend two current charges against the 38-year-old mayor. The amended complaint was signed by a district court magistrate and changes a misconduct-in-office charge and one of four perjury charges.

Lansing Considering Proposal Banning Scooters

/ WILX News 10

Sales are up at Riverfront Cycle in Lansing...and it isn't bikes improving sales-- it's motorized scooters.

"We're seeing a lot more moped lookers, and we sold quite a few more-- about twice as many as last year," said David Hanson, owner of the cycle shop. "We're doing more than ever before."

Hanson says the reason is no surprise, with the high price at the pump.

"They (scooters) get between 85 and 100 miles per gallon. It's a viable means of transportation," said Hanson.

That could all change. Lansing City Council Vice President Derrick Quinney is spearheading an effort to amend a city code, banning all motorized scooters under 50 cubic centimeters in the city.

Oakland County gov't ranked 2nd most digitally advanced county in nation

mLive

Tech-savvy Oakland County officials took second place in a competition against 3,000 county governments nationwide, in the 2008 Digital County Survey among counties with populations of 500,000 or more.

The 2008 Digital County Survey is an annual study focusing on the technology innovations of the best governments.

Only San Diego County scored higher than Oakland.

Counties were ranked on more than 100 measurements and data points covering such areas as online delivery, infrastructure, architecture and governance models.

Nonprofit forms around Next Detroit Neighborhoods Initiative

Crain's Detroit Business

The city of Detroit is spinning the Next Detroit Neighborhoods Initiative into an independent nonprofit so it can continue to attract foundation funding.

Launched just over a year ago to revitalize six Detroit neighborhoods over five years, the program has leveraged $8.9 million in funding from private foundations, the business community and the state through Cities of Promise grants, said Pamela Moore, director of operations for the program and one of its six employees.

But it hopes to raise another $91 million for work in those six neighborhoods and additional funding beyond that to support future revitalization in other parts of the city.

Daniels, Weaver to perform "Love Letters"

The Ann Arbor News

Jeff Daniels and Sigourney Weaver will team up for a one-night-only performance of A.R. Gurney's two-person play "Love Letters" in Detroit Saturday night as a benefit for Daniels' Chelsea-based Purple Rose Theatre and also for the Detroit Film Theatre.

Much like Daniels, Weaver is also involved in her own theater company, the New York-based Flea Theater. Daniels joined Weaver for a fundraising production of "Love Letters" in New York last year, and now Weaver is returning the favor.

"I said 'I'll do it for you if you do it for me,' " Daniels told The News recently. "I was happy to help."

The performance will take place at the restored Detroit Film Theatre, part of the Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave.

Flint remembers GM's glory with parade marking 100th anniversary

Detroit News

Matt Assenmacher is a cyclist at heart and runs two bicycle shops in Genesee County, but on Sunday, he had old-fashioned gasoline and a lot of nostalgia pumping through his veins.

His 1908 Buick Roadster -- once owned by Buick's first chief engineer, Walter Marr -- led the procession as Flint marked the 100th anniversary of General Motors Corp. with a downtown celebration that was part parade, part car show, and part homecoming.

"This town is still dogged by a lot of mixed emotions when it comes to GM," said Assenmacher. "But today is a day to be proud and honor what is one of America's industrial giants."

Flint-built Chevrolets and Buicks dominated the parade lineup. And there was something for everyone -- brass-era cars, Bel Airs, a rolling wave of chrome, stunning Cadillacs, sports cars, Buick Supers, muscle cars, motor homes and vans.

Granholm signs measures to help Michigan downtowns

Detroit Free Press

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm signed a package of bills Thursday that is expected to give local officials new tools to help attract business to revitalize downtowns.

"Vibrant downtowns, both large and small, are vital to a prosperous future for Michigan,” Granholm said. Creating opportunities for new entrepreneurs, she added will allow downtowns to attract young professionals and revitalize retail and housing development.

Among other things, the new laws amend existing statutes to:

• Allow local downtown development authorities (DDA) to operate retail business incubators.

Off-Duty Deputy Shoots Party Intruder

WDIV Detroit

An off-duty Wayne County deputy shot and killed a masked gunman who interrupted a party early Sunday morning.

Police said a party was winding down around 4:30 a.m. at a house on Detroit's southwest side when two armed masked men broke in.

Homeowner Victor Akrawi said the two men broke in his front door, told everyone to get down and started firing.

"No matter where you are, there are always people trying to get you," Akrawi said.

Police said one was carrying a shotgun and another a handgun.

Donors to Detroit mayor's legal fund owe taxes

Chicagotribune.com

Three of more than 30 companies and individuals who have contributed to Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's legal defense fund owe more than $820,000 in state and federal taxes, according to records reviewed by The Detroit News.

The newspaper reports Saturday that the tax delinquents include the company that owns the Sheraton Detroit Riverside hotel. The owners of the former Hotel Pontchartrain donated $3,000 despite owing $501,299 in state taxes.

Brian Jeffries, president and chief executive of Detroit-based Ambassador Capital Management, gave the fund $10,000. Jeffries and his wife owe the Internal Revenue Service $290,803 in federal income taxes, according to filings with the Oakland County Register of Deeds office.

McCain and Romney worlds collide in Michigan

CNN Political Ticker

Several of Mitt Romney's top fundraisers anted up for John McCain on Friday afternoon in Detroit, and McCain returned the favor with some words of praise for his former rival.

"In case you missed it, as short a time ago as this morning, Mitt has been on the shows, not only defending, but standing up for the things that we believe in, are important to the future of the country," McCain told a small group of donors gathered at the Detroit Athletic Club, referring to Romney's efforts as a campaign surrogate.

The event raised over $1 million for his campaign.

McCain dined at a table with at least two of Romney’s top fundraisers — John Rakolta, Jr. and Ed Levy, Jr., both of whom were Bush "Rangers" during the 2004 cycle. They were joined by Romney's brother Scott, a Michigan attorney.

Suit claiming fraud by mayor, Beatty dismissed

Detroit Free Press

Wayne County Circuit Judge Robert Colombo Jr. dismissed a lawsuit Friday claiming that Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his former aide Christine Beatty defrauded taxpayers.
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Colombo said Detroit attorney Corbett Edge O'Meara and his clients lacked the proper legal standing to bring the case, ruling they had not shown more than generalized possible harm when the mayor allegedly engineered the $8.4-million settlement of a police whistle-blower suit last year. O'Meara is running for Wayne County Circuit Court judge.

Kilpatrick and Beatty are charged with perjury and related felonies in connection with the whistle-blower suit. The mayor faces ouster by the City Council for allegedly misleading members about the settlement that had a secret provision to conceal explosive text messages between himself and Beatty.

Hatch Act invoked again

Ann Arbor News

The federal law that prompted a would-be candidate for Washtenaw County sheriff to quit the race earlier this year has led a candidate for a different office to quit his job instead.

Alan Israel, who is running as a Democrat for Pittsfield Township clerk, leaves his job as chief of staff in the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's office today.

Unable to resolve a complaint about a possible violation of the Hatch Act, Israel said on Thursday that he has accelerated his planned retirement and resigned.

The Hatch Act bars state, county and municipal appointees from running for public office in partisan races if their job duties are connected to programs financed even in part by federal grants and loans.

Flint Jazz Festival

WEYI NBC25

The 27th Annual Flint Jazz Festival is happening at Riverbank Park in downtown Flint, Friday August 1 through Sunday August 3, 2008. Friday night’s concerts start at 5:30 pm with The Steelheads opening for Friday night’s headliner the Edmar Castaneda Trio.

Columbian harpist, bandleader and composer, Edmar Castaneda has a unique style of playing harp that combines Latin jazz with traditional Columbian music. Marshall Gilkes (trombone) and Dave Silliman (drums and percussion) form the rest of the trio.

Friday night is Joe Freyre night in honor the founding producer of the Flint Jazz Festival.

MIchigan Diabetes Rate Growing

This from the "More Good News For MIchigan" department. It's not enough that unemployment is up, gas prices are up, now diabetes ......

Detroit Free Press

Most Michigan counties exceed the national average in diabetes cases at a time of mounting concern about the growing rates and costs of the disease, according to a new report.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported last week that in 2007, the number of Americans age 20 and older with diabetes -- both diagnosed and undiagnosed -- grew to about 24 million, or almost 8% of the population.

In a 2005 county breakdown, 68 of 83 counties in Michigan had adult prevalence rates higher than the 2007 national average.

Alcona County has the highest diagnosed-diabetes rate with 11.7% of the population diabetic. Washtenaw County has the lowest rate at 6.6%. According to the report, 7.3% of adults in Oakland County were diagnosed diabetic and 8.2% in Macomb County. With the exception of Wayne County, at 10.4%, the highest incidence rates tended to be in the northern part of the state.

Genesee County Mulls Major Water Project

abc12.com

A massive public works project that would cost hundreds of millions of dollars and create new jobs could be decided by Genesee County voters as early as next year.

Flint and Genesee County's 300,000 water users are faced with a big decision: Should they continue getting water from Detroit or build their own pipeline?

Since the contract for water from Detroit is at an end, a decision has to be made. Whatever happens, it will impact water in the area for 35 years.

Group Saves Historic Bridge

Ann Arbor News

In June 2007, the East Delhi bridge was declared a local historic district, "a designation that would afford the bridge more protection than just a National Register nomination," according to information provided by Townsend.

"Typically, local bridge program funds cannot be used for rehabilitation projects but the East Delhi Road Bridge project is the first in the state of Michigan to utilize these funds for the rehabilitation of a one-lane bridge," Townsend says.

The bridge is also the first local historic district composed of municipal property, he says.

"The fact that the Delhi bridge will be rehabilitated and not replaced in the summer of 2008 is due in no small part to these three civil servants being willing to work outside the box of their normal job descriptions and routines," says the nomination application for the three recipients.