GATEWAY PROJECT AND SAFETY

As construction starts, so does stiffer enforcement

With the 2-year Gateway construction project under way, traffic -- particularly the more than 10,000 trucks that cross the Ambassador Bridge each day -- has dramatically shifted off of I-75 and into southwest Detroit.

DOWNRIVER

3 from Woodhaven arraigned in killings

Two men and a woman from Woodhaven were arraigned Tuesday in the slaying of the ex-boyfriend of the woman's mother and his housemate in Riverview last week.

HIGHLAND PARK

Federal audit uncovers problems

No-bid contracts to family members of employees, allowing applicants to leapfrog over others on a waiting list, and $153,000 in operating subsidies unaccounted for were among the findings of a federal audit of the Highland Park Housing Commission.

Wayne County news briefs

Supporters of Livonia Public Schools are hosting three fund-raisers to replace books and classroom materials that were destroyed in a fire at Webster Elementary School last month.

March 4, 2008

Wayne County news briefs

An assistant to Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox is scheduled to be in Dearborn today to meet with anyone who has concerns or questions that involve his office. Carrie Ryckman, constituent relations ombudsman for Cox, will meet with the public from 1 to 3 p.m.

March 3, 2008

3 to be arraigned in Riverview double homicide

On Tuesday, a district judge is expected to arraign three people arrested Friday in last week’s a double homicide, the Riverview police chief said Monday.

March 2, 2008

Detroit Kennel Club Dog Shows

This day has gone to the dogs

The weekend dog show was about more than ribbons, said breeders, handlers and show-goers. It also helped teach people about the differences in breeds, the history behind each and how to tell what type of dog might fit well as a member of your family.

• 101st Detroit Kennel Club Show
• The dogs are in town

GROSSE POINTES

Chinese classes just need the OK

Grosse Pointe Public Schools may join the growing trend of metro Detroit school districts that offer or plan to offer Chinese language classes.

Riverview

No IDs yet for stabbed, shot bodies found in house fire

Investigators said they were still working Saturday to get positive identifications of two men who were found dead in a house fire in Riverview on Wednesday.

Wayne County news briefs

Ravitz memorial set for Saturday

A memorial service in honor of activist, judge and attorney Justin (Chuck) Ravitz will be Saturday at the Wayne State University Community Arts Auditorium, on Cass Avenue across from the Detroit Public Library.

March 1, 2008

Thousands of Shi'ite Muslims walk in Dearborn rally

Thousands of Shi'ite Muslims walked through snow and slush Saturday in a procession through the streets of Dearborn to mark the anniversary of a Muslim leader's death in 7th century Iraq.

Man, 32, charged in Livonia school blazes

A Livonia man accused of setting fire to two Livonia elementary schools was charged Friday in 16th District Court with five counts of arson. Livonia police arrested Donald J. Carlson, 32, on Thursday. He is charged with setting fires at Webster Elementary School, 37855 Lyndon, on Feb.

February 29, 2008

Man arrested in arson at Livonia school

A 32 year-old Livonia man has been arrested in connection for the arson at Webster Elementary school in Livonia on Feb. 18. The fire caused extensive damage to the building and displaced roughly 350 students.

Wayne County

Teacher seeks to do less time in sex case

A former teacher at Plymouth Christian Academy accused of having sex with a 15-year-old boy is expected to ask a Wayne County judge this morning to deviate from state sentencing guidelines and give her a lighter sentence if she pleads guilty.

Wayne County news briefs

Man gets life in prison for abuse

The convicted killer who unsuccessfully represented himself in a child sex-abuse case earlier this month was sentenced Thursday to life in prison.

February 28, 2008

Police investigating Riverview double homicide

RIVERVIEW – Authorities are investigating a double homicide after a house fire late Wednesday in the 20000 block of Coachwood Road.

Judge recommends Grosse Pointe South choir director's teaching certificate be suspended

A state administrative law judge recommended that Grosse Pointe South High School choir director Ellen Bowen’s teaching certificate be suspended, but also said she could retain her teaching certificate "for the limited purpose" of teaching in Grosse Pointe Public Schools.

Onetime criminals could be cleared

Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano announced Wednesday a way to let onetime, nonviolent offenders wipe out their criminal records by staying clean for five years.

Foster mom sentenced in death

A Canton woman convicted of killing her 2-year-old foster daughter was sentenced to 20-35 years in prison Wednesday. Carol Ann Poole was found guilty of second-degree murder in January in the death of Allison Newman.

Wayne County news briefs

Woman killed in car crash on I-75

State Police are investigating a fatal crash that occurred around 9:20 a.m. Wednesday on northbound I-75 near Gibraltar Road, forcing the closure of all lanes. According to a witness, a vehicle veered off the roadway, striking a guardrail.

February 27, 2008

Canton foster mother sentenced in girl's death

Carol Poole was sentenced to 20-35 years in the death of Allison Newman, her two year old foster daughter. She was also sentenced to 10-15 years for first degree child abuse. An involuntary manslaughter charge against her was vacated. Poole was given 513 days jail credit.

Woman dies in Gibraltar crash; stretch of I-75 reopens

Michigan State Police are investigating a fatal traffic crash that occurred around 9:20 a.m. Wednesday morning on I-75 northbound near Gibraltar Road in Brownstown Township, forcing the closure of all lanes while authorities responded to the emergency. The lanes have been reopened.

Wayne County news briefs

Group seeks bowlers, sponsors

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit is looking for more corporate, institutional and individual sponsors for its 2008 Bowl for Kids' Sake fund-raising campaign to benefit 1,200 children in the tri-county area.

February 26, 2008

Man arrested in Internet sex sting

Wayne County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 33-year-old Colorado man, accused of a previous child sex-related crime, Tuesday afternoon in a Downriver community as part of an Internet sting.

La Shish owner's wife sentenced for citizenship fraud

The wife of fugitive La Shish restaurant owner Talal Chahine was sentenced today to 90 days in prison and stripped of her U.S. citizenship for citizenship fraud in a case that tripped up an illegal immigrant who concealed her past to get into the FBI and CIA.

Wayne County news briefs

The Detroit-Wayne County Community Mental Health Agency has received a $200,000 grant to establish a statewide Recovery Center of Excellence, the agency announced Monday.

February 24, 2008

LIVONIA

Fire's toll includes Tigers memorabilia

Terry Macek is a teacher. And she's a passionate Detroit Tigers fan. So naturally, her lessons are peppered with messages of teamwork and preparation, and her classroom serves as a small shrine to her team.

Wayne County news briefs

Lanes to close for bridge repairs

Motorists, beware. Construction starts Monday on the Greenfield bridge over Michigan Avenue. It's expected to be finished by Sept. 1.

February 23, 2008

Man to stand trial in boss's death

Darren Johnson's frustration with his supervisor at the Scott Correctional Facility in Plymouth Township was so great that it erupted into expressions of anger that he put down in writing. "Any blood that may be shed could have been avoided. "I give up on that system, now it's my justice," he wrote.

February 22, 2008

MATT HELMS

An ode to potholes

Abundant craters move a writer to rhyme.

Man to stand trial in supervisor's death

UPDATED AT 7:05 P.M. -- Darren Johnson's frustration with his supervisor at the Scott Correctional Facility in Plymouth Township was so great that it erupted into expressions of anger that he put down in writing.

Sisters in Switzerland to dispute U.S. report

As Fay Givens and Kay Givens McGowan packed their suitcases this week, the twins looked like any other business travelers setting off for Detroit Metro Airport. But the richly beaded and woven colors of the vests they wore belied the true purpose of their trip.

Wayne County news briefs

2 high schools win award

Two Wayne County schools have been awarded the Red Quill Award for 2007-08.

February 21, 2008

Cop allegedly walked out on restaurant bill

A Van Buren Township police officer who walked out of a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant in Ferndale without paying his bill has been fired, Van Buren Township Public Safety Director Jerry Champagne said today.

Plymouth

City may settle dog ordinance issue next month

Plymouth residents will have to wait at least until March 17 before they have any idea whether the City Commission will amend the city's dog ordinance. Meanwhile, the line has been drawn.

February 20, 2008

Wayne County news briefs

Planners approve Canton temple's building

The Hindu Temple of Canton overcame a major hurdle Monday night when the Canton Township Planning Commission voted 5-0 to recommend that the Board of Trustees approve plans to tear down their building and construct a larger facility.

February 19, 2008

$5,000 reward offered in Webster Elementary blaze

A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who set Monday’s fire at Webster Elementary School.

Schools take precautions against bad beef

Warren Consolidated Schools and Detroit Public Schools officials have isolated beef from Westland/Hallmark Meat Co., following Sunday's U.S. Department of Agriculture-ordered recall of 143 million pounds of frozen beef.

MATT HELMS

Help! Get to these potholes first

Add your nominations for emergency assistance. We're gathering reader suggestions for metro Detroit potholes and roads that need fixes NOW!

River Rouge to pay up in prisoner's death

A civil lawsuit against the River Rouge Police Department has resulted in the largest settlement in a jailhouse hanging in Michigan history -- and a local attorney's request that the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office reopen an investigation into a city police lieutenant's role in the 2005 death.

Wayne County news briefs

U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials are to announce plans today to begin using new scanners this year that collect 10 fingerprints for international visitors arriving at Metro Airport.

February 18, 2008

Cause of deadly Harper Woods fire unknown

The cause of a blaze that killed a 57-year-old Harper Woods woman hasn't been determined, but authorities have not ruled out a discarded cigarette, Fire Chief Sean Gunnery said today.

Wayne Co. aims to arm troubled homeowners with options

Wayne County Treasurer Raymond Wojtowicz will announce an expanded effort Tuesday to help people facing foreclosure because they can’t pay their property taxes.

February 17, 2008

GROSSE POINTE SHORES

Residents to decide whether to be city

It's been talked about privately the last 20 years. Now, it's going to a public vote. Residents in the village of Grosse Pointe Shores will decide whether they want to become the last of the Pointes to become a city during a May 6 special election.

METRO DETROIT

1 dead in house fire; 5 hurt in explosion

An early morning fire in Harper Woods on Saturday left a 57-year-old woman dead, and a few hours later, a house explosion in Detroit sent five people to the hospital, police said.

Wayne County news briefs

The Planning Commission is expected to vote Monday on whether to recommend that the township's Board of Trustees approve a Hindu temple's plans to tear down its building and construct a larger one.

NORTHVILLE TWP.

Major housing project opposed

Fred Shadko enjoys the ferns, hostas and quiet in his Northville Township subdivision and the open spaces in the community he has lived in for the past 12 years. "I wanted a less urban and crowded environment," Shadko said.

February 15, 2008

Kilpatrick balks at Ficano's Cobo renovation plan

In what could be a major setback to Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano's efforts to expand Cobo Center, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has balked at a key financial provision in Ficano’s plan.

Suspect in thrill killing testifies he lied to police

Thrill kill suspect Alexander Letkemann testified today that he initially lied to police to protect himself from implication in the stabbing death and beheading of a 26-year-old River Rouge man.

Van Buren cop, 3 others accused of leaving bill unpaid at restaurant

A Van Buren Township police officer and his three companions are scheduled to be arraigned March 13 in Ferndale’s 43rd District Court after the group allegedly left a popular Ferndale nightspot without paying.

Train derailment closes Gibraltar Road until 2 p.m.

A train has derailed at Fort Street and West Jefferson in Gibraltar, closing Gibraltar Road until 2 p.m. today, Gibraltar police say.

Daughter tells 911 from car that dad's driving drunk

A Hamtramck man faces a drunken driving charge after his 13-year-old daughter called 911 from the backseat of the van he was driving.

Wayne County news briefs

REDFORD TOWNSHIP: April trial set in fatal wreck

An April 21 trial date is set for an Adrian man charged with killing a Redford Township girl and four other people in a drunken-driving accident in Toledo.

February 14, 2008

Salt trucks damaged in Wayne fire

An electrical fault sparked a fire Wednesday night in a building that houses snow-removal equipment, city of Wayne firefighters said.

LIVONIA

Doctor to face sex charges today

A Livonia physician accused last year of sexually assaulting a patient is scheduled to be arraigned today in 16th District Court on charges that he did the same thing to three other women and two girls.

Wayne County news briefs

CANTON: Man in abuse case headed to court

A man accused of plunging his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter into a bathtub filled with scalding water and severely burning her will have his preliminary examination in 35th District Court in Plymouth on Friday.

February 13, 2008

FACE-TO-FACE WITH LENDERS

Thousands seek relief at homeowners forum

Katherine Wilson sat inside Cobo Hall on Tuesday, clutching a bag stuffed with paperwork about her mortgage loan and fretting about her predicament. "I'm 67 years old and about to be put out on the sidewalk," she said.

BEYOND BOOKS AND MAGAZINES

Library shows another side of war in Iraq

As director of the William P. Faust Public Library in Westland, Cheryl Napsha's mission is to make sure the patrons have access to the best information on any topic, including the Iraq war.

3 area nursing homes on watch list

Three nursing homes in metro Detroit are on the list of facilities with poor or improving inspection records. The 131 nursing homes on the list released Tuesday by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services were given "special focus facility" classification, requiring significant oversight.

Wayne County news briefs

Choir teacher's appeal is denied

Grosse Pointe South High School Choir Director Ellen Bowen was denied in her appeal of a road rage conviction stemming from a 2006 incident. Wayne County Circuit Judge Carole Youngblood ruled Friday there were no prejudicial errors in her initial trial in Grosse Pointe Park Municipal Court.