Ralph Gilles, who headed up the design team for the award- winning Chrysler 300, has been named vice president in charge of design for Chrysler.

In his new role effective Sept. 1, Gilles will head up all activities for the product design office. Gilles joined Chrysler in 1992 and received international acclaim in the world of automotive design for his work with the 300, and the Dodge Charger and Dodge Magnum.

Gilles most recently served as vice president of Jeep Truck and Advanced Interior Design, and played a key role in the design of the new Dodge Ram. Gilles is replacing Trevor Creed who is retiring after 23 years of service with the automaker.

Judge rules city must release text messages at time of dancer’s death

U.S. District Judge Gerald Rosen has ruled that the city must release text messages from Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings, former chief of staff Christine Beatty and other high ranking officials created around the time of the death of Tamara Greene.

Greene, a stripper who went by the name “Strawberry,” is rumored to have danced at a party at the Manoogian Mansion.

An attorney for Greene’s family wants the text messages released because he believes high-ranking city officials placed roadblocks in the way of an investigation into Greene’s 2003 shooting death.

Rosen denied city officials’ claims of privilege, saying the city could not assert a legitimate claim of privilege to messages that would obviously be about governmental matters, not personal ones, since they were exchanged by city officials.

Habitat for Humanity Detroit chooses Troy firm

The non-profit Habitat for Humanity Detroit, which helps build affordable housing in partnership with those in need, has chosen Troy-based Bianchi Public Relations, Inc. to execute its pro bono media relations efforts.

The full service agency will supply counsel and media relations assistance to Habitat for Humanity Detroit, which assists families in need of adequate housing and brings together people from all walks of life to revitalize Detroit neighborhoods through the construction of affordable homes.
 
Through its pro bono efforts, Bianchi PR will work to promote Habitat for Humanity Detroit’s volunteer opportunities, including Blitz Builds, open houses and other special events. During all of the organization’s building projects, volunteers provide the labor while individual, church and corporate sponsors provide the money and materials to build the houses.

Established in 1986, Habitat for Humanity Detroit prides itself on offering a “hand up,” not a “hand out,” to families in need.

For more information about Habitat for Humanity Detroit, visit www.habitatdetroit.org.

Many high school students do not graduate in four years

According to graduation rates released by the state, 25 percent of high school students do not graduate in four years. A formula that tracked individual students from 9th grade in 2003 to 2007, and accounts for transfers in and out of a district; students who leave school and return in another year; and other factors was used to obtain this figure.

Graduation figures around the state dropped from 85.8 percent to 75.5 percent, while Detroit’s rates dropped from 66.8 percent in the 2005-06 school year to 58.4 percent.

The Detroit Report adds new links, expands sports coverage

Links to some of the largest organizations in Southeast Michigan make up the bulk of new, permanent links on the home page of a rising news website in metro Detroit, TheDetroitReport.com.

The area’s top auto retailers, law firms, financial institutions and philanthropic organizations are now listed in the “Links” section of the website.

Launched in June of 2007, TheDetroitReport.com combines on one site news and sports in the southeastern Michigan area, as well as from around the state of Michigan. Top sports stories from ESPN and the AP wire will now be listed in the site’s sports column.

Suggestions or comments may be sent to editor@thedetroitreport.com.