Lovers of Detroit architecture, mark Thursday on your calendars. That's the day when members of Whitney Partners LLC, accompanied by Gov. Rick Snyder, will kick off the reconstruction of the city's historic David Whitney building.

The structure, completed in 1915, was designed by architect Daniel Burnham, who helped build Chicago's Montauk Building, one of the world's earliest skyscrapers.

To read story in full visit http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/26/whitney-building-detroit_n_2958354.html?utm_hp_ref=detroit-development

Washington (CNN) -- The Supreme Court agreed Monday to confront another high-profile challenge to affirmative action in college admissions.
The justices will decide the constitutionality of a voter referendum in Michigan banning race- and sex-based discrimination or preferential treatment in public university admission decisions.
The high court is currently deciding a separate challenge to admissions policies at the University of Texas, which did not involve a voter referendum.
A federal appeals court last year concluded the affirmative action ban, which Michigan voters passed in a 2006 referendum, violated the U.S. Constitution's equal protection laws.
It was the latest step in a legal and political battle over whether the state's colleges can use race and gender as a factor in choosing which students to admit. The ban's opponents say classroom diversity remains a necessary government role.
"We think this is a tremendous victory for the tens and hundreds of thousands of students who fought for affirmative action for decades," said Michigan attorney George Washington when the 6th Circuit ruling came out in November. He represents the By Any Means Necessary coalition that sued to overturn the ban.
"This is a tremendous day for black and Latino students in the entire country," Washington added.
The office of Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette will defend the ban when oral arguments are held in the fall.
The ban "embodies the fundamental premise of what America is all about: equal opportunity under the law," Schuette said. "Entrance to our great universities must be based upon merit."
The law was passed seven years ago with support of 58% of voters. It was added to the state's constitution, and bars publicly funded colleges from granting "preferential treatment to any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin."
That prompted a series of lawsuits and appeals from various groups.
Michigan voters approved the ban after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2003 that while Michigan universities could use race as a factor in choosing which students to admit, they could not make race the determining factor in deciding whether applicants are accepted
The referendum effort was led by Jennifer Gratz, who was at the center of the high court case. As a white student, she was put on the waiting list for undergraduate admission to the state's largest university. She eventually attended another school, and became the lead plaintiff in a subsequent discrimination lawsuit.
After the Supreme Court's 2003 decision, she began a public campaign to end racial preferences in admissions.
The Michigan ban also prohibits the state from considering race and gender in public hiring and public contracting decisions. But the current high court case deals only with the college admissions portion.
Efforts over decades to create a diverse classroom have been controversial. The Brown v. Board of Education high court ruling in 1954 ended segregation of public schools, but sparked nationwide protests and disobedience by states who initially refused to integrate.
In the 1978 Bakke case, the Supreme Court ruled universities have a compelling state interest in promoting diversity, and that allows for the use of affirmative action. That issue involved a discrimination claim by a white man denied admission to law school.
Opinion: Chief justice out to end affirmative action
The Supreme Court is now considering whether the University of Texas' admissions practices aimed at creating campus diversity violate the rights of some white applicants. Arguments were held in October and a written ruling is pending.
The high court under Chief Justice John Roberts has made the issue a key part of its docket in recent years, and it could serve as a major legacy of the current conservative majority.
The justices in 2007 struck down public school choice plans in Seattle and Louisville, concluding race could not be a factor in the assignment of children to schools. Those school districts had sought to use raced-based criteria to achieve diversity.
The issue in recent years is whether and when affirmative action programs -- while constitutionally permissible now -- would eventually have to be phased out as the goal of obtaining diversity is met.
Now-retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor -- who wrote the key ruling a decade ago in the initial Michigan cases -- said, "The court expects that 25 years from now, the use of racial preferences will no longer be necessary to further the interest approved today."
The justices are now being asked once again to decide whether Michigan's current policy meets that legal and social test.
The case is Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration, and Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality by Any Means Necessary (12-682).

(CNN) -- The U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on Tuesday and Wednesday about the constitutionality of two laws in the same-sex marriage debate. Tuesday's arguments deal with one of the laws: California's Proposition 8, which says marriage in that state is between a man and a woman. The high court's decision, expected later this year, could have a profound impact on the definition of families in America.

Here's the latest on Tuesday's arguments on California's Proposition 8:

Updated at 8:34 a.m. ET

Looks like Justice Kennedy will definitely be the one to watch today.

"What am I looking to? Justice Kennedy in his questioning," said California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom who, as San Francisco mayor in 2004, stoked controversy by ordering City Hall to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

He told CNN's "Starting Point" this morning that Kennedy would be key because he wrote the majority opinion in the 1996 case of Romer V. Evans in Colorado. The case dealt with Amendment 2, a Colorado initiative that banned state government from passing laws prohibiting discrimination against the LGBT community. The Supreme Court struck down the law in a 6-3 vote.

Updated at 8:15 a.m. ET

Protesters are braving temperatures in 30s outside the high court this morning to make their stand in the same-sex marriage debate. Rainbow flags are flapping next to American ones as demonstrators bundled in thick coats and scarves hold up banners reading "The nation is ready for Marriage Equality" and "Faith Alliance to preserve the sanctity of marriage as defined by God."

Updated at 7:55 a.m. ET

Today's oral arguments will focus on Proposition 8, a ballot initiative that was approved by California voters in a 52-48% vote in November 2008. The vote happened less than six months after the state Supreme Court ruled marriage was a fundamental right that must be extended to same-sex couples.

Its approval immediately ended same-sex marriages in the state, but opponents of the measure challenged it in court and have succeeded in convincing federal judges at the district and appellate levels to find the ban unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court will open its doors to the public and the media at 8 a.m. ET, two hours before oral arguments are scheduled to start.

Updated at 7:23 a.m. ET

The justice to keep an eye on is Anthony Kennedy, who may be the crucial fifth vote on either side, says CNN's senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin.

"I will be listening to what Justice Anthony Kennedy says," Toobin said about the oral arguments. The four Democratic appointees -- Justices Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor and Kagan -- will likely all vote for marriage equality.

"The most likely person to give the fifth vote is Anthony Kennedy," Toobin said.

Toobin likened the same-sex marriage argument to Loving v. Virginia, a landmark civil rights decision by the Supreme Court in 1967 that deemed laws prohibiting interracial marriages unconstitutional.

Posted at 7:11 a.m. ET

Supreme Court justices this morning will launch an epic dialogue when they hear oral arguments in the first of two appeals to state and federal laws restricting same-sex marriage.

The first round today will deal with an appeal of California's Proposition 8, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman. The second round, scheduled for tomorrow, will tackle the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and a constitutional appeal over same-sex marriage and "equal protection."

The arguments will start at 10 a.m. ET today, but don't expect a decision until at least June.

Detroit business leaders and Mayor Dave Bing are expected to announce at 9 a.m. Monday an ambitious plan to provide badly needed equipment and vehicles — 23 EMS rigs and up to 100 patrol cars — for Detroit's beleaguered police and fire departments. Click Here to Read More.

Troy, Mich – (March 21, 2013) – Kelly Services (NASDAQ: KELYA, KELYB), a leader in providing workforce solutions headquartered in Troy, Michigan, announced today that the Michigan Chronicle recognized Tammy Klugh, Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion and Compliance, for Kelly Services, as a Women of Excellence 2013 honoree. Ms. Klugh will be honored at an induction ceremony at the Detroit Westin Book Cadillac Hotel, March 22, 2013 at 3:00 p.m.

Nina Ramsey, Chief Human Resource Officer and Senior Vice President for Kelly Services stated, “Kelly Services is very proud that Tammy has been recognized by the Michigan Chronicle for her professional excellence and commitment to community service.”

This is the 6th annual Women of Excellence event where the Michigan Chronicle honors African American women who inspire others through their outstanding leadership, exceptional professional achievements as well as their committed community service. Nominated by their peers, the honorees are from diverse backgrounds that range from corporate executives, entrepreneurs along with professionals from public and non-profit sectors.

About Tammy Klugh

Tammy Klugh is Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion for Kelly Services. In her role, Ms. Klugh partners with leaders throughout Kelly® to design global strategies to create an inclusive environment internally as well as develop staffing solutions for customers. Prior to joining Kelly in 1999 as the Director of Diversity, Ms. Klugh was Assistant Director, Diversity and Compliance Office, for Oakland University in Rochester Hills. She began her career with the U.S. Department of Labor, Office Federal Contract Compliance Programs as a compliance officer serving Southeastern Michigan. Ms. Klugh holds a Juris Doctorate from Detroit’s Wayne State University Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Individually and on behalf of Kelly Services, Ms. Klugh is committed to a number of programs that provide STEM education and career development for youth in Metro Detroit.

About Kelly Services

Kelly Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: KELYA, KELYB) is a leader in providing workforce solutions. Kelly offers a comprehensive array of outsourcing and consulting services as well as world-class staffing on a temporary, temporary-to-hire, and direct-hire basis. Serving clients around the globe, Kelly provides employment to more than 550,000 employees annually. Revenue in 2012 was $5.6 billion. Visit www.kellyservices.com and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, & Twitter. Download The Talent Project, a free iPad app by Kelly Services.
 

The Detroit area is developing into a real hotspot for mead, believe it or not. The suburb of Ferndale, which is already home to the B. Nektar Meadery, will soon add a second distillery of the alcoholic drink created by fermenting honey and water.

Schramm's Mead plans to open this May in downtown Ferndale at the site of an old record store on Nine Mile Road, Patch reports.

Ken Schramm, the proprietor of the new meadery, has a wealth of experience crafting the beverage dating back to 1989. Not only has he written a book on the subject, but, working with the Ann Arbor Brewers Guild in 1990, he helped found the nation's only mead-specific competition, the Mazer Cup, according to his website.

Read more at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/20/schramms-mead-meadery-ferndale_n_2915961.html?utm_hp_ref=detroit

Ten years ago, children were caught digging through the dumpster behind a Grand Rapids elementary school. Troublemakers? No. They were looking for food. They were hungry.

Mary K. Hoodhood saw the children, asked the questions, got the answers, and didn't settle for what she heard. What she learned was that for these children, the food they found in the trash was all they might get to eat when they went home after the school day was done. That year, 2003, Hoodhood started a program called Kids' Food Basket, packing nutritious meals in paper sacks and delivering 125 of these sack suppers to children at three sites, including the school where she had seen the children digging through trash.

Ten years later, 2013, Kids' Food Basket (KFB) is delivering sack suppers to 5,100 children at 36 schools in greater Grand Rapids and its newest satellite in Muskegon. In 2010, in fact, Hoodhood received the Presidential Citizen's Medal from President Obama for her work with KFB. It's cause for a celebration.

Read more at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/21/kids-food-basket-grand-rapids-nonprofit-hungry-children_n_2917852.html?utm_hp_ref=detroit

Call in sick, fake an illness or do whatever else you've got to do Thursday, because it's officially tourney time and that bracket deserves your undivided attention. With a slate of awesome team and individual matchups on the docket, here's a look at the 10 things to watch on the NCAA Tournament's opening day.

1) Nerves

The first round of the tournament is a feeling-out process. The guys who haven't been there before are trying to remember it's still just basketball and the guys who have been there before are trying to lead by example. The biggest way nerves can impact a game is in shooting. Defense actually improves because players are energized, but shooting will suffer. This is the best chance for upsets. If a high-seed team that loves the three -- Illinois, for example -- goes cold, it becomes vulnerable. It's precisely how Lehigh -- a 15 seed last year -- toppled Duke in the first round.

Read more at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/20/ncaa-tournament_n_2917585.html?utm_hp_ref=detroit&ir=Detroit

Do you have a great idea for an art project?

Would it take place in, or benefit, Detroit?

If you answered yes to these two questions, write eight sentences describing the project by April 22 and you could win thousands!

This is not a scam. While the Knight Arts Challenge isn't quite as simple as sharing your idea and getting handed a check, it is entirely real and refreshingly straightforward in comparison to typical grant proposals.

Over three years, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation will award $9 million to Detroit arts projects that engage the community. They can come from anyone, from a student to a business.

"This contest is about ideas -– big ideas, inspiring ideas, authentically Detroit ideas. We want people to tell us what moves them, so that together we can help engage the soul of the community," Dennis Scholl, vice president of the arts for Knight Foundation, explained in a statement.

Read more at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/21/detroit-knight-arts-challenge-detroit_n_2917879.html?utm_hp_ref=detroit

During her CPAC speech, Rep. Michele Bachmann accused President Obama of abusing the White House budget. Bachman talked about the lavish $1.4 billion budget which she claims includes a dog walker, five chefs on Air Force One and projection operators.

Keeping Them Honest, Dana Bash tracked her down and asked where she got her information. 

Click here to read more and see the video: http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/20/ac360-bachmann-dodges-danabashcnn-question-recpac-remarks-as-she-races-away/?iref=allsearch