Category: Breaking News Written by WWJ

 

WEST BLOOMFIELD TWP. (WWJ) – There are heavy hearts in West Bloomfield Township where police officer Patrick O’Rourke, 39, has been shot and killed.

 

WWJ’s Vickie Thomas reported the deadly incident began when family members called police after the suspect fired a shot inside a home on Forest Edge Lane, in the area of Pontiac Trail and Halsted.

 

Officers arrived and entered the home, Lt. Tim Diamond said, shots were fired from an upstairs bedroom and  O’Rourke was hit. Diamond would not say how many times the officer was wounded.

 

“It’s a tragic, tragic event,” Diamond said. “We’re not accustomed to this type of thing in West Bloomfield, so a lot of our officers are really walking around in shock right now.”

 

O’Rourke, a 12-year veteran of the department and a married father of four, died at McLaren Hospital in Pontiac.

 

Following the officer’s death, flags outside the West Bloomfield Township police station and at the entrance to the Civic Center have been lowered.

 

Police were still at the scene of the apparent stand-off Monday morning; stay with WWJ 950 for continuing coverage.

 

Police are withholding the name of the suspected killer,  but numerous  neighbors identified him as a military veteran in his 50s who worked as a venture capitalist. Neighbors said the man and his wife were divorcing, and according to court records, the couple’s divorce was finalized August 30.

 

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/09/10/police-officer-shot-in-w-bloomfield-township/

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Category: News Briefs Written by Huffington Post

 

 

When the musical lineup was revealed for this year's Dally in the Alley, Greg Baise, a co-chair of the annual Detroit street fair, didn't recognize many of the bands chosen by this festival's music committee. For him, it was a happy surprise.

 

"That's something for us that's really exciting. I feel lucky because I'm going to be exposed to new stuff," said Baise, whose past work history includes booking acts for Detroit's The Majestic Theatre and the Crofoot in Pontiac. "I'm really into music -- and I've never heard of these people."

 

His passion is shared by his colleague Adriel Thornton, who handles communications for the North Cass Community Union (NCCU), the all-volunteer group that runs the festival. Both are part of a younger crew that formally took over the operation of the Dally when the NCCU's elder board members stepped back after last year's event.

 

In addition to the music lineup, which will feature nearly 50 acts performing on four stages, Thornton is fired up about about the arts side of the festival. Dally's artistic offerings will include installations by Andrew St. Jukes, Chris Kozeleko, Silky Membrane and Emi Slade and Nick Pizana, as well as a "live" art component.

 

"I'm excited because our [art] chairperson Evan Dawber really stepped things up this year. He has a vision that dovetails with everyone else," he said. "People are going to look at that and say, 'Yeah! Of course, it's the Dally in the Alley. Look at this amazing art.'"

 

Organizers are also working hard to build on the previous year's efforts to make the Dally the greenest festival in the city. Last year, the NCCU required food and beer vendors to carry compostable products, which are designed to naturally break down into the earth. This year the event will have 12 green stations with separate bins for compost, recycling and garbage.

 

 

The Dally, which celebrates its 35th anniversary on Saturday, has come a long way since its first stirrings as a small inner city art fair in 1977. The NCCU formed around the same time to fight an "urban renewal" effort to demolish local historic buildings -- including a garage where the Dodge brothers built their first car (that was ultimately taken apart brick-by-brick and stored away for a possible reconstruction). The group filled the role of a block club for the neighborhood and eventually took over the festival. At the time the NCCU used proceeds from the event to aid their preservation efforts -- a tradition it carries on today with other worthy neighborhood causes.

 

Allen Schaerges, a longtime NCCU board member and former treasurer, said in the early days the event wasn't held in the alley it's now known for, near Second and Hancock.

 

"We put it out on the street for a couple years. It was hot, and then it rained and nobody came," said Schaerges. "Then, one year we put it in the alley, and it rained really hard. And the next year we decided it was more fun when it rained in the alley, than out in the the street."

 

He said people started calling the get-together the "dally in the alley" and it stuck, becoming the festival's official name in 1982.

 

A switch in focus from visual arts to music and performance also helped the Dally to thrive.

 

"You've got this collection of bands that came together and all the food followed and all the vendors and all the tables and it just grew," said Ralph Hogg, a former NCCU board member. "It was the whole alley, and then it was one street. And then it was another. And it just had a soul of its own and and it just went there."

 

Over time the fair has become part of the legacy of the Cass Corridor, a neighborhood long known for its contributions to the Detroit's arts, music and activism.

 

At 71, Hogg is a great example of the Corridor's eclectic spirit. He's worked as a blacksmith, an architect and even as a labor and migrant rights activist organizer alongside Cesar Chavez. These days he's busy cultivating his own backyard wine vineyard. Hogg believes the Dally serves a vital role for the community -- allowing current and former residents of the Corridor to catch up with one another, and giving younger people an exciting introduction to the neighborhood.

 

That some of these newer folks are now running the Dally is a good sign for Hogg. While he says the NCCU has never had trouble attracting younger volunteers, he believes this year was a good time to step back and let them do their thing.

 

"It's not that we're not aware, but we don't go to the meetings," said Hogg. "It's their show. They turned over the books. They turned over everything to them and said, 'Hey, stumble and bumble -- we did.'"

 

Thornton, The NCCU's current communications director, has a great respect for the older generation of Dally organizers and sees the current group's work as a continuation of the joyful tradition they started.

 

"I feel there's a responsibility that we have to honor the spirit of what they've created and the work that they've done," he said. "The fact that this has been going on for 35 years -- for a free, unsponsored, unsupported-by-corporate-dollars event -- is astounding."

 

The Dally in the Alley takes place Saturday, Sept. 8 near the corner of Second Ave. and Hancock St. in Detroit's Cass Corridor. In the event of rain, the fair will be held on Sunday. For more information, visit www.dallyinthealley.com.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/07/dally-in-the-alley-2012_n_1861402.html?utm_hp_ref=detroit

 

 

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Category: Breaking News Written by WWJ

 

 

PLATTE, South Dakota (WWJ) –  Police have found a missing 11-year-old Richmond boy, who authorities believe was kidnapped by his father, former Detroit Lions player Mark Grabowski.

 

The F.B.I. has arrested Mark Grabowski, father of Connor Grabowski-Cracchiolo, at a hunting ranch in South Dakota where he was recently employed and found Connor safe at that location.

 

Grabowski-Cracchiolo, missing since August 30th, is seen on a YouTube video – saying he wanted to start a new life with his Dad.

 

“The reason I left was because I was tired of dealing with the same things with my mom, most everyday, cuz she’s abusing me mentally and physically,” said Conner on a video posted on YouTube.

 

That claim was disputed by Connor’s maternal grandfather, Craig Temby, of the Howell area.

 

“I know that he enjoys being with his mother … he loves his mother,” said Temby.

 

Temby believes Connor was put up to say those things.

 

Grabowski was taken into custody without incident on a parental kidnapping warrant that had been issued by the Livingston County Prosecutors Office.

 

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/09/07/former-detroit-lions-player-taken-into-custody-on-parental-kidnapping-charges/

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Category: Top News Written by WWJ

 

 

DETROIT (WWJ) - A Detroit business owner used lethal force after four would-be robbers broke into his west side party store on Friday.

 

Detroit Police Sgt. Eren Stephens said one person was killed and two others were hurt in the shooting that happened at Rightway Express party store on the corner of Joy and Ohio roads, near Liveronis, around 3:20 a.m.

 

Reporting live from the scene, WWJ’s Mike Campbell said four would-be robbers arrived in a burgundy mini-van and apparently jimmied the back door to gain entry to the store, which was closed at the time. Once inside, however, the group was surprised by the store owner, who was reportedly sleeping inside and lying in wait to prevent just such an event.

 

Police say the store owner armed himself and allegedly fired shots striking three of the males. One victim, an unidentified male in his 20′s, died from his injuries. The other two wounded males, in their teens to 20′s, are listed in critical condition.

 

 

Stephens said a fourth male was hiding inside of the business and taken into police custody.

 

Residents from the mostly brick two-story homes nearby identified a man taken away in a squad car as the store owner.

 

Ron, who lives in the neighborhood, said it’s not uncommon for the store’s employees to actually sleep there because they’ve been robbed before. He said its a known area for trouble.

 

“Somebody got killed up here about eight months ago. Somebody got shot. It was nothing with the store, just somebody that was sitting in the car got killed,” he said.

 

An investigation is ongoing.

 

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/09/07/detroit-police-investigate-fatal-shooting-at-party-store/

 

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Category: Top News Written by Cornelius Fortune

 

Detroit artist finds voice in various mediums

 

Welcome to VIRTUAL Feedback, your one-stop source for popular culture, technology, and the art world…

 

The success of the “Dark Knight Rises,” despite the horror of its opening weekend, is a testament to not only director Christopher Nolan’s gift for filmmaking, but also the character of Batman.

 

In fact, Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy may not have been possible without the release of Frank Miller’s seminal, “The Dark Knight Returns” comic (which was later collected in graphic novel format). It presented a darker Batman more serious take on the character, and was the inspiration for Tim Burton’s 1989 film starring Michael Keaton. 

 

So, if you still haven’t gotten enough of the caped crusader, Warner Home Video has a new film, “Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1,” due to hit stores on Sept. 25. This animated feature film is from the same folks who brought us “Batman: The Animated Series,” and the favorably reviewed direct-to-video films featuring DC Comics characters, spearheaded by animation wizard Bruce Timm.

 

Both “The Dark Knight Returns” and Alan Moore’s “Watchmen” paved the way for grittier depictions of superheroes in comics and on the big screen.

 

Maybe you can’t prove it statistically, but I’m willing to bet there are more Batman fans out there than his sometimes partner in crime (uh, justice, rather), Superman. Batman’s simply cooler and more relatable because of the lack of super powers.

 

 

Here’s the official description from Warner Bros. films:

 

 

Fanboy demi-god Peter Weller (“RoboCop”) leads a stellar voice cast as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Joining Weller behind the microphone is David Selby (“The Social Network,” “Dark Shadows”) as Commissioner Gordon, Ariel Winter (“Modern Family”) as Carrie/Robin, three-time DCU veteran Wade Williams (“Prison Break”) as Harvey Dent/Two-Face, and Michael McKean (“This is Spinal Tap”) as Dr. Bartholomew Wolper.

 

In the bleak and ominous future of “Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1,” it’s been a decade since Bruce Wayne hung up his cape, following most of the other superheroes who had been forced into retirement.  Facing the downside of middle age, a restless Bruce Wayne pacifies his frustration with racecars and liquor – but the Bat still beckons as he watches his city fall prey to gangs of barbaric criminals known as The Mutants. 

 

The return of Harvey Dent as Two-Face finally prompts Wayne to once again don the Dark Knight’s cowl, and his dramatic capture of the villain returns him to crime-fighting – simultaneously making him the target of law enforcement and the new hope for a desolate Gotham City. Particularly inspired is a teenage girl named Carrie, who adopts the persona of Robin and ultimately saves Batman from a brutal attack by the Mutant leader.  Armed with a new sidekick, and re-energized with a definitive purpose, the Dark Knight returns to protect Gotham from foes new … and old.

 

It’s almost a sure bet given the consistency of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line, that “Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1” will deliver.

 

 

 

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Category: News Briefs Written by Enstarz

 

Obama was introduced onto the stage by First Lady Michelle Obama. The power couple shared a kiss on stage before the President started his speech.

 

Obama praised the American spirit and called for the American people to vote for him. 

 

President Obama was given a standing ovation at the end of his speech and was joined on stage by First Lady Michelle Obama and his two daughters.

 

Read more at http://www.enstarz.com/articles/6329/20120907/obama-speech-video-president-kisses-michelle-gets-standing-ovation-at-democratic-national-convention-watch.htm#T5OHiGpPeu8EDTFz.99

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Category: Breaking News Written by Deadline Detroit

Snyder And Detroit City Council Feuding Over Ballot Proposals

 

Gov. Rick Snyder Thursday rejected three of four proposed amendments to Detroit's newly revised city charter, including one that would expand lead attorney Krystal Crittendon's power to enforce the document.

 

According to the Detroit News, the city council this week sent the proposed changes to the state for approval with the intent of placing them before Detroit  voters in November. The revisions were intended to clarify issues that have arisen since the new charter took effect in January.

 

In a letter to Crittendon on Thursday, however, Snyder said most of the changes "appear to signal a retreat from the ethical standards set by the charter, and I cannot support them."

 

Snyder wrote: "My office went to great lengths last year to work with the City of Detroit to secure approval of the City's proposed charter. "One of the key features … was the 'clean government' provisions of the document, which were designed to prevent corruption, cronyism, and the use of public resources for private gain."

 

And late Thursday, several council members vowed to override the governor's action at a meeting this morning.

 

http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/1812/snyder_and_detroit_city_council_feuding_over_ballot_proposals

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Category: Breaking News Written by wwj.com

 

DETROIT (WWJ) – Attorneys in the Kwame Kilpatrick federal corruption trial are hoping to thin the pool of potential jurors Friday.

 

Although the length of time it may take to hear the federal corruption case of former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is raising concerns amongst some of the potential jurors.

 

Eric Koseba, a commercial attorney, sat in for part of the jury selection on day one and spoke with WWJ’s City Beat Reporter Vickie Thomas.

 

“Four months is a lot of time … I’ve been in trials where you get one month and the jurors are generally able to cope with that – but it just depends – I can see a lot of jurors just saying “I can’t be gone for that kind of time,” even if it is a half day – from 9-1 (pm), said Kosaba. “I know someday maybe my name will be called and I’ll have to face that kind of thing, I know I would be squirming in my chair, if that were me.”

 

Some of the questions potential jurors faced dealt with their opinion of Kilpatrick, media exposure, race relations and whether or not they believe minority contractors get a fair opportunity — two black women were dismissed for cause,  one candidly admitted she didn’t want to be in court to sit in judgement.

 

Eric Brown is a local blogger following the case: “She made it clear, “I’m not God, I’m not here to judge anyone,” and for that reason she was dismissed.”

 

Another woman was dismissed because she said she could not afford to miss work – they were the only potential jurors questioned on day one.

 

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/09/07/jury-selection-continues-in-the-kilpatrick-corruption-trial/

 

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Category: Top News Written by Minehaha Forman

DETROIT—This week marked the expansion of curbside recycling to 5,000 Detroit households. Curbside recycling will begin for an additional 5,000 households later this month.  

“We listened to you," Mayor Dave Bing said in a statement.  "A recurring theme was that our City’s stable, vibrant neighborhoods needed to be “green-friendly” and have convenient options to promote recycling."

The city’s Detroit Recycles program provides free 64-gallon containers for collection twice a month in designated neighborhoods.
 

In 2009, the City began its curbside recycling pilot program with 24,000 households participating across the city.  With the expansion this fall, 34,000 Detroit households can recycle curbside.

Residents living outside of areas that have curbside recycling can drop off recyclable materials at any of five drop-off centers operated by Recycle Here for free.

Click HERE to find out the nearest drop-off center, curbside service neighborhood or the next bulk pickup day http://www.detroitmi.gov/Departments/DepartmentofPublicWorks/CityServicesInformation/tabid/1664/Default.aspx

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Category: Breaking News Written by Bankole Thompson, Chronicle Senior Editor

 

CHARLOTTE, NC - Former two term Michigan Gov Jennifer Granholm took the podium on the last night of the Democratic National Convention in North Carolina to credit President Obama for the return of the American auto industry in Detroit.

 

Granholm, who is currently host of the "War Room with Jennifer Granholm," on Current TV, told delegates about her first hand experience with the beginning of the auto crisis in Detroit and how Obama came to the rescue, while Gov. Mitt Romney said in a Wall Street Journal editorial "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt."

 

"Toward the end of my time as governor, Ford closed one of its biggest factories in Wixom. The Wixom plant had employed thousands of middle class men and women in neighborhoods near, yet worlds away from the place Mitt Romney was raised," Granholm explained. "When Ford's decision hit, I went down to the local union hall. It was almost empty, a few workers milled about in shock and grief."

 

However Granholm said with Obama's arrival in 2009 he "Organized a rescue, made the tough calls and saved the American auto industry."

 

With the auto rescue, Granholm said more than one million middle class jobs were saved all across America.

 

"In Colorado the auto rescue saved more than 9,800 jobs. In Virginia more than 19,000 jobs. In North Carolina, more than 25,000 jobs. Wisconsin: more than 28,000 jobs," Granholm said. "Pennsylvania: more than 34,000 jobs. Florida: more than 35,000 jobs."

 

And in Michigan Granholm said 211,000 jobs were saved when the federal government under Obama infused cash into the auto industry to prevent it from going under.

 

"When America was losing 750,000 jobs per month, who gave us a lift? Barack Obama. When American markets broke down, who jump started the engine? Barack Obama. And when America needed it most, who got us rolling again on the road to recovery? Barack Obama," Granholm said. "America, let's rev our engines. In your car and on your ballot, the 'D' is for drive forward, and the 'R' is for reverse. And in this election, we're driving forward not back. Let's reelect our great president Barack Obama." 

 

Bankole Thompson is a Senior Author-in-Residence at Global Mark Makers Publishing House in Iowa where he is writing a groundbreaking six-part book series on the Obama presidency. His book "Obama and Black Loyalty" published in 2010 follows his recent book "Obama and Christian Loyalty" with a foreword by Bob Weiner former White House spokesman. His forthcoming books in 2012 are "Obama and Jewish Loyalty" and "Obama and Business Loyalty." He is the first editor of a major African American newspaper to have a series of sit-down interviews with Barack Obama. Thompson is also a Senior Political News Analyst at WDET-101.9FM Detroit (NPR Affiliate) and a member of the weekly "Obama Watch" Sunday evening round table on WLIB-1190AM New York and simulcast in New Jersey and Connecticut.

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