MAYOR BING, WAYNE COUNTY EXECUTIVE FICANO ANNOUNCE $600,000 EPA GRANT FOR B…
News Briefs - Original 05-21-2013 Hits:80 
Amber Bogins
Detroit Mayor Dave Bing and Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano announced today that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded the Wayne County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority a 2013 Brownfields Assessment Grant of $600,000. The grant will pay for approximately 32 brownfield environmental site assessments (ESA) in the city of Detroit. These brownfield sites have been impacted by contaminants from commercial or industrial uses, but have redevelopment potential after cleanup. The EPA’s Brownfield Assessment Grant was awarded in response to a joint proposal submitted by the City of Detroit’s Building, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED); Wayne County; and the Detroit / Wayne County Port Authority. “This grant is the first step toward reclaiming land that has been overused and neglected,” Mayor Bing said. “Once brownfields are properly assessed, they can be cleaned up and redeveloped as part of a neighborhood’s revival.” “I’m very happy the EPA has recognized the outstanding work of the Wayne County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority,” said Wayne County Executive Ficano. “The grant will assist in the cleanup and revitalization of Southwest Detroit brownfield sites as well as the revitalization of the local economy, turning properties into potentially usable, profitable assets.” Wayne County was awarded a similar $400,000 assessments grant in 2007. “This grant award is the perfect example of what intergovernmental collaboration can produce for the City of Detroit and the surrounding region,” said John Jamian, Executive Director of the Detroit / Wayne County Port Authority. “The DWCPA has enjoyed a great relationship with the EPA since 2004 and we are excited that this latest grant will allow us to work with our partners at the City and County to help promote the kind of growth and new investment our communities need.” All of the brownfield sites identified for assessment are in Southwest Detroit, the site of significant industrial development in past decades. The grant makes $450,000 available for 19 hazardous substance-related...
Read moreThe new retirement: No retirement
News Briefs - Original 05-21-2013 Hits:94 Amber Bogins
For growing numbers of Americans, the new retirement may really mean no retirement. That's the conclusion of an article in the current issue of the ISR Sampler, the annual magazine of the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research. "For most of the 20th century we saw retirement ages fall while life expectancy rose," said David Weir, an ISR research professor and director of the ISR Health and Retirement Study. "About 20 years ago, the trend in retirement age reversed and it has been inching up slowly ever since." People are retiring later for a lot of reasons, but a key one is economic. Employer health insurance benefits for retirees are eroding, spurring many employees to hold out until they qualify for Medicare at age 65. Changes to Social Security, such as the increase in the age at which people can receive full benefits from 65 to 67, also may be playing a role. And people are living longer, requiring additional savings to support those extra years. Some 40 percent of older Americans delayed retirement in the years after the Great Recession, according to an analysis of data from ISR's Health and Retirement Study and its Cognitive Economics Study. "The typical household lost about 5 percent of its total wealth between the summers of 2008 and 2009," said ISR economist Brooke Helppie McFall. People don't intend to work long enough to recoup all the money they lost, but on average, those who postponed retirement expect to work about 1.6 years longer than planned, she said. And even as the economy has begun to turn around, many households still find themselves facing a more precarious future. "While the stock market has recovered most of its pre-recession value, housing prices have not, and for most people their house is their biggest asset," Weir said. Economics are just part of...
Read more2 Mile Wide Tornado Hits: Death Toll Rising; 30 Children Feared Dead In Ele…
News Briefs 05-21-2013 Hits:66 
Princess Hayes
According to The New York Times, A tornado described by the National Weather Service as “large and deadly” touched down south of Oklahoma City Monday afternoon in the suburb of Moore, causing widespread destruction officials said.President Obama has been in touch with Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and alerted her that he’s directed the government and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide any assistance she needs. FEMA has sent a special team to Oklahoma’s emergency operations center to help out and dispatch resources.Obama also let Fallin know that she was to contact him directly if the federal government can provide additional help. The White House says Obama’s homeland security team is keeping him updated on the situation.Two elementary schools were badly damaged, Plaza Towers Elementary School and Briarwood Elementary School, according to reports from KFOR-TV. (Who is streaming live coverage online from Moore.) Lance West, a reporter and anchor for KFOR-TV, was tasked with giving the gut wrenching news to the audience that the search at Plaza Towers Elementary School, had changed from a “Search And Rescue” to a “Recovery Search” as word officially came down that they believed they had located the 24 children Kindergarden through 3rd graders, and that they feared all had perished. Lance West was understandably overcome with the news and had a hard time trying to deliver it live on air.Helicopter pilots from KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City flew over and filmed the horrific destruction. MSNBC is reporting that the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner is now saying there are 24 confirmed deaths thus far, but they are expecting that number to rise drastically as the severity of the storm simply made it impossible for some to survive. MSNBC is also calling this the worst Tornado in United States history. Meteorologist in Oklahoma City, knew that most people in the...
Read more"Hot Lap Ride" with Will Power and the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Pr…
News Briefs - Original 05-21-2013 Hits:766 Amber Bogins
May 20, the MCTV Street team comprised of myself and our web editor AJ Williams went to Belle Isle to experience first-hand what it is like inside an Indy Pace car at the Grand Prix on Belle Isle. The Cheverolet Detroit Grand Prix hosted a “hot lap ride” with three of the Grand Prix’s hottest drivers: Will Power, Driver of the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet and three-time IndyCar Series road course champion, Simona De Silvestro, Driver of the 78 Nuclear Energy Chevrolet for KV Racing Technology and standout female driver, Townsend Bell, Driver of the No. 60 Sunoco “Turbo” Panther Racing Chevrolet and NBC Sports color commentator. The drivers, having just come off of qualifying weekend at Indianapolis are preparing to race in the Indy 500 the next Sunday before coming to Detroit for the Grand Prix. We were able to experience the newly-paved and reconfigured 2.3-mile street circuit at Belle Isle with the drivers giving “hot lap” rides in high-performance Chevy Camaros. We were fortunate to ride with Will Power, a phenomenal driver for Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. The trip around the track was breathtaking, a pure rush of adrenaline. In an interview with Power, he expressed confidence in Team Penske. In answer to what a win would mean to him he commented: "I can't imagine winning it. It's such a unique race" In regards to the new track, Power said: "It's a huge improvement. It makes for a really nice flying circuit." The Detroit Chevrolet Grand Prix is May 31st through June 2nd on beautiful Belle Isle. Purchase tickets by going online http://www.detroitgp.com/tickets/ Check out the video below of Amber Bogins in the 'Hot Seat' of her 'Hot Lap Ride'
Read moreMeijer to Open along Woodward Corridor in Detroit
News Briefs - Original 05-21-2013 Hits:1048 
Roz Edward, National Content Director
Melvin London works on striping the new parking lot spaces at Meijer in the Gateway Marketplace, at Eight Mile and Woodward in Detroit. (Clarence Tabb Jr. /The Detroit News) Developers at Detroit's Gateway Marketplace have something to brag about. Construction for a Meijer Superstore, the development's anchor store and the corner stone of the Woodward revitalization project is ahead of schedule. Leasing on the $72 million project also is moving forward, and the center will be 95 percent leased or better this fall, said Bruce Babiarz, a spokesman for the developer, Southfield-based Redico “There’s a resurgence in Detroit. It’s not only downtown, but it’s happening here at Eight Mile and Woodward. We’re building a brand-new shopping center from the ground up. It’s the largest in terms of size in the city in decades,” Babiarz said. The Meijer Siperstore which is slated to open in July of this year and the Gateway project are expected to spur development in the surrounding area along Woodward, particularly the former Michigan State Fairgrounds, Babiarz added. “It’s got real potential, and the success of this project may be the catalyst for that property.” Meijer Inc. is starting its hiring push to bring about 400 of the estimated 700 jobs to the Gateway project. Other retailers slated to open this year include discount retailer Marshalls, apparel retailer Dots, PNC Bank and a McDonald’s. In all, the project has more than 325,000 square feet of retail.
Read moreGM Hires Detroit-area High Schoolers to Serve, Learn, Lead
News Briefs - Original 05-20-2013 Hits:296 
Cathy Nedd
As GM Student Corps members, they’ll help improve neighborhoods, learn valuable life skills A group of 110 Detroit-area high school students are about to begin paid summer internships as members of the brand-new GM Student Corps, a program introduced today by General Motors North America President Mark Reuss that combines service, education and mentoring. The students representing 11 United Way Network of Excellence Schools will work in teams of 10 to develop and implement service projects in Detroit-area neighborhoods. Helping to train and mentor them are 60 GM retirees and 12 GM student interns from the University of Detroit Mercy, where many students major in service-based programs. Employee volunteers from TeamGMCares also will assist throughout the summer. The teams are currently planning their projects. Work is scheduled to begin in mid-June and conclude in August. “Improving the quality of life in our communities means more than writing a check,” said Reuss. “It also requires investing in our young people, teaching them how good it feels to see their hard work help others, and providing them with the skills they need to lead and succeed as professionals and as citizens. Once you serve, you’re hooked for life.” A unique aspect of the GM Student Corps is that it unites people from a range of age groups and walks of life to work toward a common goal – improving local neighborhoods – while helping students develop career skills. Schools participating in the GM Student Corps are: Central Collegiate Academy, Detroit Public Schools Cody Campus, East Detroit High School, Hamtramck High School, Harper Woods High School, Henry Ford High School, Madison High School, Melvindale High School, Detroit Public Schools Osborn Campus, River Rouge High School and Van Dyke Lincoln High School. In addition to managing every aspect of their projects, from budgeting to planning to implementation,...
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