Judge McCree: ‘I lusted after that woman’

Embattled Wayne County Circuit Judge Wade McCree took the witness stand in his own defense Tuesday and animatedly described details of an extramarital affair and its consequences that could derail his judicial career. The 56-year old married judge, who freely admitted to having an affair with a litigant who had a child support case before him, testified said she came on to him after an appearance in his courtroom.

• Photos: Judge McCree in court

Detroit City Council approves hiring of new top lawyer

The City Council today approved the appointment of Portia Roberson as Detroit’s new top lawyer, but rejected a recommendation to hike the pay scale for the position.

Little Caesars might look to Comerica Park if Lions get new bowl game

The Detroit Lions are expected to create a new college football bowl game in 2014, and the game would be played at Ford Field, sources told The Detroit News on Tuesday.

Jodi Arias tells jury what she’ll do if allowed to live

Jodi Arias told a jury today that she can contribute to society if allowed to live, saying she’d like to start literacy, recycling and other programs in prison.

Romney campaign intern facing cyber-stalking charge in Detroit

Detroit — A 2012 Republican presidential campaign intern who worked for Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan made a brief appearance in federal court Tuesday on charges he cyber-stalked 15 women and extorted them into sending nude photos.

GM to invest $44.5M on Lansing logistics center, creating 200 jobs

General Motors Co. officially announced today that it will spend $44.5 million to build a logistics center at its Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant.

Taylor man found guilty in deaths outside Porky's Bikini Bar in Pontiac

An Oakland Circuit Court jury deliberated 15 hours over three days before returning a guilty verdict today for a Taylor man charged with the deaths of two men slain outside Porky's Bikini Bar in May 2012.

High winds, rain expected to roll through Metro Detroit

The outlook for portions of southeast Michigan is rainy and windy Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday, with a line of thunderstorms expected to move through the region, the National Weather Service says.

Crews race to find survivors of Oklahoma twister

Oklahoma City — Emergency crews searched the broken remnants of an Oklahoma City suburb Tuesday for survivors of a massive tornado that flattened homes and demolished an elementary school. At least 24 people were killed, including at least nine children, and those numbers were expected to climb.

• Interactive: The Oklahoma tornado

Michigan Traveling Vietnam Wall on display in Royal Oak through Thursday

Royal Oak — The Michigan Traveling Vietnam Wall arrived Tuesday morning at the Royal Oak Farmers Market, where it will be displayed through Friday.

Police release photos from Tucson shooting rampage

Tucson, Ariz. — Authorities on Tuesday released nearly 600 photos that investigators took in the aftermath of the Tucson shooting rampage that killed six people and wounded former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 12 others.

Tigers may have no choice but to send down Alex Avila

If he doesn’t pull out of this spiral, and in a hurry, the Tigers will be left with no practical choice but to return Avila, 26, to Triple A Toledo for a head-clearing stint that might put him back on track.

• Tigers blog: Game coverage, news and analysis

Lawmakers push state to make sure pet coke piles are safe

Two members of Michigan's congressional delegation are targeting the growing piles of petroleum coke along the Detroit River, calling on the state's environmental agency to enforce all applicable regulations against the company handling the material.

Worried parents seek out kids in tornado’s wake

Moore, Okla. — The parents and guardians stood in the muddy grass outside a suburban Oklahoma City church, listening as someone with a bullhorn called ...

Video: Talking Red Wings -- at 100-plus mph

IndyCar driver Simona de Silvestro was on Belle Isle, giving media members rides around the race course. So when hurtling around curves at speeds in excess of ...

Marchionne apologizes to Italian-Americans for offensive remark

Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has apologized to Italian-Americans for using the term 'wop' during a press conference at the Detroit Auto Show in January.

Lions rookie Devin Taylor wants to shine, not showboat

Taylor takes a knee on the sidelines, admiring brightly colored wrist bands that drape both arms. The 40 wrist bands are messages or causes for people and ...

Eminem’s music publisher sues Facebook over use of song

Eminem's music publisher is suing Facebook and an advertiser for using a song from the "Marshall Mathers LP" without permission in a recent advertisement for ...

SUV on railroad tracks stops Amtrak for 2 hours

Decatur Township — A sport utility vehicle found on railroad tracks in southwestern Michigan prompted officials to suspend Amtrak passenger train travel ...

Jake Long helped Michigan LT Taylor Lewan decide to stay for fifth year

Lewan was mulling whether he should go to the NFL or return to the Wolverines to lead an offensive line that will have three new starters. Lewan called Long, ...

Police: Woman dead, 2 men wounded in shooting in Detroit

Detroit — Police say a 55-year-old woman is dead and two men are wounded following a shooting at a vacant residence believed to have been used for drug ...

Michigan to launch school violence hotline

Lansing — Attorney General Bill Schuette and other state officials announced plans Tuesday to develop a new statewide hotline for students, parents and ...

Michigan man heads to trial in 2012 death of infant son

Ionia — A Michigan man is standing trial on murder and child abuse charges in the 2012 death of one of his twin infant sons.

Microsoft touts Xbox One as all-in-1 entertainment

— Microsoft thinks it has the one.

Boats linked to 2010 Lake Huron oil spill being removed

Cheboygan — Boats that officials have said were believed responsible for a 2010 Lake Huron oil spill are expected to be removed from the affected area ...

Barricaded gunman found dead in Detroit's Corktown

Detroit — An effort to execute an arrest warrant ended in death early Tuesday morning at a home in the city's Corktown area.

Official: No drugs, alcohol found in Newtown gunman

Hartford, Conn. — Toxicology tests on the body of the Newtown school shooter did not turn up any alcohol, illegal drugs or prescription medications, an ...

GM to move treasury unit from New York to Detroit

General Motors Co. said Tuesday it will move its Treasury office team in New York City to its Detroit headquarters in the Renaissance Center in mid-2014, ...

Poll: Teens migrating to Twitter

— Twitter is booming as a social media destination for teenagers who complain about too many adults and too much drama on Facebook, according to a new study ...

Automakers, dealers object to rental recall bill

Washington — Major automakers and auto dealers told a Senate committee Tuesday they oppose a bill that would require rental car companies to ground all ...

Court: U.S. can keep bin Laden photos under wraps

Washington — A federal appeals court Tuesday backed the U.S. government's decision not to release photos and video taken of Osama bin Laden during and ...

San Francisco to host Super Bowl in 2016; Houston will host in 2017

The 50th Super Bowl will be held in the San Francisco Bay Area. NFL owners voted Tuesday for the 49ers’ new stadium as host of the 2016 game. That facility in ...

Man commits suicide at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

Paris — Crowds of visitors were cleared out of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris after a man put a letter on the altar of the 850-year-old monument Tuesday, ...

Avalanche mum on report Patrick Roy may be next coach

Roy’s younger brother, Stephane Roy, posted a Facebook note late Monday night saying his brother would be the new coach. Stephane Roy later told The Denver ...

ESPN cutting workforce, 'smartly managing costs'

— ESPN is cutting its workforce, the latest Disney division to reduce staff.

Jersey shore readies for first post-Sandy summer

Seaside Heights, N.J. — The boardwalks are back, and so are most of the beaches, even if some are a little thinner this year.

Panel: Apple uses firms outside U.S. to avoid taxes

Washington — The world's most valuable company, Apple Inc., employs a group of affiliate companies located in Ireland to avoid paying billions of dollars in U. ...

Connecticut foster mom pleads guilty for spoon-spanking

Norwich, Conn. — A Connecticut foster mother faces 100 days in jail after acknowledging she spanked a 4-year-old girl with a wooden spoon.

Officials: Senators reach deal on high-tech visas

Washington — Leading senators working on immigration legislation reached a compromise Tuesday on the details of an expanded high-tech visa program, ...

Montana man dies in Yosemite climbing accident

Yosemite National Park, Calif. — A Montana man died in a rock climbing accident as he tried to climb to the top of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, ...

Ex-IRS chief: Can’t say how tea party targeting happened

Washington — The man who led the Internal Revenue Service when it was giving extra scrutiny to tea party and other conservative groups seeking tax-exempt ...

Photos from shooting that killed 6, wounded Giffords to be released

Tucson, Ariz. — Authorities are set to release more than 300 photos on Tuesday that investigators took in the aftermath of the Tucson shooting rampage ...

Customs seizes elephant meat, dead primate in Los Angeles

Los Angeles — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Los Angeles have made some unusual seizures, including elephant meat, a dead primate and ...

Two Denso execs agree to plead guilty in price fixing scandal

The Justice Department says two more Japanese executives at a major auto supplier have agreed to plead guilty and serve time in prison as part of a wide- ...

Burmese python caught in South Florida sets new record

Miami — Wildlife officials say a Burmese python nearly 19 feet long has been captured in South Florida.

Mack Emerman, founder of studio where James Brown, Eric Clapton recorded, dies

Miami — Mack Emerman, the founder of Criteria Recording Studios where acts including Eric Clapton, James Brown and the Bee Gees made some of their most famous ...

Expert: Summer gas prices likely to be lower than 2012

West Lafayette, Ind. — A Purdue University economist says he expects this summer's gasoline prices to be lower than last year.

Property owners sue after Boardman River flooding in Lower Peninsula

East Bay Township — Some property owners hit by flooding last year during a dam removal project in Michigan's northwestern Lower Peninsula are suing. ...

Man plans walk across Upper Peninsula to support injured veterans

Munising — A Michigan man plans to walk more than 200 miles across part of Michigan's Upper Peninsula as part of an effort to help fellow veterans.

Grand Rapids police helicopter patrols prompt complaints

Grand Rapids — State police helicopter patrols over Grand Rapids as part of an effort to curb violent crime in the city and surrounding communities have ...

Charges sought after swastika carved into locker at East Lansing High

East Lansing — Malicious destruction of property charges are being sought against three Michigan high school students after a Jewish classmate found a ...

Golf’s rule makers ban anchored putting stroke starting in 2016

Golf’s governing bodies approved a rule Tuesday that outlaws the putting stroke used by four of the last six major champions, a move opposed by two major golf ...

Public charter Lakeshore Express adds service to Pellston airport

Lakeshore Express, a public charter launching flights from Oakland County International Airport to Chicago's Midway Airport starting June 6, will begin service ...

Hearing postponed for Boston bombing suspect

Boston — A judge has agreed to postpone a probable cause hearing for Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

The pope and the devil: Is Francis an exorcist?

Vatican City — Is Pope Francis an exorcist?

Officials investigate fish deaths in Michigan river

Elkton — State officials are working to determine the cause of hundreds of fish deaths in a Michigan river.

Authorities: Possible human skull fragment found in Riverton Twp.

Riverton Township — Authorities say a bone found last week in West Michigan appears to be part of an adult human skull.

Detroit summer school open to high school students outside district

Detroit — Detroit Public Schools is opening its summer program to high school students outside the district, hoping to attract new families year round ...