Daniel Howes

Money fueled evil in Detroit

Money is the reason Monica Conyers, the former City Council president, is headed for 37 months in a federal prison, convicted of taking bribes from Synagro Technologies Inc. in exchange for her vote. She wanted more of it, her "loot." - 03/11/2010

• Monica Conyers gets 37 months for bribes, vows appeal

Manny Lopez

Whining won't help Toyota

Toyota is done apologizing. The company spent much of early March telling Congress, customers and the media that it was sorry and promised to make permanent fixes to its cars and trucks. - 03/11/2010

• Toyota sales rebounding

Brian J. O'Connor

Bank of America ends 'courtesy' overdraft in public relations swirl

Bank of America announced Tuesday it will end its policy of allowing "courtesy" overdrafts when customers make debit-card purchases. - 03/11/2010

John Niyo: NFL Insider

Eagles likely to move at least one quarterback

Three can be a crowd. But for now, it's just a quandary for the Philadelphia Eagles, whose three-headed quarterback situation doesn't qualify as a controversy -- yet. - 03/11/2010

Terry Foster: NBA Insider

Allen Iverson's career going downhill quickly, sadly

Iverson is accused of being an alcoholic and gambling addict. His wife also is filing for divorce, and Iverson admitted on Twitter personal problems are dragging him down. - 03/11/2010

Kate Lawson

Easy last-minute lasagna is a lifesaver

I have a love/hate thing going with lasagna: I love to eat it, but I hate to make it. Especially now that I've been off my feet for a while, I get pretty tired just standing. But I got a taste for lasagna the other night and luckily I re-discovered this recipe that I had filed away. - 03/11/2010

Angelique S. Chengelis: Michigan Insider

'It's a brand new season' for U-M at Big Ten tournament

The Wolverines know the only route to the NCAA Tournament is winning the Big Ten tournament, and they also know an invitation to the NIT is highly unlikely. - 03/11/2010

Tony Paul: Baseball Insider

Scouting fantasy baseball: Making the right moves

Players to sell high, those that are low buys, a look to the future and position-by-position rankings for the National and American leagues. - 03/11/2010

• Cost of a Tigers '84 World Series ring? $5,000

Nolan Finley

Anticipation builds for next Kilpatrick twist

You can't have a conversation in this town lately without it moving to the inevitable question: "So, do you think the feds will indict Kwame Kilpatrick?" - 03/11/2010

Dana Wakiji: NHL Insider

NHL general managers take action on hits to head

The GMs are meeting in Boca Raton, Fla., this week and spent Monday discussing hits to the head and how to regulate them, in addition to researching and preventing concussions. - 03/11/2010

Sam Webb: Recruiting

U-M, MSU go after super soph James Ross Jr. early

In his first year of high school football after starring in the Detroit Police Athletic League, Ross emerged as a standout performer for Orchard Lake St. Mary's - 03/11/2010

Adam Graham

15 years in the biz and Jay-Z is still at the top

Historically speaking, rappers don't age gracefully. Hip-hop is a young man's game, and the first signs of gray hairs tend to kill rap careers faster than a bullet. Jay-Z is the exception to that rule. At 40, he's on top of the hip-hop world, and has arguably never been more successful, or relevant, than he is today. - 03/11/2010

LYNNE ROSSETTO KASPER: The Splendid Table

Chocolate pudding cake gets added jolt of espresso

Dear Lynne: The chocolate cake we had on our honeymoon was wonderful, but we couldn't get the recipe. So we're hoping maybe you have something close to it. Bittersweet with coffee flavoring, the cake was dense and rich. Thank you for any recipe you could share. - 03/11/2010

Scott Burgess: Auto Review

With 2011 Sonata, Hyundai proves it's worth another look

The new Sonata blows the doors off of the Toyota and Honda midsize entries with a more stylish exterior, better gas mileage, comfortable interior and more four-cylinder power than just about any midsize sedan around. - 03/11/2010

• Hyundai Sonata seeks midsize inroads

• Video: 2011 Hyundai Sonata
• Photos: 2011 Hyundai Sonata

Molly Abraham

Buzz-worthy Tallulah Wine Bar & Bistro marches to its own stylish drummer

Elegant in its simplicity, Tallulah Wine Bar & Bistro offers an uncluttered setting that matches its concise menu of fresh, contemporary American fare and an eclectic wine list. The new spot in downtown Birmingham strikes a nice balance between food and wine. - 03/11/2010

• Restaurant finder: Search for dining options

Neal Rubin

Teen with Asperger syndrome takes root in 'Horrors'

There may be more sympathetic characters in "Little Shop of Horrors," but I'm rooting for the bloodthirsty houseplant. He's been through a lot. - 03/11/2010

Tom Long Film Review: 'North Face' -- GRADE: B

Review: Chilling 'North Face' is modern spin on mountain climbing movie

The loony-to-the-rest-of-us sport of mountain climbing is a natural for film. In "North Face," two German climbers attempt to conquer the previously unclimbed Eiger mountain in 1936 in this harrowing epic with a modern sensibility. - 03/11/2010

• Tom Long's Mostly Movies Blog

Curtrise Garner: Cooking for one

Squash is a nice addition to risotto

The first time I ate risotto, I really liked it and I thought it was a pasta. If you've ever tasted the dish, then you know the texture is that of a tiny noodle. After finding out that tasty dish was called risotto, I went looking for it in the pasta aisle at the grocery store. - 03/11/2010

Amber Arellano

Remaking Detroit Education

Today Detroit's most powerful education players are outlining a dramatic new plan to transform the city's educational landscape -- and convince long-weary national foundations that the Motor City is, for the first time, worthy of significant investment in education. - 03/11/2010

Thomas Sowell

Educators cultivate artificial stupidity

A woman with a petition went among the crowds attending a state fair, asking people to sign her petition demanding the banning of dihydroxymonoxide. She said it was in our lakes and streams, and now it was in our sweat and urine and tears. - 03/11/2010

Eric Lacy: MSU Insider

MSU's Tom Izzo backs NCAA Tournament expansion

"I think it's got to be a significant amount higher," Izzo said about how many teams should be in the tournament on top of the 65 that currently make it. - 03/11/2010

Jeanne Phillips: Dear Abby

Drinks for two turns into party of three

Dear Abby: Last week I suggested to a co-worker, "Zack," that I treat him to a beer after work. Before our pints arrived, he disappeared to a corner of the pub to text on his phone, and 10 minutes later his girlfriend showed up. - 03/11/2010

Lynn Henning

Here's how Tigers' 2010 batting order is taking shape

Jim Leyland worries about his starting rotation. Fans worry about the Tigers' offense. It's a fundamental difference in how the Tigers' 2010 prospects are viewed 26 days before the team opens at Kansas City. - 03/10/2010

• Cost of a Tigers '84 World Series ring? $5,000
• Anxious Jim Leyland has 'no clue' who will fill out Tiger rotation
• Tigers' Ryan Perry making noise with solid spring
• Magglio Ordonez hitting well, but he's not alone

• Tigers blog
• Blog: Lynn Henning on sports
• Tony Paul's blog: Covering the Bases
• Forum: Join the discussion in Tigers Talk

Tim Twentyman

Lions cleaning up messy roster with key acquisitions

The Lions have made a few mistakes over the years on player personnel decisions. No one knows that better than second-year Lions general manager Martin Mayhew. - 03/10/2010

Dana Wakiji

Soft closing schedule will help Wings make the playoffs

Heading into Wednesday night's games, the Wings were in ninth place in the Western Conference, one point out of the final playoff spot. Here's how I think they'll fare in their final 16 games. - 03/10/2010