The Recession Chronicles

Behind the grim headlines are the people of Michigan, whose courage, resilience and humor are carrying them through the worst economic times in at least a quarter century. These are their stories. - 07/16/2009

The Synagro deal: FBI investigates Detroit City Council

A waste contract approved last year by the Detroit City Council is under federal investigation. The council voted 5-4 in November 2007 to award Synagro Technologies Inc. - 07/08/2008

Nov. 3 general election in Metro Detroit

Reports, profiles and analysis of the candidates and issues on the ballots of local communities. - 08/17/2009

Fifty fabulous years of Motown

Motown Records, one of the most iconic sounds of the 20th century, was founded in Detroit in 1959 by Berry Gordy. - 01/07/2009

Leaving Michigan Behind

Outmigration is one of the best known and least understood problems facing Michigan. - 04/02/2009

Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych

As a 21-year-old rookie right-hander with the Tigers in 1976, Mark Fidrych became a baseball and pop culture phenomenon. He befuddled batters with a sinkerball at their knees as he racked up a 19-9 record, a league-leading 2. - 04/20/2009

Remembering Chuck Daly

Chuck Daly, who coached the Detroit Pistons to back-to-back NBA championship, passed away at age 78 after battling pancreatic cancer. His legacy is both large and simple and can be summed up like this: He changed things. - 05/09/2009

Continuing coverage: Auto industry in crisis

A six-month forced march into a dramatically different U.S. auto industry is coming to a climax. - 11/13/2008

Special Coverage

The National Summit, 'a gathering to define America's future'

The goal of the National Summit , June 15-17 in Detroit, is to bring attention to actions that will improve America’s ability to compete in the 21st century. - 06/10/2009

2009 Mackinac Policy Conference

At the 29th annual Detroit Regional Chamber Mackinac Policy Conference, May 27-29, business and government leaders will discuss developing Michigan's next economy through innovation, leadership and investment. - 05/20/2009

Ripple effect: Auto crisis extends to Japan

The crisis in the U.S. automobile industry has hit Japan like a tsunami, and everyone in the Japanese auto industry — the engine of the nation’s economy — is worried that it could get much worse if GM or Chrysler LLC fail. - 04/08/2009

Restoring the glory: Downtown hotels are reborn

For generations of Metro Detroiters, the luxurious Book-Cadillac and Pick-Fort Shelby hotels epitomized the elegance and prosperity of downtown Detroit. As the city's fortunes waned, the hotels became sad and empty eyesores. - 02/08/2007

Rep. John D. Dingell, America's longest-serving Congressman

On Feb. 11, 2009, Michigan's John Dingell begins his 19,420th day on the job, becoming the longest serving member -- ever -- of the U.S. House of Representatives. - 02/06/2009

The inauguration of Barack Obama, 44th U.S. president

Said President Barack Obama on election night: "If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who... - 12/04/2008

Top stories of 2008: The year in review

To say it was a difficult year is a gross understatement. It was also painful, depressing and embarrassing at times. Yet, amid the misery were stories of inspiration and joy. - 12/22/2008

General Motors, 100 years old and counting

One hundred years ago, carriage maker William "Billy" Durant placed a big bet on the fledgling auto industry in the early 1900s and created General Motors Corp. - 07/14/2008

Russian market red hot for carmakers

All around St. Petersburg, the world's major automakers are putting up factories. Hyundai Motor Co. Will start building next month. Nissan expects to open a $200 million factory next year. - 05/20/2008

Special report: Maxed out on prison spending

It costs $5 million a day, or $2 billion a year, to run Michigan's prison system, whose population stands at 50,200 and is projected to top 56,000 within five years. - 04/14/2008

Madonna, from Michigan to the Hall of Fame

Madonna might belong to the world now, but we had her first in Michigan. On March 10, 2008 -- 25 years after the release of her first album -- our own Material Girl will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. - 02/28/2008

Kwame Kilpatrick under fire

The man who came into power as the youngest mayor in Detroit history leaves as the only chief executive charged with a felony. - 01/24/2008

The war in Iraq: Five years and counting

News and commentary on the people and events related to the U.S. - 03/14/2008

The foreclosure factory: Metro Detroit is a nation center of the crisis

Metro Detroit is a national center of the foreclosure crisis, leaving thousands of families financially ruined and depressing property values. - 11/26/2007

Back to school

Stories to help students and parents prepare for the new school season - 08/22/2008

April 15 and you: Help with figuring out your taxes

- 01/31/2008

Detroit News Investigation

Detroit tax breaks go to the well-heeled

A little-known city committee empowered to give property tax exemptions to needy residents has awarded tax breaks worth thousands of dollars to apparently well-to-do homeowners. - 10/31/2007

South of the equator, Ford and GM prosper

For U.S. automakers, South America is an island of profitability that's helping to offset their troubles in North America. - 08/13/2007

The future of Chrysler

- 05/13/2007

2009: The year to come

A lot can happen in a year. Scratch that — a lot does happen in a year. So what will happen in 2009? There will no doubt be surprises you didn’t see coming, as well as supposed sure things that don’t quite deliver the goods. - 12/31/2008

The Detroit Institute of Arts: Your guide to the new DIA

It was a Herculean undertaking -- The Detroit Institute of Arts is wrapping up a six-year gamble in reinventing a museum for a distracted, non-museum age -- a quantum leap forward in user-friendly design that puts Detroit... - 11/05/2007