NEWS

Detroit News at noon: Political polls, Corktown all-stars, hockey flap

The Detroit News

Today is Friday (yay!), February 19, 2016 and it's shaping up to be a beautiful weekend. Before you go off to embrace the spring-like weather, here's the news you need to know.

It's election season so we've got polls!

Less than three weeks before the state’s primary, Republican voters say they are most likely to support Donald Trump.
A narrow majority of likely Michigan Republican presidential primary voters said they support a temporary ban on Muslims entering the U.S.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign stop, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016 in Gaffney, S.C.

And, it turns out, Michigan voters like Gov. Rick Snyder better than the six men running as Republican candidates for president.
We're keeping you up-to-date on the ins and outs on the campaign trail every day between now and the primary with Campaign Snapshots.

UM rejected Flint partnership

University of Michigan researchers declined opportunities last summer to work with the maverick Virginia Tech professor whose work exposed dangerous levels of lead in Flint’s water system, opting to try to work with the state. Marc Edwards, a world-renowned expert on lead corrosion, said he sought to collaborate with two groups of UM experts before he assembled a team of Virginia Tech researchers who demonstrated widespread elevated lead levels in Flint water.

Virginia Tech Professor Marc Edwards testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016, before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing to examine the ongoing situation in Flint.

The governor says he is "looking forward" to testifying before Congress on his administration's role in the Flint water crisis.
Curious to see where the high lead levels are a problem in Flint? Check out our interactive map of lead testing results.
Complete coverage on the Flint water crisis can be found here.

Corktown is hopping

When the Detroit Tigers moved downtown in 2000, many people thought Corktown would wither. Now, locally grown food, craft cocktails and restored historic buildings are the all-stars in the old neighborhood on Michigan Avenue.
One of the eagerly anticipated additions to Corktown is the opening of chef Kate Williams’ Lady of the House restaurant in north Corktown. To keep the buzz going, Williams is hosting “Lady of the Market,” monthly pop-up dinners in Eastern Market.

People walk along Michigan Avenue in Detroit's Corktown outside Slow's BBQ. The restaurant, with its hip decor and its attention to the menu by chef Brian Perrone, became an instant success upon its opening in 2005. Today the strip has become one of the most gentrified in Detroit, and more development is on the way.

But, as editorial writer Kaitlyn Buss reminds us, don't assume the arc of optimism about Detroit will continue indefinitely.

DPS troubles

Gov. Rick Snyder's administration is exploring ways to link a change in governance of public education in Detroit with "financial relief" for the debt-ridden and cash-strapped Detroit Public Schools.
Is bankruptcy the answer for DPS? Speaker Kevin Cotter said it “must remain on the table” if lawmakers are unwilling to impose “serious academic and financial reforms” on the troubled school district.
Columnist Daniel Howes shares his take on whether a DPS bankruptcy is a viable solution.

Happening in sports

The Red Wings continue to struggle on defense, as anyone who watched them lose 3-6 to the Penguins on Thursday would know. Gregg Krupa breaks the game down. Don't forget to join Krupa on Twitter for his weekly Wings chat, which has been moved to Saturday at 7 p.m. You can send him questions and comments any time by tagging your tweets with #KrupaQs.
Controversy abounds in Flint as the Ontario Hockey League has suspended Firebirds owner Rolf Nilsen until further notice. It's the latest twist in the ongoing flap surrounding the junior hockey team, which has seen its coaching staff fired twice and a player walkout.
The Lions made another cost-cutting move Thursday, informing linebacker Stephen Tulloch of their plan to release him.

Looking ahead to the weekend

Movie critic Adam Graham has been busy this week reviewing the new movies. Heading to a theater this weekend? Curious if it will be worth it? Know before you go: Race | The Witch | Touched With Fire | Risen | In Jackson Heights
Prefer to stay in for Netflix and chill? Judd Apatow's new series "Love" is now here.
Looking for a more musical weekend? Check out Detroit X Detroit.
Perhaps you'd prefer to spend your time trying some new recipes. We've got that, too: Chef Norm Fenton of Ale Mary's and Tom's Oyster Bar in Royal Oak shows you the secret to perfect kielbasa.

The bold flavors of spices, including crushed red pepper, and lemon add flavor to a lighter take on pizza.

Recipes: Broccoli Rabe and Chicken White Pizza | Buttery Yeast Rolls | Mexican Chocolate Chip Brownies | Spicy Chickpeas with Leeks
And here's something for Scotch lovers to "cheers" over: There's a new batch of single malts arriving stateside.

The lighter side

Check out Jocelynn Brown's Handmade column this week where she writes about "Sit ‘n Knit," an organization in Metro Detroit that warms the homeless.

Mike Aviles, with the Indians last season, waits to catch the ceremonial first pitch from his daughter Adriana as his wife Jessy, left, and Miaya, right, look on.

Something to make your heart happy: Tigers' utility guy Mike Aviles says his 5-year-old daughter is cancer-free.

Detroit News at noon is a daily roundup of the biggest stories on www.detroitnews.com. Get more news any time of the day on Facebook and Twitter. Follow us on Instagram (@detroitnews) and Snapchat (Search for DetroitNews), too!

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