Detroit News at noon: Motown's American Girl, Kalamazoo confession, silence at Sugar Loaf

Today is Tuesday, February 23, 2016. A snowstorm is coming and here's what you need to know.

Kalamazoo update

• Police say Jason Dalton has admitted, calmly and matter-of-factly to police, that he killed six people and injured two others during a shooting spree. What he didn't say was why.

• The community has come together to remember those who were killed. Some are realizing just how close to chaos they came. And the shooter's family has said they will do what they can to cooperate to get to the bottom of how this could happen.

The water in Flint 

• A four-member chemical exposure team from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is expected to arrive in Flint this week to investigate rashes possibly associated with the city’s water, state officials announced Monday.
• Michigan’s obligation to repair its damage to Flint isn’t contained to financing lead pipe replacements and tracking the public health impacts of tainted water. Not even close, says columnist Daniel Howes.
• A member of Gov. Rick Snyder’s Flint Water Task Force is downplaying a Democratic legislative leader’s concerns over his perceived conflict of interest because he served in the Snyder administration.
• For complete coverage of the Flint water crisis, click here. 

Silence at Sugar Loaf

• Once upon a time, not all that long ago, Sugar Loaf Resort was alive with the sounds of skiers and golfers trekking north to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Now, thanks to a series of high interest rate mortgages and poor winter weather, the resort has gone silent.  

Scandal at school

• Amid a state standardized test cheating scandal and other issues in the district, Van Buren Public Schools is replacing its superintendent. Michael Van Tassel resigns officially as of today, but he will continue to get his salary through the end of June. 

Happening in sports

• Is the time right for a trade? The Red Wings are struggling, the playoffs are fast approaching and the NHL trade deadline is Monday. So who should they go after, if anyone? Look through this gallery above or go here to see analysis by Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News on players that could be on the move before the NHL trade deadline.
• That buzz that Tigers fans felt after learning Justin Upton was coming to town hasn't worn off. And as spring training continues, it's clear he has all the makings of a fan favorite. Meanwhile, the Tigers keep adding to their depth. 
• The Pistons were left with an open roster spot after they voided the 2-for-1 trade with the Houston Rockets on Monday. They could be filling that spot with a somewhat familiar face in the coming days.

• Meet Joey Files, who has turned his passion for football into a stellar walk-on tryout for Michigan football. 

On the campaign trail

• Some important dates are coming up for Michigan and we'll be there every step of the way. Thursday, March 3, is the GOP debate at the Fox Theatre and the Democratic debate will follow three days later in Flint. Then, the primary is March 8. So things are ramping up.
• A group supporting Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s Republican presidential campaign has released a new television ad that could be mistaken for a Pure Michigan commercial. It even has Tim Allen.
• Today’s presidential campaign snapshots!

The lighter side

• Are you getting excited about the new "Batman v Superman" movie? Get a little taste now: Detroit stars as Superman’s fictional city of Metropolis in a new co-branded ad for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV and the upcoming film “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.”
• American Girl has a new doll and she is from Detroit! Coming this summer, the world will be introduced to 9-year-old African-American aspiring singer Melody Ellison, who has embraced Motown during the Civil Rights Movement. 

• Can you imagine a world where you can hop on a train in Detroit and head to Grand Rapids for lunch, then head back to Detroit? It could be possible if a plan for a new 110-mph passenger rail goes through.
• The first wave of summer concerts at Freedom Hill in Sterling Heights has been announced and they include "Weird Al," Goo Goo Dolls, 311 and more. 

Detroit News at noon is a daily news roundup of the biggest stories from www.detroitnews.com. For more stories anytime, follow us on Facebook and Twitter. We're also on Instagram (@detroitnews) and Snapchat (Search for Detroitnews).