News@Noon: Vending meat, 10th death added to Genesee Legionnaires’ outbreak

Today is Friday, March 18, 2016, and we're wondering, would you eat meat from a vending machine? Serious lunch decisions aside, we have a lot of news to cover, including analysis of an explosive congressional hearing Thursday that starred embattled Gov. Rick Snyder.

10th Legionnaires' death

• Officials said Friday their investigation has revealed a 10th death from Legionnaires' disease, associated with a spike in Flint-area cases from June 2014 to October 2015. The timeline corresponds with the city's use of Flint River water, but government health officials have not confirmed a link. In total, 88 people have contracted the respiratory illness.

Flint saga continues

• Snyder was blasted Thursday and urged to resign during a congressional hearing on the Flint water crisis. Meanwhile, city residents met with Mayor Karen Weaver to discuss planned water credits after people spent months paying for the contaminated water.
• In the midst of a complicated case, a 10-year-old Flint resident's simple cartoon on the matter has gone viral. Ian MacIntyre's black-and-white drawing was hailed by one area activist as "the perfect response," while Gawker.com called him "America's most biting editorial cartoonist."
• Also weighing in is Detroit News columnist Daniel Howes, who watched Thursday's hearing and says common sense has eluded the government during the Flint debacle.
• As always, get complete coverage of the Flint water crisis here.

St. Patrick's Day stabbing

• A man was arrested late last night in Sterling Heights for allegedly digging through a woman's unattended purse and then stabbing the woman's boyfriend when confronted about the attempted theft. The victim was treated at a local hospital while the suspect is expected to be arraigned today on felony charges.

Ford CEO's big paycheck

• Mark Fields, Ford Motor Co. president and CEO, earned $18,576,946 in total compensation in 2015, according to the company. That's down slightly from the $18.9 million he made in 2014. But still more than our paychecks.

Tunnel shut-down

• The Detroit-Windsor tunnel will be shut down during off-peak hours this summer as work begins to replace the concrete ceiling, officials announced. Work will begin in May and conclude in December, with shut-downs beginning in August from 9 p.m. to 5:30 am. Sundays through Thursdays.

Multimillion dollar reprieve for DPS

• The Michigan House of Representatives has approved $48.7 million in emergency aid for the struggling Detroit Public School district. The bill now heads to the Senate. The reprieve comes after announcements that the district would be out of money by April, leaving teachers with payless paydays and shuttered schools.

Faux Uber lawsuit

• The week began with strange news of Kalamazoo suspect Jason Dalton filing a handwritten, $10,000 lawsuit against Uber for ruining his life. But by Thursday, authorities had determined the lawsuit was a hoax. Dalton is accused of shooting eight people in three attacks Feb. 20, killing six. Two survived, including a now smiling teen named Abigail Kopf.

March Madness

• The first round of the NCAA Tournament is in full swing with Michigan State and Michigan each playing Friday. Bob Wojnowski breaks down MSU's 2:45 p.m. match-up against Middle Tennesee in St. Louis and the Spartans' need to give Denzel Valentine a hand, while John Niyo discusses UM's 9:40 p.m. against Notre Dame in Brooklyn.
• Remember: Michigan already won its play-in game Wednesday, 67-62 against Tulsa.

The lighter side

• The "Divergent" series is tanking, according to Detroit News film critic Adam Graham. "Allegiant," in theaters Friday and rated PG-13, is a "stiff, nearly impossible-to-follow claptrap" with "crummy special effects," Graham said in his movie review. He doesn't have high hopes for the franchise, (giving the newest movie a D grade), but will you see the new film anyway?
• Pee-wee Herman is back, folks. The "Big Holiday" throwback premieres Friday on Netflix and features "the now-63-year-old (actor Paul) Reubens still in his signature gray suit, white shoes and red bow tie," according to Graham. He gives the PG movie a B grade.
• So, would you eat meat from a vending machine? A butcher shop in eastern Paris has invested 40,000 euros ($45,000) to install a bright red, refrigerated vending machine outside their shop along the Rue de Charonne. Customers paying with cash or credit will get their pick of meats ranging from duck confit to beef carpaccio and more. Yum.