News@noon: Trashing Trump, a fake cop, a Twitter feud continues

Today is Thursday, March 24, 2016, and the march to the White House goes on. But unlike past years, this time the GOP front-runner doesn't have the support of the GOP. Turn on the TV and you will see dozens of ads that portray Donald Trump as a selfish, deceptive buffoon. Many in the GOP establishment are now looking to Ted Cruz as their top choice. But there's one other candidate still in the race. Which brings us to our question of the day: Should Gov. John Kasich drop out? Let us know what you think in the comments or tweet us @detroitnews

Here's what else is making news today:

Back to Brussels 

• Belgium’s interior minister and justice minister tried to resign Thursday ahead of an emergency meeting of European security chiefs held amid growing questions about why authorities couldn’t prevent deadly Islamic extremist attacks on Brussels despite increasing signs of a threat. Prosecutors announced a direct connection between the Brussels bombings that killed 31 people and injured 270 others and last year’s attacks on Paris, which appear to have been carried out by the same Islamic State network. 

• A former Oakland University basketball player who was injured in Tuesday’s terrorist attacks in Brussels gave an emotional “Good Morning America” interview from his hospital bed, talking about how thoughts of his daughters kept him going when he wasn't sure if he would make it. 

Fleshing out Flint

•  Gov. Rick Snyder’s own task force on Wednesday issued a blistering critique of his response to the Flint water crisis, accusing his administration and others in state government of “failure, intransigence, unpreparedness, delay, inaction and environmental injustice” in the contamination of Flint’s water supply.
• We've broken down some key findings and recommendations issued by the Flint Water Advisory Task Force. 
• Among the most telling of the findings was that the five-person panel says the state’s controversial Emergency Manager Law, an iteration refined twice by Snyder and fellow Republicans to address “severe financial distress” in places like Flint, should be reviewed. Columnist Daniel Howes gives his take on this. 
• In Flint, you can’t even get baptized without leaving town, a minister notes in this recently released documentary about the city’s water crisis.
• As conditions in Flint improve, some, like the Genesee County clerk, are wondering what happens now to homes that have no doubt lost their value, and whether that will leave an entire population with next-to-worthless homes. 
• Get complete coverage of the Flint water crisis here.

Making sense of the Census 

• West Michigan counties are leading Michigan’s slight population gains, while recent growth in Macomb and Oakland counties is slowing, according to 2015 U.S. Census estimates released today. 
• The news comes after a release about how Michigan’s population increased for the fourth straight year in 2015, but that gains may not be enough to prevent the state from losing a congressional seat after the 2020 census.
• Explore this database to learn more. 

Happening in sports

• It’s not a perfect win, but in the midst of a playoff race, the extra style points for perfections don’t matter. A win is a win and the Pistons beat the Magic 118-102 Wednesday night, keeping on with the march to the playoffs. 
• Speaking Wednesday for the first time since the day after the season ended, Lions coach Jim Caldwell shared his opinion on Calvin Johnson's retirement.
• Braxton Miller, the former Ohio State quarterback/receiver, kept the Michigan-Ohio State Twitter war going Wednesday when he posted a tweet that showed photos of Urban Meyer and Jim Harbaugh side-by-side. Your move, Coach Harbaugh. 

Fake cop vs real cop

• One of the strangest stories we've had in a long time: A motorist flashing a fake police badge and claiming to be out of gas was arrested Wednesday after the plainclothes officer he flagged down spotted the man’s bound and bruised wife in the pickup, bleeding from two gunshot wounds.

The lighter side

• Next door to Mid-East Pastry Delight in the strip mall on the west side of Dequindre and 15 Mile in Troy sits Chung Ki Wa, a Korean restaurant. For owner Joe Yoon, who came to the U.S. in 1983, it's been a long, hard journey to his American success story. This story is fifth in a series about ethnic adventures driving north along Dequindre Road. Read them all here. 
• Archaeologists who scanned the grave of William Shakespeare say they have made a head-scratching discovery: His skull appears to be missing.
• And because today needs a little sparkle: Meet the Lamborghini Huracan Spyder, the convertible of your dreams.

Detroit News at noon is a daily roundup of the biggest stories on www.detroitnews.com. Get more anytime by liking our page on Facebook and following us on Instagram (@detroitnews) and Twitter. We're also on Snapchat (Search for "Detroitnews").