News@noon: A walk-off thriller; finally free
Today is Wednesday, June 8, 2016, and our new and improved mobile apps are here! Seriously, if you already have the app on your iPhone or Android phone, upgrade and see what we're talking about. If you've got an iPad, you'll have to download the new version from the App Store.
And just so you know, we'll be hanging out at Campus Martius today from noon-1 p.m. offering prizes to people who come up and show us that they've downloaded the app. So come find us!
Here's the news we're following today:
67 to 90 years
- Kevin Andre Smith Jr., the 23-year-old Detroit man charged with and acquitted in the March 2015 shooting of U.S. District Judge Terrence Berg, but convicted on conspiracy to commit armed robbery and two felony firearms possession charges, was sentenced to 67 to 90 years in prison for his role on Wednesday.
Motorcycle deaths
- Do you ride a motorcycle? Do you wear a helmet? This might convince you to.
Finally free
- While others his age were dating, attending proms and graduating from high school and college, Davontae Sanford spent his teen years and early 20s behind bars for murders authorities now say he didn’t commit.
- Sanford is expected to walk out of prison a free man Wednesday, a day after the judge who presided over his 2008 trial vacated his sentence and prosecutors said they would not pursue further charges.
A joke or defamation?
- A Georgia real estate agent is suing the producer of the “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” claiming the comedian mispronounced her name to make a joke about breasts. Titi Pierce alleges in the lawsuit filed against Warner Bros. last week that DeGeneres displayed one of Pierce’s real estate signs during a show and included her cellphone number, prompting “ridiculing and harassing” phone calls.
Let's get political
- With a splash of history and a dose of reassurance, Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton and Republican Donald Trump claimed their parties’ presidential nominations and are turning their political guns on each other.
- Clinton cruised to easy victories in four of the six state contests Tuesday. With each win she further solidified Sen. Bernie Sanders’ defeat and dashed his already slim chances of using the last night of state contests to refuel his flagging bid.
- For now, Trump is working to convince fellow Republicans that he can broaden his appeal and move beyond controversy.
A walk-off thriller
- So last night's Tigers game wasn't great... until the bottom of the ninth. That's when things got incredible.
- The Tigers rallied for two runs in the ninth to tie the game at 2-2, then won it in the 10th on a walk-off single by Kinsler. The sudden 3-2 win Tuesday was the Tigers’ fifth straight.
- They're back in action at 1:10 p.m. and can sweep the Blue Jays.
No spoilers, please!
- The curtain has risen on Harry Potter’s latest adventure — and J.K. Rowling is urging fans not to ruin the magic by letting its secrets out.
Cash for Caliber
Gun serial numbers typically flash from holsters on hips, but Jessica Mindich would rather they flash from arms and dress shirts. Mindich created the Caliber Collection to turn illegal and unwanted guns into something that can do no harm: jewelry.
Smiles all around
- The picture says it all. Soon after Waterford Township musician Dan Tillery adopted a 2-year-old dog he named Diggy, the pair couldn’t help but beam in a selfie snapped Monday. Those matching smiles — Diggy’s from ear to ear — are sparking many more, as well. In the 24 hours since it’s gone viral, the heartwarming photo has generated more than 21,000 reactions on Facebook and even interview requests from ABC News as well as other media outlets.
Fun stuff
- Help us celebrate what it's like to live in Michigan! Enter the Celebrate Michigan photo contest by sending us your best photos from around the state. We pick four finalists every Wednesday (here are last week's). Winners will get some pretty great prizes (including a first-place prize of a two-night stay for two at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island). If you need some more inspiration, here are last year's winners and finalists.
- Dish & Design is also back, and this time it comes with a "taste of Italy." Treat yourself to an evening of food, wine and home decor on June 22 from 6-9 p.m. in Bloomfield Hills. Join us as experts from Hillside Furniture, EuroAmerica Design and more show you how to bring a little bit of Italy to your home. Food and wine is included. You can enter to win tickets here. Or don't wait and get tickets here for $10 each.
Detroit News at noon is a daily roundup of the biggest stories on www.detroitnews.com. For more anytime, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, Instagram (@detroitnews), Snapchat (Search for "Detroitnews") and LinkedIn.