News@noon: Russian connection; Upton's three-peat
Today is Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017, and the Fox Theatre will open its doors today to hockey, baseball and pizza fans looking to pay tribute to Detroit icon Mike Ilitch.
Ilitch will lie in repose from noon to 8 p.m. in the theater's Grand Lobby, his family announced. The owner of Little Caesars Pizza, the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings died Friday at age 87 after a lingering illness.
Ilitch and his wife bought the historic Fox in 1987 and restored it, setting set the stage for an entertainment revival in downtown Detroit.
Here's what else we're covering today:
Green in court
- Gregory Green, the Dearborn Heights man charged with killing his two young children and two older stepchildren, pleaded guilty today to their murders as well as a nonfatal attack on his wife.
- In addition to allegedly shooting his wife, Green, 50, is charged in the slayings of his two young daughters, Kaleigh Green, 4; Koi Green, 5; and teenaged stepchildren Kara Allen, 17; and Chadney Allen, 19.
Trump, Flynn and the Russian connection
- Just six days into his presidency, Donald Trump was informed his national security adviser had misled his vice president about contacts with Russia. Trump kept his No. 2 in the dark and waited nearly three weeks before ousting the aide, Michael Flynn, citing a slow but steady erosion of trust, White House officials said.
- Pence, who had vouched for Flynn in a televised interview, is said to have been angry and deeply frustrated.
A spring preview
- Metro Detroit will get a peek at spring this weekend with temperatures soaring at least 20 degrees above normal, according to the National Weather Service in White Lake Township.
Throwing rocks
- Three Macomb County teenagers accused of stealing rocks from a landscaping site before joyriding and throwing the rocks at passing vehicles in November will face their first round of charges in that case, police say. Among their alleged victims: a father and daughter and a Shelby Township police officer.
MSU coach under fire
Michigan State University’s head gymnastics coach resigned Tuesday, the same day a second woman came forward to accuse her of ignoring complaints of sexual abuse by a university sports doctor. Kathie Klages’ departure after 27 seasons — described by her attorney and university Tuesday as a retirement — also comes a day after she was suspended with pay by the university.
Klages, 62, was accused in a civil lawsuit Tuesday of downplaying complaints against Dr. Larry Nasser, a former MSU and USA Gymnastics doctor who is under investigation for allegedly sexually assaulting dozens of athletes over several decades.
Moosejaw and Wal-Mart
- Wal-Mart has acquired Michigan-based retailer Moosejaw for $51 million. The outdoor retailer, founded in 1992 in Michigan, will "be run as a standalone and complementary brand to (Walmart's) other e-commerce sites," according to a news release.
Ford investment
Ford Motor Co. plans to spend $200 million and roughly two years building a new complex for aerodynamic testing in Allen Park. The Dearborn automaker will break ground on the project this year, and plans to complete construction on the facility by the end of 2019. Here are the details.
Rumor has it
Quite a rally for Rumor — a commanding comeback for German shepherds, too. Rumor was crowned America’s top dog Tuesday night when, a year after a near miss on the very same green carpet, she came out of retirement to win best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club.
It's a three-peat
She’s once, twice, three times a Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover lady. Kate Upton is once again gracing the cover of the annual issue, becoming only the fourth woman to do so three times. This year, the fiance of Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander is making a splash with three different covers.
Detroit News at noon is a daily roundup of the most talked-about stories on detroitnews.com. For more anytime, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, Instagram (@detroitnews), Snapchat (Search for "Detroitnews") and LinkedIn.