News@noon: 'Refugees welcome;' not so dependable
Today is Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017, and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan gave his fourth State of the City Address last night. He focused on job training, affordable housing and rebuilding neighborhoods.
In his address, an animated Duggan seemed eager to detail what he called the transformation of city services and finances in a city that exited bankruptcy in 2014. But he also emphasized the city has a long way to go.
Here's what else we are covering today:
Good Samaritan
Two men helped a Michigan State trooper being assaulted Monday by two other men at the side of a Berrien County road, officials said. Trooper Garry Guild, a 21-year veteran of the state police, was treated for minor injuries at a hospital and released, said Lt. Melinda Logan.
Logan said two men helped Guild after he allegedly was attacked at the side of the road by a motorcyclist who crashed and another driver, the brother of suspect on the motorcycle, who also pulled up and began attacking the trooper, police said.
The mosque will be built
- Over strenuous objections from residents who briefly halted the meeting, the City Council voted late last night to settle two lawsuits — paving the way for a mosque that once pitted the municipality against the developers of the house of worship.
Restoring the beauty
Detroit’s grande dame is getting a face-lift. The remarkable murals on the Fisher Building’s vaulted ceilings suffered from years of leaks and ill-advised restoration efforts. Now the new owners — The Platform — are giving them the full beauty treatment.
Back in court
Two former Detroit police officers convicted of felony extortion face recommended prison sentences of 20 years when they appear today before a federal judge. Former Lt. David Hansberry, 37, and former Officer Bryan Watson, 48, were members of the now-disbanded narcotics unit of the Detroit Police Department when they were indicted in 2015 on charges of carrying out traffic stops and fake arrests to allegedly steal drugs, money and property from civilians.
Not so dependable
Technology-related problems contributed to a worsening in dependability for a second consecutive year in the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study.
The study, which looked at problems reported in the past 12 months by owners of 2014 model-year vehicles, found an industry average of 156 problems per 100 vehicles. The previous study released in 2016 found 152 problems per 100 vehicles. As high-tech gadgetry filters down through all levels of vehicles, more problems are being registered by owners.
Davis and White to pass on Olympics
- Ending three years of suspense and the most successful international ice dancing careers by any American skaters, Olympic gold medalists Meryl Davis and Charlie White, of Ann Arbor, announced today they will forego a fourth consecutive year of international competition and not compete in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.
'Refugees welcome'
Someone unfurled a giant banner at the Statue of Liberty saying “Refugees Welcome.” The National Park Service says the 3-by-20-foot banner was hung from the public observation deck at the top of the statue’s pedestal Tuesday afternoon. It was taken down more than an hour later.
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.