News@noon: Chasing 'Bad Girls;' tracking Trump
Today is Friday, Feb. 24. 2017, and reporter Robert Snell has a story you won't want to miss.
Federal agents have captured a fugitive exotic dancer following an 11-year search stretching from Detroit to Mexico that solves a mystery surrounding the most lucrative drug case in Michigan history.
The capture of Annette Sanchez and a second fugitive serves as an intriguing postscript to an international drug investigation that involved more than 30 people, 66,000 pounds of marijuana, $178 million in drug proceeds and former NBA player Robert “Tractor” Traylor.
Here's what else we're covering today:
Duggan gets a boost
- Detroit public safety unions endorsed Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan for re-election Friday morning, uniting to support the candidate they called "solution-oriented."
- Moving forward, the age-old debate over how much downtown prosperity can be spread to other Detroit neighborhoods is emerging as a key issue in Duggan’s battle for a second term.
Tracking Trump
- The president has a busy day today. He started it off by tweeting his opinions about the FBI, saying the agency is failing to stop leaks to the media.
- Donald Trump also took his anger out on the media while speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
- Trump is taking heat today from some Democratic senators, who say accepting a valuable trademark from the Chinese government without asking Congress first is unconstitutional.
- In Mexico, Trump's envoys are trying to defuse tensions while some worry the wording of his deportation plans could result in non-Mexicans being sent to Mexico.
- And the questions surrounding transgender bathroom policies are continuing to confuse people. Many are speaking out against his administration's reversal of a directive on transgender access to public school restrooms. As for Trump, who pledged to protect LGBT rights while he was campaigning, it has left questions about his loyalties.
- One thing is for sure: These should be heady times for moderate GOP governors.
A bad time to be a department store
- J.C. Penney said today that it will be closing anywhere from 130 to 140 stores as well as two distribution centers over the next several months as it aims to improve profitability in the era of online shopping.
- Macy’s, the nation’s largest department store chain, said earlier this week its earnings for the quarter that includes the holiday period dropped nearly 13 percent as results were dragged down by store closures and other costs.
Who will head to the Hall?
Former Tigers manager Jim Leyland, “Bad Boy” Dennis Rodman and “Fab Five” member Jalen Rose headline a list of 30 finalists for induction into the 2017 class of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. The ballot was released Friday. Here's how you can vote.
Waymo vs Uber
It took Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo seven years to design and build a laser-scanning system to guide its self-driving cars. Uber Technologies Inc. allegedly did it in nine months. Waymo claims in a lawsuit filed Thursday that it was possible because a former employee stole the designs and technology and started a new company.
A feces swastika
- One of the top art schools in the U.S. is investigating after anti-Semitic graffiti made out of human waste was found in a gender-neutral bathroom.
Catch a flick
- If you love movies, this Sunday is your Super Bowl. 'La La Land’ is poised for a big night at the Academy Awards, but will it be crowned Oscar’s all-time champion?
- If you're looking to see something new, check out these reviews to help you decide: Get Out | A United Kingdom | Toni Erdmann | The Girl with All the Gifts | The Red Turtle | Bitter Harvest
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.