Michigan news stories on Newser

Half of Detroit's Streetlights May Go Dark

Matt Cantor — Thu, 24 May 2012 18:31:08 CDT

Detroit's population has shrunk 60% since 1950, and officials say it's time to condense the city. They're taking a simple approach: Light the areas where they want folks to live. Mayor Dave Bing wants to cut the number of streetlights nearly in half, from 88,000 to 46,000, reports...

Mitt Takes Credit for Saving Auto Industry

Rob Quinn — Tue, 08 May 2012 05:10:00 CDT

Mitt Romney says he deserves a lot of the credit for saving America's auto industry, despite his vocal opposition to taxpayer help for General Motors and Chrysler in 2008. The Republican, speaking at an auto parts maker in Cleveland yesterday, said Obama followed his lead by allowing both firms to...

Mystery Rumble From Detroit Infuriates Canadians

Rob Quinn — Tue, 01 May 2012 05:51:00 CDT

Something strange and noisy is happening on Michigan's Zug Island, complain Canadians in Windsor, on the other side of the Detroit River. The "Windsor hum"—described as a low-pitched rumble—has been annoying residents of the border city for two years. Canadian scientists say they have pinpointed the noise as...

Uproar Erupts Over Michigan 'Honor Killing' Meeting

Mary Papenfuss — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:51:46 CDT

A Michigan conference called to discuss a possible "honor killing" and women in Islam has triggered an uproar from local Muslims and civil rights groups who say it's an excuse to bash Islam. The " Jessica Mokdad Human Rights Conference on Honor Killings " in Dearborn—home to a thriving American Muslim...

$1M Lotto Winner Charged With Welfare Fraud

Rob Quinn — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 01:22:47 CDT

Some people decide not to quit their jobs after a lottery win. Amanda Clayton apparently decided not to stop collecting welfare . The 25-year-old Michigan woman, who won a $1 million jackpot last year, has been charged with felony welfare fraud for failing to report her winnings while receiving $5,475...

Romney's Latest 'Joke': Dad Closed a Michigan Plant

Kate Schwartz — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 08:30:59 CDT

Mitt Romney attempted to connect with the people of Wisconsin yesterday by telling them a little joke. In a conference call with thousands of voters, Romney told them about the time in the 1950s that his dad, then head of American Motors, shut down a Michigan factory and moved production...

When It Comes to Corruption, 8 States Get Fs

Matt Cantor — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 11:46:56 CDT

After a thorough investigation of corruption in state politics, the Center for Public Integrity has made up report cards for each state—and the results are depressing. Not one state managed anything in the A-range, while eight—Michigan, the Dakotas, South Carolina, Maine, Virginia, Georgia, and Wyoming—scored Fs. Coming...

Tornadoes Pummel Rural Michigan

Mark Russell — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:40:14 CDT

Tornados ripped through rural Michigan last night, northwest of Ann Arbor, damaging up to 125 homes, reports the AP . But despite widespread damage in many townships, no reports of serious injuries or fatalities have surfaced. (The AP account begins with a police officer seeing a hand sticking out from rubble,...

Moviegoer Sues AMC Over Crazy Snack Prices

Matt Cantor — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:10:05 CST

After paying almost three times the drugstore price for a Coke and candy, a Michigan man has had it: He's suing his local AMC cinema in an attempt to lower snack prices statewide. "He got tired of being taken advantage of," Joshua Thompson's lawyer tells the Detroit Free Press . "It's...