Detroit Hopes for NCAA Boost

Michigan investors seek to turn deserted streets into cropland

(NEWSER) - Motor City could turn into Maize City if a Michigan investment group has its way and turns 10,000 acres of largely deserted streets into farm plots, reports BusinessGreen. Hanz Group hopes eventually to acquire almost 10% of Detroit's 143 square miles for development into cropland, Christmas tree and lumber plots, gardens and riding trails. More»

(NEWSER) - Rationally, Michigan State shouldn’t have prayer in tonight’s NCAA basketball title game, writes Chris Dufresne in the Los Angeles Times. Earlier this season, North Carolina didn’t just beat the Spartans, it demolished them 98-63—and the Tar Heels have only gotten better since. “Cold hard facts say North Carolina hangs its fifth championship flag,” says Dufresne. “Clear rational thinking, however, doesn’t always get it right—especially in sports.” More»

(NEWSER) - President Obama has followed through on a campaign promise and filled out an NCAA basketball tournament bracket for ESPN, the sports network reports. Obama pledged in October to edify the college basketball audience with his picks, provided he won the election. His Final Four? Louisville, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, and Memphis. He's got UNC winning the title. More»

Don't let college basketball brackets control you

(NEWSER) - Obsessing over your NCAA tournament bracket? A time-management expert tells Esquire how to keep the March Madness time-suck under control.

• Admit you have a problem—possibly after someone tells you, "You really seem to be getting over-involved with this whole thing.”
• Cut back. Sure, "cutting it out completely might be too radical a step." Limit the amount of time you spend on your bracket.
• Replace your obsession with something else. Like, you know, work.

Mayor wants to nudge people to move to better areas

(NEWSER) - 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 Bloomberg . He's got a head start of sorts given that 40% of Detroit's streetlights are broken and the city can't afford to fix them. Bing plans to create a lighting authority that would borrow $160 million to upgrade those that remain. More»