Stories related to: Detroit

Barack Obama has apologized to a reporter for an off-the-cuff term of endearment, reports the Detroit News. While the candidate was stumping in Detroit, the TV journalist called out a question, and he responded: "Hold on one second, sweetie.” He later left her a phone message, calling his remark “a bad habit” that meant “no disrespect.” More »

It was classical music, but when the Detroit Symphony Orchestra hit its final note last night, it sounded an awful lot like the future. Honda’s Asimo robot led a real, live, human orchestra, and though the android was only repeating the recorded movements of a human, the performance went beautifully, impressing the musicians and delighting the crowd, the Guardian reports. More »

Recording equipment reported stolen from former Motown star Martha Reeves has turned up in a Detroit pawnshop, the Free Press reports. The equipment was taken last week from the childhood home of Reeves, who's now a Motor City councilwoman. More »

Cheesesteaks aren’t the only things luring young people to the City of Brotherly Love, MSNBC reports. A survey by Apartments.com and Careerbuilder that factors in the cost of apartments, job opportunities, and the number of 20-somethings, puts Philadelphia—$962 for a one-bedroom compared with $1,520 in NYC— atop its list. The rest of the top 10: More »

Americans are continuing to flock to the Sun Belt, reports the AP. Almost all of the 50 fastest-growing metro areas in 2006 and 2007 were in the South and West, and four of the top 10 were in Texas. None were in the Northeast. Experts say the Sun Belt's strong economies and low house prices are drawing in people, especially from the Rust Belt. More »

Euthanasia advocate Jack Kevorkian declared a bid for Congress in Detroit today, the Detroit Free Press reports. In a free-wheeling press conference, he admitted to being apolitical but vowed to trumpet individual rights in his campaign. “You can’t take my innate rights away from me without a fight,” said Kevorkian, who will run as an independent in a highly competitive district. More »

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his ex-chief of staff were charged today with perjury, obstruction of justice, and misconduct in office related to their denials under oath that they were romantically involved, the Detroit News reports. Kilpatrick, who faces eight felony counts, said at a press conference shortly after the county prosecutor announced the indictments that he expects "full and complete vindication." More »

Ever-increasing gas prices, environmental concerns and demand in developing countries are leading worldwide small-car sales past those of larger counterparts, Newsweek reports. With cars like India’s Tata Nano set to overhaul the auto industry by offering new mobility to millions, US automakers are scrambling to retool their businesses to sells more small cars for smaller per-auto profits. More »

Detroit's beleaguered mayor says he'll stick around, even though the City Council voted today to to call for his resignation. A nonbinding resolution asking Kwame Kilpatrick to step down passed 7-1, the Detroit Free Press reports. "My reaction is, OK, now since it's over, it has no effect, it's not binding, let's get back to work," Kilpatrick said. More »

Aretha Franklin’s mansion is in foreclosure after the Queen of Soul flubbed her taxes, TMZ.com reports. Franklin owes $19,192 in back taxes, but she says she’ll pay before the March 31 deadline. The singer faults her lawyer for a 2005 mistake over $445 in taxes and late fees that pushed the Detroit home, valued at $712,000 into foreclosure. More »

Small amounts of a wide range of prescription and over-the-counter drugs have been found in drinking water used daily by 41 million Americans in 24 major cities. A major AP investigation found pain killers, anti-seizure drugs, angina and cholesterol medications, mood-altering drugs, and other pharmaceuticals in tap water, the water table and aquifers. More »

Chrysler lost nearly $2.9 billion in a 2-month period last fall, after its split from Daimler, a filing by the German company shows. The filing by Daimler, which retains 19.9% of the automaker, offers a rare look at how costly the company's reorganization effort has been since it was taken private by Cerberus Capital Management in May, the Wall Street Journal reports. More »

Former United Auto Workers president Doug Fraser, who played a vital role in saving Chrysler from bankruptcy, died yesterday at age 91. The cause of death was unknown, but Fraser had been suffering from emphysema, the Detroit Free Press reports. As UAW president during the ’70s and ’80s, Fraser helped win comprehensive health care and improved working conditions. More »

Democrat Barack Obama today laid out a $210 billion plan to create 2 million environmental and construction jobs over 10 years. “This agenda is paid for,” the Illinois senator said at a General Motors plant in Wisconsin, adding that the money would come from ending the Iraq war, cutting corporate tax breaks, taxing carbon pollution, and hiking taxes on the wealthy. More »

The Pistons swept their four-game series with Atlanta, winning a close 94-90 game on the strength of Chauncey Billups's fourth-quarter performance. After missing all eight floor attempts in the first three quarters, Billups scored 12 in the final frame, including 10 straight Detroit points to turn a three-point deficit inside-out. More »

Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick apologized to Detroit on television last night following news earlier this month of an extramarital affair that he insisted under oath did not exist. "I want to say to the citizens of this great city: I'm sorry," he said. But despite repeated entreaties for forgiveness, Kilpatrick couldn't say exactly what he was sorry for without risking perjury charges, reports the Detroit Free Press. More »

A Detroit official quit today after steamy text messages linked her to the mayor in an ongoing sex scandal, the Detroit News reports. Christine Beatty regretted "the devastation that the recent reports have caused" and wrote "that I can no longer effectively carry out the duties of chief of staff.” Two city council members quickly demanded a probe into the scandal that has already cost Detroit $8.4 million, the Detroit Free-Press reports. More »

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's continuing administration looks doubtful after the emergence of over 14,000 racy text messages between him and his chief of staff. Kilpatrick and his aide, both married during their steamy affair, testified under oath last year that they weren't sexually involved with one another. They were grilled as part of a lawsuit against Kilpatrick and the city filed by two cops who said they'd been punished for investigating inappropriate behavior by the mayor. More »

Overseas sales expansion and reduced labor costs over the next three years will bring “significant” profit increases to General Motors, CEO Rick Wagoner told analysts yesterday. Wagoner also asked investors for patience as share prices continue slipping in a worsening US economy, reports the Wall Street Journal. He said production cuts could accelerate if sales slow further. More »

Work on the world's cheapest cars is underway at the world's biggest car companies, the Associated Press reports. Toyota and GM announced this week at Detroit's North American International Auto show they are working on inexpensive subcompacts similar to India's Tata Motors' $2,500 car and aimed at emerging markets. "There is a huge market for low-cost/price vehicles," Toyota's president said. More »