Detroit Local News - ABC News Radio

Michigan's Unemployment Rate Down a Notch

Anselm Gibbs — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:40:04 +0000

(LANSING, Mich.) -- Michigan's employment situation improved slightly in April, as the state's unemployment rate inched downward during the month.

The state's Department of Technology, Management and Budget reports that Michigan's unemployment rate fell to 8.4 percent in April from 8.5 percent the previous month.

The national unemployment rate for April was 7.5 percent, down from 7.6 percent in March.

Economists had expected that figure to remain unchanged.

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Pet Store Owner Faces Second Animal Cruelty Charge

Louis Milman — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:42:33 +0000

(WARREN, Mich.) -- Approximately 100 animals were taken from a Warren, Mich., pet shop Wednesday and now the store owner faces his second animal cruelty charge in under a year.

According to the Detroit Free Press, the conditions in the store were terrible, with at least one animal dead. When enforcement officers arrived at the store on Wednesday, the store owner, Dennis Jones, allegedly sent a dog to attack them.

The animals, including roosters, birds, iguanas, a python, a puppy and two kittens, were living without food. Also, the store's power and water had been turned off due to failure to pay, says the Free Press.

Jones is being held at Macomb County Jail on $10,000 bond.

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Detroit Businessman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud

Anselm Gibbs — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:35:17 +0000

(DETROIT) -- A Detroit businessman is facing up to 33 years in prison after pleading guilty to bank fraud and obstructing the Internal Revenue Service.

According to the Department of Justice, court documents indicated that Mosii Mays Blackwell failed to report over $4.5 million in receipts generated by Detroit-area businesses he operated, between April 2004 and December 2012.

Authorities also say that in November 2004, Blackwell committed bank fraud when he caused a loan application to be submitted to a mortgage lender, falsely claiming that the person applying for the loan was employed by one of his business entities at a salary of $18,000 per month.

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Crews Search Lake Erie for Two Missing Boaters

Anselm Gibbs — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:11:27 +0000

(DETROIT) -- Authorities are searching for two Michigan men, who have gone missing after going fishing in Lake Erie on Wednesday.

The U.S. Coast Guard says crews are searching western Lake Erie in the vicinity of Monroe, for two boaters who failed to return from fishing.

The missing men have been identified as Kendrick Covington, 64, of Detroit, and Godfried McKinney, 54, of Southfield.

McKinney's wife told authorities that she hadn't seen him since around 9 a.m. Wednesday. Meanwhile Covington's wife said she hadn't seen her husband since about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, and that he was expected home at 9:30 or 10 p.m. the same day.

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Man, 24, Sought in Fatal Shooting

Louis Milman — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:30:00 +0000

(DETROIT) -- Police are searching for a man accused of shooting five people, and killing one, in Detroit on Wednesday.

According to the Detroit Free Press, the incident took place near the 9600 block of Carlin Street. A group of children were playing outside when an adult reportedly sent one of the children home.

The child told family members what had happened, and those family members went to the location on Carlin Street, where a verbal altercation occurred, according to the Free Press.

A 24-year-old man is accused of firing the shots.

A 60-year-old woman was killed in the gunfire, while a 58-year-old man, a 32-year-old woman, a 24-year-old woman and a 15-year-old girl were hospitalized for gunshot wounds.

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Detroit Among Top Cities for Dog Attacks on Mail Carriers

Anselm Gibbs — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:21:20 +0000

(WASHINGTON) -- Detroit has gone to the dogs, as the U.S. Postal Service has ranked the city among the top places in the country for dog attacks on letter carriers.

On Wednesday, the Postal Service released the list of cities where its employees were most frequently attacked last year.

Detroit was ranked sixth with 33 reported dog attacks on letter carriers.

Los Angeles recorded the most attacks with 69 last year.

"If our letter carriers deem your loose dog to be a threat, you'll be asked to pick up your mail at the Post Office until it's safe to deliver," Ken Snavely, acting postmaster of Los Angeles, said in a statement.

The Postal Service says 5,879 postal employees were attacked last year.

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Mayor Introduces James Craig as New Police Chief

Anselm Gibbs — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:42:39 +0000

(DETROIT) -- James Craig has been confirmed by City officials as Detroit's new police chief.

Mayor Dave Bing and Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr introduced Craig as the new top cop on Wednesday.

Craig, originally from Detroit, is currently the Chief of the Cincinnati Police Department in Ohio. On Tuesday, he announced his resignation from that position, with his resignation set to take effect on June 22.

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Veterans Designation Added to Mich. Driver’s Licenses and IDs

James Grebey — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:33:48 +0000

(LANSING, Mich.) -- Gov. Rick Snyder signed legislation on Tuesday that authorized the Secretary of State to add a veterans designation on Michigan driver’s licenses and other state IDs.

"The veterans designation is great way for Michigan to honor those who have served and makes it easier for veterans to access discounts and offers from retailers, restaurants and hotels who offer special opportunities to veterans," explained Maj. Gen. Gregory Vadnais, director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

The bills, one for driver’s licenses and one for state issued ID cards, were sponsored by state Rep. Nancy Jenkins and state Sen. Darwin Booher, respectively.

The new licenses and ID cars will be available in May of next year.

The veterans designations will not serve as legal proof of military service or replace the DD214, but will simply make it easier for veterans to identify themselves in a day-to-day setting.

"This is a small way to say thank you to veterans who have done so much for us, for this country," said Secretary of State Ruth Johnson. "They'll have easy-to-carry, clear-cut proof of their service to help them more easily access the benefits they have earned and deserve.”

18 Charged in Detroit in Medicare Fraud Crackdown

Anselm Gibbs — Wed, 15 May 2013 10:09:35 +0000

(WASHINGTON) -- Eighteen people in Detroit have been charged as part of a nationwide crackdown on Medicare fraud.

The Department of Justice says a total of 89 people in eight cities across of the U.S. have been charged, stemming from their alleged involvement in Medicare fraud schemes involving approximately $223 million in false billings.

The Department says in Detroit, two doctors, a physician’s assistant and two therapists, were among those charged for their roles in fraud schemes involving approximately $49 million in false claims for medically unnecessary services.

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Mayor Bing Will Not Seek Re-Election

Anselm Gibbs — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:37:53 +0000

(DETROIT) -- Mayor Dave Bing has announced that he won't be seeking another term in office as Detroit's mayor.

Mayor Bing made the announcement that he won't be seeking re-election as Mayor on Tuesday during a press conference.

The city is currently troubled financially.

However, Bing did express interest in other political roles, including that of Wayne County Executive.

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