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Kwame Kilpatrick, Bobby Ferguson being held at Federal Correctional Institution in Milan

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Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and former city contractor Bobby Ferguson are being held at the Milan Federal Correctional Institute, after being sentenced directly to jail on Monday, ClickOnDetroit.com reported.

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Kwame Kilpatrick speaks at an event at Eastern Michigan University in 2011. A judge has ordered him straight to federal prison in Milan Monday following his conviction on 24 charges related to public corruption.

Chris Asadian I AnnArbor.com file photo

The Milan federal prison is a low-security prison for men in Michigan, operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons at 4000 Arkona Rd. in Milan.

Kilpatrick and Ferguson were sentenced directly to jail by U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds in a 1:30 p.m. hearing Monday, following a court session earlier that morning in which a jury found Kilpatrick guilty on 24 of 30 charges and Ferguson guilty of nine of 11 charges.

Kilpatrick and Ferguson are not living among the prison's general population, according to ClickOnDetroit, and have not had any visitors.

As of March 7, there were 1,544 inmates at the facility, which has basketball and tennis courts, horseshoe pits and a softball field.

Kilpatrick has been locked up in the Federal Correctional Institution in Milan before -- he was transferred there in 2010 from the Oaks Correctional Facility near Manistee for easier access to his defense team and research facilities.

Sources told ClickOnDetroit that Kilpatrick and Ferguson have not had any visitors and are not receiving any special attention.


Police: Resident assaulted after opening front door

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Someone forced open the front door of a house and assaulted the resident Sunday morning in Ypsilanti, police said.

The Ypsilanti Police Department said the incident took place in the 500 block of Fairview near Eastern Michigan University's campus at 7:25 a.m.

The victim reported that the suspect was at the house earlier for a party.

YPD could not be reached for more information.


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Kody Klein is an intern for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at kklein@mlive.com

State police release name of driver killed in U.S. 23 crash

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Workers right a trailer that turned over onto a car, killing its driver, on U.S. 23 Monday.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Michigan State Police have released the name of the man killed in a crash on southbound U.S. 23 north of Ann Arbor Monday afternoon when a semitrailer rolled over onto his car.

James Wallace, 58 from Lennon, Mich., was pronounced dead just after 2 p.m. Monday on southbound U.S. 23 and Six Mile Road. Sgt. Mark Thompson, of the Brighton Post of the Michigan State Police, said the investigation into the accident is ongoing.

“Preliminary investigation indicates the left front steering tire (on the semi truck) blew out and caused the driver to lose control and strike the vehicle,” Thompson said.

The crash occurred at 1 p.m. Monday as rain fell in the Northfield Township area. The semi truck with two trailers pinned Wallace’s 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser against the guardrail and overturned.

The freeway was closed between Six Mile and Eight Mile roads for approximately four hours while police investigated the accident at the scene.

The trailer stayed on top of the PT Cruiser for about an hour after the crash until emergency crews used two heavy-duty tow trucks to turn it right-side up. The scrap metal inside the trailer spilled out onto the roadway and the PT Cruiser.

The Washtenaw County Technical Rescue Team responded to the crash, along with state police troopers, Northfield Township firefighters and Huron Valley Ambulance paramedics.

The crash was the first of several on U.S. 23 in the Ann Arbor area Monday. During the afternoon commute, dispatchers reported as many as four crashes on the freeway.

Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.

Manchester girls basketball team fighting butterflies before Class C quarterfinal

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Manchester players celebrate with the Class C regional final trophy at Hudson High School.

J. Scott Park | Mlive Media Group

Unfamiliar territory is beginning to be familiar for this Manchester High School girls basketball team. District, conference and regional titles are what teams in year's past have strived for, but this Flying Dutch squad is the first to make it look routine.

In the case of the regional championship, this year's squad is the first to ever win one.

But Tuesday will be different. This is the state quarterfinals, with a berth in the Class C state semifinals at the Breslin Center on the line and as Rich McGowan of MLive Media Group writes, the Flying Dutch have been battling some butterflies.

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.

But the butterflies aren't because they think they don't belong. Manchester will face undefeated Niles-Brandywine (24-0) in the Class C state quarterfinals at Jonesville High School on Tuesday, but don't call them an underdog.

"We’re not done. Now that we’re one of the last eight left, we honestly believe we belong in the final four,” said Manchester coach Cori Kastel after her team’s 58-51 over Adrian Madison last Thursday.

Tuesday's tipoff will be at 7 p.m.

Taking a bite out of Ann Arbor's best breakfast joints

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Mlive entertainment reporter John Gonzalez has hit the road this week in his search for Michigan's Best Breakfast Joint, and today the road brought him to 3 Ann Arbor favorites: Angelo's Restaurant, Northside Grill and Nick's Original House of Pancakes.

All 3 of our destinations today are strictly breakfast and lunch joints, and they do breakfast very well. From the pumpkin pancakes and crab cake eggs benedict at Angelo's, to the Big Easy Skillet and Morning Eggdition sandwich at Northside Grill, to the stuffed French toast and Nature Boy pancakes at Nick's, we wowed Gonzo with some of Ann Arbor's best breakfast food.

Gonzo headed off to Detroit after our Ann Arbor jaunt, and will hit Muskegon and Grand Rapids on Wednesday. He'll announce his favorites in the hunt for Michigan's Best Breakfast Joint on Tuesday, March 19.

You can follow all of Gonzo's breakfast exploits across on the state on Mlive and Twitter.

Jessica Webster leads the Food & Grocery section for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at JessicaWebster@annarbor.com. You also can follow her on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.

Suspect kicks down door, flees after alarm sounds

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An unknown person who was breaking into an Ypsilanti home ran away when an alarm sounded early Monday morning, police said.

Ypsilanti police went to the 400 block of Emerick Street at 12:30 a.m. Monday to investigate a report of a home invasion. Police said someone kicked in the back door of the home.

When the alarm went off, the person fled from the area. Police were unable to find a suspect.

Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to call the Ypsilanti police at 734-483-9510.


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Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.

Saline Spring Craft Show for grown-ups and kids alike

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Saline Middle School

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com file photo

Here comes Peter Cottontail hopping down the bunny trail to the Saline Spring Craft Show on Saturday.

For adults, find all sorts of handmade goods, from what you'd expect—handpainted items, art, clothing—to those you might not, such as designer dog duds and panoramic sugar eggs. Panoramic sugar eggs are worth the price of admission alone.

There will be a silent auction from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. that will benefit the Special Olympics. A gift basket contest and its proceeds will benefit Aid in Milan, Food Gatherers and Saline Area Social Services.

From 10 a.m.-2 p.m., kids can get a free photo with Monsieur Cottontail, decorate a cookie, get a caricature and create a make it and take it craft.

No strollers, please!

Saturday, March 16, 2013. 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $3 admission (proceeds to benefit Saline Area Youth Programs). Ages 5 and under get in free. At Saline Middle School, 7190 Maple Road, Saline. 734-429-8070. Get more information at www.salineshows.com.

Competency examination ordered for man accused of shooting at cars on U.S. 23

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Elmore Ray

Courtesy of Pittsfield Township police

The 28-year-old Ypsilanti man accused of shooting at cars on the freeway with a sawed-off shotgun was ordered by a judge Tuesday to undergo a psychological competency evaluation.

Elmore Ray appeared briefly in the 14A-1 District Court where his attorneys from the Washtenaw County Public Defenders Office requested he be examined at the Forensic Center in Ypsilanti.

Prosecutors did not have any objections and Judge Richard Conlin granted the request.

Ray, who remains in the county jail on a $20,000 cash bond, was silent throughout the proceedings. The preliminary examination scheduled for Tuesday was adjourned. A competency hearing was set for April 30.

Ray is charged with four counts of assault with intent to murder, four counts of assault with intent to commit great bodily harm, possession of a short-barreled shotgun, carrying a weapon with unlawful intent and possession of a firearm in commission of a felony.

He is accused of being the gunman witnesses said used a sawed-off shotgun just after midnight Feb. 27. to shoot at multiple vehicles on U.S. 23 near Michigan Avenue south of Ann Arbor. No cars were hit and there were no injuries. Pittsfield Township police arrested Ray at gunpoint as he walked west from the area. No motorists were injured.

John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.


U-M law school graduate leading candidate for Detroit emergency manager

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A University of Michigan Law School graduate has emerged as the top contender for emergency manager in Detroit, Detroit media outlets reported.

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Kevyn Orr

Jones Day photo

Both The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press reported Kevyn D. Orr is Gov. Rick Snyder's top choice for the job. The governor’s office would not confirm Orr is being considered, both newspapers reported, but The News said Orr is the only one whose name has emerged as a candidate who hasn’t denied interest. Both newspapers reported unnamed sources had confirmed that Orr is the leading candidate.

Orr is a partner in the law firm Jones Day, where he practices in business restructuring, financial institution regulation, and commercial litigation, according to information on the firm’s website. He is a 1983 graduate of the U-M Law School and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the university.

Pedestrian hospitalized after being struck by vehicle in Ann Arbor

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One woman was hospitalized Tuesday afternoon after being hit by a car at the intersection of State and Huron streets in Ann Arbor.

Huron Valley Ambulance spokeswoman Joyce Williams said one person was transported to the University of Michigan Hospital in unstable condition at 2 p.m. Tuesday after being struck by a vehicle.

Ann Arbor police Sgt. Paul Curtis said the woman was walking across Huron Street when she was struck by a woman driver. The woman was turning her vehicle from southbound State Street onto westbound Huron Street, Curtis said.

The woman walking across the street was in the crosswalk when she was hit and had the right of way, Curtis said. The driver was cited for failing to yield to a pedestrian.

The pedestrian is being treated at the hospital for non-life threatening injuries, Curtis said.

The Ann Arbor Fire Department also responded to the scene, police said.


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Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.

Kwame Kilpatrick's fall reminiscent of a textbook Greek tragedy

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Kwame Kilpatrick was found guilty on 24 of the 30 charges he faced.

AP Photo

When Senator Carl Levin announced he was not seeking re-election in 2014, it opened the floodgate to speculation about who would run to replace him.

What Could Have Been

One name that was not mentioned - someone who at one time might have been on the top of list of replacements for Senator Carl Levin - is that of former Detroit mayor, now convicted felon, Kwame Kilpatrick.

Standing well over 6 feet tall and in excess of 200 pounds, former football player, State Representative and former Mayor of Motown, Kilpatrick once seemed larger than life. His charisma, charm, and smile could fill a room on an even grander scale than his physical girth.

Kwame Kilpatrick, came from a political family. I knew both his parents, his mother, former Michigan Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks-Kilpatrick, and his father, Bernard (Bernie) Kilpatrick, a former Assistant County Executive during the Edward H. McNamara Administration (Wayne County, Michigan County Executive, 1987-2002).

Bernie and I were both elected to the Wayne County Charter Commissions in the early 80' representing Detroit.

Kwame got his charm, smile, and sense of political acumen from both parents. I met young Kwame before he sought elective office and came away from each encounter thinking “here is a young man that is going places."

At the time, I did not imagine "going places" would mean eventually resigning as Mayor, going to jail for perjury, and being sent back to jail for parole violations, ultimately found guilty on 24 counts and now facing "going away" to prison for 20 years or longer.

Truly disgraced, the former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick fits the definition of a Greek Tragedy defined as (in ancient Greek theatre): “A play in which the protagonist, usually a man of importance and outstanding personal qualities, falls to disaster through the combination of a personal failing and circumstances with which he cannot deal.”

Kilpatrick's mayorship was plagued by numerous scandals and continuous accusations of corruption. He eventually resigned after being charged with 10 felony counts, including perjury and obstruction of justice. Disgraced, he was sentenced to four months in jail after pleading guilty to reduced charges. With time off awarded for good behavior as a county inmate, he was released on probation after serving just 99 days.

Cue in the other shoe dropping: On May 25, 2010, he was sentenced to 18 months to 5 years in prison for violating his probation.

He found himself again fighting for his freedoms in Federal Court and lost. March 11, 2013 was not a good day for him. Kilpatrick was convicted on 24 of 30 counts, including five counts of extortion, racketeering, bribery and several mail, wire, and tax fraud.

The federal prosecutor called what took place during the former mayor’s term a "pattern of extortion, bribery and fraud". Jurors convicted the former Mayor and his friend and co-defendent, contractor Bobby Ferguson, of federal racketeering and other charges, but only convicted Kilpatrick's father Bernard on one tax charge.

The jury appeared not to totally wrap his father, Bernard up in the "sins" of the son.

The former mayor will be going away to federal prison for a long time — up to 20 years. His pedigree, charisma, and smile will do him little good there.

Guilty. The Greek tragedy’s final curtain has fallen on a man who at one time had the world at his fingertips... Mayor. Potential U.S. Senator. Future U.S. President? All traded in for a prison number.

Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel noted the sad day: “You have a very prominent public official. This guy had a tremendous opportunity ahead of him. He was a very unique brand and he tarnished that brand with what he did," Hackel said.

Long serving Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson lamented " There is tragedy and pain at many levels. Detroit's long, dark nightmare is finally over. Kwame Kilpatrick's is just beginning as he sits in prison for years to come and dreams of what might have been".

Justice has been served. Imagine, what could have been. Tragic.

Tom Watkins lead two major departments of state government: mental health and education. He was president and CEO of the economic council in Palm Beach County, FL. He currently is a business and education consultant in the US and China and can be reached at: tdwatkins88@gmail.com

Suspect runs after rolling over stolen vehicle on Ann Arbor freeway

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Someone stole a vehicle, rolled it over on the ramp from northbound U.S. 23 to Washtenaw Avenue on the east side of Ann Arbor and fled the scene Tuesday morning, police said.

Michigan State Police Sgt. Mark Thompson said one person driving a stolen vehicle ran away from a rollover crash at 10:49 a.m. Tuesday at northbound U.S. 23 and Washtenaw Avenue. State police troopers recovered the vehicle and turned it over to the Ypsilanti Police Department. Thompson said the vehicle was stolen from Ypsilanti.

No suspect description was immediately available as the suspect fled from the crash before troopers arrived.

Ypsilanti police Detective Sgt. Thomas Eberts said the vehicle was a 1996 Subaru Legacy. The vehicle was stolen between 10 p.m. Monday and 12:50 a.m. Tuesday in the 200 block of Maple Street, Eberts said.

Police were continuing to investigate the incident and were beginning to process the vehicle for fingerprints Tuesday afternoon, Eberts said.

Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to call the Ypsilanti Police Department at 734-483-9510.

Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.

NPR's Michele Norris visits University of Michigan and asks students to submit '6-word truths' on race

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If someone asked you to summarize your thoughts on race in six words, what would you say?

Michele Norris, a correspondent who has worked with NPR, "Meet the Press" and ABC News, visited University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus Tuesday and did exactly that.

Norris walked through the Michigan Union and the Diag approaching students and encouraging them to submit a six-word statement on race. The statement is part of Norris' race card project, which she is brining to U-M this semester.

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Michele Norris hit the Diag at the University of Michigan on Tuesday to encourage students to write six-word statements about race.

Kellie Woodhouse | AnnArbor.com

It's her project's first partnership with a university.

Norris, who spoke at U-M during a Martin Luther King Jr. symposium last year, was invited by the college to bring her race card project to Ann Arbor. The project is one of many events occurring this semester under U-M's "understanding race" theme.

"It grew out of a family memoir I wrote. It was my way to try to ease conversations about race," Norris said of the race card project.

"The university approached me because they were doing this campus-wide examination of race in an attempt to help people understand each other better. I thought it was a perfect partnership because that's what I try to do with the race card project: allow people to learn what life is like as lived by someone else," Norris continued, calling the statements "six-word truths as to what life is like."

Norris met U-M President Mary Sue Coleman and other administrators this morning and discussed the project. The administrators crafted their own six-word truths on race.

Sterling Christopher Sherman, a senior informatics major, was approached by Norris on the Diag. On his card, he wrote: "Not a biological construct. Social construct."

Sherman said the project raises awareness about issues of race.

"We should really be looking at people, more than just skin color," he said. "I think this project is really something that is trying to push that positive effort forward."

Norris plans to return to Ann Arbor on April 18 for a town hall-style discussion on race. On that day, the completed race cards will be collected and displayed on the Diag.

A sampling of race card entries from Ann Arbor:
  • Stereotypes shape expectations, destroys self-image
  • I am not my hair #India.Arie
  • Double consciousness hinders minority progression worldwide
  • Race/Ethnicity does not equal Nationality
  • Race means acceptance of our differences
  • Better than before, but not good
  • We are all a little racist
  • Everywhere, yet not even skin deep

Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.

1 hospitalized after 2-car crash on U.S. 23 exit ramp

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One person was taken to the hospital after a crash on an exit ramp at U.S. 23 and Washtenaw Avenue on the east side of Ann Arbor Tuesday afternoon.

Huron Valley Ambulance spokeswoman Joyce Williams said emergency personnel were dispatched at 1:17 p.m. Tuesday after the crash was reported. One person was taken in stable condition to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital.

Dispatchers said a two-car crash had occurred. Further information was not immediately available.

Earlier Tuesday, a car rolled over on the exit ramp from northbound U.S. 23 to Washtenaw Avenue. The 1996 Subaru Legacy was stolen from an Ypsilanti home sometime late Monday night or early Tuesday morning. The man driving the car fled the area before police could arrive.


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Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.

Adidas tells student groups they do not intend to pay severance to workers

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Representatives from Adidas told an audience of Eastern Michigan University students and staff the company does not owe $1.8 million worth of severance pay to former workers of the bankrupt PT Kizone factory in Indonesia, despite contrary claims by workers' rights activists, the Eastern Echo reported.

Adidas representatives, Gregg Nebel and Paul Loving, visited the school after EMU officials sent a letter to the company inquiring about its practices. This was the latest event in a campaign by EMU student organization, Students for an Ethical and Participatory Education, to convince EMU officials to sever the school's contract with Adidas for its refusal to pay the former workers.

According to the Echo, EMU's contract with Adidas goes through 2015 and grants EMU a 45 to 50 percent discount on its purchases.

The Michigan Daily reported that Nebel also met with University of Michigan students to discuss the issue last March and that meeting ended when students asked Nebel to leave.

U-M President Mary Sue Coleman wrote a letter to adidas in September, urging the company to ensure that the workers receive their severance pay.

U-M's contract with adidas is worth roughly $60 million.

Kody Klein is an intern for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at kklein@mlive.com


'Happy People,' Ann Arbor Film Festival, Steve Carell comedy, and more

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Opening downtown

With “Happy People: A Year in the Taiga,” Werner Herzog and Russian co-director Dmitry Vasyukov take viewers on yet another unforgettable journey into remote and extreme natural landscapes. The acclaimed filmmaker presents this visually stunning documentary about the life of indigenous people living in the heart of the Siberian Taiga.

With insightful commentary written and narrated by Herzog, the film follows one of the Siberian trappers through all four seasons of the year to tell the story of a culture virtually untouched by modernity. Alan Schersthul of the Village Voice says, “It's fitting that this film of people making do with what they have should itself look somewhat humble, without lyricism, a work not of beauty but of work-which is the thing that makes it beautiful, no matter who directed it.” “Happy People: A Year in the Taiga” opens Friday at the Michigan Theater for a short run.

The 51st Ann Arbor Film Festival

The 51st Ann Arbor Film Festival is the longest-running independent and experimental film festival in North America. Internationally recognized as a premier forum for independent filmmakers and artists, each year’s festival engages audiences with remarkable cinematic experiences. This year’s opening night features short films in competition, featuring animation, documentary, narrative and experimental new works, including films by Mark Toscano, Jodie Mack, Kyle Armstrong, John Smith and the North American premiere of Da Vinci by Yuri Ancarani. The 51st Ann Arbor Film Festival runs from March 19- March 24.

Opening at the multiplex

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In “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone,” superstar magicians Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) have ruled the Las Vegas strip for years, raking in millions with illusions as big as Burt's growing ego. But lately the duo's greatest deception is their public friendship, while secretly they've grown to loathe each other. Facing cutthroat competition from guerilla street magician Steve Gray (Jim Carrey), Burt and Anton work to save the act—both onstage and off—by getting back in touch with what made them love magic in the first place. Critics are divided, but Joe Leydon of Variety praises Carell and the rest of the cast, saying “Carell is at the top of his form as the self-absorbed Burt struggles to maintain his haughty sangfroid while trying to convince himself, and everyone else, that's he's still a superstar.” “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” opens Friday.

In “The Call,” when veteran 911 operator Jordan Turner (Halle Berry) receives a call from a girl who has just been abducted, she soon realizes that she must confront a killer from her past in order to save the girl's life. With not much early critical coverage (which is always a bit worrying), “The Call” opens Friday.

Surprisingly, critics are not all savaging “Spring Breakers.” Friends since grade school, Brit (Ashley Benson), Candy (Vanessa Hudgens), Cotty (Rachel Korine) and Faith (Selena Gomez) live together in a boring college dorm and are hungry for adventure and fun, so they set about saving enough money for spring break. A serendipitous encounter with rapper "Alien" (James Franco) promises to provide the girls with all the thrill and excitement they could hope for. With the encouragement of their new friend, it soon becomes unclear how far the girls are willing to go to experience a spring break they will never forget. Xan Brooks of the UK’s Guardian newspaper says, “(Director Harmony Korine is) rekitted as some 21st-century Russ Meyer, playing disreputable paterfamilias to a fresh breed of supervixens.” “Spring Breakers” opens Friday.

Special screenings downtown

In “Dumb and Dumber,” Harry and Lloyd are two brainless losers who try to return a suitcase full of money to its pretty owner. After a journey full of accidents they arrive in snowy Aspen, Colorado and try to find her. But will they succeed? “Dumb and Dumber” stars Jeff Daniels and Jim Carrey and continues the New Line and New Hollywood series, which occurs each Monday at 7 p.m.

“In Another Country” plays Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Michigan Theater as part of the NAM Center for Korean Studies Korean Cinema Now series. Dan Fainaru of Screen Daily says “echoes of the French New Wave resound all through this cute, light-hearted three-part romantic romp, which reads like a series of vignettes inspired by the encounter of Isabelle Huppert and the people and landscapes of South Korea.” Admission is free!

You also only have a few days to catch screenings of the documentary film “A Place At The Table,” Academy Award winner “Amour,” and the continuation of the famed Up series “56 Up” before they leave downtown to make way for the Ann Arbor Film Festival.

Russ Collins is executive director of the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor. Tune in to the audio version of “Cinema Chat” on WEMU radio (89.1-FM) each Thursday at 7:40 a.m. and 5:40 p.m., or listen to it online at WEMU's web site.

Longtime Herb David Guitar Studio sells inventory quickly as it prepares to shut its doors

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Spencer Chako looks at acoustic guitars at Herb David Guitar Studio during their liquidation sale on Wednesday.

Courtney Sacco I AnnArbor.com

Efforts to liquidate inventory at Herb David Guitar Studio were in full-force Wednesday evening, after announcing Tuesday the store would be closing after 50 years of business at the corner of Fifth and Liberty streets, in Ann Arbor.

In the 24 hours following the announcement, customers have flocked to the store to swoop up instruments and accessories at a marked-down rate. By Wednesday evening, it appeared that nearly half of the guitars usually lining the southern wall of the studio were gone.

A customer walking through the shop asked about a Fender Jazzmaster and was told by an employee that it sold that morning.

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Aaron Smith looks over the banjo he has purchased during the Herb David Guitar Studio liquidation sale on Wednesday.

Courtney Sacco I AnnArbor.com

Of the remaining inventory, the most expensive items were marked down by $100 or more.

Adrian Smith said he and his daughter have taken lessons at the studio for five years and he bought both of their guitars from there.

"It's a shame," Smith said. "It's really an Ann Arbor institution."

Smith was playing a banjo that he was considering buying. Given the markdown, he said the deal might be too good to pass up.

Sean Rogers, the store's general manager, said even though the retail store is closing, he is hoping to rent the building's second floor so lessons can continue.

"I'm in the process negotiating with Herb and (his wife) Andrea, trying to figure out what they would want to rent the second floor to teach lessons out of," he said. "If it's going to happen, my hope would be to do it as soon as possible so there's not a lot of time for students to find other places to go or lose interest. I'd like to make it a clean transition."

The studio will officially close its doors on March 31.

Kody Klein is an intern for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at kklein@mlive.com

Washtenaw County sees modest population gains as Southeast Michigan recovers

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Washtenaw County’s population has been making modest gains throughout the past two years while the exodus of residents moving out of Southeast Michigan appears to be lessening, according to the most recent data released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

“(Southeast Michigan is) recovering faster than the national average in terms of job growth,” said Xuan Liu, manager of data analysis for the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. “The out migration has been slowed down.”

The county has seen a gain of about 5,500 people in the past two years: In July 2010, 345,350 people lived in Washtenaw County. The county’s population grew to 348,637 people by the following July, and to 350,946 by July 2012.

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Washtenaw County has seen a modest rise in population according to the Census Bureau.

Jeremy Peters | AnnArbor.com Contributor

The Census Bureau reports the net rate of people moving in and out of Washtenaw County was cut in half within the past year from that of the year before -- which could partially contribute to the state of the local housing market: Fewer sellers are putting their homes up for sale.

In Michigan as a whole, 9,877,670 lived in the state as of July 2010. One year later, that figure had dropped to 9,876,801. As of July 2012, 9,883,360 lived in Michigan. Rates of migration out of the state appear to be lessening, according to the census data.

Those figures include college students, as well as an estimate of undocumented immigrants, according to the Census Bureau.

From July 2010 to July 2012, there were 7,389 births in Washtenaw County and 4,073 deaths.

In that same time frame, the net international migration in to Washtenaw County from countries outside the U.S. was 3,376 people.

However, during that time the flux of people in and out of Washtenaw County to and from other counties within the U.S. resulted in a net loss of 1,024 people.

That trend is reflective throughout the more densely populated areas of Michigan: People moving in to the region from points outside the U.S. account for positive net increases in population, while movement of people out of the regions to other American cities accounts for a decrease.

“That’s pretty consistent with what we’ve been seeing,” Liu said.

Even during the robust 1990s Southeast Michigan was seeing more people move out of the region than move into it, Liu said. At that time, immigration continued to add people to the region's population, Liu said.

During the recession that hit in 2008, Southeast Michigan lost more people than it had in years past -- but the rate of international migration changed very little, Liu said.

The international immigrants that come to Southeast Michigan have a significantly higher advanced education level than that of the local population, Liu said, and are likely moving for job opportunities or additional education.

In 2012, 37,545 of the students enrolled at the University of Michigan were U.S. residents, and additional 5,881 students were non-U.S. residents.

Employment sectors like computer programmers and jobs in the technology field - which are hot areas for employment in the county and Southeast Michigan - have the ability to attract international talent, said Amy Cell, senior vice president of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

“Where there is that demand and local skill shortage, it’s a natural fit,” Cell said.

Other hot areas for employment in Southeast Michigan include engineering, skilled trade professions like welding, as well as in the full gamut of health care services.

“I think it’s an exiting time to come into southeast Michigan,” Cell said, noting that on the state’s employment website -- MiTalent.org -- there are about 64,000 job openings in the state.

Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.

Football brawl: Ann Arbor schools will ask prosecutor to drop charges against 3 teens

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Players fight in a post-game brawl at Pioneer High School on Oct. 12, 2012.

Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com

Previous coverage:

The Ann Arbor Board of Education passed a resolution Wednesday night asking County Prosecutor Brian Mackie to drop the criminal charges against the three Pioneer High School students involved in the October football brawl.

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Susan Baskett

The resolution, which was drafted by school board Trustee Susan Baskett, was approved 6-0. President Deb Mexicotte could not attend Wednesday's meeting.

"We ask that our students, when required to be accountable through the judicial system and thereby learn from their mistakes, be treated with compassion, fairness, equity, efficacy and respect for their ability to learn," the resolution states.

"We therefore recommend that Prosecuting Attorney Brian Mackie consider the best interests of the injured student, the students criminally charged and the community by re-evaluating the degree of criminalization of adolescent behaviors that may be better resolved through a greater emphasis on educational and developmentally appropriate measures relative to harsh charges and convictions."

The idea of a resolution was first brought up at the Feb. 27 school board meeting after a handful of community members spoke out in support of the three students who have been charged in the brawl, which occurred Oct. 12 between the Huron and Pioneer football teams after a heated exchange among coaches.

The community members alleged the students are being treated unfairly because they're black. They said the escalation of this fight to the court system is an example of the over-criminalization and over-charging of young African American males that exists in today's society.

Trustees Andy Thomas and Irene Patalan originally had "grave concerns" about the board passing a resolution and getting involved in what has become a legal matter. Both made minor suggestions for slightly altering the language of the resolution, which the board approved.

Thomas said he tried to listen with an open mind to the community's concerns, both during public comment on Feb. 27 and earlier Wednesday evening, asking the board to take action.

"I tried very hard to get to the point where I felt I could support a resolution such as this," he said.

"I, too, wanted to keep an open mind, knowing that the board wanted to bring forth this resolution," Patalan said. "I read this with an eye as being true of every student that we have. And with that eye, I was very happy with how this reads."

Trustee Glenn Nelson thanked Baskett for her "careful and thoughtful work" on the resolution.

"I'm happy to vote for it," he said.

Baskett said she talked to the community members who spoke at the Feb. 27 meeting prior to drafting the resolution and asked for their suggestions of what it should say.

Thomas added he wanted to clarify one thing and that is that the school district did not in any way make a referral of charges to police.

"The district played no part whatsoever in pursuing or suggesting or in any way stimulating the pressing of charges," he said, adding the police who were present at the football game filed a police report and followed their procedures just as they would with any incident outside of the school district.

Trustee Simone Lightfoot said while the district may not have initiated the charges, it did not attempt to mitigate them either.

"We did not make it clear to the penal system where we felt it should stay," she said, adding it should have stayed a school issue.

Read the complete resolution:

Resolution Requesting Compassion and Fair Treatment for All Involved in the Football Brawl Incident of October 12, 2012

WHEREAS, the mission of the Ann Arbor Public Schools is to ensure each student realizes his or her aspirations while advancing the common good, by creating a world-class system of innovative teaching and learning, and

WHEREAS, we consider all of our sponsored activities part of the educational environment, and

WHEREAS, we expect each student to demonstrate concern for self and others and

WHEREAS, the incident on October 12, 2012, commonly known as the 'football brawl,' resulted in the documented injury of one student and three students being criminally charged, and

WHEREAS, brain development of judgment, wisdom and logic is still developing, meaning adolescents are particularly subject to lasting harm from trauma and also particularly able to learn from mistakes, and

WHEREAS, we as a school district, take responsibility of helping everyone (students and adults) deal with trauma and learn from mistakes occurring in the educational environment from a developmentally appropriate standpoint, and

WHEREAS, the Huron High School Athletic Director and at least one Board of Education trustee, followed up with the injured player and his family with expressions of concern and offers of help, and

WHEREAS, the Ann Arbor Public Schools has done its investigation and taken disciplinary actions against adults and students, and

WHEREAS, we embrace the legitimate prosecutorial concerns about victims' rights and public safety, and

WHEREAS, the Prosecuting Attorney has considerable discretion in prosecutorial decisions, and

WHEREAS, we understand a criminal conviction can greatly harm a student's future, for example, negatively affect his or her ability to obtain school loans, be accepted into some school programs, advance in a career, and obtain licensing in some employment areas.

THEREFORE, we ask that our students, when required to be accountable through the judicial system and thereby learn from their mistakes, be treated with compassion, fairness, equity, efficacy, and respect for their ability to learn, and

WE THEREFORE RECOMMEND that the Prosecuting Attorney, Brian Mackie, consider the best interests of the injured student, the students criminally charged and the community by re-evaluating the degree of criminalization of adolescent behaviors that may be better resolved through a greater emphasis on educational and developmentally appropriate measures relative to harsh charges and convictions.

Below is a video recording of the incident that prompted the charges. It was published on Dec. 18.

Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.

Ann Arbor principals union: Reconfigure school buildings and reduce Green's salary by $50,000

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Closing the Balas Administration Building, selling it and cutting some central office staff were among recommendations the Ann Arbor principals union made to the Board of Education Wednesday night.

AnnArbor.com file photo

Building closures, redistricting, selling property to the University of Michigan, opening the teachers union contract and rescinding cabinet members raises were among 31 recommendations the Ann Arbor principals union presented at Wednesday's Board of Education meeting.

The recommendations come one week after Superintendent Patricia Green said she would not be recommending building closures or redistricting for the 2013-14 academic year. The second-year superintendent said it would take 18 months to properly assess and prepare for considering school closures.

Green said her staff is working on action plans for how to approach redistricting but that the measure would not be considered any earlier than the 2014-15 budget cycle.

But redistricting was the primary component of the recommendations co-president Michael Madison gave to the school board and central administrators Wednesday on behalf of the Ann Arbor Administrators Association.

The AAAA is comprised of about 50 principals, assistant principals and other building leaders in the Ann Arbor Public Schools. Madison said 75 percent or more of the union members supported the recommendations, which the group collectively asked district administration to "strongly consider" for the 2013-14 academic year.

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Michael Madison

AAPS faces budget reductions of $17 to $20 million, and finance officials currently are in the processing of costing out a number of potential cuts.

Elementary principal sharing was on the most recent list of potential reductions. This move would eliminate an estimated 10 individuals or about 21 percent of all of the district's principals, according to recent budget documents. It would save an estimated $1 million.

Other possible reductions that could impact the AAAA would be salary reductions. District officials have expressed looking at 1-percent pay cuts across the board — all departments and positions — with the superintendent herself pledging to take a pay cut.

The AAAA leadership didn't address these specific potential reductions Wednesday night. But the recommendations did come on the heels of yet another unusual move from the generally quiet, behind-the-scenes union.

Earlier on Wednesday, the AAAA issued a public statement on administrators' salaries. The statement was published on AnnArbor.com.

Madison called the statement "a rarity in the past decade," but stressed a need to inform the public in light of the "massive financial reduction" the district is facing.

"This reduction will result in programming cuts that will certainly change the 'look and feel' of the district and impact the students and families that we serve every day," the AAAA statement said.

It highlighted that central administrators — the superintendent and her immediate cabinet — have received pay raises in spite of the economic downturn throughout the past two years, while AAAA members have experienced reductions in pay through local, state and federal mandates, as well as increased health care and pension costs.

The principals union called for the community to look for more sustainable measures for budget cuts.

Among those cuts that Madison presented Wednesday were rescinding the raises cabinet members received. The union also called Green to reduce her $245,000 salary by $50,000 — the equivalent of a 20.4 percent cut.

Green said after the school board meeting that Madison's presentation was the first she and her staff had heard the recommendations. She said administration would look at the items and take them into consideration.

"We like it when people give us ideas," she said.

Five of the ideas from the AAAA involved major building reconfigurations:

  • Redistrict to save on transportation costs. It was noted at a December school board meeting that some students, for example at Burns Park, are bused past multiple elementaries en route to school every day.
  • Take the elementary buildings and created grade-level targeted schools for K-2 and 3-4. This will restructure everyone and no one neighborhood will feel targeted, Madison said.
  • Sell Angell Elementary School to the University of Michigan.
  • Move the Roberto Clemente alternative high school program into a current underutilized elementary building that would become available through redistricting. Sell the existing Roberto building.
  • Decentralize central administration by placing staff in buildings throughout the district. Sell the vacant Balas Administration Building to U-M or to an investor for business use.

Balas staff was the target of several additional recommendations from the principals union. The union asked school officials to look at how many central office personnel were hired in the past 12 months and to "determine if they are really needed."

AAAA called for eliminating Deputy Superintendent for Human Resources David Comsa's position. Comsa was one of two cabinet members who received a raise in December 2011. The other was Deputy Superintendent for Operations Robert Allen, who recently left the district to take a job in North Carolina. Green has said she will not be refilling Allen's position.

Madison did urge Green to refill the district's two open principal positions as soon as possible. Because of the administrator cuts that could be on the horizon with elementary principal sharing as a possible budget reduction, the union encouraged the district to promote from within. Madison said he'd like to see AAAA members fill the vacant spots at Skyline High School and Clague Middle School "before bringing in more members from the outside."

The Skyline position was opened Tuesday to AAAA members.

Skyline Principal Sulura Jackson will leave AAPS in June to take a position in North Carolina, and former Clague Middle School Principal Cindy Leaman now serves as the principal of Pioneer High School. Former Pioneer Principal Michael White retired at the end of the last school year to take a job out of state. Leaman was selected in December as White's successor.

At the Feb. 27 meeting, it was made known that the Ann Arbor Public Schools is $2.5 million in debt for the current school year because of needing 29 more staff members than it planned for during the budget process. Twenty-four of those staff were teacher assistants that were required either for high student-teacher ratios in classrooms or for special needs students' Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), school officials said.

The Ann Arbor principals association strongly encouraged Wednesday that the administration examine the number of TA positions within the district and ascertain whether they are strictly being used for special education purposes.

Madison said full-time TAs are not always needed and ancillary assignments often are given to these TAs to fill up the TAs' time. He said some TAs could work with multiple special education students.

Madison also said Ann Arbor needs to prevent TAs from working when there are no students in session. He said AAPS is the only district that does this.

The AAAA also recommended eliminating all district coordinators, such as the volunteer coordinator; one of Ann Arbor's three assistant superintendents; and subject area department chairpersons to also further reduce central office staff.

Other new recommendations included:

  • Eliminate paper copies of student report cards.
  • Stagger start times for schools to reduce transportation costs by sharing drivers.
  • Add five to 10 minutes to each school day and end school two to three weeks early to save transportation and building operation costs.
  • Privatize grounds maintenance, such as snow removal and lawn care service.
  • Eliminate instructional service "luxuries," such as the U-M world languages program for third- and fourth-graders and the Partners for Excellence program that pairs schools with area businesses and organizations "to increase community involvement in the schools, enhance classroom learning and provide assistance with school improvement projects," according to the program's website.
  • Allow schools to send home "suggested supply lists" with students.
  • Eliminate the director of technology position and promote someone from within to assume the role with an additional $25,000 in salary.
  • Eliminate elementary noon-hour supervisors and replace with required teacher supervision.
  • Open the Ann Arbor Education Association contract and cut excessive language.
  • Reduce the number of substitute days given to teachers to a total of 10 per year and give incentive pay to teachers when they retire ($45 per day) for sub days not used.
  • Freeze all new hiring and promote from within.

Of the potential budget reductions already costed out and looked at by district officials, the AAAA affirmed one of the possible reductions: cutting seventh-hour at the high schools for a savings of $500,000.

The AAAA also recommended eliminating late busing at the middle schools. However, this busing is no longer paid for by the Ann Arbor school district.

The school board cut late busing, which is for transporting students home from sports practices and after-school activities, during last year's budget process. But this service was restored due to donations from both the Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop and the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation.

Eliminating fifth-grade instrumental music is on the district administration's list of potential cuts for a savings of $500,000. The AAAA recommended instead moving the instrumental music program to sixth grade. It is not clear how this would impact the potential cost savings.

"Make no mistake about it," Madison said following his presentation of the group's recommendations. "When the dust settles, ... it will be the responsibility of the members of quad-A to greet parents and to greet staff. ... We will reassure all that everything will be OK."

Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.

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