News@Noon: Obama visits Flint, DPS teachers back
Today is Wednesday, May 4, 2016, and President Barack Obama arrived in Flint this morning. POTUS is expected to hold a press briefing, participate in a roundtable with city community members, deliver some public remarks, and meet with Gov. Rick Snyder – all before hopping aboard Air Force One this evening.
Question of the day: What exactly should Snyder ask from the president during their meeting? Is it just for show, or are you hopeful that the pair will develop some solutions to the city’s water crisis?
Obama’s visit aside, here’s what else you need to know today:
Back to school
Detroit Public School teachers are back in their classrooms today after two days of sickouts, prompted by threats that teacher paychecks would dry up after June 30. Detroit Federation of Teachers interim president Ivy Bailey received a letter from district Emergency Manager Steven Rhodes, who assured that checks would continue through the summer.
Appling arraignment
Ex-MSU guard Keith Appling will be arraigned at 2:30 today in 19th District Court on a felony and two misdemeanor charges in connection with an weapons incident Sunday at a Dearborn club, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office said Wednesday. Police say Appling, 24, was behind the wheel of a car in which police found a handgun under the driver’s seat, a small amount of what they believe to be marijuana, and a loaded weapon in the trunk.
Headed to the polls
Donald Trump, once dismissed as a fringe contender, said Wednesday “I am confident I can unite much of” the GOP on NBC’s “Today Show, a day after he won Indiana's primary became all-but-certainly the leader of the Republican Party into the fall campaign against Democrat Hillary Clinton. The former secretary of state suffered a defeat Tuesday in Indiana to her rival, Bernie Sanders, but holds a definitive lead in Democratic delegates. Ted Cruz made an abrupt departure from the race last night.
Crime updates
Federal agents said they’ve arrested a man suspected of spraying Ann Arbor-area food with a poisonous mixture of hand sanitizer, water and mice poison. Health officials believe the concoction won’t cause adverse effects on individuals who have eaten the food; however, experts advise people to throw away any remaining food that may have been sprayed.
The body of a 21-year-old Troy woman missing for over a week was found last night in a Hazel Park home, police said. An autopsy is scheduled for later today.
Play ball…but at what time?
The Tigers have no plans to alter first-pitch schedules, despite other big-league towns lately who have experimented with earlier starting times, writes Lynn Henning. Sorry, kids.
Regardless of start-time, star pitcher Justin Verlander needs to rediscover his groove after a rough outing yesterday against the Cleveland Indians. The Tigers were obliterated, 7-3.
Meanwhile, the Pisons have their own maneuvering to do. The team is looking to score a long-term commitment from all-star center Andre Drummond, says John Niyo. The player is scheduled to be a free agent in July.
Lighter side: An Avenger 'Civil War'
“Captain America: Civil War” hits theaters May 6, and it will be well worth your time, according to Detroit News movie critic Adam Graham. “A house divided stand tall,” Graham writes about the movie, featuring a dozen superheroes picking sides over whether the heroes should answer to “collateral damage” caused by their epic, all-out fight scenes.