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  • Duggan goes silent on ICE as public backlash over raids grows

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    Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who is running as an independent gubernatorial candidate, is refusing to say how he would handle federal immigration enforcement if elected governor, even as public opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement is surging nationwide.

    After Metro Times submitted six detailed questions about how a Duggan administration would approach ICE policy, the campaign declined to answer any of them. Instead, campaign spokeswoman Andrea Bitely responded generically.

    “Mayor Duggan’s position on ICE has been articulated repeatedly,” she said in a statement. “He has not wavered in his position in 12 years. As Governor, Mayor Duggan will deal with each circumstance as it arises and will act to protect the people of Michigan and make sure the law is enforced fairly and consistently.”

    The response did not address whether Duggan would support limits on ICE arrests at schools, restrict how state agencies share information with federal immigration authorities, block state property from being used as detention centers, oppose the use of state police at ICE raids, or set boundaries if President Donald Trump sought expanded operations in Michigan.

    The refusal comes as ICE enforcement has become one of the most polarizing issues of the 2026 governor’s race. Duggan, a longtime Democrat, has shifted his rhetoric to court Trump voters. 

    His campaign has also raked in a lot of Republican cash and outside dark money. A sizable share of his fundraising came from Trump, GOP party leaders, and conservative power brokers with vested interests in state policy. 

    Nationally, residents are growing increasingly opposed to ICE following the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed by federal immigration agents in Minnesota. Sixty-five percent of Americans now say ICE has “gone too far” in enforcing immigration laws, an 11-point jump since last summer, according to the latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll. Six in 10 disapprove of the job ICE is doing, and nearly the same share say the agency is making Americans less safe. A 59% majority also say mass protests against ICE are mostly legitimate.

    The shift is being driven largely by independents and Democrats, while Trump’s approval rating stands at 39%, with 56% disapproving and 51% strongly disapproving, the Marist poll found.

    Duggan’s unwillingness to propose any limits on enforcement could have serious consequences if he’s elected and ICE steps up actions in Michigan. 

    In the first 10 months of 2025, ICE arrested more than 2,300 immigrants in Michigan, according to the Deportation Data Project, which obtains arrest data through Freedom of Information Act requests and lawsuits. That figure is nearly triple the number of arrests made in all of 2024, when Joe Biden was president. Most of the immigrants arrested by ICE under Trump did not have a criminal record. Some were as young as four years old. 

    Immigration advocates are also warning that ICE is getting crueler and more deceptive in Michigan to increase the number of deportations. 

    In June 2025, Detroit police assisted ICE during a raid on the city’s west side, where armed federal agents stormed a home and officers pepper-sprayed and arrested protesters. Duggan’s administration later said Detroit police must honor ICE detainers when someone is already in local custody, and city officials defended the department’s role in managing demonstrators at the scene.

    Duggan, who left office at the end of the year, has not condemned those operations. Instead, he has repeatedly emphasized cooperation with federal immigration authorities and argued that Detroit avoids problems with the Trump administration by not interfering with ICE. In September 2025, Duggan said the city was not “drawing the kind of controversy other cities are” because it does not interfere with enforcement.

    His language has also hardened. At a Detroit Regional Chamber event in January 2025, Duggan said, “If you are in this country illegally, we should not be shielding you from ICE and federal enforcement, and the city of Detroit does not. We’re not a sanctuary city.”

    That rhetoric marks a significant shift over previous years. In April 2022, Duggan proudly declared that Detroit was the state’s first “Certified Welcoming” city and highlighted refugee resettlement.

    “We are thrilled Detroit has achieved the status of becoming a ‘Certified Welcoming’ city,” Duggan said in a statement at the time. “This designation is recognition that our city is intentional in its efforts to make sure our valued immigrant neighbors can access every opportunity our city offers. Detroiters are welcoming by their nature, and now know their city government supports them with policies and practices that ensure equitable access for all its residents, in all aspects of our society.”

    Now Duggan won’t even address what he’d do about immigration enforcement if elected governor. It’s part of a broader refusal to take positions that would anger Trump supporters. 

    In November 2025, appearing on WXYZ’s Spotlight on the News, Duggan declined to say whether Trump’s threats of jailing and executing political opponents had gone too far. That includes remarks directed at Democratic lawmakers such as U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan. 

    “I’ve stayed out of these national debates,” Duggan said. “I’m not going to get involved in the national debate.”

    At the time, his campaign argued that he was running for state office, not federal office. But immigration enforcement has become a state issue in practice, as ICE operations routinely rely on state and local law enforcement, access to facilities, and information sharing.

    Duggan’s campaign insists he has not changed his views, only his party affiliation. But by declining to answer what authority a Michigan governor should use to limit cooperation with ICE, whether schools and state facilities should be shielded from enforcement actions, or how he would respond to expanded federal operations, Duggan is leaving voters without clear answers on how he would use his power if elected.

    The 2026 governor’s race is shaping up to be extremely tight, with early polling showing Republican John James at 34%, Democrat Jocelyn Benson at 32%, and Duggan at 26%. The survey suggests Duggan is gaining traction and could hurt Democrats.

    The post Duggan goes silent on ICE as public backlash over raids grows appeared first on Detroit Metro Times.

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    Steve Neavling

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  • BREAKING: Detroit Tigers/Tarik Skubal Receive in Arbitration Case

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    The Detroit Tigers have officially received their answer, and it’s a historic one.

    According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, Tarik Skubal has won his arbitration case, securing a $32 million salary for the 2026 season instead of the $19 million figure submitted by the Tigers.

    With the ruling, Skubal becomes the highest-paid arbitration player in MLB history, surpassing the previous record set by Juan Soto. It’s a massive win for the Tigers’ ace and a defining moment in what has already been one of the most eventful offseasons in franchise history.

    A Historic Decision for an Elite Ace

    Skubal entered arbitration as a back-to-back American League Cy Young winner, and his camp made it clear they believed his value had already reached the very top of the market. The arbitration panel agreed.

    The $32 million award reflects not only Skubal’s dominance on the mound, but also his importance to a Tigers team that has made it clear it wants to win now, not rebuild.

    Timing Matters — And This Was Huge

    The ruling comes less than 24 hours after Detroit agreed to a three-year, $115 million deal with Framber Valdez, a move that instantly elevated expectations for the 2026 season.

    Around the league, rival executives quickly began asking whether a Skubal trade could follow. However, the Tigers have repeatedly insisted that Skubal remains central to their plans, even with his now-record-setting salary.

    While arbitration cases can sometimes strain relationships, Detroit’s recent spending spree sends a clear message: the organization is willing to absorb the cost to keep elite talent at the top of its rotation.

    What This Means Going Forward

    Skubal remains under team control through the 2026 season, and now he’ll headline a rotation alongside Valdez, giving Detroit one of the most intimidating left-handed duos in all of baseball.

    The Tigers didn’t blink — and neither did Skubal.

    This decision solidifies Detroit’s commitment to competing immediately and underscores just how valuable their ace has become across Major League Baseball.

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    Jeff Bilbrey

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  • Who entered Epstein’s jail tier the night of his death? Newly released video logs appear to contradict official accounts.

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    Newly released Department of Justice documents show that investigators reviewing surveillance footage from the night of Jeffrey Epstein’s death observed an orange-colored shape moving up a staircase toward the isolated, locked tier where his cell was located at approximately 10:39 p.m. on Aug. 9, 2019.

    That entry in an observation log of the video from the Metropolitan Correctional Center appears to suggest something previously unreported by authorities: “A flash of orange looks to be going up the L Tier stairs — could possibly be an inmate escorted up to that Tier.”

    It also appears, according to an FBI memorandum, that reviews by investigators led to disparate conclusions by the FBI and those examining the same video from the Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General. 

    The FBI log describes the fuzzy image as “possibly an inmate.” 

    FBI analysis of video footage describes a fuzzy orange image on the stairs leading to Epstein’s cell tier as “possibly an inmate.” 

    Document released by Department of Justice


    The inspector general logs it as an officer carrying orange “linen or bedding,” noting it in their final report as “an unidentified [corrections officer].” 

    oig-2.jpg

    The DOJ Office of Inspector General’s analysis of video footage describes a fuzzy orange image on the stairs leading to Epstein’s cell tier as: “it is possible someone is carrying inmate linen or bedding up the stairs.”

    Document released by Department of Justice


    The final report by the Inspector General stated: “At approximately 10:39 p.m., an unidentified CO appeared to walk up the L Tier stairway, and then reappeared within view of the camera at 10:41 p.m.”  

    Official reports state that Epstein died by suicide some time before 6:30 a.m., when his body was discovered by a corrections officer delivering his breakfast. No official time of death was ever determined. In recent months, there have been questions about the work of investigators probing the circumstances of his death.

    In an in-depth analysis of surveillance video from the jail,  CBS News previously reported on the figure on the stairs and consulted independent video analysts who said the movement was more consistent with an inmate — or someone wearing an orange prison uniform — than a corrections officer.

    The new records raise more questions about activity near Epstein’s tier late that evening. Official reviews of Epstein’s death make no mention of the figure in orange, and later pronouncements from authorities including the attorney general at the time, Bill Barr, were  that no one entered Epstein’s housing tier the night of his death. Last summer in an interview on “Fox & Friends,” then-deputy FBI director Dan Bongino said, “There’s video clear as day, he’s the only person in there and the only person coming out. You can see it.” 

    Prison employees interviewed by CBS News said escorting an inmate at that hour would have been highly unusual. The identification of the individual could have been crucial to reconstructing the events, given that the sighting occurred within the estimated window of Epstein’s possible time of death.

    The staircase leading to his cell tier was captured by the only camera known to have been recording that night, positioned in a way that partially obscured the approach to Epstein’s tier. Government investigators relied heavily on that footage in reconstructing the timeline of events. But because of the camera angle, it was not possible to rule out whether someone could have climbed the stairs and entered the tier without being clearly visible. CBS News’ analysis of that video found additional contradictions between what the video showed and official statements. 

    06-orange-blob-screengrab.jpg

    This image from the video — zoomed in and highlighted by CBS News – shows a partial view of something orange on the stairs leading to Jeffrey Epstein’s cell tier. 

    U.S. Bureau of Prisons


    Inside the SHU

    Thousands of pages released last week as part of a broader Justice Department disclosure of Epstein-related files, totaling more than 3 million documents, provide additional detail about the hours between the evening of Aug. 9, when Epstein was last seen alive on camera, and the discovery of his body the following morning.

    Records and interviews describe a largely quiet night inside the Special Housing Unit, or SHU, where Epstein was being held. Several inmates told investigators they were using drugs inside their cells, including marijuana and K2, a synthetic substance that multiple witnesses said was common on the tier.

    Among those interviewed were the two corrections officers assigned to the unit that night, Tova Noel and Ghitto Bonhomme, a materials handler who had not previously been publicly identified. Documents show Bonhomme was interviewed twice in September 2019 in sessions conducted in lieu of a grand jury subpoena.

    According to Noel’s account, Bonhomme had been working multiple consecutive shifts and slept while on duty for a period between approximately 10 p.m. and midnight. 

    Investigators also questioned Noel about an unexplained change in the recorded number of inmates in the SHU, which appeared to drop from 73 to 72 sometime between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. Noel said she was “probably” mistaken about the discrepancy and told investigators she had no memory of a count changing.

    Neither officer was specifically asked about the orange-colored figure noted in the video observation log. Bonhomme told investigators he did not remember the period between 10 p.m. and midnight and said he had no recollection of anyone walking up the stairs toward Epstein’s tier at around 10:30 p.m. He added that a jail employee entering a tier alone would have violated policy.

    A separate internal presentation included in the document release described a corrections officer, believed by investigators to be Noel, carrying linen or inmate clothing up to the tier. The 2023 inspector general report did not identify Noel as the figure seen in the footage. In her interview, Noel told investigators distributing linen was not part of her duties. “I never gave out linen. Ever,” she said. “Because that’s done on the shift prior.”

    An early morning discovery

    Bonhomme ended his shift at midnight and was replaced by another corrections officer named Michael Thomas, who would discover Epstein’s body hours later. Noel continued on for a second consecutive 8-hour shift. 

    Thomas and Noel failed to complete inmate counts at 3 a.m., and 5 a.m. as well as mandatory 30-minute wellness checks of Epstein. Investigators speculated the officers may have fallen asleep. 

    Thomas and Noel were later charged with falsifying records certifying the inmate counts had been completed. Federal prosecutors eventually dropped the charges in exchange for cooperation agreements that included interviews. A transcript of Thomas’ interview, conducted two years after Epstein’s death and released in the recent document disclosure, shows significant gaps in his recollection of the morning Epstein was found.

    Thomas told investigators he discovered Epstein in his cell shortly after 6:30 a.m. on Aug.10 and that he “ripped” Epstein down from the hanging position.

    Investigators asked what happened to the noose. 

    “I don’t recall taking the noose off. I really don’t,” he replied. “I don’t recall taking the thing from around his neck.”

    Noel, who remained standing at the cell entrance, told investigators she saw Thomas lower Epstein to the floor but did not see a noose around his neck.

    The noose Epstein allegedly used has never been definitively identified. According to the inspector general’s report, a noose collected at the scene was later determined not to be the ligature used in Epstein’s death.

    Thomas also described Epstein as shirtless when he found him. Evidence records indicate a shirt believed to have been cut from Epstein’s body was later returned from the hospital in a bag of personal belongings. 

    path-evidence-019.jpg

    Evidence records indicate a shirt believed to have been cut from Epstein’s body was later returned from the hospital in a bag of personal belongings. 

    Released by Department of Justice


    The new documents also show that New York City’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner reviewed the jail surveillance footage six days after Epstein’s death as part of its investigation and concluded the video was too blurry to identify any individuals. Hours later, the office publicly ruled Epstein’s death a suicide. The medical examiner did not provide an estimate of how long Epstein may have been dead before his body was discovered. CBS News had previously reported on the office’s unorthodox handling of the crime scene. 

    Dr. Michael Baden, a forensic pathologist retained by Epstein’s brother, previously told CBS News Epstein had likely been dead for several hours before he was found but because the body had been moved, determining the time of death was impossible.

    Bonhomme declined to comment when contacted by CBS News. Noel’s attorney told CBS News, “Ms. Noel will not be making any statements [or] attempts to clarify any aspect of this situation.” Previous attempts to reach Michael Thomas on the phone, through his attorney and at his home, have been unsuccessful. 

    Cara Tabachnick

    contributed to this report.

    In:

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  • Judge raises concerns that Leland House tenants in Detroit were excluded from bankruptcy case

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    A federal bankruptcy judge on Wednesday raised serious concerns about whether displaced tenants of Detroit’s historic Leland House were ever given proper notice or a meaningful opportunity to participate in court proceedings that affect what happens to their homes and their belongings.

    U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Maria Oxholm adjourned a hearing on residents’ request to reconsider a court order allowing only moving contractors, rather than the tenants, to enter the 22-story building at 400 Bagley St. to remove personal property. The court set the matter for further proceedings on Feb. 24, with Oxholm saying she was not prepared to rule and noting concerns that tenants have not been included in the case.

    Patrick Foley, an attorney representing residents through the Leland House Tenants Union, argued on behalf of tenants, saying there was fundamental notice and due process failures. He told the court that an earlier December order authorized bankruptcy funds for repairs and utility stabilization, but that a Jan. 13 order, which was entered without notice to tenants, redirected those funds toward removing residents’ belongings instead.

    Foley argued that the shift was a major change in the direction of the case and occurred without tenants being served or given an opportunity to be heard.

    “Yesterday’s ruling is a major victory for the Leland House residents,” Donovan McCarty, director of the Housing Justice Clinic at Michigan State University’s College of Law, which is helping represent tenants, said in a statement to Metro Times. “Judge Oxholm affirmed what they’ve been saying all along: they deserve a seat at the table in these bankruptcy proceedings. The residents are deeply disappointed by the City of Detroit. From the very beginning, they asked the City to intervene on their behalf. Instead, the City has not only refused to help, but has actively obstructed their efforts, going so far as to characterize their motion as frivolous. Thankfully, the court did not see it that way.”

    When counsel for the building’s owner defended the notice process, the judge asked whether tenants had been included at all. Under questioning, the owner’s lawyer conceded on the record that tenants had not been listed, scheduled, or served in the bankruptcy proceedings. The attorney then suggested that some residents had consented to having their belongings removed through informal agreements, a claim Foley disputed later in the hearing, saying tenants’ attorneys are not aware of any such pacts and that none has been presented to them.

    The city of Detroit opposed the tenants’ motion and took a hard line during the hearing, characterizing the request as frivolous and arguing that residents cannot be allowed back into the historic building. 

    The city’s position has not changed since Mayor Mary Sheffield became mayor on Jan. 1. Previously, then-Mayor Mike Duggan, who has received tens of thousands of dollars in political donations from DTE Energy, declined to support the tenants’ rights.

    City attorneys also told the court that some residents had to be carried out during the December evacuation, a claim that Foley emphatically denied, telling the court that no one was carried out.

    DTE Energy, which remains involved in the case because of ongoing utility and repair issues, told the court that partial power could be restored for roughly $70,000. The disclosure came as tenants’ attorneys argued that limited, supervised access for residents is being blocked. 

    The U.S. Trustee, a federal watchdog in bankruptcy cases, also addressed the court and said it has serious concerns about the lack of financial transparency in the case and how debtor-in-possession funds have been handled and redirected.

    On rebuttal, Foley told the court that there is no coherent distinction between barring tenants from entering the building while allowing moving crews inside under temporary lighting and insurance coverage. He argued that safety and insurance concerns are being used to block residents from entering the building, even though temporary lighting and limited, supervised access could be arranged at minimal cost. 

    Foley also argued that no private agreement or informal workaround can make up for the fact that tenants were never notified before key decisions were made.

    At the close of the hearing, Oxholm declined to rule against the tenants and formally recognized their role going forward. She directed Foley to meet with the owner, the city, DTE, and other parties to attempt to reach a resolution before the case returns to court on Feb. 24. She also expressed concern about the lack of notice to tenants and their exclusion from the proceedings.

    The hearing came days after Oxholm halted a proposed fast-track auction of the Leland House and an adjacent parking lot, rejecting the owner’s attempt to quickly sell the property while multiple disputes over tenant rights remain unresolved.

    Residents were forced out of the building in December after an electrical equipment failure knocked out power, heat and elevators. Tenants said they were told at the time that the displacement would be temporary and that they would be able to access their apartments to retrieve their belongings. Instead, they have remained locked out as the bankruptcy case moves forward.

    Leland House filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Nov. 3, more than two years after the death of the building’s longtime owner, Michael Higgins, in 2023.

    After Wednesday’s hearing, Luis Ramirez, a representative for the building’s ownership, issued a statement on the case.

    “We understand how important residents’ personal belongings are,” he said. “We are working closely with the City of Detroit, the Detroit Fire Department, the court and residents to establish a safe process that will allow them to retrieve their belongings, and we hope that process is finalized soon.”

    The post Judge raises concerns that Leland House tenants in Detroit were excluded from bankruptcy case appeared first on Detroit Metro Times.

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    Steve Neavling

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  • Should We Get A Tank? (Plus 3 Stories Around Town)

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    On your Daily Detroit, we learned that owning a tank is apparently legal in Michigan. Should we get one?

    Plus, Detroit’s the City of the Year, Michigan Central has a new thing, and we open the floor to your ideas for attracting more career-aged and younger people to choose Michigan.

    03:45 – Should we get a tank?

    07:00 – Detroit is the City of the Year

    09:56 – New Thing at Michigan Central

    12:08 – How do we get more career-aged people to choose or stay in Michigan?

    Feedback as always – dailydetroit -at- gmail -dot- com or leave a voicemail 313-789-3211.

    Follow Daily Detroit on Apple Podcasts or sign up for our newsletter.

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    Norris Howard

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  • Opinion: Kid Rock is no replacement for Bad Bunny

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    Bad Bunny is one of the biggest acts in the world right now. The Puerto Rican rapper was 2025’s most-streamed artist on Spotify, and this week made Grammy Awards history by winning the first-ever Spanish-language album of the year. So it was no surprise for many music fans when it was announced in September that Bad Bunny would serve as the halftime show entertainment for Super Bowl LX on Sunday. 

    “What we really look at first and foremost is who’s the right artist for that moment,” NFL senior vice president and global head of major events Jon Barker said at the time. “And we absolutely 100 percent believe and know that Bad Bunny is the right artist for this moment, for this show. We’re already successful, having Bad Bunny a part of it.”

    Some conservatives disagreed, with the group Turning Point USA announcing in October that it would host its own shadow halftime show. Dubbed “The All-American Halftime Show,” the group promised its counterprogramming would be “celebrating faith, family & freedom.” It dropped its full lineup earlier this week, featuring former Michigan man Kid Rock and a variety of other county performers, including Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert and Gabby Barrett.

    “We’re approaching this show like David and Goliath,” Kid Rock said in a statement. “Competing with the pro football machine and a global pop superstar is almost impossible…or is it?” The show will air around the Super Bowl halftime on the Turning Point USA YouTube channel and outlets like right-wing One America News and the Christian TV network Trinity Broadcasting Network.

    A since-deleted LinkedIn post by Tim Gortsema, president of the Grand Rapids Griffins professional hockey team, illuminated the appeal behind The All-American Halftime Show to some.

    “What I won’t be watching will be this year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show featuring Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny,” he wrote. “Specifically, I do not believe he models proper behavior for our youth, and I take issue with his crossdressing and sexually explicit lyrics (even if most of his songs are in Spanish.) Overall, I just think the NFL missed the mark with this year’s halftime show. In a nation that is already divided, the selection of Bad Bunny reinforces and widens this current divide.”

    Bad Bunny has been critical of President Donald Trump, dissing him in his 2020 track “Compositor Del Año” as “un presidente mamabicho que no hace un pito” (“a useless president who doesn’t do a damn thing”). During his Grammy Award acceptance speeches, Bad Bunny criticized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and dedicated his win to “all the people who had to leave their homeland, their country to follow their dreams.” (The Super Bowl opening ceremony will feature punk band Green Day, who have also been critical of Trump.)

    Gortsema continued, “I’m not saying the halftime performer needs to be MAGA or Pro-Trump. Instead, I would have liked the performer to at least be Pro-America. Despite our Nation’s flaws, I still believe that we are privileged to live in the greatest country on the planet.”

    Apparently Gortsema and others are unaware that Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, meaning that Puerto Ricans are considered U.S. citizens. (However, they are disenfranchised from federal elections and do not pay federal income taxes. In referendums Puerto Ricans have repeatedly voted in favor of becoming a U.S. state, but it’s up to the U.S. Congress to make that happen.)

    And Kid Rock is laughable as a role model, drunkenly slurring as he ranted about Oprah Winfrey in his Nashville bar, shooting cases of Bud Light beer to protest its ad campaign with a transgender woman, and performing a song about raping girls in his 2001 track “Cool Daddy Cool”, singing, “Young ladies, young ladies, I like ’em underage, see/ Some say that’s statutory/ But I say it’s mandatory.”

    It’s understandable that some Anglophones may be turned off by a Spanish-language act, but let’s remind that the lyrics to Kid Rock’s most famous song are: “Bawitdaba, da-bang, da-bang/ diggy-diggy-diggy said the boogie/ said up drop the boogie.” Whatever that means!

    By the way, the U.S. is the second-largest Spanish-speaking country in the world.

    The people organizing and tuning into “The All-American Halftime Show” are the ones who are being divisive and un-American, rejecting an artist because they are from a different culture. The “real America” is a multiracial melting pot, and people should be more open-minded.

    The Super Bowl LX starts at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, where the Seattle Seahawks will take on the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. It is available to watch on NBC, Telemundo, and Universo.

    The post Opinion: Kid Rock is no replacement for Bad Bunny appeared first on Detroit Metro Times.

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    Lee DeVito

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  • National Fart Day is Real

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    February 5th is National Fart Day, and yes, that is officially a thing. Somewhere out there, someone looked at the calendar and said, “You know what deserves recognition? Passing gas.” And honestly, they weren’t wrong.

    Farting is one of the few things every single human being does, no matter their age, job, or musical taste. Rock stars, athletes, CEOs, and radio hosts all have one thing in common. They’ve all let one rip when they thought no one was listening.

    In honor of this day, honoring the booty blast, here are a few fun, slightly ridiculous facts to impress your friends. Or at least make them laugh.

    Fart Day Facts about Flatulence

    The average person farts about 10 to 20 times a day. That means most of us are quietly setting personal records without even realizing it. Multiply that by a lifetime, and you’ve got a whole lot of “silent but deadly” moments.

    Cheek squeaks are made mostly of odorless gases like nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. The smell comes from tiny amounts of sulfur-containing gases. In other words, it only takes a little bit of stink to make a big impression.

    Believe it or not, holding in a fart isn’t always a good idea. Doctors say it can cause bloating and discomfort. So technically, letting it out might be the healthier choice. You’re welcome for that excuse.

    Some foods are famous for causing extra gas. Beans get all the attention, but broccoli, onions, dairy, soda, and even apples can join the party. Basically, eating healthy sometimes comes with side effects.

    There is actually a fear of farting in public. It’s called flatuphobia. If you’ve ever sat in a quiet room praying your stomach wouldn’t betray you, congratulations. You’re not alone.

    Did you know there are at least 50 different words or phrases for the word “fart”? Check out the list at huffpost.com.

    And now, the greatest movie fart scene of all time:

    Donielle Flynn has two kids, two cats, two dogs, and a love of all things rock. She’s been in radio decades and held down top-rated day parts at Detroit, Philadelphia, and Washington DC radio stations throughout her tenure. She enjoys writing about rock news, the Detroit community, and she has a series called “The Story Behind” where she researches the history of classic rock songs.

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    Donielle Flynn

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  • Report: Detroit Tigers Make One Thing Clear After Signing Framber Valdez

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    Within minutes of the Detroit Tigers landing Framber Valdez on a record-setting free-agent deal, the question everyone around baseball immediately asked was the same one fans were whispering at home:

    Does this mean Tarik Skubal is gone?

    According to the Tigers, the answer is a firm no.

    Despite a dramatic, chaotic, and historic night that included arbitration drama, a massive contract, and league-wide shockwaves, Detroit has made one thing clear: they are still all-in on winning with Tarik Skubal in 2026.

    The Question That Sparked the Speculation

    Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that a rival executive wasted no time wondering aloud whether Detroit would flip Skubal if he won his arbitration case.

    “If they lose the arb to Skubal, do they trade him?”

    The Tigers’ response, relayed by a person briefed on the team’s thinking, was simple and direct: No.

    Detroit has consistently stated all offseason that the goal is to compete, not reset, not sell, not hedge. And that stance hasn’t changed, even with the franchise committing $115 million to another ace.

    Arbitration Chaos, Contract Clarity

    The timing couldn’t have been more intense.

    While Tigers executives were finalizing Valdez’s three-year, $115 million contract Wednesday night, they were also locked in a separate room arguing their arbitration case against Skubal.

    The numbers are eye-popping:

    • Tigers’ offer: $19 million
    • Skubal’s request: $32 million

    If Skubal wins, he won’t just set a record — he’ll shatter one. A $32 million award would surpass Juan Soto’s previous arbitration high by $1 million, making Skubal the highest-paid arbitration player in MLB history.

    A decision from the three-person arbitration panel is expected Thursday.

    Why the Valdez Deal Doesn’t Signal a Trade

    On paper, the Valdez signing could be seen as protection. His contract reportedly includes deferrals and a player opt-out after Year 2, giving Detroit flexibility. In theory, adding Valdez could make a Skubal trade easier to stomach.

    In reality? It does the opposite.

    There is no realistic trade package that would make the Tigers stronger in 2026 than simply keeping Tarik Skubal. Detroit knows it. Rival executives know it. And the front office isn’t blinking.

    Valdez wasn’t signed as insurance — he was signed as reinforcement.

    The Bigger Picture: This Is a Win-Now Move

    Detroit didn’t just spend big to avoid losing ground. They spent big to push forward.

    Pairing Valdez with Skubal gives the Tigers one of the most intimidating one-two punches in baseball, especially in a season where the organization believes it can legitimately contend.

    Yes, baseball plans can change. Yes, front offices stay flexible. But right now, everything Detroit has done points in one direction:

    They are trying to win — now.

    And Tarik Skubal remains at the center of it all.

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    Jeff Bilbrey

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  • Police helicopter crashes in Arizona after shooting involving officer

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    A police helicopter crashed Wednesday night near the scene of what authorities in Flagstaff, Arizona called “an active officer-involved shooting investigation,” according to police in Page, Arizona.

    The suspect was caught, Page police said.

    Investigators said no officers were hurt in the police shooting, CBS Phoenix affiliate KPHO-TV reported.

    There was no word on how many people were on the helicopter or their condition, KPHO said, adding that it was an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter that went down.

    Area resident Amanda Brewer told the station she heard three gunshots followed by two more at about 8:40 p.m. local time, so she called 911. She said officers arrived within minutes.

    Brewer said she then heard between 15 and 20 gunshots.

    Brewer said she heard the helicopter above her house just after 10 p.m. and there were more gunshots after that.

    “You could hear the blades going,” she said. “Then there was a very large crash; it shook the house. It was startling.”

    Brewer said there was quite a large fire in the forest behind her house, and she heard more gunshots after the crash.

    Flagstaff police issued a shelter-in-lace for one neighborhood at about 10:15 p.m. in a social media post.

    Flagstaff police haven’t said what led up to the police shooting or the condition of the suspect, KPHO reports.

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  • Tarik Skubal Has Perfect Reaction to Detroit Tigers Record-Breaking Signing

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    Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal didn’t need many words to say exactly how he felt about the franchise’s latest blockbuster move.

    Shortly after news broke that the Tigers had agreed to a record-setting contract with left-hander Framber Valdez, Skubal shared a simple but telling Instagram story. The post featured Valdez in his Astros uniform with the words “Dinners on You @Framber_Valdez_Pinales” below the graphic, a clear nod that Skubal was fully tuned in and fully on board.

    For Tigers fans, the message landed loud and clear: Skubal knows exactly what Detroit just did.

    Scott HarrisTarik Skubal contract extension Tarik Skubal Injury Tarik Skubal MLB Playoff Record Tarik Skubal expected to remain with Tigers Tarik Skubal Framber Valdez

    A Statement Move — And Skubal Knows It

    Detroit’s signing of Valdez marked a major shift in how the organization is operating. The deal gives Valdez the highest average annual value ever for a left-handed pitcher, while also setting a new benchmark for a Latin American pitcher.

    For Skubal, a two-time Cy Young winner himself, the move signals that the Tigers aren’t just building for the future anymore. They’re pushing to win right now.

    Detroit suddenly boasts one of the most intimidating left-handed duos in baseball, pairing Skubal’s elite swing-and-miss stuff with Valdez’s durability and postseason pedigree.

    Rotation Goes From Strength to Weapon

    The Tigers already viewed Skubal as the anchor of their rotation. Adding Valdez turns that strength into a legitimate weapon.

    It also sends a message inside the clubhouse: the front office is backing its ace. Skubal’s reaction wasn’t flashy or dramatic, and that’s what made it perfect. It was calm, confident, and spoke volumes about where this team believes it’s headed.

    Detroit hasn’t made many moves like this in recent years. This one felt different. And Skubal clearly knows it.

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    Don Drysdale

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  • Corktown’s CPA Building To Become Giant Art Installation

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    Hey friends, Jer here.

    I hope your week is rolling along well. We’ve been quite busy over here in Daily Detroit-land.

    BTW, the most-clicked link in the last edition was a tie!

    The first one was about the charges against that judge and their associates. I got a bunch of notes from you all saying you hadn’t heard that story — glad to share it.

    Second, people shared that Stevie Wonder remix far and wide.

    Let’s get to the stories.

    The CPA Building in Detroit’s Corktown is becoming a year-round art installation. It’s part of STILL HERE: Rooted in Place, Emerging in Public, a project by Lions & Rabbits Center for the Arts.

    The installation will feature 116 hand-painted portraits of local cancer survivors and family ambassadors displayed in the building’s windows.

    Corktown photographer Lamar Dupree captured the portraits, with local artists bringing them to life through paint.

    “It is humbling and so meaningful to me personally to honor those fighting cancer, like my mother, who is a survivor, and other loved ones and friends, along with those who, sadly, have lost the fight,” said Sati Smith, CEO of Diversified Members Credit Union, who is featured in the project. “I feel strongly that we must keep their memories alive, and in a very public way continue to raise awareness and show support. That is what this project will help to accomplish.”

    Beyond the portraits, the site will include interactive audio storytelling stations where visitors can hear survivors’ stories and add their own.

    Artist Ivan Montoya will create a large-scale floral mural featuring native species, developed alongside paid local youth. Community members have already been contributing hand-formed clay flowers and collaborative paint-by-numbers murals during public events.

    Construction begins spring 2026, with initial elements shown during International Placemaking Week (June 24-26). The full installation opens during the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in October 2026, with completion by spring 2027.

    Cancer survivors interested in participating can sign up at lionsandrabbits.com/placemaking/detroit.

    ⚠️ Apparently, you can own a tank in Michigan (kind of). Civilians can legally own a tank in Michigan, but the “it depends” is doing a lot of work here. [Detroit Free Press]

    The Freep reports that if the main gun is operational, the tank is treated as a federally regulated ‘destructive device’ and must be registered. Demilitarized tanks with permanently disabled weapons are treated more like collector items.

    Either way, you can’t just roll it down Woodward like it’s a Tuesday. We discussed it on the podcast with Norris Howard because it’s absurd. [Apple Podcasts]

    Michigan Central in Detroit. 📸 Jer Staes

    🧑‍💻 The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit opened a new club inside The Station at Michigan Central. It’s a 15,000-square-foot space aimed at Detroit youth ages 14 to 24, designed to plug them into mentors, networks, and companies in the innovation district — with backing from names like Apple, StockX, and the foundations tied to Usher and Big Sean. Programming is slated to begin February 9. [Michigan Central]

    📺 As someone who got their start working in television, this number is wild: Michigan fell below 1 million cable/video subscribers in 2025 (980,543).

    That’s down about 120,000 from the prior year. Bridge Michigan notes that some researchers worry it could widen information gaps for residents who rely on traditional TV for local news and emergency alerts, especially as broadband access isn’t equal everywhere.

    Pro tip: Just get an HDTV antenna for your TV. I got a decent one for under $25 the day the Lions’ regular season started. Make sure it can handle both UHF and VHF — Fox 2 and CBC from our friends in Windsor don’t come in on every model, especially the cheapest ones.

    🍗 If you’re a wings-and-sports-bar person, Celina’s in Madison Heights says it’s expanding with a new location coming to Fraser. Their post says construction is underway. [Instagram]

    🌭 The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile is coming to Winter at Valade this Sunday. The Riverfront Conservancy saying to stop by from noon to 4p for pics. [Wienermobile] [Winter at Valade]

    If you haven’t been yet, Winter at Valade runs weekends through the end of this month with bonfires, food, drinks, and fun at Robert C. Valade Park.

    🍎 Who has the longest teaching career of them all? Beverly Hannett-Price, a 90-year-old educator at Detroit Country Day School, was recognized by Guinness World Records for the longest career as a female language teacher — 67 years, starting in 1958. [WXYZ] [ClickOnDetroit]

    It’s getting late and there’s a busy day of show production ahead, so I’ll wrap it up here with a little music for you.

    At this point you should know I’m a bit of a house head, so if you don’t know, let me introduce you to the work of Detroit native Terrence Parker.

    I learned about him at the old Backpack Music Festival on Belle Isle back in 2013. Apologies that my camera back then was a potato.

    Unlike my soft camera from 13 years ago, his work is extremely clear, technically amazing, and yet also extremely soulful and spiritual. He literally moves you on the dance floor. He has truly brought the sound of Detroit across the globe.

    He’s on my list of D-list (as in Detroit) talents I’d love to have on the podcast sometime.

    Here’s a set from about a year ago. What I like is you get moving right off the jump.

    Enjoy the groove and remember that you are somebody! Talk real soon,

    -Jer

    p.s. – If you can swing it financially, help keep this Daily Detroit party going and keep it a free service for everyone who reads it.

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    Jer Staes

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  • Family friend calls Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance “heart-wrenching” as search continues

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    A family friend of NBC “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie told CBS News that the disappearance of Guthrie’s mother has been “absolutely heart-wrenching” as the Tucson, Arizona, community is set to hold a candlelight service Wednesday night to pray for the safe return of Nancy Guthrie.

    Sally Shamrell, an actress and former reporter for KVOA — a local television station in Tucson where Savannah Guthrie got her start — told CBS News that the Guthries are a “very revered family” in Tucson. Shamrell told CBS News she has known the family for over 30 years. 

    “Nancy and Savannah have both contributed so much to the Tucson community,” Shamrell said. “…They’re just positive contributors and very faithful women. What’s going is absolutely heart-wrenching.”

    The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has said the the 84-year-old’s disappearance is being investigated as a crime, but no suspect or person of interest has been identified. Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home Saturday night, but she was not reported missing until she failed to show up for church Sunday morning, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said. 

    FILE — Savannah Guthrie and her mother Nancy Guthrie are seen during a break in NBC’s “Today” show from Sydney, Australia, on May 4, 2015.

    Don Arnold/WireImage/Getty Images


    Shamrell said she helped organize Wednesday night’s vigil at St. Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church after seeing Savannah Guthrie’s post Monday on social media asking for prayers.

    “Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant. raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment,” Savannah Guthrie wrote on Monday. “We need you.”

    The service is expected to begin at 6 p.m. local time. It will be livestreamed on the church’s website.

    “I know that the Guthrie kids, who are so, so missing their dear, dear mother, I mean, she is everything to them,” Shamrell said. “…I just hope, if they see this, and they see the whole community’s come together, that they will know that they’re not alone. It’s a pretty dark time.”

    Shamrell said she reached out to old colleagues at KVOA to help put the event together, describing news station workers as “very tight family members.”

    “Some of these people haven’t seen Savannah in 20 years, but at the twist of a dime, they said, ‘What do you need? I’ll be there,’” Shamrell said. 

    Authorities believe Nancy Guthrie was abducted over the weekend from her home in the Catalina Foothills of Tucson, where there were signs of forced entry. A small amount of blood found inside the home was being tested, a law enforcement source familiar with the case told CBS News.

    Nanos told CBS News that a ransom note was sent to a local Arizona news station following Guthrie’s disappearance, but he could not confirm accuracy of that information or the legitimacy of the note.

    Anyone with information about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance is urged to call the Pima County Sheriff’s tip line at 520-351-4900.

    Jonathan Vigliotti and

    Pat Milton

    contributed to this report.

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  • 68th Annual Detroit Boat Show

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    The 68th annual Detroit Boat Show is at a NEW LOCATION! Stop by on February 12th-15th at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi. Sponsored by Progressive.

    • EASY access and plenty of easy parking
    • HUNDREDS OF BOATS UP TO 45 FEET
    • Cruisers, Wake Boats, Bow Riders, Fishing Boats, Pontoons, & More
    • Boat Show deals and discounts can save you THOUSANDS off boats and accessories
    • Be among the first to see brand new model boats
    • If you already have a boat, get your hands on the latest electronics, gadgets, and boating accessories
    • Meet Captain Lee from Below Deck on Bravo TV—get pictures and autographs, February 14th & 15th
    • Live Music Friday and Saturday at the Tiki Bar
    • FREE Boater Safety Education Classes
    • Bring the family for fun in the kids’ zone, too
    • Learn more about jobs in the marine industry with Careers Days at the show
    • GET YOUR TICKETS AND MORE DETAILS HERE

    The post 68th Annual Detroit Boat Show appeared first on 94.7 WCSX.

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    Alex Cauthren

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  • Movies/TV Shows to Watch If You Love the Winter Olympics

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    Every four years, we gear up to tune in to watch the Winter Olympics during the coldest months. For just a short time, we’re all suddenly figure skaters, watching hockey, and cheering on our favorites as they go down an icy mountain. Whether it’s the Summer or Winter Olympics, every country is anxiously waiting to see if their country makes the top and snags a medal. But the Winter Olympics also bring out some of our favorite memories.

    While tuning in, you start to remember those TV shows and movies that we all know and love, related to those winter sports. From fictional tales to real-life stories, these films and series capture what makes the Winter Games so great. The rivalry, the competitive spirit, and cozy winter vibes are all we need. So, while you’re tuned into the games, you might as well tune into some of these classics as well.

    Miracle (2004)

    Based on the true story of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice,” when the underdog U.S. hockey team beat the dominant Soviet squad at the Winter Olympics.

    The Cutting Edge (1992)

    A fun romantic sports film about a temperamental figure skater paired with an ex-hockey player as they train for Olympic figure skating.

    Cool Runnings (1993)

    A feel-good comedy inspired by the Jamaican bobsled team at the 1988 Winter Olympics — full of heart and laughs.

    Miracle on Ice (1981)

    A classic docudrama of the real-life 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey upset, using actual footage.

    Blades of Glory (2007)

    Over-the-top figure skating comedy (not realistic but fun for the winter vibe). It’s an iconic skating comedy movie if you’ve ever seen one.

    Eddie the Eagle (2016)

    Based on the inspiring (and quirky) story of Britain’s first Olympic ski jumper in 1988.

    Downhill Racer (1969)

    Robert Redford stars in this ski racing drama — a more serious look at competitive skiing. The film explores narcissism, the price of success, and the cold, unfeeling nature of top-tier sports.

    The Nagano Tapes (2018)

    Documentary about the Czech hockey team’s gold medal run at the 1998 Winter Olympics. It is divided into chapters based on major events or games.

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    Randi Moultrie

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  • Blockbuster NBA Trade Sends Anthony Davis to Eastern Conference

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    The NBA trade deadline just detonated.

    According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, the Dallas Mavericks have traded 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards in a massive, multi-asset deal that reshapes the futures of both franchises.

    Full Trade Details

    Wizards receive:

    • Anthony Davis
    • Jaden Hardy
    • D’Angelo Russell
    • Dante Exum

    Mavericks receive:

    • Khris Middleton
    • AJ Johnson
    • Malaki Branham
    • Marvin Bagley III
    • Two first-round picks
    • Three second-round picks

    It’s one of the most aggressive moves Washington has made in decades — and one of the clearest signals yet that Dallas is pivoting toward a new era.

    Why the Wizards Pulled the Trigger

    Washington isn’t just acquiring a star — they’re landing a future Hall of Famer.

    Anthony Davis, a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, immediately becomes the most accomplished player on the Wizards’ roster. The move signals a dramatic shift in direction as Washington looks to accelerate its rebuild and raise its ceiling fast.

    With Davis joining a young core that includes Trae Young, Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, and Tre Johnson, the Wizards are betting that elite talent plus upside youth can coexist — and win sooner than expected.

    When healthy, Davis remains one of the league’s most dominant two-way bigs, capable of anchoring a defense while still putting up All-NBA numbers.

    Why Dallas Is Betting on the Future

    For the Mavericks, this deal is about flexibility, assets, and timing.

    Moving Davis opens significant cap space and brings in:

    • Draft capital
    • Tradeable contracts
    • Younger rotational pieces

    Most importantly, it clears the runway for Dallas to build fully around Cooper Flagg, the franchise centerpiece they’re clearly prioritizing long-term.

    Khris Middleton adds veteran stability, while the picks give Dallas ammunition to reshape the roster over multiple seasons. It’s not a “win-now” trade — it’s a control-the-timeline move.

    What This Means Going Forward

    • Washington just became one of the league’s most fascinating wild cards
    • Dallas gains long-term flexibility without bottoming out
    • The Eastern Conference just got more interesting
    • The trade market may not be done yet

    If this is the tone-setter for the deadline, buckle up.

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    Jeff Bilbrey

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  • Immersed in healing

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    At Detroit’s recent Imbolc House of Tarot art show, every room at the Boyer Campbell Building pulls you into a distinct sensory and emotional feeling. Some spaces are packed wall-to-wall with paintings, while others lean towards abstraction: people draped in fabric, pieces made of flowers, crocheted swords, and installations that feel closer to ritual than exhibition.  

    The show features 13 artists interpreting cards from the Minor Arcana, with work centered on healing and illuminating Brigid, the queer Celtic goddess of fire, poetry, and wisdom. Fittingly, it partnered with Imbolc Detroit, a citywide, artist-led winter festival rooted in ritual, care, and collective creativity. (The Celtic holiday of Imbolc marks the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox.)

    This exhibition follows House of Tarot’s 2025 debut at the Herman Kiefer Building, which featured a room for every card in the Major Arcana. A few artists from that original show return here in smaller, reimagined ways, creating a sense of continuity without repeating the same visual language.

    While this iteration felt slightly lacking compared to the first, House of Tarot remains one of the more compelling immersive art experiences in the city for me. When I visited, a live music performance was also taking place in the space, adding to the atmosphere in a way that felt intentional and meditative. 

    On Sunday, Feb. 1, ambient live music was also taking place in the space, for an intentional and meditative multi-artistic experience. Credit: Layla McMurtrie

    The room that struck me the most was the King of Cups, created by artist Melissa Webb. 

    “Through my work, I imagine a reclamation of the Earth by wildness—a less human-centered future where we learn to live and thrive in symbiosis with the natural world,” her artist statement reads.

    Rather than inviting viewers inside, the installation is viewed through a large window. Three people are physically immersed in the work itself, tangled in green and blue fibers and fabric, becoming part of the piece rather than just observers or creators of it.

    It was immediately intriguing and represented the theme of “healing” in a fully consuming manner. 

    “This is the elder who knows how to hold storms because they have watched seasons turn without stopping them,” the card description on the wall reads. “The King of Cups offers unconditional presence. It is a love that does not rush growth nor demand healing on a schedule.”

    Webb’s installation merges the artist statement and the tarot interpretation both figuratively and literally. Standing there, it felt like a rush of healing and growth—but one that was warm, slow, and unforced.

    Another piece that lingered with me was Nine of Pentacles by Jesse Kassel, tucked into a small room off the stairwell. The space resembles a chaotic office: mismatched fabric plastered to and hanging from the walls, papers scattered across a desk and floor—some carefully arranged, others crumpled and discarded.

    The Nine of Pentacles room by Jesse Kassel represented duality through material and chaos. Credit: Layla McMurtrie

    At first glance, it’s disorienting. I wasn’t entirely sure how to read it, which is my hope with art, to allow some room for openness and duality. That uncertainty was intentional. 

    “Whether this room is interpreted as a display of abundance and well-cultured luxury or as marking insecurity with material possessions is dependent on the position of the 9 of Pentacles,” the card description explains. “The installation is for an individual to consider their success as coming from a place of genuine confidence and stability or an attempt to create the appearance of wealth and culture.”

    Because tarot cards shift meaning depending on whether they’re upright or reversed, I appreciated how this room held both interpretations at once.

    Immersive, room-based exhibitions like this continue to be some of my favorite ways to experience art. While the first House of Tarot show pulled me in more fully, perhaps just due to its scale, this iteration still offers moments of real resonance.

    Regardless, I’m very much looking forward to seeing House of Tarot continue to evolve through new card interpretations and artists willing to take risks with how we move through and experience art.

    Published in conjunction with Midbrow.

    The post Immersed in healing appeared first on Detroit Metro Times.

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    Layla McMurtrie

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  • Trump anti-fraud task force targeting California will be led by JD Vance, sources say

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    A new White House anti-fraud task force that will search for welfare abuses in California and other states is in the final stages of planning by the vice president and the head of an independent consumer protection agency, multiple sources briefed on the plans told CBS News. 

    President Trump intends to sign an executive order in coming days naming Vice President JD Vance as chairman of the task force, a move that’s meant to signal the importance of the effort to the president. 

    Andrew Ferguson, a federal official whose job is to prevent consumers from being exploited, will be vice chairman. Ferguson will manage both the Federal Trade Commission, where he is currently chairman, and the daily activities of the new task force, two of the sources said. 

    The plan calls for Colin McDonald, who has been nominated by Mr. Trump for a newly created fraud investigator role at the Justice Department, to fall within the DOJ’s management structure – reporting to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy AG Todd Blanche – but to work closely with Vance and Ferguson.

    Such an arrangement will likely trigger concerns from Democrats and watchdogs about whether the White House could try to exert political pressure on McDonald to investigate Mr. Trump’s enemies. 

    The new anti-fraud efforts could sidestep existing fraud units at the Justice Department. That’s partly because of frustration with resistance from career staff who disagree with some of Mr. Trump’s priorities and tactics, which some officials think Bondi and Blanche have struggled to deal with, one of the sources said. 

    Other officials said the DOJ’s national fraud enforcement division, which Vance announced last month, and the task force came about because of keen interest in clamping down on fraud in taxpayer-funded programs.

    California auditors have discovered billions in fraud in unemployment claims, pandemic assistance, and health care. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, a likely presidential candidate in 2028, has defended efforts to clean up and block fraud.

    In Minnesota, Democratic Gov. Tim Walz dropped his reelection bid amid scrutiny of massive fraud in state child care and other welfare programs.

    The timeline for Mr. Trump’s signature creating the task force could shift to later this month, sources said. 

    White House spokespeople declined to comment.

    Vance currently serves as the vice chair of the White House’s task forces for the 2026 FIFA World Cup 2026 and 2028 Summer Olympics, and well as finance chair for the Republican National Committee — a key fundraising position that allows him to interact with a network of campaign donors. 

    He is one of the top messengers of the administration’s economic agenda, traveling to numerous states, and a central defender of the administration’s immigration policies after the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in encounters with federal officials in Minnesota.

    At the trade commission, Ferguson has continued litigation against major U.S. companies, including tech giants, and has sought refunds for consumers. Amazon in September agreed to a $2.5 billion settlement, and FTC is appealing its case against Meta for allegedly breaking antitrust laws when it bought Instagram and WhatsApp.

    Officials in Blanche’s office were still in the early stages of figuring out how to build the Justice Department’s new fraud division from scratch, including factors such as where it will be located, how it will be be staffed and what IT infrastructure needs to be in place, a source familiar with the planning said this week.

    It was also unclear how it would be structured to avoid duplicating the several existing units that pursue fraud probes, both at the department’s Washington, D.C. headquarters and in U.S. attorneys’ offices across the country.


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  • Federal court approves restitution deal for Kilpatrick

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    Federal authorities will continue collecting more than $823,000 from former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick under a court-approved restitution agreement, ending his attempt to have the remaining balance declared paid in full.

    Restitution balance set at $823,649 under sealed agreement

    Court records show Kilpatrick is subject to an amended judgment requiring restitution of roughly $1.7 million, an obligation the federal government has enforced through ongoing garnishment efforts. The efforts intensified in December 2025, when prosecutors filed multiple applications for writs of continuing garnishment.

    Kilpatrick responded by asking the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan to modify or terminate restitution and to block further garnishment, asserting that his remaining obligation should be considered satisfied. Before the court addressed the arguments, however, the parties reached a stipulated agreement that reshaped the case.

    Garnishment to continue through pension and other income

    Under the sealed agreement approved by the court, both sides acknowledged that “the total balance due on the judgment as of Jan. 27, 2026, is $823,649.09.” Kilpatrick also waived his right to a hearing under the Federal Debt Collection Procedures Act and agreed that “his pension benefits and other income are subject to garnishment.”

    The court approved two sealed orders tied to the stipulation. One authorized a final order of continuing garnishment involving the Michigan Legislative Retirement System, and the other approved a payment plan in Kilpatrick’s criminal case. The filings were sealed because they contained “detailed information concerning defendant’s finances,” according to court documents.

    Court denies Kilpatrick’s motions as moot

    With the agreement in place, the court declined to rule on Kilpatrick’s pending motions, formally determining they were “denied as moot.”

    Kilpatrick had previously argued his remaining restitution balance was closer to $155,000, a position that was superseded by the court-approved agreement. Once the stipulation was entered, the judge did not address the substance of Kilpatrick’s claims.

    Kilpatrick’s corruption conviction and clemency background

    Kilpatrick was convicted in March 2013 on 24 federal counts stemming from corruption during his time as mayor and was sentenced to 28 years in prison. He was granted clemency by then-President Donald Trump in January 2021 after serving seven years and was later re-sentenced to time served with three years of supervised release.

    Federal prosecutors pursue additional restitution

    Court records show Kilpatrick is currently living in Michigan. Federal prosecutors have continued pursuing restitution through additional actions, including filings in September 2025 involving individuals connected to earlier restitution obligations.

    With the restitution balance now fixed and collection mechanisms approved, the court’s order closes Kilpatrick’s latest challenge while allowing federal enforcement to move forward.

    The post Federal court approves restitution deal for Kilpatrick appeared first on Detroit Metro Times.

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    Marcus Vance

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  • Dita Von Teese as you’ve never seen her before

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    Once upon a time, brunette bombshell Dita Von Teese was blonde Heather Sweet from West Branch, Michigan. And early into her transformation into a burlesque and fetish icon, a fellow Midwesterner says he knew she would one day become famous. 

    “I could tell she was going to be a star,” says Chas Ray Krider, who resides in Columbus, Ohio, and photographed Von Teese several times from 1998 through 2000. “From the beginning, it was obvious that she had the credentials, and the look, and the whole attitude and charisma to be a major celebrity. She had her thing down really well.”

    Krider will exhibit about 20 photos of Von Teese from his archives — including some that have not yet been published — at the Dirty Show, the annual erotic art festival set for Feb. 13-21 at Detroit’s Russell Industrial Center.

    When Krider first met her, Von Teese was a 26-year-old fetish model with a penchant for Old Hollywood-style glamor, including a corset-cinched waist. This was before she appeared on a 2002 cover of Playboy magazine (where a typo of “Von Treese” would christen her with her stage name), before her marriage and divorce from disgraced shock rocker Marilyn Manson, and before she became a New York Times bestselling author.

    Back then, Krider had been working on a series he dubbed “Motel Fetish” featuring women in hotel rooms — first in sets built in his Ohio studio, and later in real hotels.

    “The photographs evoke a narrative,” Krider explains. “They look like stills taken out of a film. The whole treatment has kind of a cinematic look to it. It’s more than just pictures of girls.”

    Krider says he aimed to achieve a particular aesthetic by using the hotel lamps for lighting, as well as using film intended to be shot in the daylight. The result is a series of images that look almost like they could be shot by an amateur, lending them an air of erotically charged authenticity.

    “It’s very lo-fi. … it’s very noir-looking,” he says, adding, “The colors are saturated and kind of lurid, with a heavy shadow.”

    From this body of work, a connection at a Los Angeles-based magazine introduced Krider to Von Teese, who Krider booked as one of four models on a shoot in California. Von Teese knew exactly what to do, he says.

    “I had a specific kind of way of working,” he says. “We were on location in a hotel room, and I just moved her around the room based upon the geography and shapes of the space … and then she was free to do as she liked. I might fine-tune the photos, but she was pretty much in control of what the pose would be.”

    Dita Von Teese. Credit: Chas Ray Krider

    Krider would go on to shoot Von Teese again during additional sessions in California, Ohio, and Indiana. He says he has remained in touch with her over the years and is compiling the images for a forthcoming book titled The Dita Sessions with her blessing.

    “She deserves everything she gets,” he says. “She has worked really hard. She was always ahead of the pack.”

    Krider has long called Ohio home, where he now lives with his wife and dog. “I’ve traveled around a bit, but I always drift back to Columbus,” he says. “In the ’70s and ’80s, it was what I called ‘the last of the low overheads.’ Rent was cheap.”

    He says he began his photography career in Ohio as a street photographer inspired by Ralph Gibson. “Plus, I was just interested in women and lingerie,” he adds.

    “Chas is one of the last of the dying breed of cool erotic photographers,” says Jerry Vile, founder of the Dirty Show, where Krider’s photos will be among 300 or so works of art on display this year.

    The event has grown steadily since its 2000 debut in the offices of Orbit magazine, the satirical Detroit-based monthly magazine Vile published in the ’90s, and now draws attendees from around the world. 

    “I never had much of a goal for the Dirty Show,” Vile says. “It’s totally unplanned. It just became this massive monster. I think it’s probably because it didn’t have me trying to make it successful. I just tried to make it fun.”

    In addition to erotic photographs, paintings, drawings, sculptures, and other works of art, the event also features popular burlesque and drag shows, as well as other oddball activations showcasing Vile’s sense of humor. This year, those include the return of a leather nightclub dubbed “The Daddy Hole” and a miniature strip club starring a tiny dancer, Lil Miss Fire Fly, who calls herself the “world’s smallest side show performer extraordinaire.” 

    Attendees at the 2025 Dirty Show. Credit: Mikel OD

    “I think one of the biggest things is a few years ago, I gave up on trying to compete with the academic art world,” Vile says. “We’re cooler than the academic art world. We invented our own arena, just like punk rock. The art world has gotten fat and boring, the same way music did when punk rock came out.”

    But Vile, who once fronted a Detroit punk band called the Boners, says he’s not just trying to titillate and transgress. The strip club’s latest incarnation is furnished with miniature furniture and was inspired, in part, by Vile’s time chauffeuring its pint-size performers and seeing how they were treated in the real world. 

    “What makes this truly art is it’s forcing people that are [of average height] to navigate their way through a setting that is built for a different height,” he says. “Maybe it will make people think for a second.”

    As for a planned Dirty Show booth featuring the Detroit Cougars, well, that’s just Vile being cheeky. 

    No, it’s not a tribute to the Detroit Cougars, the hockey team founded 100 years ago that eventually became the mighty Detroit Red Wings.

    “It’s something for soccer moms gone wild,” Vile says, adding that it will be staffed by “young boys.”

    Vile clarifies that they are in fact adults. The Dirty Show is for attendees age 21 and older, after all.

    “To me, if you are in your 20s or 30s, you’re a kid,” he says. “I mean, you know, the easiest thing for people now is to call me Dirty Old Man.”

    The Dirty Show is open from 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday, Feb. 13-Saturday, Feb. 14 and Friday, Feb. 20-Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Russell Exhibition Center, 1600 Clay St., Detroit; dirtydetroit.com. Tickets start at $50.

    The post Dita Von Teese as you’ve never seen her before appeared first on Detroit Metro Times.

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  • This Day in Sports History: February 4

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    Sports in February include the NBA and NHL seasons, Super Bowl, NBA All-Star game, college basketball tournaments, spring training for the MLB, NASCAR’s Daytona 500, Formula E, some PGA Tour Events and the Winter Olympics. Over the years, Feb. 4 has witnessed many notable moments and stories involving sporting legends. Here are some of them. 

    • 1903: The Montreal Hockey Club secures a 4-1 victory over the Winnipeg Victorias, thus capturing the Stanley Cup in a challenge series. Even then, the trophy carried an aura that set the stage for generations of competition.
    • 1924: Thorleif Haug clinches his third gold medal at the first Winter Olympics in Chamonix. We admire how he embodied Norway’s passion for cross-country skiing and spurred future athletes to aim for similar heights.
    • 1956: The Soviet Union claims its first Olympic ice hockey gold medal by defeating Canada, 2-0, at the Cortina d’Ampezzo Games. For decades afterward, Soviet teams remain fierce competitors, fueling rivalries that captivate fans well beyond their borders.
    • 1962: Izvestia, a Russian newspaper, publishes a piece suggesting that baseball originated in old Russian folk games. Although this claim lacks historical backing, it sparks conversation about how sports can evolve in different cultures.
    • 1969: John Madden takes charge as head coach of the Oakland Raiders at age 32. His approach to football strategy, along with his later role as a broadcaster, turned him into a household name, influencing how fans talk about the game itself.
    • 1979: David Thompson puts on a show during the NBA All-Star Game, helping the Western Conference win 134-129 over the East. His athletic style brings to life the flair of 1970s basketball when players like Thompson and Julius Erving dazzled crowds with above-the-rim heroics.
    • 1987: The Sacramento Kings only scored four points in the first quarter against the Lakers. Thats the lowest in a quarter since the shot clock started in 1954.
    • 1991: New Zealand’s Martin Crowe and Andrew Jones set a 467-run partnership record in a cricket match against Sri Lanka. It’s a marathon of concentration and stamina, showing how epic performances can unfold over days, rather than minutes in cricket.
    • 1997: Mario Lemieux became the seventh player to score 600 career goals.
    • 2001: In the 51st NHL All-Star Game, North America beat the World All-Stars 14-12. The MVP of the game was Boston Bruins right winger Bill Guerin.
    • 2007: Peyton Manning leads the Indianapolis Colts to a 29-17 triumph over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI. He would showcase methodical passing and calm leadership. Manning secures the MVP award and solidifies his place among football’s standout quarterbacks.
    • 2018: The Philadelphia Eagles stun the New England Patriots with a 41-33 win in Super Bowl LII. Quarterback Nick Foles delivers a trick play, now known as the “Philly Special.” This play is marked as one of the greatest Super Bowl moments to this day.
    • 2019: As a junior at Dowling Catholic High School, Caitlin Clark scored 60 points in a game against Mason City High School.

    Three athletes who stood out on Feb. 4 were Mario Lemieux, Nick Foles, and Caitlin Clark.

    Lemieux famously won two Stanley Cups as a player (1991, 1992), six Art Ross scoring titles, and overcame Hodgkin’s disease to return to elite play. Foles developed a reputation as a calm, clutch performer in high-pressure situations. The “Caitlin Clark effect” has driven record-breaking viewership, attendance, and a $2 billion media rights deal. 

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