Stem Cell Summit Could Come to Detroit
From Crain's Detroit Business: "It's likely the 2010 World Stem Cell Summit will be held next October in Detroit, with more than 1,200 scientists, researchers, government officials and representatives of private industry from more than 25 counties in attendance."

Lansing Schools Build on Improvements

Lansing School officials have turned around two of the district's failing high schools and saw 31 of 33 buildings in the district meet federal No Child Left Behind standards for 2008-09. Now they are fine-tuning the plan for 2009-10 with an eye toward building on that progress. The Lansing State Journal has more details.

Rails to Trails Plan Gains Momentum
The West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation Department is working to close a deal that adds two more miles to the township’s trail system, the Oakland Press reports.

MSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine Opens in Detroit
Michigan State University's College of Osteopathic Medicine, in a move that will address the state's physician shortage and improve medical education in the state, celebrated its new campus site in Detroit.

Detroit Getting More Big Conventions

Detroit's hard times and gritty image are helping to give an unlikely boost to the city's convention business, the Detroit Free Press reports.

Home Ownership Dynamo in Western Michigan

The Grand Rapids Press features the inspiring story of Helen Lehman, executive director of New Development, a nonprofit organization that works to make people homeowners. The group buys houses in need of repair, fixes them up and sells them to people who might otherwise not buy a home.

Ford Plant Gets New Life (And 4,000 Energy Jobs)

Ford Motor Co. and three renewable energy companies formally kicked off the next life of Ford's idled Wixom Vehicle Assembly Plant, according to the Great Lakes IT Report.

Michigan's Top 10 Architectural Gems

The Detroit Free Press offers a visual tour of Michigan's best- kept architectural secrets. Really nice shots.

Opinion: Business Group Offers Right Plan for Mich.

In an editorial, the Detroit News praises the state turn-around plan offered by the newly expanded and renamed Business Leaders for Michigan. Until very recently, the group was known as Detroit Renaissance.

Marquette, NMU Partner on Wireless Network

The city of Marquette is partnering with Northern Michigan University to develop a city-wide, high-speed wireless network. Click for the full story, from The Mining Journal.

UM Students Say They Could Save Businesses Millions

Ford Motor Co., $2.75 million. Grainger Inc., $5 million. Boeing Co., $10 million. These are the amounts that these companies could save each year if they implement the recommendations made by teams of students at the University of Michigan's Tauber Institute for Global Operations. Click for more from the UM Web site.

EDS Veterans Form Consulting Firm
From Crain's Detroit Business: "Gary Van Poperin, a 30-year veteran of the IT industry and former executive at General Motors Corp. and Electronic Data Systems Corp., has founded a Milford-based consulting firm, AMERIT IT Consulting L.L.C. to bring best practices to small- and medium-sized businesses."

Dream Cruisin'

WWJ Newsradio 950's Roberta Jasina talks with Tony Michaels, the man in charge of the Wodward Dream Cruise.  Click here for the audio.

First Concrete Highway Celebrated
The Woodward Avenue Action Association hosted a celebration for the 100th anniversary of the world's first concrete highway on Woodward Avenue between McNichols and Seven Mile roads. The Detroit News has more.

Volt Battery Plant Details Released

General Motors Co. boss Fritz Henderson says a new $43 million plant in southeastern Michigan will assemble battery packs for its new rechargeable electric car. Click for more, from The Oakland Press.

State to Get Chunk of $2.4 Billion in Battery Grants
Michigan will be the big winner under a $2.4 billion plan to boost U.S. manufacturing of electric and hybrid vehicles, the Detroit Free Press reports.

UM Offers New Part-Time MBA Option

Getting a world-class business education while balancing personal and professional responsibilities is demanding. Now the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business offers a new way to do that. Beginning in May 2010, the Ross Part-time MBA Program will offer a weekend format.

Detroit Riverfront Park Looking Good

Work on Detroit's Tri-Centennial State Park and Harbor has been progressing nicely. The Detroit Free Press has a photo gallery showing what it looks like. It's beautiful. Click here to take a look. It's expected to open this fall.

Northern Michigan Teen Reaches for Stardom
It's been almost a year since West Ishpeming student Emily McGlone submitted her first 30-second music video to a contest on the Miley Cyrus fan site MileyWorld.com. Now, the 16-year-old has been voted into the top eight. The Mining Journal in Marquette has more.

Deal to Rehab Cobo Center Moves Forward

After years of regional discord and a whole lot of drama, a deal for a $288-million expansion of Cobo Center moved forward after the Detroit City Council refused to vote against it, the Detroit Free Press reports.

Beaumont Completes $58.2M ER Expansion in Troy
William Beaumont Hospital in Troy has completed construction of a $58.2 million, 60,000-square-foot expansion of its emergency center, Crain's Detroit Business reports. The center now has 88 beds, up from 51, in trauma, acute care, minor care and observation units.

Deal to Rehab Cobo Center Moves Forward

After years of regional discord and a whole lot of drama, a deal for a $288-million expansion of Cobo Center moved forward after the Detroit City Council refused to vote against it, the Detroit Free Press reports.

Beaumont Completes $58.2M ER Expansion in Troy
William Beaumont Hospital in Troy has completed construction of a $58.2 million, 60,000-square-foot expansion of its emergency center, Crain's Detroit Business reports. The center now has 88 beds, up from 51, in trauma, acute care, minor care and observation units.

$15 Million for Michigan's Small Manufacturers

Gov. Jennifer Granholm will make $15 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds available to small manufacturing companies in Michigan looking to diversify and create jobs in renewable energy. More details available at Michigan.gov.

GM to Build Battery Plant in Brownstown Twp.

"Brownstown Township officials are welcoming published reports that General Motors Co. wants to build a $40 million battery pack assembly factory along the I-75 corridor in the northern part of the township," Monroenews.com reports.

Detroit's Home Depot a Big Success

"Detroit Three autoworkers haven't received profit-sharing checks for four years, yet the 217 employees at the Home Depot store in Detroit are seeing them every six months for hitting company sales and profit goals," the Detroit Free Press reports. Click for the whole story.

UM Innocence Clinic Wins Results in First Major Case

After 14 months of poring over documents, conducting long interviews and spending late nights debating, the University of Michigan Law School’s Innocence Clinic has achieved what it set out to do: Convince a judge to give two prisoners a new trial.

Michigan Health Centers to Receive $23 Million

Health centers in Flint, Saginaw, Sterling and Houghton Lake are among 29 health centers in Michigan receiving more than $23 million in federal stimulus money, The Bay City Times reports.

Forbes Praises Pure Michigan Campaign

Michigan's "Pure Michigan" ad campaign is number 6 in Top 10 Best Travel Campaigns, according to Forbes.  "This campaign sells with its simple - and universal-- message: that sometimes we all need to get away from life's stresses and relax a bit." Forbes says. 

Detroit Celebrates Re-Opening Of I-75

What was expected to be two long years for southwest Detroit and Mexican town was cut short by five months with the symbolic ribbon cutting and re-opening of I-75 as part of the Gateway project, WWJ Newsradio 950 reports.

GE Provides Research Center Details

The Advanced Manufacturing and Software Technology Center will include a GE research and development facility that will be part of GE’s Global Research network, according to the Great Lakes IT Report.

Owosso Named a Michigan Main Street Community

Owosso's new Select Level Main Street Community designation entitles city officials to technical assistance, volunteer and staff training and access to the state Main Street resources and networks of Main Street Communities, The Flint Journal reports.

Detroit News Looks at Michael Jackson

"Jackson was the talented front man who, with his four brothers, helped revive Detroit's iconic Motown label at a time when its first wave of stars were starting to founder," the Detroit News says in a story that explores Michael Jackson's connection to Detroit.

GM to Build Small Car in Orion Township

General Motors Corp. has picked its Orion Township assembly plant for building new small, fuel-efficient vehicles, the Detroit Free Press reports.

For more on this from the AP, click here.

GE to Open Research Center in Michigan

General Electric Corp. will research, develop and make wind turbines and other green technology at a facility in Van Buren Township, according to the Detroit Free Press. As many as 1,200 jobs are expected to be created.

For video of the new facility, click here.

For more details from Crain's Detroit Business, click here.

Film Camp in Ferndale
A film production company based in Ferndale is announcing a first-ever Hollywood Film Camp open to high school students and recent graduates who are interested in the film industry, WXYZ-TV reports.

Michigan Hotels on AAA Top 10 List

We already know that Michigan is a great place for travel. Now AAA has provided even more proof, naming two destinations in our state among its top 10 historic hotels nationwide. The Michigan properties on the list are the Dearborn Inn, a Marriott Hotel, in Dearborn and the world-famous Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Click for the entire list and more information about the Michigan sites selected.

MSU Gets Grant to Study Autism

A $2.1 million grant will allow Michigan Stat University to participate in the largest study in history to examine the risk factors of autism, The State News reports.

OU To Train Scientists In Next-Gen Radio Technology
From the Great Lakes IT Report: "Through the support of a $95,000 grant, awarded by the U.S. Congress and administered by the U.S. Department of Education, Oakland University will begin training a new generation of scientists to incorporate cutting-edge technology into radio frequency electronics."

Domestic Automakers Praised for Quality Gains

From the Associated Press: "There's a message for Detroit's automakers in the new J.D. Power and Associates rankings: Good work. Now go back and do it again."

20/20 Features Mariah Power

ABC News' program "20/20" showed how Mariah Power in Manistee is adapting the skills of former auto workers to build wind turbines right here in Michigan.

Small-Town Girl, Big-Time Voice

An Ishpeming teen is close to winning fame and a trip to California after submitting her homemade music video to a national online contest. Westwood High School student Emily McGlone has been voted into the top 10 in a music video contest through MileyWorld.com. Click for more, including video, from The Mining Journal.

Rosa Parks Scholars to be Honored

Forty Michigan seniors have been chosen to receive a $2,000 college scholarship through the Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation, The Detroit News reports. Since 1980, more than 800 high school seniors have received more than $1.6 million in scholarships from the foundation.

Sault Ste. Marie Gets Preserve America Designation

Ste. Marie has been designated as one of the nation’s newest Preserve America Communities. Click for more from the Sault Ste. Marie Evening News.

Looking for Family Fun Ideas?

Michigan tourism lets unspoiled nature and authentic character revive our spirits. Click here for a list of great Michigan events from Michigan.org .

Chrysler/Fiat Deal Done

The long-awaited deal between Chrysler LLC and Fiat SpA has been finalized, the Detroit New reports. The two sides signed off on a partnership this morning that creates a new automaker to be known as Chrysler Group LLC.

Michigan Spots Named Tops in BBQ

Bon Appétit magazine named Slow’s Bar BQ in Detroit and Zingerman’s Roadhouse in Ann Arbor among the top 10 new new barbecue restaurants in the United States. Click for more from the Detroit Free Press.

Michigan Writer Tells Story of 'Petoskey Pete'

MLive.com has the story of Fruitport author Lindsay Boone, who has written a book about a Petoskey stone named Pete. Pete explains his formation from an ancient coral living in a shallow sea covering Michigan.

Bioeconomy Institute Gets First Tenant

A Michigan State University technology spinoff company is the first tenant in MSU’s new Bioeconomy Institute, which is located in a former Pfizer Inc. laboratory in Holland.  Click for more from the Great Lakes IT Report.

GM Opens Battery Lab in Warren

One week after filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy, General Motors Corp. unveiled a new battery lab seen as key to the automaker's reinvention, The Detroit News reports. The really good news: The lab is in Michigan.

More: WXYZ TV has video of the new lab.

Still more: Wired.com weighs in on the lab's significance.