The pandemic was the final act for some movie theaters but others found a way to bounce back.

And it’s these innovative theater owners, who not only survived the shut down and surge in streaming subscriptions implemented new ways to engage audiences and are now enjoying what the industry calls the next great era of cinema.

“I think movie theaters will always be around,” said Joel Kincaid, vice-president of operations for MJR Theatres, during last week’s grand opening of MJR’s new state-of-the-art IMAX auditorium at MJR Troy Cinema.

“As long as they continue to adapt and evolve,” Kincaid added, while greeting a wave of guests excited to see “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” on what is a really big screen.

Not to mention a really big investment for MJR.

“It’s in the millions,” Kincaid said, of the second IMAX screen to be installed at one of MJR’s 10 Michigan theaters.

Patrons of MJR Southgate were the first to experience MJR’s IMAX screen two years ago.

“We’re thrilled to bring this next level IMAX experience to our guests at MJR Troy,” said the VP prior to the opening. “Combining the cutting-edge visuals and sound of IMAX’S 4K laser technology with our signature zero-gravity recliners, VIP privacy pods and LUX Loungers this will undoubtedly be the golden standard for moviegoing in Metro Detroit.”

Among those who would agree is Paul Gantz.

“We have seen investments in the future of moviegoing payoff in a big way,” said Gantz, co-founder of Emagine Entertainment, who was featured in a special report by Cinema United, a trade organization founded in 1948, representing more than 31,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and more than 30,000 screens in 80 countries worldwide. “The enthusiasm that our customers show is undeniable.”

Big changes

Watching movies from the comforts of home is nice but it’s nothing like the experience of IMAX as many fans will tell you.

The rumble in your seat.

The sounds.

The amazing details in the big picture.

“You feel connected to the movie,” said Jordan Kitson of Eastpointe, who attended MJR’s IMAX event featuring free food, drinks, popcorn, candy and a short film highlighting why IMAX is as incredible as everyone says it is.

Among the Hollywood directors promoting the fantastic screens is writer-director Christopher Nolan, who has been shooting with IMAX cameras since “The Dark Knight,” according to an article by the Associated Press.

“The sharpness and the clarity and the depth of the image is unparalleled,” Nolan said. “The headline, for me, is that by shooting on IMAX 70mm film you’re really letting the screen disappear. You’re getting a feeling of 3D without the glasses. You’ve got a huge screen and you’re filling the peripheral vision of the audience.”

A recent example is Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.”

The film about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist who oversaw the development of the first atomic bomb during World War II, Nolan and his effects teams were faced with the immense task of recreating the blast with all of its blinding brilliance.

“We knew that this had to be the showstopper,” Nolan said, adding that high resolution cameras are enabling directors to do all of the amazing things with pictures that they’ve only been able to do with sound in terms of an oversize impact for the audience.

Paul Feig concurred.

However, the Clinton Township native and Hollywood director of such blockbuster films as “Bridesmaids,” “The Heat,” “Spy,” and “Ghostbusters” said the medium has to match the content.

“There are movies that benefit from the scale and filmic quality of the large format physical 70mm film. But digital technology has gotten so advanced that most audiences will be hard put to tell the difference between 70mm and high-end digital. For 70mm to be effective it needs to be shown in a large format venue like IMAX, of which there are fewer theaters,” Feig told The Macomb Daily. “When I made ‘Ghostbusters,’ we released an IMAX version that had been shot on digital cameras and the scope and quality were comparable to 70mm without us having to incur the higher costs of that format. So, to me, 70mm is more of a personal creative choice for a filmmaker but not necessarily something that most audiences will be aware of unless it’s advertised to them.”

When they do know their movie is on IMAX that’s where they want to see it.

“We see patrons exchanging their tickets all the time in order to see a movie on IMAX,” said Gantz, who built one of the state’s largest movie screens just before the pandemic at their Canton location as part of Emagine’s Super EMX branding.

Construction of the screen required a 15,000 square foot addition to the complex, and was completed in a breakneck pace of only 104 days.

Since then, two other screens, measuring roughly the size of a regulation NBA basketball court have been added in Novi and Batavia and according to Gantz are always the first to sell out.

“We served 5.7 million guests last year and we’re ahead of the pace in 2025,” he said, of their attendance in all theaters.

AMC, which has 9,789 screens at 871 locations in 11 countries, announced XL at AMC last year, which was an initiative that boosts existing extra large screens with stunning 4K laser projection. According to Cinema United the concept was piloted in Europe at the company’s ODEON Cinemas locations and after encouraging customer feedback decided to expand to 50-100 screens in the U.S.

Theater goers

Technology plays a big role in movies.

But it’s not everything.

Brian Kitson of Eastpointe is a reader and when Warner Bros. Pictures started releasing the film adaptations of J.K. Rowling’s world of wizards in movie theaters across the country he was there.

“I’ll never forget those midnight releases,” he said, recalling the thrill of waiting in line late at night in order to be the first among his friends to see the latest installment in the “Harry Potter” franchise.

“I read all of the books so getting to see them come to life on the big screen was magical,” said Kitson, who attended MJR’s big screen debut.

Joining him was Nicholas Miller of Hamlin Park, whose fondest memory was going to the movies with his grandfather, who died not long after they enjoyed a night out together.

“We love going to the movies,” said Micah Moss of Detroit, who attended MJR’s big screen debut along with her husband Caleb Moss. “The popcorn. The VIP seats. “We probably go once a week.”

VIP seats are cozy vignettes that theaters are providing for audiences who want a little more comfort and privacy, for a little more money, that feature leather recliners and a side table like you might have at home.

“It’s a lot different from watching a movie at home,” said Caleb, who was particularly excited to see “Black Panther” among other Marvel movies on the big screen.

Micah said she’s always been a fan of movie theaters.

“I will never forget seeing ‘Aladdin,’ for the first time,” said Micah, recalling one of her earliest memories of going to the movies with her family. “I went with my parents. It was such a good experience.”

Caleb said he had a similar experience with “Indiana Jones.”

Troy Mayor Ethan Baker said it is all about the experience that theaters are providing now.

“Just think about it. Back in the 80’s and 90’s we were all sitting on uncomfortable seats (very close together) because it was our only option,” said Baker, who was very pleased to see MJR investing in their business and replacing the old seats with new recliners. “Now the theaters are competing with streaming movies at home so they have to be able to provide that family room atmosphere here.”

Even still, Baker said theaters have always provided audiences with a fun escape.

As a young man working his way through law school, Baker said the theater was a break from his usual studies. It also gave him a fun place to take his girl, Bethany, now his wife and the mother of their three children.

“The movie theater brings families together and it’s a good way for them to bond,” added Baker, remembering how excited his daughter was after seeing Disney’s “Up.” “For years after she would always say, ‘Remember when we went to see ‘Up’ dad?’”

“Movies mean a lot to people,” Baker said.

They also mean a lot to actors, many of whom have gone out of their way to promote movie theaters.

“If it weren’t for folks like Tom Cruise and Christopher Nolan I think it’s entirely conceivable that the studios could have cut their ties with us and left us in the dust pile,” Gantz said, referring to the golden era of streaming television mined during the pandemic. “They believe in the value of the communal experience and services that come with seeing a movie on the big screen.”

“It’s just a different experience,” Gantz said, adding that he believes that there’s room for everyone to be successful but that movie theaters have to get better in order to compete.”

Industry report

“Every single day, exhibitors (theaters) around the world strive to find creative ways to elevate the moviegoing experience,” said the report by Cinema United highlighting what movie theaters are doing to achieve that goal.

These goals include:

• Reinvesting in their communities,• Technological innovation• And more than a movie: this includes everything from new food offerings, special screenings for autism and dementia viewers to heated seats and special merchandising such as collectible popcorn tins.

Emagine has two major partners who provide the collectible tins, which right now are as hot as Johnny Storm, on a regular basis including Goldenlink and Snap Company. The recent release of “The Fantastic Four” featured a Galactus Tub popcorn vessel that had a price tag of $70. Gantz said they only ordered 108 tubs for the entire chain thinking because of the price they wouldn’t move.

“We sold 105 on the first day,” Gantz said. “This is an emerging avenue for our industry and we will continue to look to provide items and merchandise that our guests clearly want.

Many theaters across the country are also partnering with groups and organizations in their community.

One example in the report was The State Theatre in Iowa.

Since 1897, movie goers have shared a communal experience at the State Theatre, and it remains an irreplaceable part of the community.

The team that runs the day-to-day operations, Fridley Theatres has 97 screens and 17 locations throughout the state, and while it has a storied past it doesn’t rely solely on its history as the main draw.

The theatre regularly partners with the chamber of commerce for events like last fall’s Halloween movie and theatre ghost tour. Every April, the State Theatre participates in Washington’s annual Farm to Film Fest, hosting opening ceremonies for the festival and screenings of local films.

“In an age of megaplexes, the State Theatre is an anomaly in the movie industry,” said Adam Nihart, director of Theatre Operations for Fridley Theatres. “It isn’t lost on us that the perfect combination of historical significance, community support, and caring management makes it a success.”

According to Cinema United, watching a movie on the big screen is here to stay.

“Theatres are the cornerstones of small towns, rural communities, and major cities all around the world,” Cinema United said in their March report. “Going to the movies is ingrained in our social fabric, and movie fans of all ages continue to flock to theatres of all sizes to see movies on the big screen.”

As a filmmaker Feig said he makes movies for large groups of people to see and enjoy.

“We engineer our films to have maximum impact for a live audience to interact with and react to,” Feig said. “While the advent of streamers making movies has thankfully allowed us to get some of our films made, nothing can ever replace the effectiveness of having our movies play to full theaters of people versus individuals watching in their homes. Simply put, I believe movies just mean more to people when they first experience them on the big screen.”

ALLEN PARK — Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell on Sunday issued updates on several players who suffered injuries last week.

The group was headlined by cornerback Terrion Arnold, who left a team scrimmage last Tuesday and is dealing with a hamstring injury, according to Campbell. It doesn’t appear to be serious, and he’s expected to return sooner rather than later.

“He’ll be down for a little bit. It’s not a major hamstring. This is a low-grade (injury), but we’re trying to be smart with it,” Campbell said. “We’re hoping to have him back by the middle of the week.”

• S Kerby Joseph: Joseph returned to practice Sunday and was full-go. He’s been dealing with a knee injury for the last week.

• CB Amik Robertson: Robertson returned to practice after missing the last two. The reason for his absence was not known.

• OT Taylor Decker: Decker returned to practice on Sunday for the first time this year. Decker is dealing with a shoulder injury stemming from an offseason surgery. While Decker won’t be a full-go right away, it’s expected he’ll be a full participant soon.

“He will be out there, individual (drills). Don’t see him doing any team (drills) right now, but he will be back out moving around, which is good,” Campbell said.

• CB Ennis Rakestraw: Rakestraw, who has missed several practices due to various injuries, suffered another one Sunday. He landed on his shoulder in a one-on-one tackling drill — the first rep of any kind for the team — and couldn’t get up. He is being evaluated for a shoulder injury.

• S Dan Jackson: Jackson, a rookie safety, left practice and is being evaluated for a leg injury. The source of his injury is not currently known.

• OT Dan Skipper: Skipper will miss “about a week” after he suffered an ankle injury in Detroit’s 34-7 preseason loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Thursday night’s Hall of Fame Game. Detroit signed offensive tackle Justin Herron on Monday to take over some offensive tackle reps in the meantime.

“Got his ankle a little bit. Shouldn’t be long term, but he’s going to need to lay off it for a little bit here,” Campbell said of Skipper.

• TE Kenny Yeboah: Rounding out the list of updates was Yeboah, who got rolled up on during a run play in Thursday night’s game and did not return. He won’t practice Sunday, but Campbell said it was for “something personal, in a good way. He’ll be back tonight. He won’t practice today. He’ll be back tonight.”

The NFL’s one-year experiment with the new kickoff rule becomes permanent this season with a new tweak that the league hopes will lead to a bigger increase in the rate of returns.

The league also approved changes to the overtime rule, expanded replay assist and made a few other technical changes for this season. Those were on display during the exhibition opener Thursday night between the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers that also featured the NFL’s Hawk-Eye virtual measuring that replaced the old-time chains to determine first downs.

The league experimented with the so-called dynamic kickoff in 2024 in hopes of more returns while also making the play safer. Owners voted in April to make the change permanent while moving touchbacks on kicks that reach the end zone on the fly from the 30 to the 35, which is expected to lead to more kicks in play and more returns.

There was no change in the tush push play that Philadelphia used so successfully on the way to winning the Super Bowl last season.

Here’s an explanation of some of the new rules that will be in place.

 

What’s new with the kickoff?

The league was mostly pleased with the experimental kickoff put in place for 2024 that led to the rate of kickoff returns increasing from a record-low 21.8% in 2023 to 32.8% last season, while reducing the rate of injuries on what had been the game’s most dangerous play.

The rule made kickoffs more like scrimmage plays by placing the coverage players and blockers close together to eliminate the high-speed collisions that had contributed to so many injuries on the play. The league said the rate of concussions dropped 43% on returns, with a significant reduction as well in lower-body injuries.

The problem last season was many teams still opted to kick the ball in the end zone because the touchback wasn’t punitive enough. The average starting field position on a touchback was only 2.4 yards further than the average starting position after returns, which was the 27.6-yard line.

By moving the touchback to the 35, the league projects that the return rate will rise to somewhere between 60% and 70%, with a similar increase in long returns, adding more excitement to the game.

The league also approved a small tweak to how blockers on the return team are allowed to line up in the setup zone that could lead to longer returns.

In the game Thursday night, there were seven returns on the nine kickoffs — including a lost fumble by Detroit on the opening kick. There was one kick that went for a touchback and another that didn’t reach the landing zone in the air and was spotted at the 40.

How about onside kicks?

Teams will still need to declare their intention to try an onside kick because of the different formation. But a new change will allow trailing teams to try one before the start of the fourth quarter after Kansas City had to kick deep while down 28 points in the final minute of the third quarter in the Super Bowl.

Coverage players will also be allowed to line up one yard closer in hopes of increasing the rate of recovery from about 6% over the past three seasons to at least 10%.

How will overtime change?

The league approved a proposal to make the regular season overtime more like the postseason, with both teams getting a chance at a possession, even if the team that gets the ball first scores a touchdown.

The NFL added regular season overtime in 1974, adding a 15-minute sudden death period that ended on any score. In 2010, the rule was tweaked to a modified sudden death that required an opening possession touchdown to immediately end the game instead of only a field goal. That was in effect in both the regular season and the playoffs.

Overtime then was shortened for the regular season to only 10 minutes in 2017. A rule change in 2022 for the playoffs only gave both teams the chance to score even with a touchdown on the opening possession.

Now that will be the case in the regular season, after the improved field position on kickoffs made winning in OT on an opening possession TD easier.

According to Sportradar, six of the 16 overtime games last season ended on an opening-drive TD for the most overtime games ended on the first drive since the rule change went into effect in 2010.

In all, teams that won the overtime toss won 75% of the time last season, according to Sportradar, and have a .606 winning percentage in overtime since it was cut to 10 minutes.

The league kept the 10-minute overtime period instead of expanding it back to 15 minutes like was originally proposed by Philadelphia, which could lead to teams opting to go for 2 and a win if they match an opening-drive TD with one of their own since there might not be time for another possession.

Replay assist

The NFL expanded its replay assist system to overturn objective calls if there was “clear and obvious” evidence that a foul didn’t occur. The calls could include facemask penalties, whether there was forcible contact to the head or neck area, horse-collar tackles and tripping. Replay also would be able to overturn a roughing-the-kicker or running-into-the-kicker penalty if video showed the defender made contact with the ball.

The league has been using replay assist in recent years to overturn obvious errors on aspects like whether a pass is caught or where the ball should be spotted without the referee needing to stop the game for a review.

The Competition Committee says there’s no interest in allowing replay assists to call penalties on plays missed by officials on the field.

Other changes

Referees will no longer use the chains to determine first downs, opting instead for a virtual measuring system. This won’t eliminate the officials who manually spot the ball and use chains to mark the line to gain.

That was on display Thursday night for the first time after a 10-yard run by Detroit’s Craig Reynolds in the second quarter. The officials stopped the game for a measurement and instead of the chains coming on the field, everyone looked at the video board and saw that Reynolds got the first down.

There were some procedural rules changed in regards to injured reserve. Teams can place two players on injured reserve with the designation to return when rosters are reduced to 53 players instead of after. Playoff teams also will be granted two additional return from IR designations.

— By JOSH DUBOW, AP Pro Football Writer

There are Barenaked Ladies concerts, and then there are Barenaked Ladies concerts in the Detroit area.

And then there are tour-ending concerts in the Detroit area.

The Toronto quartet has a long love affair with these parts as an acknowledged second home, a relationship that dates back to a 1994 showcase performance at the State Theatre (now the Fillmore Detroit) and includes 24 headline dates at the Pine Knob Music Theatre — where it recorded 2007 concert album and video “Talk to the Hand: Live in Michigan.” Thanks to that and routing logistics, Pine Knob has also been the site for the final concerts of BNL’s last few Last Summer on Earth tours, the latest coming Saturday, Aug. 2 with Sugar Ray and Fastball.

It was another combination of kindred and complementary spirits, but even moreso than other versions of the package. Members of all three bands — whose biggest hits came during the 90s — repeatedly spoke about it on stage as a favorite tour, ever. Just glancing at side stage made that evident throughout the night as the musicians all watched each other’s set, with Sugar Ray frontman Mark McGrath dancing and playing cheerleader in full view. They even dubbed themselves, collectively, Naked Sugar Balls, and that spirit was certainly contagious for the 9,500 fans at Pine Knob, another crowd of characteristically spirited BNL fans.

Closing nights are known for their shenanigans, of course, and those started early on Saturday. Astute fans noticed female undergarments placed on Fastball’s amplifiers and drum kit, and BNL’s Ed Robertson came on stage at one point to mop around singer-guitarist Miles Zuniga’ feet (an inside joke referencing a karaoke party a couple nights prior in Cleveland). The Austin group was also the beneficiary of the Last Summer esprit de corps as well; when drummer Joey Shuffield had to leave the tour early on, Sugar Ray’s Dean Butterworth — who was celebrating his birthday on Saturday night — threw in for the rest of the trek, while BNL’s Kevin Hearn played keyboards.

And on Saturday Robertson returned to join Fastball for its last two songs, “Fire Escape” and “The Way,” as he has throughout the tour.

Sugar Ray also found underwear on its amplifiers at the start of its set, and all four Barenaked Ladies’ crashed the stage early on, dressed as characters from “Scooby Doo” and, in Robertson’s case, Ken from “Barbie.” And during BNL’s show crew members dressed as aliens and monsters danced around the band as it played “Lookin’ Up.”

The hijinks complemented rather than distracted from the music, however, and only made Saturday’s show a touch more special for all concerned.

Fastball, for instance, may be known primarily for “The Way” but showed it had more than that during its half-hour set, including blazing versions of “Sooner or Later” and “Hummingbird,” which it dedicated to McGrath.

The white-suited Sugar Ray, with McGrath in exuberant, tattooed carnival barker mode, came out swinging with two of its biggest hits — “Someday” and “Every Morning” — and covered Ginuwine’s “Pony” and Ugly Kid Joe’s “Everything About You” in an “unnecessary 90s medley” before leading the Pine Knob crowd through the communal exuberance of “Fly.”

Barenaked Ladies closed things out with its usual action-packed array of musical dexterity and good humor (Robertson, also per usual, slipped a reference to the Big Beaver Road exit into “Pinch Me”) during its hour and 45 minutes on stage. The hits — “The Old Apartment,” “Brian Wilson,” the “Big Bang Theory” theme song, “One Week” and the bulletproof singalong “If I Had $1000000” — were spread throughout the set, but the group kept new material from 2023’s “In Flight” front and center, too, including acoustic performances of “One Night” and “What Do We Need?”

Among other highlights BNL wound its regular adlibbed rap into a swinging Hearn-sung rendition of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs,” while “Hello City” finished with a bit of the standard “I Love You.”

Multi-instrumentalist Hearn, celebrating his 30th year in the band, stepped forward as guitar hero on songs such as his moving “Big Backyard” as well as “Pinch Me” and “Clearly Lost” and traded licks with Zuniga on a cover of AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell,” sung by drummer Tyler Stewart. Bassist Jim Creeggan, meanwhile, sang lead on the do-woppy “Just Wait” and led the crowd through “Sesame Street’s” “Mahna Mahna” during his bass solo.

BNL paid tribute to the late Brian Wilson with a bit of his “Love and Mercy” before launching into a tongue-in-cheek medley that included of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club,” Beyonce’s “Texas Hold `em,” Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler,” Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra” and Alphaville’s “Forever Young,” while Robertson wrapped Dan Hill’s “Sometimes When We Touch” by kissing a fan in the front row.

The night, and tour, finished with all 10 Naked Sugar Balls members on stage for a rendition of Bryan Adams’ “Summer of ’69,” visibly enjoying their final song together and giving the Pine Knob faithful what will surely be an enduring memory of the summer of ’25.

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Doug and Cathy Pumfrey invested their whole lives into a small Drayton Plains business, Toybox Video Games.

They’re waiting to see what Waterford Township has in store now that the trustees unanimously approved a new zoning ordinance to create the Drayton Plains Central Business District.

Rrok Gojcaj, president of Quality Restaurant Equipment, a salvage and restoration company, is also curious.

The two shops are in the same strip mall in the business district, a run-down area on Dixie Highway between Sashabaw Road and Signet Street. Part of the reason the area looks neglected now is that the existing ordinance made it difficult if not impossible for developers to renovate and reoccupy buildings, said Jeffrey Polkowski, the township’s community development director.

The old ordinance was so restrictive, he said, if an existing building burned to the ground, it couldn’t be rebuilt.

Doug Pumfrey supported the new ordinance. Gojcaj said he did, too.

“I think this area needs to be cleaned up,” Pumfrey said.

Pumfrey would like to see the empty shop next door filled with a new business, for the old sidewalks along Dixie Highway to be repaired or replaced and for the municipal parking lot behind his shop, which he said is falling apart, renovated.

Gojcaj has had various businesses in Waterford over the last 40 years and has owned the restaurant-equipment business since 2012.

“It’s exciting to see a downtown – if they slow down the traffic, that would be kind of neat,” he said, adding that he’s seen communities like Auburn Hills create a downtown area, but he wonders how successful it will be in the long term. He’s been attending township board meetings to follow Waterford’s plans.

“I think it’s great, if they do it,” he said. “Anytime you bring housing and new places and bring in a downtown and people aren’t barreling 50 mph past your building, it’s good.”

The changes won’t happen overnight, Polkowski said. The new ordinance goes into effect Aug. 5.

In June, Cathy Pumfrey asked the planning commission what the township will do to attract new businesses to the area without creating traffic problems.

Polkowski told her there’s a chamber of commerce that wants to move to the area. Small businesses that fit the mom-and-pop description would have fewer obstacles to opening, he said.

Lifelong resident Terry Ball told the planning commission in June he remembers when Drayton Plains was bustling. He grew up in a house that is a five-minute walk to the Toybox. Ball urged the commissioners and residents to think bigger.

“I’m 85 years old and I hope to see it before – well, I’d like to see it straight ahead and not look up or down at it,” he said, adding that slowing down traffic on Dixie Highway will be a major improvement. Build Drayton Plains up so people stay there. … Build something. There’s a parking lot behind some of those stores now that I have never seen full.”

The Pumfreys have been in business for 25 years but bought the former Sutton’s Costumes & Tuxedos shop in 2020, during the pandemic, to expand. They’ve lived in Waterford for 45 years.

“There’s only a few businesses here,” he said, listing a wedding shop, a hair salon, an electrician and a nearby shop that he described as “more of a man cave for storage” than a retail outlet.

“Luckily we’ve been in business for a long time and have enough regular customers, but I sure would like to see it be busier around here.”

Pumfrey said he’s replaced the roof and heating cooling system at his shop and replaced the ceiling and floors.

He’s not sure when the township will unveil its facade-improvement program but he’s eager to apply.

“I’m impatient,” he said. “I want to see things happen.”

Polkowski said he’s meeting with engineers and architects to talk about the best way to set up the facade-renovation program, which will be funded with part of a $750,000 federal grant the township received in 2023.

Polkowski said the new ordinance was crafted after talking to residents, business owners, potential investors and historical society members.

Investors have responded. Three Waterford natives in the development business bought the school Drayton Plains Elementary in 2023 and are using it to create the 21-unit Drayton Plains Lofts.

The gym had to be removed for structural reasons, Polkowski said. He’s excited that the school’s 1925 facade will be preserved, with a rooftop patio added. The school will include six stories of rented loft units and the rest of the four-acre property will be owner-occupied townhouses.

The townhouses are between the single-family homes behind the former school and represent a density transition, he said.

The loft developers were incentivized by the new ordinance which, in addition to setting development limits, offers points for going beyond a basic plan to benefit the community, Polkowski said.

A developer can earn up to six points for including such amenities as an outdoor public park, transit and pedestrian-friendly elements, historic preservation, for fresh food sales or for LEED-certified building plans.

The points can be exchanged for adding a second story, reducing the number of parking spaces or adding a dwelling on an acre of land, he said.

One example he gives people is a grocery store on a site that is two spaces short of the parking requirement. The shop earns development points to eliminate one parking space because it will sell fresh produce and meat. Adding a public art display would eliminate the second parking space from the requirement, he said.

At the Drayton Plains Lofts, a water run-off basin will also serve as a green space, with a sidewalk, benches and a dog run area.

“We don’t have a storm drain system here, so everything is green infrastructure, by and large,” Polkowski said. “But we’re asking developers to create something that better serves the people that in the end is better than an ugly ditch behind a building.”

Waterford also negotiated with HUD so the township can make up to $1.8 million in Section 108 business loans. These low-interest loans are a tool that allows a municipality to act as a bank, he said.

“We’re not here to make money. We’re here to improve the community,” Polkowski said, adding that for the first time, the township was setting architectural design standards. “We’re zoning for ‘pretty’.”

A building facade that uses three different materials, he said, is more visually appealing to pedestrians and doesn’t have to be expensive.

The township is also exploring ways to use future benches, trash cans and the municipal parking lot for some low-key advertising.

By Aya Fayad, The Detroit News

Dozens of EV owners, supporters and advocates gathered Saturday at Royal Oak’s Memorial Park for the Michigan Electric Vehicle Alliance’s Clean Cruise EV Festival, celebrating advancements in electric vehicle technology and green approaches to the future of the motor industry.

The first-of-its-kind celebration brought together Michigan elected officials, EV industry leaders and climate advocates from across the state to promote sustainable transportation, joined by sponsors Moms Clean Air Force, Environmental Defense Fund Action, Sierra Club and Tesla Owners Club.

“The overarching theme is that EVs are here to stay, and we want to educate the public that they are not going by the wayside,” said Amy Rogghe, executive director and founder of the Michigan Electric Vehicle Alliance. “The transportation sector in Michigan is the largest contributor of greenhouse gasses out of every sector. So in our state, it’s ultimately important that we decrease the greenhouse gas emissions from transportation.”

The event featured a wide range of activities centered around the environmental and health benefits of electric transportation and highlighting electric vehicles from various manufacturers. A Ride ‘n’ Drive experience allowed those interested to test out the vehicles and drive them up and down Woodward Avenue.

As EV technology improves year over year and sales increase, Rogghe said, Detroit needs to stay one step ahead.

“If we don’t buy in, we’re going to be left in the dust,” Rogghe said. “So we really need to buy in, not only for our state’s economy, but just to be in the global economy, to be a big piece of that market. … I mean, in Michigan, we have the Detroit Motor City, right? We need to stay at the cutting edge of auto technology, and that is what an EV is.”

“This is going to be the evolution,” said Terry Richards, who displayed his Chevy Bolt EV at the event. Richards, 67, called himself the “oldest EV owner around” and said he hopes the event reaches younger generations.

“It’s not about us, it’s about the kids,” Richards said.

Erin DeMoss, who was sitting beside Richards and owned a Tesla Model S, agreed with him. Her Tesla has been to the Grand Canyon, Pikes Peak, Mount Washington and “all around Michigan,” she said.

“When we first bought our Tesla, wherever we would go, the kids are so amazed. They’d be like, ‘Oh my God, it’s a Tesla,’” DeMoss said. “So we have all these boomers who will say, ‘No, no, it’s gas all the way.’ But you know, they’re not going to be around forever, and when you look to the kids, they’re just so excited.”

“I’ve had a lot of discussions with people that are like ‘Gasoline forever,’” Richards said. “You can’t change everyone. All you can do is change enough people to switch over to get to what you call critical mass.”

Rie Yamakawa of Novi brought along her 4-year-old son to test out several mini battery-powered children’s motorcycles and cars. His stamp of approval, she said, made all the difference.

“I just think it’s awesome that they brought all these vendors, that they’re showing all these alternatives here,” Yamakawa said. “It’s great that they’re making people aware of these new models, there are so many for someone to choose from.”

When asked if she’ll be buying one for her son, Yamakawa laughed: “I think I need to now, he won’t get off. He finished the battery on the last one, the car, and now he’s riding the motorcycle.”

Also at the event, attendees could listen in on presentations and discussions on the benefits of transitioning to electric transportation, which experts said help in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving overall air quality.

Nora Naughton, communications director of the Sierra Club’s Michigan chapter, said EVs are going to be “super key” in fighting the climate crisis.

“As soon as someone interacts with an electric vehicle, they’re so much more likely to actually consider them,” Naughton said. “There’s so many different things that we can do for climate action, and this is just one leg of the stool for us. This is an individual action that you can take today. You can turn in your gas powered car for an electric one, and I would argue that it would improve your life.”

Manufacturers demonstrated advancements in EV technology, giving attendees the opportunity to explore the vehicles up close through a showcase featuring over 60 different cars. The display even included an electric school bus and a solar vehicle designed by University of Michigan students.

Junior Julia Glasco and sophomore Evan Winters, both part of the university’s student-run UM Solar Car Team, presented their student-made and designed solar vehicle called Astrum. The car finished fourth in the 2023 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, an 1,800-mile race across the Australian Outback, and first in the 2024 American Solar Challenge.

“I always watch the green cruise growing up and it’s the best way to display what our car does for sustainability, because it kind of gets overlooked when people think it’s just a racing team,” Winters said. “But I mean, what we’re doing is moving the future of renewability forward in a way no one else really is.”

Glasco added that the group wanted younger generations to get involved in “the future of sustainability,” saying, “it gives the younger kids a chance to be a part of something that’s for the future of sustainability, a better future for all.”

The festival was closed out with an EV cruise down Woodward Avenue, with over 60 EV owners who represented more than a dozen brands driving their cars and honking for passerby.

“I’m an EV and environment advocate, I’ve always been an advocate, and I’m still an advocate,” Richards said before taking his car out for the cruise. “This is the future, it really is. It’s the evolution of the Motor City.”

By ELENA BECATOROS, Associated Press

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — They wandered through the museum, listening attentively as their guide explained the antiquities in display cabinets. It could have been any tour group, anywhere in the world. But there was something unusual about this one.

The group of foreigners visiting the National Museum of Afghanistan was made up only of women. Its guide was a woman, too — one of the first Afghan female tour guides in a country whose Taliban rulers impose the severest restrictions on girls and women anywhere in the world.

Somaya Moniry, 24, hadn’t known that tour guides existed, as a profession or even as a concept. But while browsing the internet for help on improving her English language skills, she stumbled upon Couchsurfing, an app where travelers connect with locals and stay in their homes.

After hosting a traveler, “I became very passionate about it and it was very interesting for me,” Moniry said. “It was very unique. I have never heard about it before, so I said: ‘Why not (do) this?’”

Looking for the positive

As she showed that first visitor around her hometown in western Afghanistan, she saw a new side to her country.

“Most of the things that we have heard (about Afghanistan) was just … negativity. The focus of the people, focus of the media, focus of headlines, all of them were just the negativity. And definitely we get influenced by that,” Moniry said.

But for her, Afghanistan is far more nuanced. While there are undoubtedly problems in a place recovering from decades of war and chaos, there is also another side to the complex, stunning country. Her love for her homeland runs deep, and she is eager to share it. She hopes to gradually change people’s perceptions.

“Whenever … I saw all of that natures, all those beauty, all those positivity, it changed my view totally,” Moniry said in her enthusiastic English. “And definitely this can be also for other people.”

One of those visitors is Australian Suzanne Sandral. She originally wanted to see Afghanistan in the 1960s but the pressures of having a family kept her away. Now at 82, she was part of Moniry’s women-only tour group in Kabul.

Afghanistan surprised her.

“It’s not what I expected at all. I expected to feel rather fearful. I expected to be given a lot of … accusatory looks. Not at all,” she said during a pause in sightseeing. “Wherever you go in the streets, if you smile at someone and give them a little nod or say hello, you get a terrific response. So it’s very different.”

Jackie Birov, a 35-year-old independent traveler from Chicago who was not part of the tour group, called the Afghan people “unbelievably hospitable.”

However, “I’m very aware that I have a lot more freedom than local women,” she said.

A fledgling industry

Four decades of war have kept tourists away from Afghanistan. But while the Taliban’s takeover of power in August 2021 sent thousands of Afghans fleeing and shocked the world, the end of its insurgency against the previous U.S.-backed government also marked a sharp drop in violence.

Attacks still occasionally occur, mainly by an Islamic State affiliate, and Western countries advise against all travel to Afghanistan. Still, the improved security is increasingly attracting foreign visitors drawn by the dramatic scenery, millennia of history and a deeply ingrained culture of hospitality.

Tourism is a fledgling industry, with annual visitors in the low thousands. Most are independent adventure travelers. But guided package tours are increasing from countries as diverse as China, Greece, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Afghanistan’s Taliban government is keen to welcome them. Isolated on the international stage — officially recognized only by Russia, which did so in July — the government sees how potentially lucrative tourism could be.

Tourist visas, typically single-entry ones valid for stays of up to 30 days, have become relatively simple to obtain from the few embassies that issue them. Regular flights connect Kabul with major transit hubs such as Dubai and Istanbul.

A question of ethics

For some, the idea of visiting Afghanistan as a tourist is morally abhorrent, particularly given the government’s treatment of women.

Girls are banned from education above primary school level, and women live under myriad restrictions. The government dictates what they can wear in public, where they can go and who they can go with. They cannot walk in parks or eat in restaurants. Beauty salons are banned. A very limited number of professions, such as teaching and carpet weaving, are open to them.

And the rules can change quickly.

But those involved in tourism point to the positive effects that visiting Afghanistan can have.

“I truly believe in ethical tourism,” said Zoe Stephens, 31, a British tour leader at Koryo Tours, a company specializing in unusual destinations. “I believe that you can divide politics and people, and that is the main thing for me. … A country is not a sum of its politics. It’s a sum of so much more, it’s a sum of its culture, its history, its food, and especially in Afghanistan, its people.”

Glimpses into the women’s world

Of the three recent tours Stephens led in Afghanistan, two were women-only. Working with local female guides, including Moniry, they combine key attractions with visits to women’s centers and cooking and embroidery classes from local women — worlds that are closed to male travelers.

“We always try and do something a little bit different that really makes our tours unique, as well as something that kind of gives back to the community,” Stephens said. “So I felt that working with the female tour guides does both of those things really well.”

The groups are small — one had eight women, the other three — but the company is looking to build a network of female guides across Afghanistan.

“What we try and do with this tour, especially the women’s tour, is conquer those ethical concerns,” Stephens said. “The idea is to learn about the lives of Afghan women in context.”

By CALEIGH WELLS, Associated Press

Most of what goes into U.S. landfills is organic waste, ranging from household food scraps to yard trimmings. That’s a problem because in that environment, organic waste is deprived of oxygen, which helps break material down.

The result: the release of a lot of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.

Consumers can curb their environmental impact by composting, which helps break material down in ways that reduce the release of methane. This can be done whether someone lives in a home with a yard or in an apartment without outside space. Composting also alleviates pressure on landfill space and results in a nutrient-rich substance that help soil.

Robert Reed, with the recycling and composting company Recology, said that applying compost makes soil better at retaining moisture, which makes it resilient against droughts, wildfires and erosion.

For people who want someone else to compost their food scraps, some local governments offer curbside pickup. Otherwise, nonprofits, farmers markets and community gardens often fill that gap. Companies in some areas also will pick up the food waste to be taken away for composting for a fee.

For those who want to try composting at home, here’s how to get started.

If you’ve got a yard

Composting doesn’t necessarily require much space. Even 4 square feet — roughly the size of a standard office desk — can do the trick. Common receptacles include open wooden bins or large barrel-shaped tumblers that you can rotate on a metal rod. Free-standing piles also work.

Some people follow a strict schedule of turning the pile, often with a hoe or shovel, or adding to it regularly. Backyard composting typically relies on microbes to break down the waste, which can bring a pile’s temperature up to 130-160 degrees Fahrenheit (54-71 degrees Celsius). Others follow a more passive approach.

Experts break the composting recipe down into four main ingredients: water, oxygen, nitrogen-rich “greens” (food scraps, grass clippings) and carbon-rich “browns” (cardboard, dead leaves, shredded paper). Typically compost has two or three times as much “brown” material as “green.”

The Environmental Protection Agency recommends against meat, bones, dairy, fats and oils in backyard compost piles because they typically don’t get hot enough to fully break them down, and because they’re more likely to attract pests. The agency also says to steer clear of treated wood, glossy paper, pet waste and compostable dishware or bags.

Experts say composters can experiment with what works and what doesn’t. Rodale Institute Senior Farm Director Rick Carr said he’s tried animal products and just about everything in his household. Hair from the hair brush and fully cotton swabs break down great. Cotton T-shirts? Not at all.

“If you’re unsure if it’ll break down, put it in there and you’ll find out,” he said.

The bacteria and fungi feed on the pile of organic waste and turn it into compost. The finished product looks like moist, dark soil. The EPA says a well-tended pile can produce finished compost in three to five months, while a more passive pile that doesn’t reach high temperatures may take up to a year.

Bob Shaffer, who owns a company called Soil Culture Consulting, said that for him, the process can take closer to nine months, but it’s easy to tell when it’s finished.

“When you look at compost, what you should not be able to see is, oh, there’s a leaf. There’s that carrot top that I put in there 10 months ago. You shouldn’t be able to discern what the material is,” he said.

Common pitfalls

Most composting problems happen when the ingredients get out of whack.

One way to make sure you’ve got the right balance of “greens” and “browns” is a “squeeze test,” by reaching into the pile and grabbing a handful then letting it go, said Nora Goldstein, editor of the organics recycling magazine, Biocycle.

“If it just kind of crumbles off your hand, it’s too dry. If you squeeze and get a little bit of drips, it’s a little wet. But what you want is to squeeze it, let it go, and have kind of a coating on your hand.”

When the pile gets too dry, the composting process slows down or stops. The answer: Hose it down or add more food scraps.

Another common problem is the opposite: there isn’t enough air, or there are too many nitrogen-rich “greens.” The first sign of trouble is when the compost pile smells. That typically means the microorganisms are dying and the pile is releasing methane, like in a landfill. The solution: stir the pile to get more air inside and allow it to cool down. Then add some cardboard or paper. A pile that’s too wet can also attract flies, maggots and rodents.

“As long as you’re mixing in enough amendment or browns, you’ll stay out of trouble,” Goldstein said.

If you lack outdoor space

Composting indoors is possible through what’s known as vermicomposting, a process that relies on worms. People can buy premade worm bins, make their own out of untreated wood or use plastic storage bins with a few modifications, according to the EPA. The containers should have tight-fitting lids and keep out the light. Only certain types of worms will work, and they can be obtained from a worm grower or a neighbor who’s already started vermicomposting.

Goldstein said that the process isn’t always easy: “You really have to know what you’re doing.”

Instead of relying on microbes, worms feed on the carbon- and nitrogen-rich organic matter. They poop out almost-black castings. That’s the finished product. The EPA says it takes about three to six months, which can be faster than backyard composting. They can create a more nutritious end product than in traditional compost.

But Goldstein said that it can be tricky to ensure conditions are right for the worms.

“You want to make sure those worms are very happy, because if they’re not, they will leave the bin. And they’re not harmful, it’s just a little freaky,” said Goldstein.

Traditional composting, whether indoors or outdoors, is typically a process that takes place over months, not days, Goldstein said. Electric countertop devices that promise to break down food in hours or days don’t use the same process. Goldstein said those devices produce material that can be used in gardens, but it’s “not completely broken down” and should be mixed with soil.

The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

By Katie Kelton, CCC, Bankrate.com

When it comes to back-to-school shopping, some of us might think fondly of new backpacks and the scent of fresh pencils. But Bankrate’s 2025 Back-to-School Shopping Survey shows others might simply see dollar signs.

Stubborn inflation continues to change how nearly 1 in 3 back-to-school shoppers (30%) shop, but that percentage has trended down in recent years, perhaps indicating Americans have become more accustomed to paying higher prices.

Ronda Sunderhaus, Bankrate senior account manager in Charlotte, North Carolina, has lengthy back-to-school shopping lists for her three kids. In addition to school supplies, they buy several new outfits, backpacks and lunch boxes — “Those never seem to last when you pack lunch every day of the week,” she says.

That’s why her family looks for deals and compares prices together.

“I involve (my kids) in price comparison and decision-making when it comes to clothes, shoes and backpacks, too,” she says.

One category they can skimp on is electronics. “Because my kids are younger, the only ‘technology’ needs they have are generally headphones,” she explains. “I usually opt for a low-cost pair, since kids are prone to losing or breaking things, and replace annually.”

Almost half of shoppers (49%) plan to employ money-saving strategies this fall, from finding cheaper brands to budgeting to buying less.

“The cumulative effects of higher prices and high interest rates are still weighing on many households,” says Ted Rossman, Bankrate senior industry analyst. “Tariff concerns are also significantly impacting consumer sentiment.”

Bankrate’s key insights on back-to-school shopping

• Today’s prices have nearly 1 in 3 back-to-school shoppers rethinking how they shop. Thirty percent of shoppers say they’re changing how they shop due to inflation. That’s down from 41% in 2022 and 32% in 2024, perhaps indicating that Americans are adjusting to higher price tags.
• Compared to 2022, a smaller percentage of back-to-school shoppers feel financially strained for the upcoming school year. Twenty percent of shoppers (down from 31% in 2022) say they’ll feel a strain on their budget, and another 11% (down from 26% in 2022) feel pressured to spend more than they’re comfortable with.
• Half of back-to-school shoppers are using money-saving strategies this season. Forty-nine percent of shoppers have taken or plan to take action — buy cheaper brands, look for deals, budget or buy fewer supplies — for the upcoming school year.

Inflation continues to plague back-to-school shoppers, but less so than in years past

Nearly 1 in 3 back-to-school shoppers (30%) say inflation is changing how they shop. That’s down from 32% in 2024 and 41% in 2022, during peak inflation.

Inflation is currently at 2.4%, well below the 9% peak in June 2022, but prices are still 23.7% higher than they were before the pandemic. However, our polling shows this is becoming less of an issue for shoppers. While the Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t specifically track the price of school supplies, we can look at the prices of a few similar categories this year (as of May 2025) versus last year.

Stationery, stationery supplies and gift wrap are 4.7% more expensive than last year.

Boys’ apparel is 2.1% more expensive, but girls’ apparel is 1.3% cheaper.

Computers, peripherals and smart home assistance are 3.5% cheaper. But computer software and accessories are 6.1% more expensive.

Educational books and supplies are 9.4% more expensive.

One in 5 shoppers (20%) say these costs will or are straining their budgets, which is down from 31% in 2022. And around 1 in 10 shoppers (11%) feel pressured to spend more than they’re comfortable with, which is down from 26% in 2022.

• More millennials and Gen Zers are back-to-school shopping than older generations Overall, more than 1 in 3 U.S. adults (36%) are back-to-school shopping this year — for themselves or for a child. That includes nearly half of millennials (ages 29-44; 49%) and Gen Zers (ages 18-28; 44%). Only 1 in 3 Gen Xers (ages 45-60; 33%) and around 1 in 5 boomers (ages 61-79; 21%) are back-to-school shopping.
• Most back-to-school shoppers won’t take on debt this season Six percent of shoppers plan to take on debt for back-to-school shopping this year. “We do not worry about the start of school debt, but know many families do,” Sunderhaus says.

Nearly half of Americans (46%) have credit card debt, according to Bankrate’s 2025 Credit Card Debt Report. But nearly half of those debtors (45%) say it’s because of emergency expenses, like car repairs or medical bills. Armed with a budget and money-saving strategies, it’s possible to avoid debt this back-to-school season.

Nearly half of shoppers plan to use money-saving methods

Alene Laney, a personal finance writer in Provo, Utah, and mom of five, finds creative ways to save on back-to-school shopping. Their local public schools provide supplies, but her family is still on the hook for new school clothes, technology, backpacks and so on.

“I try to keep costs as low as possible, and the extra expenses come from a monthly budget category for essential home items,” Laney says.

She’s among nearly half of back-to-school shoppers (49%) who are employing one or more of these money-saving strategies in 2025.

1 in 5 will buy cheaper brands

Twenty percent of back-to-school shoppers say they bought or will buy cheaper brands than usual, down from 35% in 2022.

Try opting for generic versions of your kids’ favorite brands or comparing prices between stores to trim down your budget. “I buy cheaper brands for the things that don’t matter (paper, binders, scissors),” Sunderhaus says. “I also price compare between in-store deals (Target, Walmart) and Amazon online. I usually find that highlighters, expo markers, and ironically, glue sticks in bulk and then divided among my kids, are cheaper via Amazon.”

1 in 5 will look for deals

Twenty percent also have or plan to find more deals and coupons than in the past. But that’s down from 47% in 2022.

With five kids, it’s important for Laney and her kids to buy things that will last without breaking the bank. “I don’t go for the cheapest brands — I try to get the highest quality for the lowest price,” she explains. “For that, I’m a big Costco fan. I also shop all the discount stores like TJ Maxx, Ross, Marshall’s and Burlington Coat Factory.”

Nearly 1 in 5 will budget for back-to-school

Eighteen percent already did or plan to set money aside and/or budget for back-to-school shopping, which is down from 33% in 2022.

Budgeting prevents impulse buying, which is a weakness for many Americans. And it helps you identify other categories where you might be able to spend less this season, so there’s enough money to go around. You could also start saving up for back-to-school shopping a couple of months in advance.

About 1 in 6 will buy fewer school supplies

Sixteen percent are buying fewer school supplies than in previous years due to the cost, compared to 36% in 2022.

“Consider asking your child’s teacher what’s essential on day one versus what can wait until later in the year,” Rossman says. Your kids may not need everything on the list right away. They might also be able to use last year’s backpack, folders, pens and pencils and more.

5 ways to save money this back-to-school season

Once summer camps are over and schools start sending emails again, here are a few lessons to help you shop affordably for back-to-school.

• Set a budget. With a monthly budget that fluctuates by season, you can plan ahead for back-to-school spending by pulling money from other everyday categories. For example, if you budget $500 for school supplies, you might be able to cut $200 from your family’s dining out budget, $200 from entertainment and another $100 by skipping pricey snacks and only buying in bulk that month.
• Make a shopping list. With a list in hand — that you actually stick to — you won’t get sucked into buying more than you need or what your kids throw in the cart. Base the list on your budget and recommendations from the school, but also look for ways to reuse supplies from last year.
• Stack discounts. Try “combining a rewards credit card with store promotions, online shopping portals and/or card-linked offers,” Rossman advises. Those small savings can add up for a big shopping list.
• Include your kids in the process. Back-to-school shopping is a way to teach your kids about budgeting while minimizing bickering over what to buy. “I make my elementary kids responsible for holding onto their list in the store and marking off what we have as we go,” Sunderhaus says. “We also talk about the brands and prices of the items they are picking out.” When her 6-year-old wanted a video game-themed pencil box, he chose to compromise for a more affordable lunch box.
• Shop secondhand. Thrifting clothes and supplies, when possible, can help you get lower prices while helping the environment. Laney and her kids often shop secondhand and re-wear items. “I’m always surprised at the high quality of clothes I can get secondhand,” she says. “We’re happy to wear hand-me-downs or yard sale treasures.”

Methodology: Bankrate commissioned YouGov Plc to conduct the survey. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,616 adults, of which 914 have or will do back-to-school shopping this year. Fieldwork was undertaken between June 2-4, 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18+).

©2025 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Wins and losses in the preseason don’t hold much significance. However, if the Detroit Lions’ 2025 debut against the Los Angeles Chargers was an indicator of anything, it’s that this team has plenty of rust to shake off.

Detroit’s performance in its exhibition opener was, in a word, lackluster. It resulted in an ugly 34-7 loss for Dan Campbell’s squad in the NFL’s annual Pro Football Hall of Fame game Thursday night. Yet, more concerning was the lack of effort and execution from the Lions.

For a team that entered training camp with sky-high expectations coming off a 15-2, NFC North-winning campaign, its showing against the Chargers left much to be desired.

Let’s be clear: no one should overreact to a preseason result. These are glorified scrimmages, and the Lions did sit all of their expected Week 1 starters, including 2025 draft picks Tyleik Williams and Tate Ratledge.

However, that doesn’t excuse the Lions’ lack of discipline, energy or attention to detail Thursday.

Detroit committed eight penalties (gifting L.A. with 68 “free” yards) and five total turnovers. Plus, it went a dismal 1-for-11 on third-down conversions. That’s the kind of stat line that gets players cut and coaches irked, even in August.

Quarterback Kyle Allen, making his Detroit debut, didn’t exactly instill confidence with his play, either. He finished the first half nine-of-14 for 91 yards, but threw two interceptions and made several head-scratching decisions. His arm lacked the necessary velocity for some of the throws he attempted, and he repeatedly forced the ball into tight windows that didn’t exist.

For a veteran fighting for a spot on the Lions’ 53-man roster, it was an ultra uneven performance, and it did little to suggest he’s the right man for the team’s backup QB job.

The Lions’ offensive struggles didn’t end there, either.

Third-year pro Hendon Hooker replaced Allen under center in the second half, and didn’t fare much better. The 2023 third-round pick completed just three-of-six passes for 18 yards, and was responsible for a late-game interception. Additionally, the Tennessee product led the offense to only three first downs in four series, and was sacked twice.

As a whole, offensive coordinator John Morton’s unit mustered just 197 yards and failed to get into a flow. Whether it was a lack of protection from the offensive line, missed throws, or ineffective play-calling, Detroit’s offense looked rather vanilla and unprepared. That can’t be the case for a team with postseason aspirations, no matter who’s under center.

On defense, Detroit wasn’t much better. The unit gave up critical first downs and failed to generate momentum-changing plays. There were flashes of effort, but little consistency. And the inability to force takeaways only added to the frustration.

Campbell, never one to mince words, voiced his frustration in the postgame.

“You want to play really well,” Campbell said. “And we just, we didn’t do that.”

He’s right. Detroit didn’t just lose; it underperformed in all three phases. And while Campbell also expressed confidence that the film would provide coaching opportunities, there are no ifs, ands, or buts about it: the Lions failed to play a winning brand of football Thursday.

“We have our own standards, and it doesn’t matter if you just walked in the door or you’ve only practiced, you’ve had 10 practices,” the fifth-year Lions head man expressed. “Look, we’ve got to take care of the football. And it doesn’t matter if you’re wearing Lions gear, you got to take care of the ball, man. Or it’s going to be hard to keep you around.

“And so, it’s a hard lesson to be learned out here like that, but it’s also, we got to put a little pressure. We got to apply a little pressure in a good way, so we get better, man. We got to put some urgency on this. It is early, but it’s never too early to get better, right?”

The Lions are no longer the feel-good story of the NFL. They’re now expected to contend, to win the NFC North and to play meaningful football deep into January. And with those expectations comes a higher standard – a standard the Lions clearly didn’t live up to Thursday.

Luckily, there is time to rectify the issues. Preseason games are designed to be learning tools for teams, and Campbell’s staff now has plenty of tape to teach from.

Yet, the improvements must occur swiftly. The Lions cannot afford to let these bad habits linger into the start of the regular season.

Subsequently, it is of utmost importance for Campbell’s team to get back on track in its exhibition tilt with the Atlanta Falcons next Friday.

Will Detroit come out sharper, more composed and with a heightened sense of urgency? Plus, will its players fighting for roster spots show that they learned from their mistakes?

They’ll need to. Because while the preseason may not count in the win-loss column, how a team approaches it says plenty about its preparation (or lack thereof). And the Lions have plenty to prove after their preseason dud in Canton, Ohio.

This article was produced by the staff at Detroit Lions On SI. For more, visit si.com/nfl/lions

As the Royal Oak Leprechauns fight for a playoff spot, a collective of former Catholic League stars have played integral roles in the team’s success this summer.

Some, like Aidan Schuck, a Detroit Catholic Central grad who just finished his freshman year at Oakland University, are done for the summer — in his case, his last game with the Leprechauns came last weekend — but have left their mark.

Schuck batted .337 this summer for the team, with 23 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. But he hit his stride as his time with the team wore on, and began to put together a hitting streak that eventually reached double-digits.

“I didn’t even have an idea the streak was going on until I think it was the 15th game,” Schuck said. “I was told by one of our interns who does the stats and he said you’re two away from the franchise record.”

It ended up as a 19-game hitting streak before it was snapped, and at one point included a span of five games where he had 13 base knocks. “You can tell when you’re doing well, seeing it well, but yeah, I had no idea there was a streak going on. It’s kinda harder once you know about it, because then self-consciously you’re trying to continue it.”

In his first year as a Golden Grizzly, Shamrock batted .279 with 10 RBIs in 18 games, but he believes he’ll be returning to OU as a better player after this summer. “I’d say I had a good year, but there were times where I struggled seeing spin,” he said. “I feel like this summer, I made a big jump and I was able to hit off-speed pitches and drive them the other way. Obviously, this was my freshman season of college and I saw new to seeing a lot of the pitching, but playing (as many games as I did this summer) against college pitching, , that’s the best way to get better, seeing arms like that every day. Overall, I developed as a hitter.”

From Brother Rice, Tristan Crane (Eastern Michigan) played 39 games for the team, batting .305 with a .378 on-base percentage and drove in 29 runs. Fellow Warrior Owen Turner (Yale) drove in 21 runs while stealing eight bags in 40 appearances.

The Leprechauns’ all-star representative this season, infielder Ryan Tyranski (Cincinnati), another one-time staple in the Brother Rice lineup, has been a fine example of the difference a year makes. He played 31 games in Royal Oak in 2024 and batted .262 with 12 RBIs and six stolen bases in 31 games. This summer, he’s hitting at a .296 clip in 54 games, has hit a pair of home runs (along with four triples), driven in 33 runs and swiped 19 bags.

On the mound, another Warriors’ alum, Wyatt Ruppenthal (Kalamazoo College), has been one of the Leprechauns’ best arms. In 14 appearances, the 6-foot-2 righty has sported a 3.58 ERA over 27 2/3 innings, striking out 29 with a solid 1.30 WHIP.

For some, it’s a chance to thrive while getting to know ex-rivals even better, and also forge new bonds.

“It’s awesome playing with all the Catholic League guys the whole summer,” Schuck said. “There’s time we’ve had debates in the dugout about who was better in high school. It’s fun getting to know those guys you somewhat knew (when) playing against them, but were never on the same team. Then they’ve got new guys who’ve come in towards the second half of the season, guys like Danny Cook from Pepperdine, a couple guys from Colorado, and it’s good getting to know those guys from all across the country as well as ones we already know.”

With just single-digit games remaining, the Leprechauns have a string of games at home coming up that includes Military Appreciation Night Sunday afternoon against the Kenosha Kingfish and Fan Appreciation Night on Tuesday evening against the Kalamazoo Growlers.

CANTON, Ohio — Not many things went according to plan for the Detroit Lions in a preseason loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday, but their concerted effort to put the ball in the hands of their rookie receivers did.

Heading into the Hall of Fame Game, the Lions wanted to give Isaac TeSlaa and Dominic Lovett ample amounts of opportunity. Neither receiver, drafted in the third and seventh rounds, respectively, lit the field on fire at Tom Benson Stadium, but they combined to account for more than 70% of the team’s receiving yards, and they were the only Lions with multiple targets; Lovett had nine, and TeSlaa had three.

TeSlaa, specifically, was impressive. He recorded back-to-back explosive plays on Detroit’s third drive, hauling in receptions of 24 and 22 yards. Exactly half of TeSlaa’s 46 yards came after the catch, as the physically gifted receiver caught both of his balls on the move. He appeared natural as a ball carrier, and he finished his first catch by attempting to run through a defensive back on his way out of bounds.

“It kind of felt good to drop my shoulder a bit on that DB,” TeSlaa said. “Definitely got hyped up about that one.”

TeSlaa, who played about 40% of Detroit’s offensive snaps, was wide open on both of his receptions. The Arkansas and Hillsdale product benefited from the off-ball coverage on each rep, but he was able to shake the cornerback off-balance on his second catch, aggressively attacking the defender on his vertical stem and faintly faking to the outside before he broke inside on an over route.

It was encouraging to see TeSlaa create separation. It hasn’t been a notable issue through the first couple of weeks of training camp, but most of his standout plays in practice were courtesy of his contested-catch ability. He didn’t need to use that against the Chargers.

“TeSlaa made some plays. … We wanted to get TeSlaa and Lovett the ball,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said. “We wanted to get these receivers some throws. I wish we could’ve gotten all those guys some throws. But it was good to see. I did think those two guys showed up.”

TeSlaa admitted to having some pent-up emotion escape out of him after his first catch, but he tried to reel himself back in as the game wore on. “Football’s an emotional game,” he explained. “But you’ve gotta be able to tame those emotions.” To settle himself down, TeSlaa remembered this is the same sport he’s been playing since he was in the third grade.

“I typically don’t get too nervous,” TeSlaa said. “Obviously, this was definitely a big game for a lot of us, especially us rookies. It’s our first NFL action, so it was more of like nervous anticipation, I would say, than like jitters or anything. But it was good to get out there. Once I got out there and got in the flow of things, I definitely felt good.”

Nothing about TeSlaa’s unofficial NFL debut surprised him, but now he knows what it’s like to go up against professionals. That experience should help him continue his development, ahead of his first season on the team he grew up rooting for.

“When you get to this level, everyone’s gonna be bigger, faster and stronger. … Now that I’ve seen firsthand what it’s like, I’ll just continue to grow every single day,” TeSlaa said.

A Hazel Park man has been charged in connection with a quadruple shooting in Detroit in which two people died.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Jaylen Lee Robinson, 30, in the fatal shootings of Martin Clay, 32, of Davison, and Maria Jenkins, 34, of Highland Park, and the nonfatal shootings of two Detroit women, ages 28 and 39.

Worthy said in a release that Detroit police officers were dispatched to a gas station in the 3300 block of Puritan Street, east of Dexter Avenue, for a reported shooting at about 4 a.m. Monday, July 28.

Officers observed Clay on the floor of the gas station with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso and buttocks area. Jenkins and the two other women had gunshot wounds to the torso.

Clay was dead at the scene. Jenkins died a short time later at a hospital.

A verbal altercation between Robinson and Clay escalated to a physical fight, and Robinson fired a handgun multiple times, the release said.

Robinson is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of assault with intent to murder, four counts of felony firearm, and one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

At his arraignment Friday in 36th District Court in Detroit, he was remanded to the Wayne County Jail.

He faces a probable cause conference Aug. 12 and a preliminary exam Aug. 19 before Judge Shawn Jacque.

Maintenance worker killed in Royal Oak shooting not involved in dispute, police say

Police allege high-end merchandise at Oak Park stores is counterfeit

Michigan State Police detectives seized high-end merchandise from at least six Oak Park stores, alleging the items are counterfeit.

MSP said in a release that its detectives recently executed a search warrant on the stores in the Greenfield Plaza, 21700 Greenfield Road, between Eight Mile and Nine Mile roads.

MSP alleged the sellers knew the name-brand items were fake. An investigation is continuing.

The release said MSP received a tip about the allegedly counterfeit items.

“Undercover detectives were able to identify and purchase the counterfeit items,” the release said.

“Often, these counterfeit items contain harmful chemicals that can endanger (your) health,” said First Lt. Mike Shaw. “The saying of (if) it seems too good to be true normally is true. Make sure the items you purchase are legit; your health may depend on it.”

Not all businesses in the Greenfield Plaza are impacted, the release said.

Maintenance worker killed in Royal Oak shooting not involved in dispute, police say

Woodward Dream Cruise revs up with activities in Oakland County

 

 

 

A maintenance worker killed in a shooting at the Devon Park Apartments in Royal Oak was not involved in a dispute between two tenants that led to shots being fired, police said.

Officers responded to the complex on Crooks Road between 13 Mile and Normandy roads at about noon Thursday, July 31, on a report of shots fired in the parking lot.

Officers and firefighters performed life-saving measures on the maintenance worker, Police Chief Michael Moore said in a briefing with the news media Thursday. The maintenance worker died a short time later. Police did not release his name.

Police apprehended a suspect at the scene, Moore said.

He said the suspect, who lives at Devon Park, and another tenant were involved in a dispute before the suspect produced a pistol and fired several shots.

“I do believe there was a history there,” Moore said. He did not release details on the nature of the dispute.

Lt. Rich Millard confirmed Friday that the maintenance worker was not involved in the dispute.

Millard said the suspect, who remains in custody, will likely be arraigned over the weekend.

Royal Oak police investigating fatal shooting

 

Woodward Dream Cruise revs up with activities in Oakland County

By ADITHI RAMAKRISHNAN, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — The National Science Foundation can continue to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars from researchers in several states until litigation aimed at restoring it plays out, a federal court ruled Friday.

U.S. District Judge John Cronan in New York declined to force the NSF to restart payments immediately, while the case is still being decided, as requested by the sixteen Democrat-led states who brought the suit, including New York, Hawaii, California, Colorado and Connecticut.

In his ruling, Cronan said he would not grant the preliminary injunction in part because it may be that another court, the Court of Federal Claims, has jurisdiction over what is essentially a case about money. He also said the states failed to show that NSF’s actions were counter to the agency’s mandate.

The lawsuit filed in May alleges that the National Science Foundation’s new grant-funding priorities as well as a cap on what’s known as indirect research expenses “violate the law and jeopardize America’s longstanding global leadership in STEM.”

Another district court had already blocked the the cap on indirect costs — administrative expenses that allow research to get done like paying support staff and maintaining equipment. This injunction had been requested to restore funding to the grants that were cut.

In April, the NSF announced a new set of priorities and began axing hundreds of grants for research focused on things like misinformation and diversity, equity and inclusion. Researchers who lost funding also were studying artificial intelligence, post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans, STEM education for K-12 students and more.

Researchers were not given a specific explanation for why their grants were canceled, attorney Colleen Faherty, representing the state of New York, said during last month’s hearing. Instead, they received boilerplate language stating that their work “no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities.”

NSF has long been directed by Congress to encourage underrepresented groups like women and people with disabilities to participate in STEM. According to the lawsuit, the science foundation’s funding cuts already halted efforts to train the next generation of scientists in fields like computer science, math and environmental science.

A lawyer for the NSF said at the hearing that the agency has the authority to fund whatever research it deems necessary — and has since its inception in 1950. In the court filing, the government also argued that its current priorities were to “create opportunities for all Americans everywhere” and “not preference some groups at the expense of others, or directly/indirectly exclude individuals or groups.”

The plaintiff states are trying to “substitute their own judgement for the judgement of the agency,” Adam Gitlin, an attorney for the NSF, said during the hearing.

The science foundation is still funding some projects related to expanding representation in STEM, Cronan wrote in his ruling. Per the lawsuit filed in May, for example, the University of Northern Colorado lost funding for only one of its nine programs focused on increasing participation of underrepresented groups in STEM fields.

The states are reviewing the decision, according to spokespeople from the New York and Hawaii attorney general offices. The National Science Foundation declined to comment.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN and ELLIOT SPAGAT, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge agreed on Friday to temporarily block the Trump administration’s efforts to expand fast-track deportations of immigrants who legally entered the U.S. under a process known as humanitarian parole — a ruling that could benefit hundreds of thousands of people.

U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb in Washington, D.C., ruled that the Department of Homeland Security exceeded its statutory authority in its effort to expand “expedited removal” for many immigrants. The judge said those immigrants are facing perils that outweigh any harm from “pressing pause” on the administration’s plans.

The case “presents a question of fair play” for people fleeing oppression and violence in their home countries, Cobb said in her 84-page order.

“In a world of bad options, they played by the rules,” she wrote. “Now, the Government has not only closed off those pathways for new arrivals but changed the game for parolees already here, restricting their ability to seek immigration relief and subjecting them to summary removal despite statutory law prohibiting the Executive Branch from doing so.”

Fast-track deportations allow immigration officers to remove somebody from the U.S. without seeing a judge first. In immigration cases, parole allows somebody applying for admission to the U.S. to enter the country without being held in detention.

Immigrants’ advocacy groups sued Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to challenge three recent DHS agency actions that expanded expedited removal. A surge of arrests at immigration courts highlights the lawsuit’s high stakes.

The judge’s ruling applies to any non-citizen who has entered the U.S. through the parole process at a port of entry. She suspended the challenged DHS actions until the case’s conclusion.

Cobb said the case’s “underlying question” is whether people who escaped oppression will have the chance to “plead their case within a system of rules.”

“Or, alternatively, will they be summarily removed from a country that — as they are swept up at checkpoints and outside courtrooms, often by plainclothes officers without explanation or charges — may look to them more and more like the countries from which they tried to escape?” she added.

A plaintiffs’ attorney, Justice Action Center legal director Esther Sung, described the ruling as a “huge win” for hundreds of thousands of immigrants and their families. Sung said many people are afraid to attend routine immigration hearings out of fear of getting arrested.

“Hopefully this decision will alleviate that fear,” Sung said.

Since May, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have positioned themselves in hallways to arrest people after judges accept government requests to dismiss deportation cases. After being arrested, the government renews deportation proceedings but under fast-track authority.

President Donald Trump sharply expanded fast-track authority in January, allowing immigration officers to deport someone without first seeing a judge. Although fast-track deportations can be put on hold by filing an asylum claim, people may be unaware of that right and, even if they are, can be swiftly removed if they fail an initial screening.

“Expedited removal” was created under a 1996 law and has been used widely for people stopped at the border since 2004. Trump attempted to expand those powers nationwide to anyone in the country less than two years in 2019 but was held up in court. His latest efforts amount to a second try.

ICE exercised its expanded authority sparingly at first during Trump’s second term but has since relied on it for aggressive enforcement in immigration courts and in “workplace raids,” according to plaintiffs’ attorneys.

Spagat reported from San Diego.

By MIKE STOBBE, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials have told more than a half-dozen of the nation’s top medical organizations that they will no longer help establish vaccination recommendations.

The government told the organizations on Thursday via email that their experts are being disinvited from the workgroups that have been the backbone of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

The organizations include the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

“I’m concerned and distressed,” said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University vaccine expert who for decades has been involved with ACIP and its workgroups.

He said the move will likely propel a confusing fragmentation of vaccine guidance, as patients may hear the government say one thing and hear their doctors say another.

One email said the organizations are “special interest groups and therefore are expected to have a ‘bias’ based on their constituency and/or population that they represent.”

A federal health official on Friday confirmed the action, which was first reported by Bloomberg.

The decision was the latest development in what has become a saga involving the ACIP. The committee, created in 1964, makes recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how vaccines that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration should be used.

CDC directors have traditionally almost always approved those recommendations, which are widely heeded by doctors and greenlight insurance coverage for shots.

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was a leading voice in the anti-vaccine movement before becoming the U.S. government’s top health official, and in June abruptly fired the entire ACIP after accusing them of being too closely aligned with manufacturers. He handpicked replacements that include several vaccine skeptics.

The workgroups typically include not only committee members but also a number of experts from medical and scientific organizations. At workgroup meetings, members evaluate data from vaccine manufacturers and the CDC, and formulate vaccination recommendation proposals to be presented to the full committee.

The structure was created for several reasons, Schaffner said. The professional groups provide input about what might and might not be possible for doctors to implement. And it helped build respect and trust in ACIP recommendations, having the buy-in of respected medical organizations, he said.

Workgroup members are vetted for conflicts of interest, to make sure than no one who had, say, made money from working on a hepatitis vaccine was placed on the hepatitis committee, Schaffner noted.

Also disinvited from the groups were the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Physicians, the American Geriatrics Society, the American Osteopathic Association, the National Medical Association and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

In a joint statement Friday, the AMA and several of the other organizations said: “To remove our deep medical expertise from this vital and once transparent process is irresponsible, dangerous to our nation’s health, and will further undermine public and clinician trust in vaccines.”

They urged the administration to reconsider the move “so we can continue to feel confident in its vaccine recommendations for our patients.”

Some of the professional organizations have criticized Kennedy’s changes to the ACIP, and three of the disinvited groups last month joined a lawsuit against the government over Kennedy’s decision to stop recommending COVID-19 vaccines for most children and pregnant women.

In a social media post Friday, one of the Kennedy-appointed ACIP members — Retsef Levi — wrote that the working groups “will engage experts from even broader set of disciplines!”

Levi, a business management professor, also wrote that working group membership “will be based on merit & expertise — not membership in organizations proven to have (conflicts of interest) and radical & narrow view of public health!”

HHS officials have not said which people are going to be added to the ACIP workgroups.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

By MATTHEW BARAKAT, Associated Press

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — Federal judge T.S. Ellis III, whose legal scholarship and commanding courtroom presence was evident in numerous high-profile trials, has died after a long illness. He was 85.

Ellis oversaw the trials of former Donald Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and former U.S. Rep. William “Dollar Bill” Jefferson as well as the plea deal of “American Taliban” John Walker Lindh across a judicial career that lasted more than 35 years.

His acerbic wit sometimes drew muted complaints at the courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, where Ellis was based, but his legal reasoning was unquestioned.

Ellis died Wednesday at his home in Keswick, according to the Cremation Society of Virginia.

Thomas Selby Ellis III was born in Colombia in 1940 and frequently found ways in court to utilize his Spanish-language skills. He often told Spanish-speaking defendants who relied on interpreters to speak up as they pleaded for leniency, saying he wanted to hear their words for himself.

He joined the Navy after receiving an undergraduate degree from Princeton, and completed graduate studies at Oxford. He received his law degree from Harvard, graduating magna cum laude.

He was appointed to the federal bench by President Ronald Reagan in 1987.

In a courthouse known as the “Rocket Docket” for its speedy disposition of cases, Ellis’ courtroom reflected his iconoclastic nature. Rarely did his hearings start on time, though when he presided over jury trials his punctuality improved as he zealously guarded jurors’ time commitments.

He frequently chastised lawyers to cut short long-winded arguments, in what he called “a concession to the shortness of life.” But he was easily coaxed or diverted into telling stories from the bench recalling episodes from his long legal career.

He snapped at lawyers who annoyed him, but would often adopt a more conciliatory tone later in the same hearing, and apologize for his short temper.

His penchant for speaking freely drew raised eyebrows at what was arguably the highest-profile trial over which he presided: the prosecution of Manafort, on charges of tax and bank fraud related to his work advising pro-Russia Ukrainian politicians before managing Trump’s campaign.

Ellis ultimately delivered a 47-month sentence, and said as an aside that Manafort appeared to have lived “an otherwise blameless life,” a phrase he often used at criminal sentencings. Critics who found much to blame in Manafort’s long career working for clients including the tobacco industry and international despots were outraged by the comment.

In 2009, Ellis sentenced Jefferson, a former Louisiana congressman, to 13 years in prison for taking bribes, including $90,000 found hidden in his freezer. The case threw multiple curveballs at Ellis, including a sexual relationship between a key witness and an investigating FBI agent.

In 2017, Ellis reduced Jefferson’s sentence to time served after a Supreme Court case changed the rules for what constitutes bribery of public officials. He made clear, though, that he believed Jefferson’s actions were criminal, and called his conduct “venal.”

“Public corruption is a cancer,” he said at the time of Jefferson’s resentencing. “It needs to be prosecuted and punished.”

Ellis’ sentencing hearings often followed a familiar script in which he invited defendants to explain themselves “by way of extenuation, mitigation, or indeed anything at all” that they wanted to say on their behalf. He invariably told defendants before passing judgment that “you write the pages to your own life story.”

Ellis took senior status as a judge in 2007 but regularly worked an extensive docket. In recent years, with his failing health, his cases were reassigned.