Author Elmore Leonard dies
Detroit writer Elmore Leonard passed away yesterday at age 87. Michigan Radio’s Kate Wells reports that Leonard was the author of 45 novels and was in the middle of number 46 when he suffered a stroke earlier this summer. Leonard’s work has often been adapted to well-known films such as 3:10 to Yuma, Out of Sight, and the television series Justified.
Detroit mayoral race has ballot counting issues
In Detroit’s mayoral race earlier this month, Detroit Medical Center CEO Mike Duggan appeared to have a clear 16-point lead over Wayne County Sherriff Benny Napoleon. But now the results are being questioned because of ballot counting inconsistencies. Michigan Radio’s Sarah Cwiek reports that “votes are customarily counted with hash marks but some election workers used numbers instead.”
Grand Rapids Public Schools show improvement
Some Grand Rapids Public Schools have had difficulty meeting Michigan state educational standards for the past few years. Union High School previously hovered in the lowest one percent of schools in the state. It has now pulled itself up to within the lowest ten percent. Michigan Radio’s Lindsay Smith reports that the district’s superintendent said “it wasn’t just the district; this really has been a community effort.”