Protomatic News

Sixty-foot flames, visible for miles. That’s how some witnesses describe Sunday night’s two-alarm fire at an apartment building in Chesterfield Township. The fire destroyed or damaged 12 apartment units at the Aspen Creek Apartment complex near 23 Mile and I-94. Police say its one of about 45 buildings in the complex. Police tell WWJ, there [...]

Winning a tax break under Michigan’s moviemaking promotion program is far from a sure thing for those seeking the state subsidy. Of the 352 applications since the program started in April 2008, Michigan granted credits to 183 projects, according to the Detroit Free Press. Michigan has given out $62 million to production companies, generating $348 [...]

Five people have been shot outside a vacant house on Stanton Street in Detroit. Police believe it may have been a drive-by shooting. Three of the victims are in their early 20′s….two victims are in their 30′s. Police have no suspects in custody. The victims were taken to Henry Ford Hospital. (Copyright 2010. WWJ Newsradio [...]

Three men are in custody after allegedly robbing a jewelry store in Madison Heights and then leading police on a chase all the way to Detroit. Police say the three men robbed Jared’s on W. 14 Mile Road at gunpoint and stole a slew of diamonds. Officers say they then chased the three in their SUV [...]

Detroit Public Schools have been working overtime to get students enrolled in school this year, including working on Labor Day weekend. District officials had their big blue “I’m In” van parked outside the Detroit Science Center Sunday, and for students who enrolled on the spot, they received a free day pass to the Center. Spokesman [...]

A leading virus expert urged health authorities around the world Sunday to stay vigilant even though the recent swine flu pandemic was less deadly than expected, warning that bird flu could spark the next global outbreak. A World Health Organization official also defended the U.N.’s health body against accusations that it wasted governments’ money and [...]

Seeking ways to spur economic growth ahead of the November elections, President Barack Obama will ask Congress to increase and permanently extend research and development tax credits for businesses, a White House official said Sunday. Obama will outline the $100 billion proposal during a speech on the economy Wednesday in Cleveland, the official said. The [...]

Times are tough all over, but one Russian government official thinks he has the perfect medicine to cure his country’s economic ills – more smoking and drinking. “If you smoke a pack of cigarettes, that means you are giving more to help solve social problems such as boosting demographics, developing other social services and upholding [...]

Torrential rains from a tropical depression caused mudslides that have killed at least 38 people in Guatemala — most of them in separate disasters along the same highway. In the village of Nahuala, rescue crews on Sunday searched through mud and rocks for bodies after two landslides in the same spot killed at least 20 [...]

The big event in Royal Oak rolls on and Jon Witz, Festival director, updates on some issues not exclusively involved  with entertainment.