Top Schools / Sex Scandal Oldest U.S. Vet Dies / Personal Flamethrowers / Chimp Dies / Legal Cussing: Top Michigan Reads

One of the top stories of the week covered a topic important to parents: schools

Newsweek released its list of the top 500 public high schools in America, and Bloomfield Hills’ International Academy came in at No. 8.

Several other area schools also made the list, including those in Dearborn Heights, Novi, Northville, Troy, Canton, Rochester, West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills and Birmingham and Beverly Hills.

In a separate list, several of those schools were also cited by Newsweek in the “Beating the Odds” rankings, a look at schools that excel despite economic and other obstacles.

They included Troy Athens High School, Saline High School, Northville High School, Novi High School, Beverly Hills School, Henry Ford Early College in Dearborn Heights and Fordson High School in Dearborn, and the International Academy.

Here are some of the other top stories for the week:

Emma Didlake, Nation’s Oldest Known Veteran, Dies at 110

Michigan woman dies almost a month to the day she met President Obama, who called her a “true trailblazer for generations of Americans.”

Endangered Chimp Dies Suddenly at Detroit Zoo

Zoo staff and visitors mourn the loss of “a lovely, intelligent being and wonderful mother” of two.

Cussing And Botching National Anthem Soon to Be Legal

Michigan lawmakers are cleaning up archaic and redundant state laws, joining a national trend for criminal justice reform.

Metro Mayor Wants to Douse Personal Flamethrowers

Bedeviled by bees? Use a flamethrower. Snow piling up? Melt it quickly. Manufacturers tout uses, but Warren Mayor Jim Fouts sees mayhem.

Legislators Not Quitting, Ex-Aide Shares Steamy Details

Former aide: Afternoons away from the office, naps with intimate tuck-ins and romantic embraces made for “untenable” working conditions. A Select Committee will look into the allegations against Reps. Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat.

Features

• Hey, Florida, Detroit Fears Alligators, Too
• Tiger on Loose in Packard Plant Causes Uproarious Social Media Fun
• Handler Says Tiger Wasn’t Loose in Packard Plant, PETA Wants His License
• Ouch! Separate Lists Rap Unsexy, Unfriendly Detroit
• Northville Named Snobbiest City in Michigan
• Peek Inside Former Red Wings Coach’s Newly Listed Home
• Aretha Franklin Plans 5-Star Club to Celebrate Detroit’s Revival

Cops & Courts

• Papa John’s Classic Camaro Recovered After Dream Cruise
• Sheriff: Sex Crimes Increasing; Internet Makes It Easier
• Fans Rough Up Kid Rock Hater: Police
• Investigators: Bloomfield Hills, Warren Police Fired
• Marching Band Director Arraigned on Child Porn Charges
• Out-of-Compliance Sex Offenders Located in 2-County Sweep

Politics & Government

• Royal Oak Commissioners OK Pedal Pub, But Without Booze
• Michigan Supreme Court Justice Stepping Down

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