Detroit Free Press

President Barack Obama said he understands the "desperation and difficulty" of long-term unemployed people in Detroit and Michigan, and said it'll take more help from the government to get businesses hiring again. Full Story »

As cleanup and Asian carp-searching efforts continued after a massive poisoning, officials said they had found one Asian carp among the 200,000 pounds of dead fish. Full Story »

Today is expected to mark the conclusion of the professional misconduct hearing for Mike Stefani, the attorney who wrested an $8.4 million settlement from Detroit in the police whistleblower cases. Full Story »

Two major freeway shutdowns are on tap for the weekend, and lane restrictions abound. Full Story »

Whether it's mistrust of the government or confusion in the message, minorities aren't lining up to get vaccinated against H1N1 as they should, a group of federal health care officials said Thursday. And if they skip those doses, they're "playing the odds," said Raymond Strikas, a medical officer at the National Vaccine Program Office. Full Story »

Excerpts from the president's message. Full Story »

President Barack Obama met with Justin Hyde of the Free Press Washington Bureau and Richard Wolf of USA Today on Thursday at the White House. Here are excerpts from the interview. For the full transcript or to watch video of the interview, go to freep.com. Full Story »

I have watched for the past year as every decision President Barack Obama makes is called his most important. His decision to send more troops to Afghanistan will define his presidency. Whether he can institute a national health care system will define his presidency. Full Story »

A visibly angry Oakland County judge stopped the murder trial Thursday of a young mother accused of smothering her baby after learning Pontiac police failed to turn over evidence that could help the defense. Full Story »

A few weeks before it becomes official, Detroit City Council President-elect Charles Pugh was sworn in to office Thursday by City Clerk Janice Winfrey. Moments after the blink-and-you-missed-it ceremony at the Detroit Elections Commission, Pugh beamed and thanked his family -- his brother, an aunt and cousins were there -- friends and staff. Full Story »

Detroit businessman Rayford Jackson, sentenced last month to 5 years in prison for bribing city officials in the Synagro sludge-hauling deal, denied Thursday that he physically abused paramour and former Fox 2 anchorwoman Fanchon Stinger. Full Story »

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama said Thursday that it would be a mistake to focus too narrowly on the troubles black Americans face from the recession, rejecting criticism from the Congressional Black Caucus that the government is ignoring the economic plight of minorities. Full Story »

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama says he feels safe in the White House, despite the party-crashing incident at last week's state dinner for the prime minister of India. "I could not have more confidence in the Secret Service," Obama said in an interview Thursday with the Free Press and USA Today. Full Story »

Detroit political consultant Sam Riddle's criminal trial on bribery charges in the Synagro sludge scandal has been scheduled for Jan. 12, most likely pushing back his Feb. 2 trial date in a separate Southfield bribery case. Full Story »

Although she will have served only one term on the Detroit City Council when she leaves at the end of the month, Martha Reeves had no intention of ending it quietly. Full Story »

The Detroit Public Schools and its teachers union said Thursday night that they reached a tentative agreement on a contract that comes as the district struggles with its finances and declining enrollment. Full Story »

Michigan's Medical Marijuana Program is getting 66 applications a day -- so many that there's a delay in processing them, Michigan's Department of Community Health said Thursday. Full Story »

BIRMINGHAM: Book Beat and the Baldwin Public Library are to host three authors of young adult and children's fiction for a free event from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday. The authors -- Helen Frost, Amy Huntley and Pearl North -- are to speak and autograph their books. The library is at 300 W. Merrill. Call 248-968-1190. Full Story »

A Grosse Ile woman accused of swindling about 20 people out of at least half a million dollars in a real estate ponzi scheme was charged Thursday with racketeering and obtaining money under false pretenses, state Attorney General Mike Cox's office said. Full Story »

The Detroit Public Schools had to pay higher costs to construct and remodel facilities under the $1.5-billion bond program because deteriorating buildings required the district to move quickly, a former official testified Thursday. Full Story »

A Wayne County commissioner wants the county clerk, prosecutor, treasurer and register of deeds to show solidarity with other county employees by taking a 10% cut in pay and benefits. Full Story »

A proposed strip club that has riled neighbors in Lincoln Park and Melvindale for years could open as soon as next week. Larry Flynt's Hustler Club appears to have cleared its final hurdle since the state's liquor control commission signed off on a liquor license transfer Tuesday. Full Story »

DOG OWNER BACK TO COURT: Kenneth Lang Jr., the former Dearborn man who lived in a house filled with hundreds of live and dead Chihuahuas until this summer, is scheduled for a competency hearing today in 19th District Court in Dearborn. Full Story »

DPS and the Detroit Federation of Teachers have reached a tentative deal on a contract. A news conference is scheduled for 10 p.m. Full Story »

In a 25-minute discussion at the White House, the president touts the rescues of General Motors and Chrysler and warns against halting government support too soon. Full Story »