LOCAL Toyota Exceeds GM in Sales

from WDIV Detroit TV 4


General Motors, after more than 75 years as the No. 1 automaker in the U.S. and the world, has been surpassed by Toyota. In the first quarter, Toyota sold 2.35 million vehicles, while GM sold 2.26 million.

This is something analysts had predicted but weren't expecting these changes until later on in the year -- not in the first quarter. Toyota has had the No. 1 selling car for the last several years in the Toyota Camry. And Toyota has built a reputation for quality and for building better fuel efficient vehicles.

GM announced a restructuring plan in November of 2005 that called for closing 12 plants by 2008, slashing its workforce, reducing capacity and cutting costs.

LOCAL UPDATE: Troy Shooting Suspect in Custody

from WDIV Detroit TV 4

Police have announced they have Anthony Lacalamita, 38, in custody in connection with the workplace shooting inside Gordon Advisors Accounting Firm in Troy. A resident driving a pickup truck spotted the silver 2007 Ford Fusion that police were searching for and called 911. The Genessee County Sheriff's Department followed the car through Saginaw and pulled him over in Bay City. They said the rifle was found in the car, and the driver matched the shooter's description.

Lacalamita is being transported to the Genessee County jail.

One woman has died and two men are injured. Witnesses inside the building said there are armed police officers and guards outside. Officials have secured the basement and first floor and are working to secure the other floors. Employees were removed from the building in sections and taken to a neighboring building.

LOCAL BREAKING NEWS - CRIMESTOPPERS

Troy Workplace Shooting: 1 Dead, 2 Injured
from WDIV Detroit TV 4

Troy police are at the scene of a workplace shooting inside Gordon Advisors Accounting Firm.

Police received a tip call on Monday morning stating there was a shooting on the second floor of the 1301 Long Lake Crossings building on Long Lake Road.

The shooter has been identified as Anthony Lacalamita, 38. He is about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 180 pounds. He has short dark hair and was wearing a dark-colored sweater. He is still armed with either a rifle or shotgun.

One woman has died and two men are injured. Some employees have barricaded themselves inside their offices, while others have been evacuated and taken to a nearby building. Witnesses inside the building said there are armed police officers and guards outside. Officials have secured the basement and first floor and are working to secure the other floors.

Ten members of the SWAT team entered the building in full gear but have not come out yet. Employees are being removed from the building in sections and taken to a neighboring building. There were injuries reported, but how many people were involved and the extent are not known at this time.

Police are searching for a silver 2007 Ford Fusion and said it may be related to the shooting. The license plate is BEY 0843.

If you have any information regarding this incident, or believe you know the whereabouts of Lacalamita please call Troy police at (248) 689-4455.

LOCAL CRIME STOPPERS ALERT

Pontiac Rapist Sketch Released by Police

from WDIV Detroit TV 4

Pontiac police said they are on the hunt for a suspected rapist and they released a sketch of a person of interest. Over the weekend, a man raped a woman and then tried to attack a second woman 30 minutes later. The first incident was reported to have taken place in Murphy Park around 10 p.m.

A boyfriend and girlfriend were sitting in a parked car when they told police a black man approached them and pointed a silver handgun at them. The boyfriend told police he was ordered out of the vehicle by the man and asked to empty his pockets.

When officers arrived at the scene with the boyfriend the woman was gone. After searching the park, the woman was located and told police she had been raped. The area had been secured with tracking dogs, and the Oakland County Sheriff's Department allocated helicopter and good patrols but the man was not located. Police are now waiting for DNA samples to come back from a lab.

At 10:31 p.m. on Saturday another woman reported being approached and robbed while sitting in a parked car in Beaudette Park. A black man showed her a gun and ordered her out of the car. She said the man had her open her trunk and then he took her purse and fled in a dented green Dodge Neon. Police said the man's description matches in both incidents.

The man is being described as black and in his 20s, 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet 1 inch tall, with a thin build, mustache and short-length black Afro. The man was last seen wearing a dark winter jacket with a hood. Those who have any information on the man are being asked to contact Pontiac police at (248) 857-7890.

Jackson-Hewitt Accussed of Tax-Fraud Schemes

from WDIV Detroit TV 4

The government said Tuesday it is trying to shut down more than 125 Jackson Hewitt tax preparation stores in four states, including Michigan, for systematic "tax-fraud schemes." The Justice Department accuses the franchises of bilking the government out of more than $70 million through fraudulent practices such as using phony W-2 forms, bogus deductions and fuel tax credits and false claims regarding the earned income tax credit.

Jackson Hewitt Tax Services Inc. is the nation's second largest tax preparer. The franchises were either totally or partially owned by Farrukh Sohail of Atlanta, and involved a pervasive and massive series of tax-fraud schemes.

According to court documents, Sohail and other defendants "created, directed, fostered, and maintained a business environment" at the Jackson Hewitt franchises "in which fraudulent tax return preparation is encouraged and flourishes."

Employees were encouraged to ignore telltale signs of fraudulent information and to file claims even when it was obvious customers were using fake W-2 forms or false deductions. A sample of returns prepared by franchises connected to Sohail found 31 percent contained false information such as phony earned income tax credit claims, bogus deductions and fraudulent W-2 forms.

The suits, filed in federal courts in Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit and Raleigh, N.C., also allege that managers and employees at the Jackson Hewitt franchises took kickbacks for filing fraudulent returns. Managers at the franchises repeatedly told tax preparers that "we are not the IRS" and that it is not their responsibility to prevent customers from filing bogus returns. Many of the stores catered to customers seeking refund anticipation loans based on phony returns.
In one instance, a Jackson Hewitt franchise customer claimed a fuel tax credit for which the tax filer would have had to drive almost 1,400 miles a day. The suits seek court orders shutting down the franchises.

Detroit PD Officer Involved in Road Rage, Shooting

from WDIV Detroit TV 4

Livonia police said they responded to the scene of a road-rage incident involving a Detroit police officer on Wednesday. When police arrived at the scene on WB I-96 near Stark Road, they found a black SUV with its windows shot out, and a silver Dodge Magnum nearby. The incident started in the area of Fenkell Street and West Outer Drive in Detroit, but ended in Livonia.

The driver of the Magnum was hit by the SUV, and the driver of the SUV fled the scene. The driver of the Magnum then followed the SUV onto I-96. At that point shots were fired from the Magnum, but no one was injured.

Livonia police responded to a 911 call regarding the shooting, and officers waited for the vehicles to enter Livonia city limits, where they pulled both vehicles over. The driver of the Magnum, was an off-duty Detroit police officer. He was immediatley taken into custody. The officer also had open intoxicants inside his vehicle.

The officer probably shot off about four or five rounds and he told Livonia police he was fired at first, and was only shooting back. The officer will not be released until an investigation by police and prosecutors is complete. He is facing charges of assault with intent to murder, and driving under the influence. Livonia police said the Wayne County Prosecutors office has requested several items regarding the investigation.

Anna Nicole Smith Dead at 39

from MyWay News

Anna Nicole Smith, the voluptuous former Playboy centerfold who married an octogenarian billionaire and waged a legal battle for his fortune all the way to the Supreme Court, died todat after collapsing at a hotel. She was 39. The blond bombshell - who recently became tabloid fodder all over again after the sudden, apparently drug-related death of her 20-year-old son - was found unresponsive while staying at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. She was rushed to a hospital.

The Broward County Medical Examiner's Office said the cause of death is under investigation and an autopsy will be done on Friday. Stay tuned for full details.

GM Recalls 98,000 Cars

from WDIV Detroit TV 4

General Motors Corp. is recalling about 100,000 Chevrolet Cobalt small sedans to upgrade head impact protection. The recall affects 98,707 vehicles from the 2005-2006 model years that are not equipped with optional roof-mounted side impact air bags. The issue was discovered during compliance testing.

There have been no injuries related to the recall and the head impact protection would only be an issue for motorists not wearing a seat belt. Belted motorists would not be affected. To correct the defect dealers will install energy absorbing plastic to the area. Owners can contact Chevrolet at 800-630-2438.

BREAKING NEWS

Rocket Fired at US Embassy in Athens

from CNN

The U.S. Embassy in Athens has been hit by a rocket in an attack that anonymous callers claimed was staged by militant left-wing group. Nno one was injured in the explosion. Damage was minimal but it was still being treated as a very serious attack.

It is believed to be a symbolic act as an attempt to disrupt the country's international relations. Police are checking the authenticity of phone calls made to a private security firm claiming responsibility of behalf of the Revolutionary Struggle. The guerilla group claimed to have carried out an unsuccessful 2006 assassination attempt on Greece's culture minister and has become the most serious domestic threat since the dismantling of the deadly November 17 group in 2002.

Police sealed all entrances and exits to the embassy and cordoned off the block around the compound, causing an almost complete standstill of traffic during the morning rush hour. Chaos erupted inside the embassy after the explosion. However, the only damage visible from outside the embassy was a window blown out on an upper floor.

Baby is Sent Through XRay Machine at LAX

from the Los Angeles Times

A woman going through security at Los Angeles International Airport put her month-old grandson into a plastic bin intended for carry-on items and slid it into an X-ray machine. The early Saturday accident — bizarre but not unprecedented — caught airport workers by surprise, even though the security line was not busy at the time.

A screener watching the machine's monitor immediately noticed the outline of a baby and pulled the bin backward on the conveyor belt. The infant was taken to Centinela Hospital, where doctors determined that he had not received a dangerous dose of radiation. The woman spoke Spanish and apparently did not understand English. She initially didn't want the baby transported to a hospital, but security officials called paramedics and insisted that the child be examined by a doctor. The grandmother and the child were subsequently allowed to board an Alaska Airlines flight to Mexico City.

Water Found on Mars?

from Daily Mail

Striking new images of the Red Planet have raised hopes life could be found on Mars after all. Scientists say they have photographic evidence that suggests liquid water may have been on the planet as little as five years ago. Experts last night said Mars now appears more active than previously thought and the latest study shows why it is vital to continue to search for life on our planetary neighbour. The first images of Mars' surface were taken in the 1960s and they suggested it was a dusty, cratered world rather like our Moon.

Now a new set of photographs has suggested that liquid water may have flowed on the planet a mere five years ago. The discovery resulted from images taken by the Mars Global Surveyor which first recorded gullies and trenches that could have been made by fast-flowing water coursing down cliffs and crater walls. Scientists in the USA decided to retake images of the gullies to search for any sign of recent activity.

Two of those originally photographed in 1999 and 2001 then photographed again in 2004 and 2005 showed changes consistent with water having flowed down the side of the crater. The discovery was made by scientists at the San Diego-based Malin Space Systems which operated a camera aboard the spacecraft. Writing in the journal Science, the researchers led by Michael Malin said the properties and settings of the deposits in the gullies are consistent with water flow.

Until now the question of liquid water has mainly focused on ancient Mars and on the Martian north pole, where water ice has been detected. Water along with a stable source of heat is essential for life to emerge. Mars formed more than 4.5 billion years ago and scientists generally believe it went through an early wet and warm era that ended after 1.5 billion to 2.5 billion years, leaving the planet extremely dry and cold.

Water cannot remain a liquid for long because of subzero surface temperatures and low atmospheric pressure that would turn water into ice or gas. But some studies have pointed to the possibility of liquid water flowing briefly on the surface through a possible underground water source that periodically shoots up.

Police Searching for Escaped Prisoner

from WDIV Detroit TV 4

Detroit police are searching for an escaped prisoner. The prisoner was arrested around 1 a.m. on Wednesday near Grand River Avenue and Livernois Avenue in Detroit. Officers said the man was driving a stolen vehicle. When officers pulled the man over and were in the process of arresting him, he told police he was not feeling well, so he was transported to Detroit Receiving Hospital.

When he got to the hospital, he wrestled a gun away from an officer and then drove away in an ambulance that was carrying three people. The three people who were inside the ambulance got out safely and were not injured. The man was last seen in the area of Third Avenue and Canfield Street near the Wayne State University campus.

The man was identified by police as 23-year-old Deandre Deshon-Russell Riley, pictured above. He is black, 5 feet 6 inches tall, and weighs 150 pounds. He was last seen wearing black jeans, Timberland shoes and a shirt with gray lettering on it. Police say the man is armed and should be considered dangerous. According to the Detroit Police Department, several area schools were placed on lockdown. Police said the man does have a previous record and is currently considered to be armed and dangerous.

Detroit police are seeking the community's help in tracking down Russell. Anyone with information is asked to call 800-SPEAK-UP or 313-596-2300.

Taco Bell Outbreak

from WCBS New York TV 2

At least 14 people in two counties on Long Island have been affected by the recent E. coli outbreak that was first reported in central New Jersey. Officials say three people in Nassau County and 11 people in Suffolk County are being treated in the outbreak, though there is no confirmation yet as to whether the outbreak in New Jersey and the one in New York are related.

Eight Taco Bell restaurants on Long Island have temporarily shut down as part of the investigation -- four from each county.

The outbreak, which that has sickened at least 22 people -- two of them seriously -- was linked by health investigators to three Taco Bell restaurants in New Jersey. It was not immediately clear if the New Jersey outbreak was linked to the one in Long Island. All but two of the people who fell ill in New Jersey had eaten at one of the fast-food restaurants between Nov. 17 and Nov. 28, authorities said. But exactly what food contained the bacteria was still unclear.

Most E. coli infections are associated with undercooked meat. The bacteria also can be found on sprouts or leafy vegetables such as spinach. Earlier this year, three people died and more than 200 fell ill from an outbreak that was traced to packaged spinach grown in California. The bacteria also can be passed from person to person if they do not thoroughly wash their hands after going to the bathroom.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the dangerous E. coli strain 0157:H7 infects about 73,000 Americans a year and kills 61. Symptoms usually show up three to four days after a person eats contaminated food, although in some cases it can be as long as eight days. Officials said anyone having symptoms should immediately contact their health care provider.

Pam Anderson Files for Divorce

from TMZ

TMZ has learned that Pamela Anderson has filed for divorce from husband Kid Rock. Anderson, who is represented by celebrity hotshot lawyer Neal Hersh, cited irreconcilable differences. The couple was married August 3, 2006.

Earlier this month, Anderson suffered a miscarriage.

It looks like there was a rush to the courthouse. Kid Rock also filed divorce papers this morning, 53 minutes before her docs were stamped by the clerk. Sources tell TMZ both Pam and Kid were in a race to get their papers filed first. The process server for Kid was at the courthouse when it opened at 8:30 AM and filed five minutes later. Interestingly, Pam and Kid Rock gave different dates of separation. She says they split on November 21. He says November 26. There was not a prenup, however, the two were married for such a brief period of time it will probably have little impact.

Pam's website offers a short statement confirming the divorce, saying "Yes, it's true. Unfortunately impossible."

School Bus Plunges Off Overpass, 3 Dead

from WDIV Detroit TV 4

A school bus carrying more than 30 high school students plunged 30 feet off an interstate Monday and overturned, killing three and injuring at least 22. The bus ended up below the I-565 overpass. Photographs and videotape from the scene show the front end of the bus completely destroyed.

Ambulances transported the injured to Huntsville Hospital and Crestwood Medical Center. The bus was taking students from Lee High School to the Center for Technology in Huntsville. There was no immediate word on what may have caused the bus to plunge off the interstate in downtown Huntsville.

Massive OTC Pain Pill Recall

from WDIV Detroit TV 4

A major manufacturer of store-brand acetaminophen recalled 11 million bottles of the pain-relieving pills Thursday after discovering some were contaminated with metal fragments.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or illness. Perrigo Co. said it discovered the metal bits during quality-control checks. The company passed 70 million pills through a metal detector and discovered the metal in about 200 caplets. The fragments ranged in size from "microdots" to portions of wire one-third of an inch long.

The recall effects bottles containing various amounts of 500-milligram caplets. Consumers can determine if they are in possession of a recalled product by locating the batch number printed on the container label. Perrigo bills itself as the world's largest manufacturer of store-brand nonprescription drugs. The Allegan, Mich., company did not disclose the chains for which it manufactures the store-brand acetaminophen.

Wal-Mart, Kroger and CVS are among the big chains that sold the painkiller.

Acetaminophen is best known as the drug in products sold under the Tylenol brand but is widely available in generic versions. The recall does not affect Tylenol.

For batch details follow the link below:

http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/perrigo/perrigobatchlist.html

NJ Court Rules in Favor of Gay Marriage

from WDIV Detroit TV 4

New Jersey's Supreme Court opened the door to gay marriage Wednesday, ruling that homosexuals are entitled to the same rights as heterosexuals, but leaving it to lawmakers to legalize same-sex unions.

The high court gave lawmakers 180 days to rewrite marriage laws to either include same-sex couples or create a new system of civil unions for them. The ruling is similar to the 1999 decision in Vermont that led to civil unions there, which offer the benefits of marriage, but not the name.

Gay couples in New Jersey can already apply for domestic partnerships under a law the Legislature passed in 2004 giving gay couples some benefits of marriage, such as the right to inherit possessions if there is no will and healthcare coverage for state workers. Democratic Gov. Jon S. Corzine supports domestic partnerships, but not gay marriage.

Supporters pushing for full gay marriage have had a two-year losing streak in state courts including New York, Washington, and in both Nebraska and Georgia, where voter-approved bans on gay marriage were reinstated. They also have suffered at the ballot boxes in 15 states where constitutions have been amended to ban same-sex unions.

Wesley Snipes Indicted

from WDIV Detroit TV 4

Actor Wesley Snipes has been indicted on eight counts of tax fraud after allegedly failing to pay nearly $12 million in taxes and failing to file tax returns for six years. Federal prosecutors in Tampa said Snipes' fraudulently claimed refunds in 1996 and 1997 on taxes already paid and then failed to file returns between 1999 and 2004.Each count carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

In 2002, the Justice Department sued a Florida tax preparer who it said filed bogus tax refund claims, including a $7 million demand for Snipes. In 2005, South Africa refused to admit him after officials said he tried to enter the country with a forged passport.

6.3 Quake Off Hawaii's West Coast

from CNN

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.5 was felt across Hawaii early Sunday, causing a landslide that blocked a major highway on Hawaii Island. The state Civil Defense had unconfirmed reports of injuries, but communication problems prevented more definite reports. People also were trapped in elevators on the island of Oahu. There is no report on fatalities. Reports indicate that boulders fell on highways, rock walls fell down and televisions had been knocked off of stands.

The quake occurred at 7:07 a.m. local time (1:07 p.m. ET), 10 miles north-northwest of Kailua Kona, a town on the west coast of the Big Island. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.3, along with several aftershocks, including one with a magnitude of 5.8.

Tigers Can't Overcome Yank's Game 1 Onslaught

Nate Robertson gave up six straight hits in a five-run third that set the tone in the Tigers' Game 1 loss. The Tigers fought back with three runs in the fifth, getting a solo homer by Craig Monroe to open the inning and RBI doubles by Placido Polanco and Sean Casey. Derek Jeter became the sixth player in postseason history to collect five hits in a game, leading the Yankees to an 8-4 win over the Tigers in Game 1 of the ALDS. His final hit of the game was a solo homer in the eighth inning.