CITY HALL

The International Olympic Committee has stepped up efforts to explain its position on trying to help Russian athletes qualify for the Paris Games.

California's first-in-the-nation task force studying reparations for Black residents is meeting in Oakland to discuss potential eligibility requirements and what form reparations could take.

A Pennsylvania government panel is considering adding extensive definitions of sex, religious creed and race to nondiscrimination regulations.

San Francisco supervisors have voted to put the brakes on a controversial policy to let police use robots for deadly force.

A man already in custody in last month’s attack on the husband of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of assault and attempted kidnapping.

The man accused of breaking into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s home and severely beating her husband with a hammer appears to have made racist and often rambling posts online, including some that questioned the results of the 2020 election, defended Donald Trump and echoed QAnon conspiracy theories.

Russell Crowe, who won a best actor Academy Award for portraying a gladiator in the 2000 film of the same name, is being feted by the city of Rome, home to the Colosseum where real gladiators clashed before thousands of spectators through the time of the Roman Empire.

Those leading the Promote the Vote 2022 ballot initiative in Michigan have filed an appeal with the state supreme court after a board declined to certify their proposal for the November ballot.

A battle over marijuana dispensaries continues this week in the City of Inkster as residents are concerned that the city has too many already.

Over the years, the City of Detroit has been on the kind of national list a city doesn’t want to be on, but Monday night, Time Magazine is naming Detroit one of the World’s Greatest Places to visit this year. The city made Time Magazine’s “World’s 50 Greatest Places” list, which ranked the top 50 international destinations to explore.

An effort to lock certain voting rights in the Michigan Constitution has taken a major step toward the fall ballot, eclipsing a rival campaign led by Republicans to limit absentee voting and add other restrictions.

The Michigan Board of State Canvassers is set to meet this week to determine who will appear on the ballot for the 2022 gubernatorial primary election in August after five GOP candidates reportedly failed to submit enough nominating signatures.

A unanimous Supreme Court has ruled that Boston violated the free speech rights of a conservative activist when it refused his request to fly a Christian flag on a flagpole outside City Hall.

Starting Wednesday night, Rio de Janeiro samba schools’ elaborate floats and feather-festooned dancers will parade between packed bleachers.

San Francisco's police department has released preliminary figures showing a 567% increase in reported hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders from the previous year.

Supreme Court justices seem to have little doubt that Boston was wrong to refuse to fly a banner described as a Christian flag outside City Hall.

Authorities in France want to accelerate vaccinations against the coronavirus before Christmas as infections surge and more people with COVID-19 seek medical attention.

Municipal offices will be closed for four days in observation of the Christmas and New Year's holidays.

An 1833 statue of Thomas Jefferson will be removed from New York’s City Council chamber by the end of the year.

Aaliyah was only 22 years old when she died in that tragic plane crash in the Bahamas.

Here are this morning's top stories.

A sculpture symbolizing Britain’s complex colonial ties and an artwork featuring the faces of 850 transgender people are set to go on display in Trafalgar Square, one of London’s highest-profile venues for public art.

San Jose officials have passed the first law in the country that requires gun owners to carry liability insurance and pay a fee to cover taxpayers’ costs associated with gun violence.

Faith leaders, celebrities and lawmakers across the political spectrum are condemning a rise in antisemitic incidents around the world triggered by the recent conflict between Israel and Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers.

Livonia City Council announced Wednesday it will be returning to in-person meetings on June 14, 2021.

Los Angeles police have announced the arrest of a suspect in an alleged attack by a pro-Palestinian group on Jewish men outside a restaurant earlier in the week.

Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic have hit London in a perfect storm.

(AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer, File)PORTLAND, Ore. – The mayor of Portland, Oregon, announced Thursday he would seek $2 million in one-time funding for police, other agencies and outreach programs to try to stem rampant gun violence in the city. The move by Mayor Ted Wheeler represents an about-face after city leaders in June voted to cut nearly $16 million from the police budget, reductions that included the elimination of a gun violence reduction unit. During an hour-long news conference Thursday, Wheeler, activists, faith leaders and community members reiterated that in order to solve the problem of gun violence, the community must work together. Wheeler said the tactic is not the same as the now-eliminated Gun Violence Reduction Team and would be more transparent. Wheeler said he supports the ideas, beginning with asking City Council to appropriate $2 million in one-time fiuds from the city’s reserve stability contingency account created last fall, to address gun violence.

FILE - In this Jan.18, 2019 file photo, French President Emmanuel Macron meets pupils as he visits a school canteen in Saint-Sozy, southwestern France. With a meatless four-course meal that Lyon City Hall says will be quicker and easier to serve to children who must be kept socially distanced while eating lunch to avoid coronavirus infections. With more local elections expected later this year, the arguing over Lyon's school meals offered a foretaste of broader political battles to come. Lyon City Hall said serving the same meal to all children, instead of offering them their usual meat and meat-free options, would shorten the time they take for lunch. City Hall said it also opted for meat-free meals because they suit all children, including those who habitually don't eat meats for religious, dietary or other reasons.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Larcom City Hall will remain closed through February, according to an updated notice from the City of Ann Arbor. The building, which houses various city offices, will stay closed until February 21 per an extended state order by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Larcom City Hall has been closed since Nov. 18, 2020, and non-essential operations have been moved online due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Schedule a city building, trade and rental inspection by calling 734-794-6263 or sending an email to building@a2gov.org. Some services, including safety and emergency operations, waste and recycling pickup schedules, as well as drinking and wastewater, have not been impacted by the closure.

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Around the country, people are paying tribute to the late Martin Luther King Jr. Yvette Ware-Devaull helped organize the event. “I want people to think about peace,” Yvette Ware-Devaull said. If you ask anyone at Southfield’s Justice Now, the Martin Luther King Jr. car parade had to happen. The parade went through neighborhoods and parked at City Hall where King’s message and legacy was celebrated.

With some Americans now paying the price for what they did over Thanksgiving, health officials are warning people begging them, even not to make the same mistake during the Christmas and New Year's season. Andrew Cuomo has ended indoor dining indefinitely in New York City as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations climb. As of Monday, only takeout orders and outdoor dining will be allowed in one of the world’s great cuisine capitals. THE NUMBERS: Deaths in the U.S. have climbed to almost 2,260 per day on average, about equal to the peak seen in mid-April. ___Find AP’s full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Larcom City Hall will remain closed through Dec 20, according to a new announcement from the city of Ann Arbor. Read: Michigan COVID restrictions extended through Dec. 20: What to knowThe city hall building closed for non-essential services on Nov. 18. City services including safety and emergency operations, waste and recycling pickup schedules, as well as drinking and wastewater, have not been impacted by the closure. Residents can pay parking tickets, water bills and property taxes, and apply for permits online as non-essential city services are being conducted remotely. Winter property taxes, due in December, can be paid online, by mail, at several Ann Arbor area banks or at the Ann Street dropbox.

Public schools reopened for in-school learning Monday after being closed since mid-November. Public school doors reopened for preschool students and children in kindergarten through fifth grade whose parents chose a mix of in-school and remote learning. Overall, the city counts about 1 million public school students; most have opted to learn from home this fall. Masks and social distancing are required at all city schools. About 190,000 students were eligible to return to school buildings starting Monday.

GIBRALTAR, Mich. – All city facilities in Gibraltar will be closed to the public until Dec. 9 at 8 a.m. due to an increase in COVID-19 cases. Officials said residents can make water and sewer payments by placing them in the dropbox or paid online. If you need assistance from City Hall you can call 734-676-3900. If you’re experiencing an emergency you should contact 911. If you’re not having an emergency but still need to contact police you can call 734-676-1022.

ANN ARBOR – The city of Ann Arbor will be closing Larcom City Hall on Wednesday in compliance with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' latest emergency order to slow the spread of COVID-19. Per the MDHHS order, City Hall will be closed through Dec. 8 and all non-essential operations will be conducted remotely. The closure of City Hall will not impact critical services such as police, fire, emergency operations, drinking water, waste water or waste and recycling pickup schedules. Ann Arbor parks updatesBuhr and Veterans ice arenas are closed. The Ann Arbor Farmers Market is still open.

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – The city of Sterling Heights will be making building, amenity, service and programming closures starting on Wednesday and lasting at least through Jan. 3, 2021. Sterling Heights has a website (click here) where residents can pay bills and more. ‘3-week pause’: Michigan announces stricter COVID rules: What to knowFirst responders will still be available to respond to all emergencies. Residents experiencing a non-emergency can call the Sterling Heights Police Department non-emergency line at 586-446-2800. Right now, the safety of our residents and employees must be our top concern,” said Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor.

HUNTINGTON WOODS, Mich. – All Huntington Woods city buildings will be closed to the public beginning on Wednesday. The closures include City Hall, the Public Works office and the Public Safety Department. The library and Gillham Recreation Center will also remain closed to the public. The city will evaluate when to reopen in three weeks. Residents can use drop boxes to pay water and tax bills.

Following Whitmer’s announcement, Warren Mayor Jim Fouts reactivated the city’s remote work plans. Whitmer hopes Michiganders ‘double down so we can avoid a stay-home order’Most employees will be working from home unless they are “absolutely needed” at City Hall. Most employees will be working from home and those that work inside will be required to wear a mask, social distance, and sanitize while in City Hall. City Hall will be closed to the public until further notice,” Fouts said in a statement. Warren City Hall will be closed to the public until further notice.

WARREN, Mich. – The city of Warren shut down City Hall due to the amount of COVID-19 cases within the building. Warren Mayor Jim Fouts made the decision on Sunday night to close the building. The mayor considers City Hall a coronavirus hotspot. Between City Hall, the police department and the court at least 23 city employees have tested positive for COVID-19. A department head in City Hall, a usually otherwise health man in his 50′s is hospitalized.

FILE - In this Nov. 3, 2020, file photo, a long line of people waiting to vote stretches around City Hall on Election Day, in Honolulu. Voter advocates say Hawaii should set up more voter service centers after a last-minute surge of voter interest led to hours-long lines for in-person voting on Election Day even as the state shifted to a vote-by-mail system for casting ballots. Overall, the state’s vote-by-mail election appears to have been a big success, leading to record numbers of voters participating. The law also gives voters the option to vote in person at voter service centers, where people may also register to vote or get help with casting a ballot. Ma said people waited between two to four hours on Tuesday at the two voter centers on Oahu, an island with about 549,000 registered voters.

(NBC via AP)Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. MOVIES— Many things will be different about Halloween this year, but the annual rush of horror films is much the same. It stars Sope Dirisu and Wunmi Mosaku as a Sudanese refugee couple finding new horrors in life in England. But Neon, the “Parasite” distributor, last week put a restored version into theaters and on Tuesday brings it to VOD. One is Natalie Margolin “The Party Hop,” which she wrote during quarantine in one week in early April.

Pope Francis lights a candle for peace during an inter-religious ceremony for peace in the square outside Rome's City Hall, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020 (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)ROME – A masked Pope Francis welcomed religious leaders to a socially-distanced interfaith peace prayer Tuesday, appealing for a unified international effort to work for peace and an end to the coronavirus pandemic. “The pandemic is reminding us that we are blood brothers and sisters,” they said in a joint appeal issued at the end of the service. For weeks, Francis has shunned facemasks in his public and private audiences despite a surge in COVID-19 cases across Italy and even inside Vatican City. The service was organized by the Rome-based Sant’Egidio Community, which each year organizes an interfaith peace prayer in the spirit of the first one of its kind, celebrated by St. John Paul II in Assisi in 1986. In the past week 11 Swiss Guards and a resident of the hotel where Francis lives have tested positive.

FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2016 file photo, author and filmmaker Sherman Alexie appears at a celebration of Indigenous Peoples' Day at Seattle's City Hall. Alexie is included in a list of authors who wrote books that were among the 100 most subjected to censorship efforts over the past decade, as compiled by the American Library Association. All wrote books that were among the 100 most subjected to censorship efforts over the past decade, as compiled by the American Library Association. The association does not formally count the number of times books are actually removed from a library shelf or from a school reading list. “There are actually two lines of objections to the Anne Frank diary,” Caldwell-Stone says.

Taylor residents hold protest outside City Hall over corruption probePublished: August 19, 2020, 7:05 amProtest organizers want the City Council to do more about the mayor's alleged illegal behavior.

DETROIT – Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and others in city hall are mourning the loss of a beloved staffer. Deandree Watson was killed in Westland during an apparent murder-suicide over the weekend. Watson worked as a policy analyst in the office of Detroit City Councilman James Tate. Our dear friend and colleague will forever be missed.”“I am shocked and deeply saddened by the passing of DeAndree Watson. I extend my deepest condolences to DeAndree’s family, friends, Councilman James Tate, Detroit City Council and his many colleagues at the City of Detroit,” Duggan wrote in a Facebook post.

Statues that have stood for years -- and in some cases, decades -- have been top of mind all across the country as protests take place following the deaths of George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks.

Published: January 8, 2020, 8:43 am Updated: January 9, 2020, 6:14 amHIGHLAND PARK, Mich. – The Highland Park City Hall and 30th District Court are closed Wednesday due to building problems. City officials said rescheduled court dates will be posted on the front door of the City Hall. Officials also said they expect this problem to be fixed by Thursday. UPDATE: Highland Park City Hall to be closed Thursday due to building problem

Residents of Laguna Beach, California, have mixed feelings about five, hooded statues that appeared outside City Hall this week. The figures are part of a public artwork called The Caretakers by Mark Jenkins and Sandra Fernandez, and their realistic look has some people complaining. The five figures are dressed in gray sweatshirts with hoods pulled over their faces and khaki pants. The characters faces are covered from the sun, city officials wrote on Facebook. The artist did a good job, everyone is talking about it, exactly the point, another user wrote.

ROSEVILLE, Mich. - The mayor of Roseville has declared an emergency after flash floods over the weekend left basements flooded and caused significant damage to the City Hall. On Monday, residents had to clean out flooded basements, as did officials at City Hall. Even the basement at Roseville City Hall was underwater. Upstairs, the mayor, manager and others decided to declare a state of emergency, hoping the state will approve emergency funds for residents. All the voting machines were in the basement of Roseville City Hall.

DETROIT – Theodore Roosevelt is credited with most famously using a West African proverb "speak softly and carry a big stick. That is where the big stick comes in. In that case the emergency manager would recommend the governor pull the trigger on a Chapter 9 Municipal Bankruptcy. He knows he needs that big stick to show the mayor and council he is serious. If it doesn't he still has his big stick; an emergency manager and a Chapter 9.