Local 4's Carmen Harlan and Devin Scillian hosted a special edition of "Dateline Detroit" last Friday about the city and "moving forward." The show featured a segment with Jeff Stoltman, Wayne State University professor in the School of Business Administration, commenting about the opening of the new Meijer store at 8 Mile Rd. and Woodward. (cue to 40 minutes)

Wayne State University is planning a public send-off this week for outgoing President Allan Gilmour. A farewell reception and ice cream social will be held on Tuesday afternoon in front of the McGregor Memorial Conference Center. Gilmour retires this week and will be replaced by M. Roy Wilson.

A MSNBC "UP with Steve Kornacki" segment featured a discussion titled "Detroit and the Story of the Working Class." Wayne State University Law School Dean Jocelyn Benson participated on the panel.

Today, dorm decor is anything but dull and options abound. From bedding sets to clever storage solutions, decorating a dorm room isn't just about functionality anymore. It's about style, too. Wayne State University and several other local universities have tour dorm rooms to give prospective students and incoming freshmen or transfer students a glimpse of what they'll need. Wayne has at least two showrooms, a two-student room at Yousif Ghafari Residence Hall and a four-bedroom suite with a common living area at Tower Residential Suites. "People are visually driven," says Nick Board, marketing assistant with Wayne State's Office of Housing and Residential Life. "If they can see the space and the space being somewhat utilized, it makes things easier." (A photo gallery is included)

Detroit's bankruptcy has exposed how a once-great American city can collapse. Many sections of Detroit conjure images of severe neglect and desolation. Yet there are pockets of revitalization. But are they enough to remake Detroit? NHPR's Renee Montagne spoke with Robin Boyle of the Urban Studies and Planning Department at Wayne State University about the city's future.

Wayne State University's third venture in Macomb County will further ingratiate the county as a hub of advanced technological and manufacturing development, officials believe. Optimism reigned Wednesday among dozens of educational and governmental officials who gathered for the lunchtime ceremonial groundbreaking for a new WSU Advanced Technology Education Center in Warren, formerly a Farmer Jack's store. Classes will begin in September 2014. "Come 2014, Macomb residents will have even greater access to our four-year university," proclaimed WSU Deputy President Phyllis Vroom. "When the renovation of this 40,000-square-foot facility is completed, it will include high-tech classrooms to accommodate innovative teaching and learning styles, laboratories for mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and electronics, and highly specialized equipment for cyber-security." (A photo gallery and video are included)

In an opinion piece, the deans of Wayne State University's health professional schools are urging the Michigan Congressional delegation to oppose funding cuts to federal Title VII and Title VIII education and training programs, which includes Area Health Education Centers (AHEC). AHECs are the backbone supporting the primary health care workforce in times of shortage. They create diversity, sustaining and maintaining the primary care workforce in under-served areas. Over the past year, Michigan AHEC has provided five continuing education training sessions to 300 clinicians, 16 enrichment programs to more than 500 K-12 students, and nine outreach and informational sessions to more than 500 students interested in health care careers.

Wayne State University's Law School got good news earlier this year after the latest state bar exams--and, after successful appeals by five graduates, the news is even better. Ninety percent of Wayne Law graduates who took the state bar exam for the first time in February passed--the highest passage rate of any law school in the state. The state average after appeals was 68 percent. Wayne Law's passage rate for graduates taking the February bar exam for a second time is now 61 percent, up from 50 percent after the successful appeals. That brings Wayne Law's overall passage rate up from 63 percent to 70 percent--nearly 10 points higher than that of Michigan State University's average (61 percent after appeals) and second only to the University of Michigan's (82 percent). The state average is 62 percent after appeals.

Wayne State University broke ground on a facility that expands its relationship with Macomb Community College. The university kicked off construction Wednesday of its Advanced Technology Education Center in Warren. The project involves renovating a former retail property across from the Macomb County college. Ahmad Ezzeddine is Wayne State's associate vice president for educational outreach and international programs. He says the center creates opportunities for both schools' students to complete four-year degrees in engineering, computer science, advanced manufacturing and other fields. Ezzeddine says Wayne State has existing programs at the community college, and the new facility further integrates them. The center also intends to work closely with nearby automotive- and military-related research and production facilities. The center plans to open in the fall of 2014.

Former Detroit City Council member Sheila Cockrel, who is currently a faculty member in the Honors College at Wayne State University, tells her students that poor leadership is partly to blame for Detroit's bankruptcy. But she says there are a number of other factors: disinvestment, de-industrialization and the migration of capital out of Detroit which has caused a severe reduction in revenue. Cockrel hopes the city can rebuild itself. She says Detroit is an "iconic" American city with "gritty, hard-working people." And quoting from Detroit's motto, she says, "we will rise from the ashes of this financial crisis."

Wayne State University is breaking ground on a facility that expands its relationship with Macomb Community College. The Detroit-based university kicks off construction Wednesday of its Advanced Technology Education Center in Warren. The project involves renovating a former retail property across from the Macomb County college north of Detroit. Ahmad Ezzeddine is Wayne State's associate vice president for educational outreach and international programs. He says the center creates additional opportunities for both schools' students to complete 4-year degrees in engineering, computer science, advanced manufacturing and other fields.

A guest column by Wayne State Vice President for Economic Development Ned Staebler notes the university police department's use of CompStat to combat crime. Short for Computer Statistics, CompStat uses real-time crime data and mapping, collaboration and continual tactical experimentation to target crime hot spots. In 2009, the Wayne State University Police Department (WSUPD) adopted this approach to policing. Since then, WSUPD has reduced crime in and around Midtown by more than 50%. This includes steep reductions in robbery, assault, burglary, car theft and other major crimes. As a result, Midtown and surrounding neighborhoods are now among the safest areas in Detroit.

Wayne State University will soon open a third location in Macomb County that is expected to benefit students and businesses while further cementing its partnership with Macomb Community College. One Wednesday, officials will break ground on the school's $12 million Advanced Technology Education Center, which will offer four-year degrees in programs such as engineering, computer science, business and advanced manufacturing. The 40,000-square-foot facility will open in fall 2014 on East 12 Mile in Warren, across from the community college. The location is by design, said Ahmad M. Ezzeddine, WSU associate vice president, educational outreach and international programs. "We are strong partners," Ezzeddine said. "This is a major investment, close to the manufacturing companies that are there. It will provide an opportunity to support their needs, the needs of our county and to expand our partnership with Macomb Community College."

Helen Thomas grew up in Detroit, and her family says she'll be buried here. Thomas, 92, died on July 20. She graduated from Wayne University in 1943, and began her journalism career as a copy-editor for the United Press. She eventually rose to the top of the White House press corps, questioning--even challenging--Presidents Kennedy through Obama. WDET's Pat Batcheller spoke with the head of Wayne State's journalism program, Jack Lessenberry, about Thomas's life, career, and some controversial remarks she made a few years ago.

Dr. M. Roy Wilson, deputy director for strategic scientific planning and program coordination at the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, in Washington, D.C., has been selected as president of Wayne State University.

Helen Thomas has died at the age of 92 after a long illness. Thomas was a native Detroiter and a graduate of Wayne State University. As a White House correspondent, she covered presidents from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama. Thomas is known for breaking down numerous barriers in her field. She became the National Press Club's first female officer, as well as the first woman to be named White House bureau chief of a major wire service, the first woman to be admitted to the Gridiron Club, the first woman to serve as president of the White House Correspondents' Association and the recipient of multiple lifetime achievement awards. Outgoing WSU President Allan D. Gilmour called Thomas the school's "most notable alumni" in a statement released by the university. "Her courage, intellect, tenacity and wit made her a force to be reckoned with and an icon in journalism," said Gilmour. "The controversy in her final years does not overshadow her accomplishments over a long and distinguished career in the profession she loved."

Jack Lessenberry, WSU journalism lecturer who worked close to Thomas, commented about her strong work ethic and willingness to give back. "She was always working but always had time for young people. A young reporter and other people told me this all over the country," Lessenberry said. "Young reporters would call her up and ask her questions and ask her advice, and she made time for them."

Sheila Cockrel, Wayne State University Honors College faculty member, and a former Detroit City Council member, talked about the impact of Detroit's filing for bankruptcy.

Wayne State University Athletic Director Rob Fournier talked with TV 20 reporter Dave Leval about the Ernie Harwell Field remodeling project.

The young professionals program Challenge Detroit has selected its second cohort of 33 Fellows, people who will spend a year working, living, playing and serving in the city of Detroit. The 22 women and 11 men were selected from a field of more than 700 applicants. Sixty percent of them are from Michigan, while 40 percent hail from elsewhere. Michigan schools represented in the group include Wayne State University, College for Creative Studies, Ferris State University, Kalamazoo College, Lawrence Technological University, Michigan State University, Oakland University, University of Detroit Mercy and University of Michigan. Their fields of study run the gamut, and include political science, language, the arts, the environment, criminology, sociology, advertising, public policy, communications, history, mathematics, philosophy, hospitality, global media, real estate, health, science, economics, international relations, architecture, urban planning, accounting, business, marketing and human resource management.