Questions: Bob Allen at Crain's wonders whether someone slipped an envelope of unmarked bills to an editor at USA Today and why President Bush is being criticized on a state government Web site paid for by taxpayers. Also, What's wrong with the WINGS?

Detroit About to Get a Media Behemoth
Beginning May 5, the Detroit Free Press and WDIV-TV (Local 4, Michigan's first TV station) will begin sharing reporting resources in print, on television and on the internet. The new "convergence editor" will be Mike Wendland who spent 18 years at WDIV-TV before joining the Free Press as technology columnist in 2000.
Read MIKE WENDLAND: Free Press, Local 4 join news forces, plan Michigan polling in the Freep (includes video of newscast)
Also see Local 4 News, Detroit Free Press Announce Partnership from ClickonDetroit/Local 4

Tying the Knot in Detroit

Jaime Halaas (aka Girl in the D.) has a feature in Model D looking at a variety of possible wedding venues in metro Detroit including the Masonic Temple or the Scarab Club in Midtown, Detroit Yacht Club or the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory on Belle Isle, the Gem or Fox Theatre and Ford Field downtown.
Read 'I Do' in the D in Model D
Links from around Michigan at keyword "Wedding"

Detroit Roller Derby Exhibition
The Detroit Free Press has an interesting feature on the Detroit Derby Girls, a group of 72 women who are about to kick-off their first-ever season of league play with an exhibition this Saturday at the Masonic Temple of Detroit. The two teams, the Motown Hit Squad and the KILLpatricks, hearken back to the early days of roller derby and focus on the sport (rather than big-time wrestling-esque action). Within a year, they hope to be meeting teams from other U.S. cities. Definitely check this article out.
Read ROLL MODELS: Detroit's Derby Girls gear up for league play with a slammin', jammin' exhibition Saturday at the Masonic Temple in the Freep
Visit DetroitRollerDerbyGirls.com (we'll rate this link "PG-13")
Nice set of Detroit Roller Derby photos on Flickr

Grand Rapids Has a Secret
WOOD-TV reports that the Grand Rapids Downtown Alliance board today unveiled the new branding theme for the city's downtown area: "Keep it a secret." The brand project (logo, slogan, roll-out plan) cost $82,000 to develop and has an expected life of 3-5 years.
Read We've Got A Secret in Grand Rapids from WOOD-TV

Ford Announces Reality Show
The Detroit News reports that the Ford Motor Company is planning to produce a reality show in which contestants work with Ford designers to produce a hot new concept car. The program is part of Ford's new "Bold Moves" campaign aimed at Amercians who "share a belief in hard work, family, patriotism and enjoying an adventurous life".
Read Ford's bold move: Its own reality TV show in the Detroit News
Also see Ford plans 'bold moves' in marketing in CNN Money