FISTER’S PINPOINT MICHIGAN TIGERS’ ACCURATE RIGHT-HANDER PRIMARY LEARNS FOCUS FROM SWAT TEAM PREVIEW APPROACH DAD, UNCLE SPORTS,1C NEWS+VIEWS ON TUESDAY, IT’S ON GUARD FOR 180YEARS FINALLY OUR TURN SAVE MORE TO WEIGH IN 19A THAN BUSINESS $16 IF MICHIGAN’S 8 TURNAROUND IS IN YOUR REAL, WHO GETS COUPONS Sunday 2.26.2012 www.freep.com ◆◆ THE CREDIT? 1B LIFE RIGHT FIT: DOES ACANDIDATE’S CLOTHING SEND AMESSAGE? 1F HE WASN’T What did AT FREEP.COM VOTERS DISCUSS VIEWS ON TUESDAY’S PRIMARY TETHERED, Wayne Co. NOW GIRL Mitt Romney, left, and Rick Santorum are battling for WAYNE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE Michigan. Tuesday’s primary IS DEAD Police say Joshua Brown, 19, get for its is key for both candidates. opened fire, killing Kade’jah. RACE FOR THE WHITE $400K? HOUSE Money wired, but no work HITS HOME done for health program, By Todd Spangler Free Press Washington Staff obtained records show Former U.S. House Speak- er Tip O’Neill is credited with By M.L. Elrick the famous remark, “All poli- Free Press Staff Writer tics is local.” He was largely right. But Hours before FBI agents delivered subpoe- politics is personal, too. nas last fall seeking records from Wayne Coun- For more than a week, ty headquarters, the director of a county health Michigan has been the epi- care program for needy people wired $400,000 center of the national politi- of the program’s money to a fledgling IT com- cal world. The state is up for pany that apparently did no work for the pay- grabs in Tuesday’s Republi- ment, according to records the Free Press ob- can presidential primary, as tained. polls show a toss-up between HealthChoice Executive Director Michael Mitt Romney and Rick Santo- FEB. 1PHOTO BY KATHLEEN GALLIGAN/DETROIT FREE PRESS Grundy authorized the payment rum. The outcome may help Seventeen-year-old Eric Talton’s sister Kade’jah Davis, 12, was killed Jan. 31 when shots came through the to Medtrix on Oct. 19, more than decide who takes on Presi- front door of their Detroit home. Police and prosecutors say it started with an argument over a cell phone. seven months after giving the dent Barack Obama in No- company a no-bid contract to im- vember. plement an electronic medical- Last week, we talked to MDOC investigating why suspect wasn’t tracked as ordered records system. In an e-mail to eight people who plan to vote Grundy, which the Free Press ob- in Tuesday’s primary. Here’s By L.L. Brasier and Gina Damron the home invasion and wrote a report to a judge tained through Michigan’s Free- some of what we found: Free Press Staff Writers about it, but it’s not clear whether it was ever sent or dom of Information Act, a HealthChoice accountant tells Michael In Ann Arbor, a seam- reviewed. So Brown continued to be on the streets. Grundy was stress looks to her Catholic Joshua Brown was supposed to be wearing a teth- On Jan. 31, police and prosecutors say, he opened him that she sent the money to Medtrix “as requested.” fired from faith in selecting Santorum. er on the day in January when, authorities say, he fire on a Detroit home during an argument over a his Wayne In Temperance, a public rela- killed 12-year-old Kade’jah Davis. cell phone. Kade’jah, a middle school honor student, Though the company was paid in full before the work was com- County tions specialist who spent two Brown was on probation. He should have been was killed when shots came through the front door. post. years out of work sees Rom- tracked day and night. The Michigan Department of Corrections has pleted, there is no evidence in re- ney’s business and leader- But the electronic tether wasn’t working. suspended two employees as it investigates their cords the Free Press obtained ship record as reason to be- That’s because no one in the state’s probation sys- handling of Brown’s supervision. from HealthChoice that Medtrix, founded by lieve he can further improve tem ever activated it, according to records obtained This is the second time this month that MDOC of- Grundy’s childhood friend Keith Griffin, did the economy. by the Free Press. ficials have suspended probation employees after any work for the money. HealthChoice board In Macomb Township, a So Brown was roaming free without restrictions people they were supposed to be monitoring were member and Wayne County Commissioner Tim self-employed information —even though he was ordered in September to be accused of murder. Killeen, a Detroit Democrat, said he also has technology specialist sees tethered and monitored. For Kade’jah’s mother, the news that Brown seen no evidence. danger in a departure from Additionally, Brown was a suspect in an armed could have been behind bars or tethered to his home “This just appears to me that people are us- constitutional principles and break-in of a house four months before the fatal the day police say he shot her daughter brought a ing this organization for other than the public says Ron Paul is the answer. shooting, and a probation agent didn’t take action to fresh wave of grief. good,” Killeen said Friday. And in Ortonville, a re- violate his probation. “That just makes my heart so heavy,” Almanda Neither Grundy nor his lawyer returned tired couple who have attend- The agent was aware of Brown’s alleged role in See TETHER, PAGE 7A messages seeking comment. Griffin’s lawyer, ed campaign stops for both See WAYNE, PAGE 12A Romney and Santorum say “THEY’VE GOT TO DO MORE INVESTIGATING BEFORE THEY PUT they’re still unsure. ❚ THE VOTERS SOUND OFF. 4A THESE PEOPLE BACK ON THE STREETS.” ALMANDA TALTON, after learning that the man accused in her daughter’s killing was supposed to be on a tether SEE E-MAILS, SUBPOENAS 40 30 AND OTHER DOCUMENTS High Low NO END TO THIS CRAZY WINTER News+Views Entertainment 50s midweek, then flurries. FORECAST, 2A MITCH ALBOM INDEX Mourning for a parent Entertainment ..1E Life ...............1F Free Press Lottery ........2A who’s not yet gone editorials .......19A Metro ..........8A If you’re the child of an elderly parent Detroit News Movies.......10E who’s had a stroke or suffers from dementia editorials.......23A Puzzles .2Q-3Q or Alzheimer’s disease, you know the heart- Deaths...13A-15A Real Estate...1G break of missing them terribly, even when Horoscope .......3F Travel ..........8E they’re sitting right in front of you. 19A Vol. 181, Number 298 2012 Detroit Free Press Inc., Printed in the U.S. Business REED SAXON/ASSOCIATED PRESS DETROIT FREE PRESS AWARDS ACADEMY AWARDS TONIGHT $1.50 5Michigan winners remember ($2.00 outside Wayne, Oakland MEDC’s Finney is keynote speaker & Macomb counties) for April 27 Green Leaders Awards their golden moment with Oscar Michael Finney, president and CEO of the What they said, how they felt and what HAP helps at everyage Michigan Economic Development Corp., will happened off-stage on the nights they won 50% OFF AROMATHERAPY deliver the keynote address at the Detroit their Academy Awards. 6E-7E MASSAGE FROM LUXURIOUS Free Press Michigan Green Leaders Awards ❚ Plus, Michiganders who were nominated and stage. ESSENTIALS IN SOUTHFIELD breakfast at the MGM Grand Detroit casino but didn’t take home the gold. 17A ($70 VALUE FOR $35) on April 27. Tickets for the breakfast are ❚ Go to freep.com tonight for coverage and Personal 0 Group 0 Medicare hap.org DETAILS, 2A photos from the 2012 Academy Awards. available. Details on 1B 78844pdf W W 313-222-6610 [email protected] www.freep.com Sunday, February 26, 2012 F PHOTOS: ASSOCIATED PRESS AND GETTY IMAGES 2F WWW.FREEP.COM SUNDAY, FEB. 26, 2012 COVER STORY LOOKING GOOD PRESS Presidential candi- dates and their signa- ture looks. S ES PR Rick Santorum’s D TE GOLDIS/ASSOCIATED sweater vest has its IA AL own Facebook OC SS page, Twitter feed /A @FearRicksVest and IA a YouTube video, VO SA “Sleeves Slow Me N Down.” HA EP ST ❚ Sarah Palin, 2008 Republican vice presi- dential candidate, wore rimless eyeglass- es that created a sensa- tion. Women around the country copied them. Stylish and smart-looking. S ES PR ED AT CI SO AS L/ AL The candidates’ clothes: G ER IB NE E LI AR MESSAGE SENT CH Campaign wardrobes are constructed to make these guys look just like us PRESS Even though he grew up in a privileged environment, By Georgea Kovanis former President George W. Bush looked authentic and Free Press Staff Writer comfortable in the jeans he wore in casual settings. And nough about the so-called issues. even though he is often complimented on being excep- ❚ Hillary Clinton, candi- In advance of Tuesday’s primary election, tionally well-dressed, when President Barack Obama date for the 2008 Dem- let’s take a look at something equally impor- sported mom jeans when he threw out the opening pitch ocratic presidential tant: jeans, sweater vests and other aspects of at baseball’s All Star Game, few people suggested there nomination, wore a the campaign wardrobes. was anything contrived about them. wardrobe of pantsuits DHARAPAKI/ASSOCIATED Mitt Romney —millionaire, former Mass- Likewise, nothing seemed to be contrived about the during her campaign achusetts governor, Michigan native — wears short shorts former President Bill Clinton was photo- and referred to her Ehigh waist jeans that appear to have been graphed in while jogging; unfortunately, they seemed CHARLES supporters as “the pressed.