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An annual tradition: Detroit Tiger BBQ kicks off spring training in Lakeland on Tuesday

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An annual tradition: Detroit Tiger BBQ kicks off spring training in Lakeland on Tuesday


LAKELAND — Lakeland loves a good barbecue, so what better way to welcome the Detroit Tigers back to the city for the 2024 spring training.

The 77th annual Tiger BBQ will be held Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. in Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, 2031 Lakeland Hills Blvd. Tickets cost $45 per person and include a souvenir mug.

The Detroit Tigers have trained in Lakeland since 1934, currently longest continuous relationship between a major league team and its spring host city.

The annual barbecue started in 1946 when former Lakeland Mayor Jimmie Musso organized one in his backyard for the team. So many people attended that the following year the barbecue was held in a World War II hangar where Tigertown now stands.

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Spring is in the air: Detroit Tigers will soon begin their 88th spring camp in Lakeland

This year’s event, presented by Rodda Construction, will feature a menu of traditional Southern barbecue served buffet style. Dishes will include pulled pork, grilled chicken quarters, ribs, sausage, shrimp cocktail, baked beans and roasted corn.

Proceeds from the event go to the Detroit Tigers’ Foundation of Florida Inc., which provides athletic opportunities for Polk County’s underprivileged children.

Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.eventeny.com/events/2024-tiger-bbq-9266.

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Detroit, MI

MSU Gaining Traction in Recruitment of Detroit-Area Athlete

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MSU Gaining Traction in Recruitment of Detroit-Area Athlete


Michigan State is looking to the Motor City for its next commitment.

Multiple reports on Saturday indicated that the Spartans have set up an official visit with Martin Luther King (Mich.) athlete Don Spillers III. The visit to East Lansing is set for May 29-31 and will be the first in a string of official visits for Spillers. He’s also got reported trips to Illinois (June 5-7) and Louisville (June 12-14) scheduled.

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Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald instructs players during spring football practice on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Fast Facts on Spillers

Spillers, listed at 6’2″ and 195 pounds, is a 3-star recruit ranked 848th overall in the class of 2027 on the 247Sports Composite. He’s listed as an athlete on 247Sports, but as a wide receiver on Rivals. It looked like MSU and Courtney Hawkins wanted him as a receiver for a while, but safety seems to be the spot where Michigan State wants him now. That would make his position coach James Adams.

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The Spartans seem to be considered in the lead right now. MSU has two expert predictions in its favor submitted on Rivals, one of which was submitted as recently as Friday. Rivals’ RPM metric has Michigan State at the very top, holding a comfortable lead at 94.2%. Besides Illinois and Louisville, Spillers’ other notable offers include Michigan, Maryland, Missouri, Pitt, and Purdue.

More Info, Potential Fit at MSU

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April 18, 2026; East Lansing, Mich.; Michigan State Spartans safeties coach James Adams watches drills during MSU’s “Spring Showcase” at Spartan Stadium. | Starr Portice, Michigan State Spartans on SI

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Next weekend will not be the first time Spillers will be on campus. He visited East Lansing while spring practices were going on and also showed up at MSU a few times during the Jonathan Smith era. The retentions of both Hawkins and Adams by new head coach Pat Fitzgerald have allowed mutual interest to remain.

If Spillers ends up committing to the Spartans as a safety, he’d be the second player at the position to join the 2027 recruiting class. The first was 3-star St. Peter’s Prep (N.J.) prospect Ty’ire Clark. He committed back on April 4 and is ranked 1,280th overall in the class.

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Michigan State safety Nikai Martinez goes around the sideline during the Spartans’ game against the USC Trojans on Sept. 20, 2025. | Darrell Craig Harris, On SI

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There should be room for multiple safeties in the 2027 recruiting class. Michigan State has three players at the spot whose eligibility is expected to expire after this fall: Nikai Martinez, Aveon Grose, and Michael Richard.

A few other names are also on MSU’s recruiting board. The Spartans have three predictions in their favor for Dakota (Mich.) prospect Elijah Goins. He’s ranked 973rd overall in the class of ’27 in the Rivals Industry Rankings and has a reported official visit scheduled with Michigan State for June 19-21.

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Michigan State mascot Sparty carries a flag during the Spartans’ game against UCLA on Oct. 11, 2025. | Starr Portice, Michigan State Spartans on SI

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Detroit, MI

Metro Detroit veterans charity pleads for end to donation bin vandalism across metro area

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Metro Detroit veterans charity pleads for end to donation bin vandalism across metro area


CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WXYZ) — Officials with the Veterans and America First Foundation are speaking out after for their donation bins were vandalized.

The organization, based in Clinton Township, collects clothing donations through bins placed throughout metro Detroit to support veterans and others in need with clothes, food and housing.

Bins located on West Vernor Highway near Military Street in Detroit were among the latest to be hit.

Paul Dehem, director and founder of Veterans and America First Foundation, learned about the damage on Saturday after Aiman Kawas, who is in charge of servicing the bins, discovered they had been damaged.

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Dehem said the vandalism occurred within a narrow window.

“It happened sometime between Wednesday and Friday,” Dehem said.

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Paul Dehem

“It’s just disheartening,” Dehem said.

Kawas said the West Vernor Highway incident is far from isolated.

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“I was disappointed, of course this is not our first time being vandalized,” Kawas said.

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Aiman Kawas

“We have lost over 70 bins to vandalism or theft, the actual bin disappears… they take it completely,” Kawas said.

Jason Beddow, director of development for Veterans and America First Foundation, said each bin costs about $1,000 to replace.

“The vets are missing out on their charity and donations from those bins and it’s just a real shame,” Beddow said.

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WXYZ

Jason Beddow

Meanwhile, Dehem said he hopes those responsible will consider who is truly harmed by the destruction.

“We have a mission and it’s for the veterans,” Dehem said. “It’s not for profit, we’re just trying to make things work and help people.”

Anyone with information about who is vandalizing the bins, or surveillance video, is asked to contact Detroit police.

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This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.





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Detroit teen charged, will be tried as adult in downtown shooting

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Detroit teen charged, will be tried as adult in downtown shooting


A 17-year-old has been charged in a nonfatal ‘teen takeover’ shooting.

The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office charged 17‑year‑old Ramon Javon Perez Smith of Detroit in connection with the non‑fatal shooting of a 14‑year‑old Detroit male. Prosecutor Kym Worthy confirmed that Smith will be tried as an adult.

Smith is charged with assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, felonious assault, carrying a concealed weapon, and three counts of felony firearm.

He was arraigned Saturday and given a $500,000 cash bond, along with a GPS tether, house arrest, and an order barring contact with the victim or any witnesses. A bond re‑determination hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, 2026, before Judge McConico.

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Another teen was also charged in the shooting that happened in downtown Detroit during the “teen takeover” event.

The preliminary hearing for a 16-year old from Detroit was held Tuesday on charges of carrying a concealed weapon. He received a $4,000 bond with house arrest.

He was also ordered not to possess any firearms or illegal substances. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for July 2.

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Detroit police were called to the 1300 block of Farmer Street around 9:37 p.m. on May 17, after reports of a shooting. Officers arrived to find the teenage victim with a gunshot wound to the chest. Medics transported him to a nearby hospital where he received emergency treatment and is expected to survive.

According to investigators, Smith was involved in a physical altercation with a group that included the victim. Prosecutors allege that Smith pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots into the group, hitting the 14‑year‑old before fleeing the scene. Detroit police arrested Smith shortly afterward.

“We are thankful that the 14‑year‑old victim received immediate medical care and will survive this traumatic event,” Prosecutor Worthy said in the release.

mjohnson@detroitnews.com



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