As we roll on with our 2024 Detroit Lions roster preview series, this time our own Meko Scott breaks down second-year quarterback Hendon Hooker over on the Pride of Detroit YouTube channel.

Previous previews: RB David Montgomery, WR Kalif Raymond, TE Sam LaPorta, TE James Mitchell, LT Taylor Decker, RT Penei Sewell, G Kevin Zeitler, C Frank Ragnow, DE Aidan Hutchinson, DE Josh Paschal, DT DJ Reader, DT Alim McNeill, LB Alex Anzalone, DB Brian Branch, S Ifeatu Melifonwu, and DT Levi Onwuzurike.

Hendon Hooker

Headed into the 2024 season, nobody is going to question whether or not the Lions have their starting quarterback figured out. Jared Goff’s performance over the last one-and-a-half seasons have made all of those old questions about his play fade to the point that they are now nothing more than distant memories. However, as football fans, we all understand injuries happen in this sport, and that is a big reason as to why the backup quarterback position has become more vital over the last several years.

With Hooker, the Lions knew they were getting a talented player when they selected him in the third-round of the 2023 NFL Draft. And since Hooker was still recovering from an ACL injury he suffered late in his final college season, he didn’t get any work in during last year’s training camp apart from mental reps. The majority of his rookie season was spent in recovery-mode, making his second year of development with the Lions even more vital.

Our own Meko Scott jumps into all of this and more as he examines the outlook for Hooker this season, and whether or not he believes Hooker is ready to settle in as the backup quarterback for a team that has championship aspirations.

A total of 90 Giant African Land Snails have been seized by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Field Operations in Detroit from a passenger arriving from Ghana, authorities said.

The incident occurred on June 30 at Detroit Metropolitan Airport when the massive haul of live snails was discovered “after a passenger arriving from Ghana was referred for a secondary examination after declaring various fresh food items,” according to a statement released by CBP on Tuesday.

“During the baggage inspection, a tied, woven bag with an odd odor caught the attention of agriculture specialists,” the statement said. “Inside the bag were Giant African Land Snails ranging from 3 to 6 inches in length. Prior to the luggage being opened, the passenger began declaring other prohibited items, such as beef skin and fresh peppers, but there was no mention of the snails, which are considered an invasive species in the U.S.”

The snails were subsequently seized and humanely euthanized as a means to ensure they did not enter the ecosystem and cause havoc to U.S. agriculture, officials said.

“These snails are an invasive species that could negatively impact our economy,” said Acting Port Director John Nowak. “Our agriculture specialists are always keeping a watchful eye out for harmful plants, animals and insects.”

CBP officials said that even though the Giant African Land Snails were intended for consumption, they have a “voracious appetite and cause major crop damage when they escape into the environment.”

“They can also pose a public health threat to humans,” authorities said. “The snails can grow up to 8 inches and feed on a wide variety of plants, including many economically important crop plants, and cause structural damage by using stucco on houses to meet their calcium requirement for shell growth.”

CBP officials did not say if there would be any immediate repercussions for the traveler entering the United States but they did take the opportunity to encourage those entering the United States to “learn more about current regulations before attempting to bring food items into the United States to avoid penalties, seizures, and even arrest.”

DETROIT – Getting landlords to register and inspect their rentals properly has become a huge challenge across Detroit.

Some landlords blame the process. Others blame the issue on the costs associated with getting into compliance.

Some city leaders said they are working on a possible solution. They’re proposing an ordinance change that could streamline the process.

There’s an aggressive push to tackle challenges with rentals and those who own them right now.

“We have about 82,000 rental properties in the city of Detroit,” said Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison. “Thus far, only about 10 percent are in compliance.”

Getting landlords who have been skirting the process into compliance has become a major issue. That’s why some city leaders have been investigating the process.

“A majority of them are mom-and-pop type operators,” Bettison said. “We want to make it easier for them to be able to come into compliance and not have to deal with the bureaucracy.”

A proposed ordinance change, spearheaded by Detroit City Councilmember Mary Waters, will be introduced in the City Council’s Public Health and Safety Committee next week.

That change would streamline landlords’ rental property inspection requirements.

It would reduce a 37-point inspection process to a 15-point inspection, and it could also reduce the cost of compliance.

“It’s going to go, typically, from $1,000 down to roughly about $125,” Bettison said.

The revamped process would still focus on life, health, and safety factors that are a priority for Detroit.

The proposed ordinance changes would also make penalties stiffer for bad landlords while giving more protections to renters.

“Detroiters should also know that if their landlord does not have a certificate of compliance and is not registered, then they are not legally required to pay rent,” Bettison said.

Under the proposed plan, the city is beefing up and expanding its escrow program. That would give tenants more power to exercise rights against bad landlords.

Bettison said, “Residents in single-family homes and duplexes were the only ones that qualified for the escrow. So, with the new ordinance, we’ll make it apply to apartment buildings as well.”

The proposed ordinance will be submitted to the Detroit Council Committee on Monday, July 22.

Once it is reviewed, it would eventually go to the full council for a vote.