The Detroit Lions are bringing in more competition at kicker, and it’s a name some fans have been pining for.

The Lions are expected to sign former Michigan Panthers kicker Jake Bates to a two-year-deal on Tuesday, the first day he’s eligible after playoffs.

Bates made 21 of 28 field goals this season and finished second in the UFL with 51 kicking points. He visited the Lions on Thursday. And he also visited Washington and Green Bay.

Bates, who played his home games at Ford Field this spring, made a game-winning 64-yard field goal in the Panthers’ season-opening win over the St. Louis Battlehawks and had two other 60-plus-yard field goals this season.

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But as good as he was early in the season, Bates made just 6 of 11 field goals in the Panthers’ final four games and missed a would-be game-winning 53-yarder in the Panthers’ regular season-ending loss to the Birmingham Stallions.

The Stallions beat the Panthers the following week in the UFL playoffs.

The Lions return veteran kicker Michael Badgley and signed former Michigan kicker James Turner as an undrafted free agent.

Badgley made 27 of 31 field goals in parts of the past two seasons for the Lions, but has just three makes of 50-plus yards in that span.

Turner showed massive leg strength and good accuracy in spring workouts, but is not as refined on kickoffs as Badgley.

Bates played as a kickoff specialist in college and before the UFL season had not made a field goal in a game since high school.

Lions general manager Brad Holmes told the Free Press this spring he would consider keeping three kickers, including two on practice squad, because of the NFL’s new kickoff rules that could make kickers more involved in tackling on kickoffs.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.

LIVONIA, Mich. (FOX 2) – A Metro Detroit teen overcomes obstacles to achieve his dream of being accepted into The Juilliard School.

“At first didn’t even know I wanted to go to college, I’m like I’m just going to LA and live my life,” said Arthur Gee.

But Arthur, or LA which stands for Little Arthur as he is affectionately called by family and friends, would soon have an awakening.

“Joining this studio, Angie Hanh’s Academy of Dance, I started off with hip-hop but Ms. Angie was like you need to take a ballet class,” he said. “I was like, I don’t know – I don’t think boys do ballet.”

Arthur would soon discover that ballet was indeed his calling.

But as he began to explore ballet he was diagnosed with scoliosis during Covid. The condition means that he has a sideways curvature of the spine that causes pain.

“My back started to hurt really bad, like to the point I couldn’t even dance sometimes,” he said.

But Arthur continued to push and dance his way through it.

“It was like finding a way to persevere through that pain,” Arthur said.

The commitment to his craft allowed Arthur to stand out among other dancers.

“I’m just so proud of everything he accomplishes,” said his mother, Jahmira Taylor. 

Arthur started teaching at his dance school and the high school student – who at first was going to forego college – decided to apply to The Juilliard School, a prestigious performing arts school in New York.

When this 18-year-old received a phone call that he had been accepted, he knew the hard work was paying off.

“That’s all I could say was wow thank you so much for this opportunity,” he said.

But this opportunity comes with a price.

“I was able to win a $52,000 scholarship but that’s just for tuition and housing is still a lot more than that,” Arthur said.

Arthur set up a GoFundMe account hoping the community works to uplift him so he can accomplish his next move.

“I’m studying to get my bachelor of fine arts degree to become a professorial dancer, hopefully join a company, and then eventually become a choreographer,” he said.

If you would like to contribute to Arthur’s GoFundMe, CLICK HERE.

“There’s really no point of stopping when there’s so much further to go,” he said.

DETROIT (FOX 2) – Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a suspect involved in a fatal hit-and-run.

A 59-year-old woman was struck by a black Ford Edge and killed while crossing the street in the 13800 block of Gratiot Avenue near Park Grove, according to a Detroit police release. The incident took place around 3:40 p.m. on Thursday.

It is still unknown who was driving the vehicle. The driver fled the scene.

The woman was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead, police said. The suspect’s vehicle sustained damage to the front-end due to the accident, and had a spare tire on the rear passenger’s side. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Detroit police’s Fatal Squad Unit at 313-596-2260, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak-Up, or DetroitRewards.tv.

A $500 reward is being offered for information. The case number, to include with tips, is 2406130262.

A black Ford Edge involved in a fatal hit-and-run in Detroit on Thursday, June 13, 2024. (Provided by the Detroit Police Department)

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