NEWSPAPERS n o i t i d E l a i c e p S
MAY 21, 2025 candgnews.com
Oakland County papers
Shades of Pink walkers explore the Detroit Zoo April 26. Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
Photo provided by Michigan National Guard
President Donald Trump delivers an announcement before members of the Michigan National Guard at Selfridge Air National Guard Base on April 29. Trump said the base would receive 21 F-15EX fighter jets in the coming years, fulfilling a goal of Michigan officials to maintain a fighter mission after the A-10 Thunderbolt II is retired.
TRUMP ANNOUNCES NEW SELFRIDGE FIGHTER MISSION BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — During a stop in Macomb County on April 29, President Donald Trump announced that Selfridge Air National Guard Base would receive a new mission with 21 “brand new” F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets. Announced at Selfridge alongside state and federal officials to an audience of Michigan National Guard members and press, the F-15EX jets will replace the aging and outgoing A-10 Thunderbolt II jets as the base’s offensive mission. The planes are expected to arrive at the base in fiscal year 2028, according to the Department of Defense.
“Well, I guess they think we’re going to save this place,” Trump said to begin his speech at the base. “And you know what? They’re right. A hundred percent right. We’re going to save it and make it better, actually.” Finding a new fighter mission for the base to replace the A-10 mission has been a priority for Michigan officials in recent years. The state switched its focus to securing an F-15EX mission for the base in 2023 after failing to secure an F-35 Lightning II mission. U.S. Rep. John James, R-Shelby Township, described the F-15EX as “the airframe (Selfridge officials) saw the highest likelihood of gaining” See SELFRIDGE on page 10A
Michigan breast cancer fighters come together for annual walk at zoo event BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
ROYAL OAK — The Shades of Pink Foundation’s annual event, “A Walk at the Zoo,” was a huge success April 26 at the Detroit Zoo. “It’s our signature fundraising event to provide funds to help our mission,” Dr. Pamela Benitez, co-founder of the Shades of Pink Foundation, said. Benitez said that the walk at the zoo raised around $315,000 and had an attendance of 2,300 people come to the Detroit Zoo, 8450 W. 10 Mile Road, Royal Oak. The mission of Shades of Pink is to help relieve patients diagnosed with breast cancer of financial burdens placed on them during treatment and recovery, according to shadesofpinkfoundation.org. Common issues that patients face can include mortgage, rent, insurance payments, transportation costs, child care and other essentials of daily life. Since 2005, Shades of Pink Foundation has helped more than 1,600 individuals diagnosed with breast cancer in southeast Michigan and raised $3.2 million of financial support to help cover patients’ costs. Tiffany Easley, a current breast cancer patient, said that her life drasSee WALK on page 7A