DETROIT (AP) – The City Council may be dancing to a brand-new beat come election time.

Martha Reeves is circulating petitions to run for the Detroit City Council.

“I think I’ve had a very good opportunity to travel the world and to observe things,” she told WDIV-TV Friday. “I’ve always been a good team player and I figure I’ll be an asset on our city council in Detroit.”

Reeves said the city is dealing with a number of serious problems including blight, abandoned buildings and a struggling public schools system.

All nine of the council’s seats, which are elected on an at-large basis, are up for re-election in November.

“I’d like to start with the schools and have them, you know, sort of scrutinized and have them get a better understanding of how to educate our children,” she said.

Reeves, 63, said she wasn’t put off by the sometimes volatile nature of city council meetings.

“I think that our city council could probably get along better if they had a little music,” she said. “And I’ll get them to dance in the streets.”

Martha Reeves & the Vandellas’ hits include “Dancing in the Street,” “(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave” and “Nowhere to Run.”

‘Apprentice’ gets disorderly

Real estate millionaire Chris Shelton, a contestant on NBC’s “The Apprentice,” was arrested early Sunday on a disorderly conduct charge, reports The Associated Press.

Shelton, 22, one of six remaining contestants competing for a job with Donald Trump, was taken into custody at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa, Fla. He was released after posting $250 bail.

A tribal police officer said he heard a noisy Shelton in the hotel lobby and asked him twice to calm down before arresting him, said Seminole police spokesman Gary Bitner.

“He was loud and he just wouldn’t calm down,” Bitner said.

Shelton was peeved over a $20 cover charge for the hotel bar. Shelton “was at the lobby causing a scene,” the police report said. “There were several patrons in the area who were visibly shaken by his actions. After several attempts to calm Shelton, he continued to yell and curse, refusing to calm down and stop causing a scene.”

Shelton and some friends were staying at the hotel and celebrating his continued success on “The Apprentice,” Bitner said.

“We don’t really have any comment,” NBC spokesman Jim Dowd said. “This is clearly a private matter with Chris.” All but the final episode has been taped, and it isn’t known if Shelton makes it that far.

– Knight Ridder Newspapers

Two Duffs better than one

In inspirational film news, Variety says venerated American thespian Hilary Duff (“A Cinderella Story”), will team up – for the first time! – with her older, but slightly less accomplished sis, Haylie Duff, to make a movie inspired by “Material Girl,” the classic ’80s song by distinguished composer Madonna.

“Material Girls” will demand that the Duffs flex their already well-toned acting muscles to play a pair of sisters who are, um, quite “material” (can those spiritual gals pull this off?). Drama ensues when a corporate scandal leaves the celebutante heiresses virtually penniless.

Most spectacular of all, Hilary will render her interpretation of Madonna’s song for the soundtrack.

– Knight Ridder Newspapers

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