Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • A1

An icon steps down After more than 50 years of public service, John Conyers leaves Congress Rep. John Conyers, D-Detroit, is leaving Congress amid sexual harassment claims. He was the longest-serving African American in history and the black Judiciary Committee chairman. AP More inside Riley: Where is the equal treatment? 6A Task: Filling an open seat in Congress. 6A Next: Plenty of candi- dates ready to run.

8A Shamus: in a name? Everything. 8A Editorial: Sad, neces- sary end to career. 9A Accused: Another victim steps forward. 9A Daily $1.50 Volume 187 No. 216 Home delivery pricing inside Subscribe: 800-395-3300 Classified: 586-977-7500; 800-926-8237 OF A SWITCH, NOT ANOTHER Need a Metro Detroit electrician, plumber or HVAC expert, fast? Call our team today! We are proud to be Metro one-stop shop for all their property improvement needs.

We are available 7 days a week, 365 days per year. $37 OFF Electrical and plumbing repair $79.00 Heating or Cooling System Tune Up $100 OFF Break Panel 41800 HAYES RD SUITE 535 CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI 48038 (313) 651-7352 DF-GMG0004500-02 Weather Forecast, 2A High Low Windy Inside Free Press Classified Puzzles Movies A 1 8 6 A WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 FREEP.COM PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK But the commitment to remove I-375 and restore a surface street puts Detroit in the ranks of cities trying to undo the damage done a half-century ago by ramming high-speed freeways through urban neighborhoods. In its place, MDOT would create a surface street with land- scaped medians, bicycle lanes and other amenities. After years of study and debate, the Michigan Department of Transportation is moving ahead with plans to rip out De- I-375 expressway and restore a surface street there. It happen overnight.

The soonest MDOT might move ahead is about 2022, provided details are settled and funding arranged. MDOT moving ahead with plan to rip out I-375 John Gallagher Detroit Free Press USA TODAY NETWORK See I-375, Page 11A U.S. Rep. John Conyers departed Congress on Tuesday under an un- mistakable cloud, rocked by accusations he sexually abused members of his But he also retires with an unquestionable legacy in the U.S. House as a pioneer of racial justice, as its longest-serving African- American member ever and the sixth-longest tenure of anyone in con- gressional history.

Conyers was born in Detroit and graduated from Northwestern High School. After a tour of duty with the U.S. Army during the Korean War, Conyers returned home and earned and law degrees from Wayne State University. Conyers leaves behind legacy of civil rights, racial justice achievements Kathleen Gray Detroit Free Press USA TODAY NETWORK See LEGACY, Page 9A Facing a growing number of sexual harassment claims and a rising chorus of voices demanding he resign, U.S. Rep.

John Conyers D- Detroit, on Tuesday retired from the seat he had held for more than decades, a swift and crushing fall from grace for a civil rights icon and the longest-serving active member of Congress. Interviewed by phone on the Mildred Gaddis Show on WPZR-FM (102.7) Tuesday morning, Conyers, 88, announced his immediate re- tirement, even as he continued to the allegations against him raised by no fewer than six former female employees. As claims of harassment mount and ethics probe looms, he opts to leave Kathleen Gray and Todd Spangler Detroit Free Press USA TODAY NETWORK See RETIRE, Page 7A Gay cake splits high court Baker refused to do wedding cake for a same-sex couple. 2A.