Detroit Mayor Hospitalized With Intestinal Inflammation

DETROIT (WWJ) - Detroit Mayor Dave Bing may not be out of the hospital as soon as first thought.

Bing was hospitalized Thursday evening after he experienced discomfort following a dental procedure.

Doctors have since diagnosed Bing with an inflammation of the intestine and he remains at Henry Ford Hospital for observation. A spokesperson for the mayor said it's a "commonly diagnosed," non-life-threatening condition "affecting more than half of Americans over 60 years old."

In a statement to the media on Friday morning, Bing's Chief of Staff Kirk Lewis said Bing continues to rest comfortably. "The mayor is alert, upbeat and tells me he's ready to return to the office," Lewis said.

An update later in the day indicated that Bing would remain in the hospital for the time being for further observation.

The mayor's illness comes as he and other city leaders are working to come to an agreement with the state regarding Detroit's dire financial situation.

Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 and CBSDetroit.com for the latest.