It could crash through burning buildings, make a fool of any number of small-town Southern sheriffs, help save the world from giant robots, even take criminals off to jail while engaging in witty repartee with its driver.

In an April 27 story providing historical details about General Motors Corp.’s Pontiac brand, The Associated Press reported erroneously that Pontiac’s GTO inspired a tune by the Beach Boys. The song “GTO” was by Ronny and the Daytonas.

General Motors, once the colossus of American capitalism, will become a leaner, government-owned company if the Obama administration goes along with the automaker’s plan to slash jobs, close plants and eliminate the legendary Pontiac brand.

General Motors says it will cut 21,000 U.S. factory jobs by next year and phase out its storied Pontiac brand as part of a major restructuring effort needed to get more government aid.

Two people familiar with the latest developments in General Motors Corp.’s restructuring plan say the automaker will announce Monday that it is eliminating its storied Pontiac brand. Historical details about Pontiac:

A 61-year-old man has sued his former employer, claiming he was fired from a $75,000-a-year salesman’s job because of his waistline. But the employer says Patrick J. Ronayne was let go because of his performance, not his weight. The Detroit News reported

When then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich slated the Pontiac Correctional Center for closure last May, some Pontiac lawmakers saw it as punishment for crossing him.

A Michigan woman who left her teenage son in Nebraska under that state’s safe-haven law can return home to live with her three other children, a judge ruled.

A Michigan man has been sentenced to a maximum 20 years in prison on a drug charge nearly two years after leaving juvenile detention for a murder he committed at age 11.

A medical examiner’s office in Michigan has canceled public school tours after a high school group watched the autopsy of a 14-year-old girl from their district.