In April of 2014, under the direction of Flint Emergency Manager Darnell Earley, the City changed the source of its drinking water from the Detroit water system (drawing from Lake Huron) to the Flint River. The move was touted as a cost-saving measure which would save $7 million annually. However, there were problems from the start. High levels of bacteria […]

When it comes to healthcare, decisions should be left to women and their doctors — not legislators. Every story has at least two sides, but in the case of the October 13 meeting of the Michigan House Criminal Justice Committee, one side stuck to facts while the other focused on ideology. And when the topic is the health and safety […]

It’s a been a while since we checked in on Michigan’s two most “special” political candidates (and by political candidates, I mean disgraced former state legislators trying like hell to get their jobs back at a place where almost nobody wants them) so I thought we would check in. First up, we have Cindy Gamrat holding a fundraiser last night. […]

Whether you already have insurance or are a first-time buyer, be a savvy shopper. Buying health insurance is a lot like buying anything else: It pays to shop around. And with open enrollment beginning again on November 1, the time to start thinking about your insurance coverage is now. The beauty of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as […]

Children, have a seat and let me tell you a story. Way back in your granddaddy’s time, ten years ago, every day some high school-aged kid on a bicycle would come by the house and deliver a thing called a “newspaper.” The newspaper was exactly what it sounds like: a stack of papers where a bunch of writers got together […]

A lot of people call the Buddha the greatest marketer in the world because he told people, “Don’t trust me. Try it yourself and see how you feel.” You can make that promise when you know you have a great product. The Buddha did and the result was a world religion that even people who don’t like religion often claim […]

8 clinic workers murdered. 17 attempted murders of clinic workers since 1991. 6,900+ reported acts of violence including bombings, arsons, death threats, and assaults since 1977. 19,000+ reported acts of disruption, including bomb threats, hate mail, and harassing calls since 1977. This is the face of domestic terrorism in the United States of America, most of it perpetrated by people […]

The primary justification for Emergency Financial Managers or Emergency Managers in Michigan from the very earliest iterations (and continuing through to today) is that some cities and school districts were just too full of corruption and ineptitude and that the state needed to swoop in and save the day. However, this easy answer has turned out not have been the […]

Just as it’s always cocktail hour somewhere, it’s always fundraising season somewhere, too, right? Now that our underfunded schools are back in session kids are on the move raising funds for special class projects by peddling goods and services (candy, greeting cards, car washes, etc.). Public radio and television have just finished their fund drives. The flurry of mail requests […]

In the past week and half, Michigan gun owners have made the news for improper use of their handguns several times. First, concealed pistol license holder Tatiana Duva-Rodriguez saw a guy running out of the Auburn Hills Home Depot and load stuff in his vehicle. When a security guard came running after him. Duva-Rodriguez took the law into her own […]

Put your money where your mouth is, please. The other day, a friend and I were talking about how important it is to have an informed electorate. I mentioned Eclectablog and she exclaimed, “I love that blog!” My friend knows full well I’m a contributor, but this wasn’t about me. It was about Eclectablog being a resource for people who […]