There is a movement afoot to repeal the unconstitutional Public Act 4, Michigan’s Emergency Financial Manager (EFM) law. The group heading it up is Michigan Forward. Trainings are being held across the state to help people be as effective as possible in this effort. Here’s the information and note that the trainings are this weekend. Dear Friends, Thank you for […]

Okay, this is horrendous: A worker in Gov. Rick Snyder’s official mail room in the Romney Building was slightly injured this afternoon when he opened an envelope containing an unknown granular substance, Snyder’s spokeswoman Geralyn Lasher said today. She said the employee immediately notified the office which shut down the mail room, evacuated the mail center employees and isolated the […]

Remember back when the oil gusher in the Gulf of Mexico was spewing a skabillion gallons of crude oil into the Gulf every minute? Back then, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour described the oil washing up on his state’s beaches as no worse than toothpaste. Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Director Trudy Fisher said samples of what was apparently the same […]

First there’s this reference to the “Statute” of Liberty in a tweet: We’ll highlight the beauty of legal immigrants’ work ethic and love of freedom while visiting Ellis Island & Statute of Liberty today. And then there’s these fine examples of mush-mouthed inanity, courtesy of Bob Cesca: “This Statue of Liberty was gifted to us by foreign leaders, really as […]

The Riverwatch Inn, which was condemned last month by Benton Harbor officials, is slated for demolition in July. Riverwatch Inn during the Blossomtime Grand Floral parade protest in May The motel, condemned in May by Benton Harbor inspectors, is scheduled for demolition next month, building official Ted Hanson reported Tuesday. Hanson was among those who inspected the building at 711 […]

Unfortunately, on Saturday, our beloved Hara lost her fight against what was either advanced liver disease or cancer. Less than three weeks ago, she was acting totally normal and showed no obvious signs of being sick. The speed with which this took her astonished us and, frankly, left us unprepared for how much of an emotional blow it would be. […]

When I think of Benton Harbor these days, I think of a ripe, juicy plum, hanging in the sunshine, ready to be plucked off the tree. But Benton Harbor is a plum with a “bad spot” in the minds of some. A bit of rotten fruit that needs to be cut off and discarded. Once that’s done, those that would […]

Michigan Messenger has a pretty awesome piece up today totally debunking state Rep. Al Pscholka and his ludicrous claims that the protesters that showed up by the hundreds at the Blossomtime Grand Floral parade last month were paid professionals. hen people from around the state announced their intention to converge on Benton Harbor during the Blossomtime parade to protest the […]

EclectaReader Anthony sent me this link. The Superintendent of Ithaca Public Schools in Michigan sent a letter to Republican Governor Rick Snyder in which he suggests that his students would be better off if they were treated as prisoners. That way, there would be more per-pupil-funding than there is now. Here’s his letter: In these tough economic times, schools are […]

I have a new piece up at A2Politico that looks further at the Detroit Newspaper blackout of the gigantic union rally last weekend. Here’s a brief excerpt: Bill Moyers once said, “There is no more important struggle for American democracy than ensuring a diverse, independent and free media. Free Press is at the heart of that struggle.” In Michigan right […]

I live in a small village outside of Ann Arbor called Dexter. It’s a quaint little place with a downtown area only a few blocks long and wide. My wife and I often call it “Stars Hollow” after the town in the Gilmore Girls. Like Stars Hollow, Dexter business owners form a community. They have a Chamber of Commerce that […]