* “Today, the average substation transformer in the U.S. is 42 years old — two years older than its expected life span. A recent Department of Energy report warned that 70 percent of the largest high-voltage power transformers — each weighing up to 800,000 pounds — are more than 25 years old, and subject to an […]
Derek Melot
Derek Melot is a former assistant editorial page editor, columnist and reporter at the Lansing State Journal, where he covered state and local issues extensively, earning awards from the Associated Press and Michigan Press Association. The Oklahoma native moved to Michigan in 1999, and served as Bridge editor through mid-2013.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Manufacturing and metros are recipe for success, says guru on cities
Bruce Katz has pushed a consistent message for Michigan: M&M&E. That’s short for manufacturing, metros and exports. A vice president at the Brookings Institution, Katz has worked in recent years with Business Leaders for Michigan in developing ideas for improving Michigan’s economy. Bridge Magazine spoke with Katz by phone recently to get his sense of […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
* As this ProPublica story mentions, Michigan is familiar with the consequences when an oil or gas pipeline ruptures. The story also notes that pipelines are considered safer than alternative means of fuel transport (trucks, trains): http://www.propublica.org/article/ pipelines-explained-how-safe-are-americas-2.5-million-miles-of-pipelines * Jack Lessenberry pays tribute to former Michigan first lady Helen Milliken, who passed away last Friday. […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
* Michigan Democrats probably would like to deliver this story to households across the state: “Democrats were taking chambers from Republicans in places where the lines were the product of courts (Minnesota), independent commissions (Colorado) and bipartisan compromises (Oregon). They mostly lost in places where Republican elected officials were in charge of redistricting. “That list […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
* Lou Glazer at Michigan Future Inc. has new reports out on metropolitan economies in Michigan between 2001 and 2010. He writes on Grand Rapids: “From 2001-2010, the seven county Grand Rapids regional economy performed better than the Michigan economy. That said it was a decade of decline. And the region in 2010 was one […]
Posted inMichigan Government
For the Legislature, an active and speedy 'duck,' followed by a cautious 2013
The smoke is still clearing from the statewide legislative elections, but Michigan residents should not be surprised if Lansing provides a two-pronged response to the voter’s will: First: A flurry of activity on legislation in the “lame-duck” sessions of the Legislature scheduled through the end of 2012. Hot topics for action include changes to the […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“Of the 15 highest-income metropolitan areas in the United States, 14 are in high-cost coastal areas. The other one, clocking in at number 12 with a median household income about 23 percent above the national average, is the Minneapolis-St Paul MSA with its low low Midwestern prices.” http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/ 2012/11/06/minneapolis_research_says_you_should_move_to_the_twin_cities.html * The secret history of one of […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“Knowledge is not a passion from without the mind, but an active exertion of the inward strength, vigor and power of the mind, displaying itself from within” — Ralph Cudworth, 17th century English philosopher. * ProPublica gives a grand tour of campaign finance laws over the last few decades. You probably won’t enjoy the tour stops […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“Knowledge comes by eyes always open and working hands; and there is no knowledge that is not power” — Ralph Waldo Emerson. * There’s less than a week until Election Day. And, yes, Michiganians, the ballot is a bit long. It would be wise for everyone to review the sample ballot — and publius.org offers a […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“Depend upon it there comes a time when for every addition of knowledge you forget something that you knew before. It is of the highest importance, therefore, not to have useless facts elbowing out the useful ones” – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes. * Gov. Rick Snyder and michiganliberal.com are rarely on the […]
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