Taxpayers have paid hundreds of millions of dollars to help Detroit’s sports teams build stadiums over the decades. A look at some recent deals.
Ted Roelofs
Ted Roelofs of Kentwood, has written extensively on healthcare as well as prison and juvenile justice reform. Roelofs spent nearly three decades at the Grand Rapids Press where he covered politics, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, rural poverty and mental illness among the homeless. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin. Reach Ted at ted.roelofs@gmail.com
Posted inChildren & Families
Despite congressional muscle, Michigan ranks near bottom in funding for veterans
Michigan’s congressional delegation controls some powerful defense and intelligence committees. So why does our state rank among the nation’s worst in money paid to veterans?
Posted inChildren & Families
Self-medicating homeless vets not seeking help they need
Military veterans are more likely to “self-medicate” for pain, both physical and otherwise, leading to a surge in homelessness.
Posted inBusiness Watch
No-fault reform would cut high rates, but beneficiaries fear losing quality of life
A recent Michigan court ruling leaves some brain-injured crash victims unable to afford the vans that get them out of the house. Lansing, meanwhile, is seeking even further restrictions on the state’s generous no-fault auto benefits, citing the high cost to drivers.
Posted inBusiness Watch
At issue: Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance
Michigan unlimited no-fault auto insurance benefits may soon be rolled back. We weigh the savings of such a rollback against the consequences.
Posted inTalent & Education
Snow Wars: Schools struggle to meet required days of instruction
State education leaders are facing off against some districts and administrators who are balking at adding school days in June to account for a flurry of snow days this winter.
Posted inTalent & Education
Snow closes the classroom, but the gym stays open
School districts debate the wisdom of closing schools on snow days while allowing basketball games and other activities to take place at night.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Like Michigan craft beer? Malt shortage could slow the pour
Farmers are eager to help Michigan’s growing beer and whiskey industry, but the state lacks enough malt operators to reach its potential
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan-made malt is pricey, but makes great booze
Wendell Banks says his small-batch malt in tiny Shepherd costs twice as much as national suppliers charge, but argues that fresh, Michigan-made malt is worth the price.
Posted inTalent & Education
‘Zero tolerance’ school reforms hit resistance in Michigan
Dave Rice, principal at Roseville Middle School in Macomb County, was skeptical of alternatives to zero tolerance discipline policies. He’s now a big supporter of his school’s “restorative justice” approach, which he said has cut expulsions and gained buy-in from teachers and parents. Eighteen months after state education leaders urged reforms to “zero-tolerance” discipline […]