Southern Michigan cities struggling to operate parks and recreational facilities may soon receive a windfall from an unlikely source: the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. The fund was established in 1976 to buy land for natural resource protection and public outdoor recreation. Funding comes from royalties paid by companies that drill for oil and gas […]
Big changes afoot for state outdoors fund?
Posted inMichigan Government
Trust Fund's dollars have earned friends across Michigan
ST. IGNACE — It wasn’t long ago that Chief Wawatam Park in downtown St. Ignace was an industrial wasteland, a relic of an era when ferries carried rail cars across the Straits of Mackinac. The park, named after an Ojibwa chief who visited the area in the 1700s, was … unsightly. Today, the refurbished site […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Parking lots, restrooms get natural resources dollars
The Natural Resources Trust Fund has played a major role in making Michigan a national leader in outdoor recreation, but the program also has provided millions of dollars for such less than natural things as parking lots, restrooms and playgrounds. State records show the Trust Fund, over the past 36 years, has provided funding for […]
Posted inPeter Luke: Eye on the Capitol
Michigan’s ‘supreme’ election is a scandal
Markman, O’Brien, Zahra, McCormack, Johnson and Kelley could be a law firm for all voters know about them, instead of the six party-nominated candidates for the Michigan Supreme Court on the non-partisan section of the Nov. 6 ballot. As a result, too few voters understand, or likely care about, the blatant contradiction in that sentence: […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but a little want of knowledge is also a dangerous thing” — Samuel Butler, 19th century English author. * The United States earns a C- on child well-being in a report on national results around the globe. “For early childhood, the nation received a C-, based on early-learning program […]
Posted inMichigan Government
State Republican Party gets foul in House 70 campaign, Truth Squad rules
MICHIGAN TRUTH SQUAD ANALYSIS: Rep. Rick Outman v. Mike Huckleberry (House District 70) Who: Michigan Republican Party (radio ad); Progress Michigan (website); We Are the People, Michigan committee (mailer), Mike Huckleberry website (www.mikehuckleberry.com) What: radio ad, websites and mailers Truth Squad call: Foul on Republican Party ad; No Foul on Progress Michigan website; No Foul […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Anti-Prop 3 group gets foul and warnings from Michigan Truth Squad
MICHIGAN TRUTH SQUAD ANALYSIS: “Counter”, “Idea”, “Who”, “Bills” and “Claim” and “Cost” website page Who: CARE for Michigan, anti-Proposal 3 ballot committee What: TV/Web ads, website Truth Squad call: Foul and Warnings Proposal 3 would create an amendment to the Michigan Constitution a requirement that 25 percent of the state’s electrical power come from renewable […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Pro-Proposal 3 ads earn foul from Michigan Truth Squad
MICHIGAN TRUTH SQUAD ANALYSIS: Pro-Proposal 3 ads “Choice” and “Afford” Who: Michigan Energy, Michigan Jobs What: TV/Web ads Truth Squad call: Foul Proposal 3 would create an amendment to the Michigan Constitution a requirement that 25 percent of the state’s electrical power come from renewable sources by 2025, with certain caveats. The primary proponent group […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Ballot props 'terrible,' 'devastating,' governor says
Gov. Rick Snyder is at the center of the debate in at least half of Michigan’s six ballot proposals this year. He pushed for – and signed – the 2011 rewrite of the emergency manager law that voters will approve reject Nov. 6 with Proposal 1. He pushed for – and signed – an agreement […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Welfare changes have saved state money; fate of ex-recipients unclear
The number of Michigan families getting welfare checks from the state plummeted to the lowest level in more than 40 years just nine months after welfare reform was implemented. Twelve months in, the state is spending nearly $18 million a month less on cash assistance, the cumulative result of reform and an improving economy. Those […]
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