Battle Creek is unequivocally the “Cereal City.” But relations between the city and Kellogg Co. — its largest employer — haven’t always been as sweet as a bowl of Froot Loops. In the early 1980s, Kellogg threatened to pack up its cereal boxes and leave town unless the city and Battle Creek Township merged. didn’t […]
Battle Creek merger kept Kellogg popping
Posted inBusiness Watch
Motor City rolls on to tech, health care
Detroit has long been known as the Motor City. Don’t trying telling city officials that it isn’t anymore. Much of the city’s automotive production left long ago, as manufacturers and suppliers moved operations to lower-cost southern states. But Detroit officials will quickly remind you of significant auto operations that are still here — and are, […]
Posted inBusiness Watch
Dutch titans left their mark on West Michigan
Rich DeVos and the late Jay Van Andel were known as the “gold dust twins” as they built Amway, the direct-selling consumer products giant they founded in 1959 near Grand Rapids. They spread a lot of that gold around West Michigan to support the construction of hospitals, sports and entertainment facilities, research institutions and many […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
Guest column: A small town keeps growing its own
By Maurita Holland When Roger Chard steps onto the stage to sing and I take the piano bench in southeastern Michigan, the audience generally numbers in the hundreds. This month, we will perform in my hometown, Manistique, for about 30 people. The attendees, enticed by the promise of Swedish desserts and coffee, along with an […]
Posted inSuccess
It's been a year already? Bridge turns 1.
Bridge Magazine is a year old today. Can it just be a year ago that we were “discussing” the best name for a new online news and analysis magazine focused on Michigan’s pressing problems … Beacon, 42 North, Bridge? To celebrate the first of what we are planning to be many years covering Michigan events, […]
Posted inTalent & Education
Education talks set for GR, Novi, Birmingham, Novi
Michiganians from Grand Rapids to Birmingham, Novi to Flint have opportunities in September and October to discuss K-12 education and reform as part of the Center for Michigan’s ongoing townhall series on the topic: WHEN: Sept. 11, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Dickinson Elementary, 448 Dickinson St., SE, Grand Rapids RSVP: Nan Evans — […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“The understanding of art depends finally upon one’s willingness to extend one’s humanity and one’s knowledge of human life” — Ralph Ellison, 20th century American author. * The Downtown Development Authority in Kalamazoo is looking to cut off funding for a police officer for the downtown area because it needs money to repay a $700,000 loan. […]
Posted inTalent & Education
It's never too early to start college
Perhaps no stage of American public education is as freighted with tradition and collective memory as high school. Which is not exactly why David Dugger is tinkering with it, but it’s one reason. “Our big failing as a public school system is not believing that high school kids are capable of higher-level academic work. In […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“Today knowledge has power. It controls access to opportunity and advancement” — Peter Drucker, 20th century American management guru. * Before a single class is held, most Michigan public schools will have seen their high-school football teams play two games. So, if it is vital to the state’s tourism industry that public school classes be banned […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan Democrats get fouls for some 'hits' on Hoekstra, Truth Squad rules
MICHIGAN TRUTH SQUAD ANALYSIS: “Hoekstra’s Greatest Hits” Who: Michigan Democratic Party What: Internet ad Truth Squad call: Fouls Questionable statement: “Restricting Women’s Access to Health Care … (Pete) Hoekstra wants to ban birth control & allow insurance companies to deny coverage for mammograms & pre-natal tests.” The Michigan Democratic Party ad criticizing Republican U.S. Senate […]