Michiganians from Grand Rapids to Birmingham, Dexter to Dearborn have opportunities in the next few weeks to discuss K-12 education and reform as part of the Center for Michigan’s ongoing townhall series on the topic: WHEN: Sept. 20, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. WHERE: LINC Community Revitalization, Inc., 1167 Madison SE Grand Rapids RSVP: Emberly […]
Dexter, Dearborn are among next stops in education townhall series
Posted inGuest Commentary
Guest column: Michigan, you don’t know everything about manufacturing
By Jim Danielski/Career Planning Specialists What … somebody recognized that manufacturing in the U.S. isn’t dead? That maybe, just maybe, the much touted service sector may actually be a byproduct of manufacturing? Many of us, including me, believe that manufacturing will make a comeback – only it won’t be in the form of the “factory” […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Hoekstra's ad isn't 'worst,' but distortions used earn foul, says Michigan Truth Squad
MICHIGAN TRUTH SQUAD ANALYSIS: “Meet the Parents” Who: Hoekstra for Senate What: Internet video Truth Squad call: Foul Questionable statement: “How about that Debbie Stabenow? Never met a tax increase she didn’t like … worst senator Michigan has ever had. “ These are broad generalizations, including a personal attack on Stabenow, that the video and […]
Posted inTalent & Education
Khan Academy sparks passion from fans, skeptics
Google CEO Eric Schmidt is a big fan. So is Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who calls California-based Khan Academy “a glimpse of the future of education.” Founded in 2006 by Bengali-American Sal Khan and profiled on “Sixty Minutes,” the academy’s free online video tutorials on everything from math to finance to cosmology reach some 5 […]
Posted inTalent & Education
Universities eye out-of-state budget help
Faced with tight budgets and prospective dwindling in-state enrollment, public universities across Michigan are looking beyond the state line for answers. One option, say advocates such as Domino’s Pizza CEO Patrick Doyle and University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman, is to boost recruitment of out-of-state students – students who pay much higher tuition rates […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“Our knowledge is a receding mirage in an expanding desert of ignorance” — Will Durant, 20th century American historian. * The Municipal Employee Retirement System handles pension accounts for more than 700 local governments in Michigan, covering almost 90,000 retirees. Blogger Steve Harry has been looking into changes in the management ranks at MERS. Using […]
Posted inPhil's Column
Center for Michigan seeks your ideas to bolster coverage of state
When I broke into the newspaper business back in 1965, there were maybe a couple busloads of reporters working in Lansing. Today, you can count them on your fingers. Of course, this is the result of the decades-long deterioration of “mainstream media,” mostly newspapers. Information and advertising, especially, have migrated to the Web. Although newspapers are trying […]
Posted inMichigan Government
New ads on Canada bridge carry same old problem, Truth Squad rules
MICHIGAN TRUTH SQUAD ANALYSIS: Multiple ads on bridge question Who: The People Should Decide What: Television ads Truth Squad call: Flagrant foul Questionable statement: “The bridge to Canada. $500 million just in interest payments. And with hidden costs — up to $8 billion.” The source of these claims is an Aug. 12 study commissioned by […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Democrats slip up on couple of points about Bolger, Truth Squad rules
MICHIGAN TRUTH SQUAD ANALYSIS: “End Jase Bolger’s Reign” Who: Michigan Democratic Party What: Web video Truth Squad call: Foul. Michigan Democrats have ramped up attacks on the House Republican speaker since revelation of a secretive scheme between Bolger and Grand Rapids House Democrat Roy Schmidt to have Schmidt file as a Republican minutes before the […]
Posted inBusiness Watch
Large employers help cities keep good company
Most large Michigan cities owe their economic successes — and downfalls — to an astounding number of entrepreneurs who turned their businesses into major corporations. Detroit was the Silicon Valley of its day, as Henry Ford and dozens of his competitors put America on wheels in the early 20th century. Dr. William Upjohn founded the […]