Who: Michael Shmina for State Representative, 32nd District What: mailer, robocall Truth Squad calls: Foul, Technical fouls and no foul In a mailer and robocall, challenger Michael Shmina makes various claims about incumbent state Rep. Andrea LaFontaine, whom he faces in the Republican primary for the 32nd House District in Macomb County. Shmina touts himself […]
Pension vote claims don't hold up in legislative primary, Truth Squad finds
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“We don’t know all the answers. If we knew all the answers we’d be bored, wouldn’t we? We keep looking, searching, trying to get more knowledge” — pioneering TV workout guru Jack LaLanne. * This list has a bunch of conventional-myth-challenging stuff, but let’s focus on No. 5 — police car chases aren’t great at keeping […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
Guest column: Legal barriers create Michigan’s doctor shortage
By Mark D. DuBay In “Michigan gets med-school boom, doctor bust,” the author correctly points out that a doctor may not be fully licensed in this state unless a period of post graduate education, also known as a “residency,” is first completed. Under section 333.17031 of the Public Health Code, a doctor is to “complete […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Special-interest money floods ballot-measure efforts
Voters could see as many as seven proposals to amend the Michigan Constitution or state law on this November’s ballot – or none at all. Bureaucratic and legal reviews continue of the various proposals. Regardless of how they play out, though, Michigan has seen an unprecedented surge of spending to collect signatures and advance ideas […]
Posted inPeter Luke: Eye on the Capitol
Election 2012: GOP House eyes appeal to conservative base
In the 12 months since House Republicans passed the bulk of Gov. Rick Snyder’s economic agenda, they have: * Spurned Snyder’s call to establish a state-run health insurance exchange, per the federal Affordable Care Act, in the hope that the U.S. Supreme Court might declare the whole thing unconstitutional. Close, but no cigar. But following […]
Posted inQuality of Life
Learning life outdoors: Old idea, new generation
Dick Laing recalls with pride working with Michigan Tech Universityon a residential “boot camp” style program in forestry and conservation skills in the Upper Peninsula that helped disadvantaged youngsters develop life skills. The program eventually fell victim to budgetary neglect, he says. Laing never doubted, however, the value of the effort to put children from urban […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“A man of knowledge lives by acting, not by thinking about acting” — Carlos Castaneda, anthropologist and author. * The mayor of Royal Oak says that if voters don’t improve a public safety property tax millage next week, city services are toast. Royal Oak has cut its police force by 40 percent in the last […]
Posted inTalent & Education
Join school discussions in Wayne County, online
Detroit and Wayne County residents concerned about the future of K-12 education in Michigan are encouraged to attend the next Center for Michigan Community Conversation, to be held at The Children’s Center of Wayne County on Saturday, Aug. 4. The session, co-sponsored by Michigan Radio and The Children’s Center, will be a town hall format, […]
Posted inPhil's Column
Teddy Roosevelt knew what Up North is worth
My family and I are observing a time-honored state tradition this week: Like thousands and thousands of Michiganders, I’m Up North with my family … in my case, way up north. Our cabin is on the south shore of Lake Superior, about an hour north of Marquette. When I got up at 6 a.m. the […]
Posted inBusiness Watch
Economic turmoil challenges Mich. seniors, too
Keep your ear to the ground, and you can almost hear a revolution coming. The New York Times outlines the very different economics of households at either end of the human lifespan in a piece headlined “Old vs. Young.” Esquire magazine declares “The War Against Youth.” The Washington Post flatly states “Young Americans Get the […]