By Timothy R. Fischer/Michigan Environmental Council and Michele Hodges/Troy Chamber of Commerce Our state’s leaders must stop dithering and approve the regional transit authority bills (Senate Bills 909, 911-912) before the Michigan Legislature. An RTA matters for the entire state. It would control transit tax expenditures in Southeast Michigan, cut duplicative service, force efficiencies and […]
State waits for Legislature to do its job on transit
Posted inQuality of Life
Urban farm plan reels in cash, tilapia
Gary Wozniak regards his domain with the enthusiasm of an evangelist. Where most people would look at these wide expanses of Detroit blight and see dark despair, he sees nothing but gleaming possibilities. “This is the center of the farm,” he said, gazing over the corner of Warren and Grandy on Detroit’s near east side […]
Posted inSuccess
Ethnic media alliance pushes stories of success, provides community leadership
Michigan is home to a variety of ethnic media outlets: the Jewish News, the Latino Press, the Michigan Chronicle among them. Dr. Hayg Oshagan, a professor at Wayne State University, looked at the outlets and had a vision: What would happen if they were brought together? So, in 2005, he met with editors from the […]
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan goes hard after student loan defaulters
Former college students in the eastern half of Michigan get hauled into federal court for defaulting on their student loans at 10 times the rate of the national average. That doesn’t mean more Michigan residents are stiffing the federal government on their loans – but it does mean they’re more likely to face legal consequences if […]
Posted inBusiness Watch
State takes cautious approach to freight hub proposals
A dizzying number of transportation-related proposals centered on Detroit’s mid-continent location are floating around Michigan. They have funny names (Aerotropolis), links to faraway locales (Halifax, Nova Scotia) and impressive engineering goals (a rail tunnel tall enough to handle double-decker cars). One common thread through most of these proposals is a need for investment. The ideas are […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“The great aim of education is not knowledge but action” — Herbert Spencer, 19th century English philosopher. * The Delft Theater building in downtown Marquette has been sold and closed, reports the Mining Journal. The new owners don’t plan to revive a theater, but do hope to renovate the structure. http://www.miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/575670/Delft-Theater-sold–closed-in-Marquette.html?nav=5006 * The money-losing U.S. […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
Guest column: Student loan debt is next big bubble
By Evan Montague/Lansing Community College Graduation stories abound this time of year, inspiring students and educators alike with the promise of a career and personal success. Imagine starting this journey with a monthly payment of $276 for the next 10 years — if not longer. The average Michigan undergraduate student loan borrower is graduating with […]
Posted inPhil's Column
Half the investment on colleges means a full measure of trouble for Michigan
To grow Michigan’s economy, we need more skilled workers, an estimated 1 million two- and four-year college graduates are needed to fill the job vacancies by 2025. Employers all over our state are complaining they can’t find workers with adequate skills to meet their job openings. The logic of increasing state support for higher education is […]
Posted inTalent & Education
Report: Michigan's license 'burden' is above average
The Institute for Justice, which describes itself as the “nation’s only libertarian public interest law firm, has published a new study on the burden of licensing requirements for 102 different professions across the United States. The report also developed a “burden” ranking of the states — and placed Michigan at No. 21, the 21st most […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Drug courts a win-win for users, taxpayers
Judge William Schma retired from the Kalamazoo County Circuit Court bench in 2006. Six years later, he still runs into people whose lives turned around thanks to his drug court. Repeatedly. “I just got a call from someone graduating from the humanities program at Western Michigan University who wants me to come to graduation,” said […]