On a sunny June day, government officials joined conservation leaders on a Lake Michigan beach to dedicate the newest jewel of the state’s public lands program — the 173-acre Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area. The spectacular sand dunes near the mouth of the Kalamazoo River were preserved rather than developed when the Michigan Natural Resources Trust […]
Michigan Legislature
Posted inMichigan Government
DNR's prominence, legislative bill-paying cause angst in Northern Michigan
Shelly Pinkelman lives in an area that could fairly be described as paradise for an outdoor enthusiast. She can see the Manistee River from her Grayling home and her property in Crawford County abuts thousands of acres of state land where she can ride horses, hike, cross-country ski or ride all-terrain vehicles anytime she wants, […]
Posted inPeter Luke: Eye on the Capitol
Analysis: Northern Michigan rules the House for 2013
Northern Michigan has miles of pristine Great Lakes shoreline, wineries of growing renown, the Porcupine Mountains, M-119, M-22 and the world famous Mystery Spot. What it doesn’t have much of these days are Democrats filling the region’s seats in the state House of Representatives. In November 2008, Democrats collected 190,000 votes in securing seven districts […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Senate poised to tweak teacher retirement plan; major shift deferred in face of cost estimates
When the Legislature reconvenes tomorrow, the question of what to do about the Michigan Public School Employee Retirement System – or MPSERS – may get a clear answer from the Senate. After failing to approve a House of Representatives reform plan on repeated occasions, or coalesce around their own change, the Senate appears ready to […]
Posted inMichigan Government
2012 primary draws typically low voter response
The 2012 August primary continued a long trend in Michigan — of voters abandoning the ballot box. The unofficial statewide turnout of 1,498,100 voters — or just 20.4 percent of those registered. Since 1978, the turnout in summer primaries has ranged from a low of 15.1 percent in 1990 (a gubernatorial election year) to a […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Pension vote claims don't hold up in legislative primary, Truth Squad finds
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 […]
Posted inPhil's Column
A revolution in Ann Arbor is led from the corner office
Mary Sue Coleman is a rock star college president. Since being appointed the 13th president of the University of Michigan in 2002, she has been on a tear, successfully guiding the U of M to ever-increasing stature through very difficult times. The U of M has risen in reputation to No. 18 in the entire world, […]
Posted inPhil's Column
Michigan universities face hostile financial, political circumstances
There’s little doubt that our universities are among Michigan’s most valuable and important assets. But real alarm about public higher education is spreading throughout the country — and threatening profound consequences for our state and it colleges. Take the case of Teresa Sullivan, a former provost at the University of Michigan and now president of the […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“Knowledge must come through action; you can have no test which is not fanciful, save by trial” — Sophocles, ancient Greek playwright. * The Michigan Legislature considered a move into the private prison business this spring, with a proposal to shift prisoners from a state facility in Ionia to one in Baldwin owned by GEO […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
Guest column: Incentives can address Michigan's rural doctor shortage
By Rep. Jim Ananich and Rep. Frank Foster Everyone in Michigan, regardless of where you live or where you’re traveling through, deserves access to basic, primary health care. Unfortunately, a shortage of specially trained doctors and medical professionals in some areas provides a costly barrier for too many families. Recent coverage in Bridge rightly pointed […]
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