Michigan citizens know the pocketbook pressures of rising prices for such everyday items as bread, milk and even the occasional beer. But less evident are the increased costs of the materials needed to build and repair the roads on which they drive. That means that the pennies of tax placed on each gallon of Michigan […]
Rick Snyder
Posted inBusiness Watch
In West Michigan, evidence mounts of statewide road crisis
A few weeks ago, Grand Rapids TV station WZZM posted a request on its Facebook page: Tell us about about the worst roads in West Michigan. Comments poured in. An Ottawa County resident described James Street, a road near Holland, as “horrible, has been for a long time. Not only filled with potholes but way […]
Posted inPhil's Column
Michigan politicians starve the engines of economic growth: universities
While we consider Gov. Rick Snyder’s budget message – to be delivered Thursday — we might want to look at some facts underlying our economy. The (persistently) bad news: Since 2008, Michigan has slashed state support for public colleges and universities by 21.5 percent. The (sort-of) good news: We rank only 11th among states in […]
Posted inTalent & Education
Snyder adviser, educator pull no punches before large audience at education summit
MAKING HIS CASE: Sen. Roger Kahn (far left) discusses the need to vastly increase funding for early childhood programs during a panel at the Center for Michigan’s “Future of Education” summit in Lansing Tuesday. “If the governor’s budget falls short, I’ll push for $140 million,” Kahn said. (Bridge photo/Lon Horwedel) Oakland Schools Superintendent Vickie Markavitch […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
* The emerald ash borer has devastated the ash forest in Michigan. And the bug may be felling Michigan’s human residents, too: “Something else, less readily apparent, may have happened as well. When the U.S. Forest Service looked at mortality rates in counties affected by the emerald ash borer, they found increased mortality rates. Specifically, more […]
Posted inTalent & Education
Preschool expansion popular with public
Nobody needs to convince Kelly Hart of the importance of early childhood education. The Flushing woman is the mother of five children who’ve gone through the Great Start Readiness Program, the state-funded preschool for 4-year-olds from low- and moderate-income families. “I’ve always loved the program,” Hart said. “We’ve been lucky to have our kids in […]
Posted inTalent & Education
Online ed expansion, school choice plan murky in 2013
A proposal to revise the state’s School Aid Act to allow state funding to follow students to where they take individual classes will not be part of Gov. Rick Snyder’s budget proposal next month, but could make its way into legislative discussions over that budget. None around Lansing were willing to commit to any course […]
Posted inTalent & Education
Preschool expansion popular with public
Nobody needs to convince Kelly Hart of the importance of early childhood education. The Flushing woman is the mother of five children who’ve gone through the Great Start Readiness Program, the state-funded preschool for 4-year-olds from low- and moderate-income families. “I’ve always loved the program,” Hart said. “We’ve been lucky to have our kids in […]
Posted inTalent & Education
Online ed expansion, school choice plan murky in 2013
A proposal to revise the state’s School Aid Act to allow state funding to follow students to where they take individual classes will not be part of Gov. Rick Snyder’s budget proposal next month, but could make its way into legislative discussions over that budget. None around Lansing were willing to commit to any course […]
Posted inTalent & Education
Snyder’s call for early childhood funds draws applause from advocacy groups, legislators
Thousands of low-and moderate-income children took a step closer to the preschool classroom with Wednesday night’s call for additional early childhood investment by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder in his State of the State address. Snyder noted that 29,000 children are eligible for the state’s Great Start Readiness Program, but can’t get in because there aren’t […]
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