Michigan
updated
7:27 a.m.
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I guess a lot of people saw this coming and its great news. The Michigan Public Service Commission, which oversees rate hikes and cuts, grant distribution and licensing in the Great Lakes region of energy companies like Detroit Edison, Consumers Energy et al, has made a giant leap toward the future. Today brings the announcement of nearly $2 Million to get us started moving toward b...
DailyKos (Michigan) - 6:26 a.m. - 2 clicks 
For some reason I don't think this will do it, but give it a try. $78 million worth of something has to be better than nothing. Plans include intermittent lock closures, which could begin by the end of April, and adding more crews to hunt down and destroy Asian carp before large numbers of them can make it into the Great Lakes. The battery of techniques they plan to use includes sonar equipme...
Blogging For Michigan - Mon 3:28 p.m. - 2 clicks
OK kids, ya talked me into it. I went downtown to hear what candidate Virg Bernero had to say as he announced his run for governor here in Grand Rapids. First of all, it's obvious that this is going to be an "outsider" race, as Bernero took aim at the "empty suits" in the Capitol, and pledged to stop the business as usual, partisan politics that caters to special interests and holds the s...
Blogging For Michigan - Mon 1:49 p.m. - 4 clicks
(cross-posted at WMR, ML, BFM, and SSP-pb) Following my earlier analysis of the 2009 Compliance Statements from the Michigan State House, the State Senate is also worth examining. It is important to remember how wide open the Senate is for turnover in 2010, as there are 30 of 38 State Senate seats open. In the past decade, only one state senate incumbent has lost to a challenger (Laura To...
Blogging For Michigan - Mon 10:47 a.m. - 6 clicks
Brian Rooney reports today that he has been endorsed by Dominos Pizza founder Tom Monaghan. "I am proud to announce my support for Brian Rooney for the United States Congress. I believe his principled and unwavering convictions and new perspective promise to better serve Michigan's interests and help return responsible leadership to Washington, D.C.," said 7th District resident Monaghan....
Blogging For Michigan - Mon 6:42 a.m. - 7 clicks
Cross-posted at Eclectablog.com . Our Michigan members of Congress are falling all over themselves to get into the spotlight regarding the Underpants Bomber. It's like the news story that keeps on giving. ...
DailyKos (Michigan) - Mon 5:49 a.m. - 6 clicks
(cross-posted at WMR, ML, BFM, and SSP-pb) Following my earlier analysis of the 2009 Compliance Statements from the Michigan State House, the State Senate is also worth examining. It is important to remember how wide open the Senate is for turnover in 2010, as there are 30 of 38 State Senate seats open. In the past decade, only one state senate incumbent has lost to a challenger (Laura To...
West Michigan Rising - Sun 8:23 p.m. - 6 clicks
Yesterday, February 6, three Democratic candidates for statewide office appeared on a panel to discuss their candidacy and to answer questions from the audience. The event was sponsored by People of Diversity United for Equality (PODUE) and was held at the Brown Chapel AME in Ypsilanti. In attendance were Alma Wheeler-Smith -- candidate for governor, Jocelyn Benson -- candidate for Secretary of St...
Blogging For Michigan - Sun 5:42 p.m. - 6 clicks
Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero will make his campaign for governor official with an announcement tour on Monday... mlive.com - "Bernero enters Dem race for governor" The announcement tour will stop in Detroit, Grand Rapids and Lansing. Sign up to attend at the following link... Meetup - Fighting for Michigan Jobs In addition, Mayor Bernero has launched his official campaign website... ...
West Michigan Rising - Sun 7:43 a.m. - 8 clicks
On October 6 2008 Governor Granholm signed into law a bipartisan law mandating that 10% of Michigan's power come from renewable sources by 2015. The three-bill package signed by Granholm at two different events today includes a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) that mandates 10 percent of the state's energy come from renewable sources by 2015 Article That's a tall order. That's almost 3000...
Blogging For Michigan - Sat 8:13 p.m. - 13 clicks
From the email: Dear Friend, For the past weeks, I've been traveling across Michigan exploring a possible run for Governor. I've thought it over. And I've made a decision. I'll be announcing my decision on Monday, February 8th. After meeting people across Michigan, I can sense that people in this state are fed-up and frustrated, anxious and angry - and so am I. The...
Blogging For Michigan - Sat 2:08 p.m. - 8 clicks
When we first blogged about the Dow Powerhouse solar shingle back in October , Dow was still weighing offers from other states as to where they would manufacture the final product. One of the nice surprises in the State of the State Address Wednesday was that Dow decided to stick close to home, thanks to the work from MEDC at putting together a nice incentive package. As much as the Republicans...
Blogging For Michigan - Sat 11:23 a.m. - 6 clicks
COMMMUNITY EDUCATION ON THE CANDIDATES FORUM (Public Is Invited) Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith (Candidate For MI Governor) Topic: Free college tuition for MI high school grads Professor Jocelyn Benson (Candidate For MI Secretary of State) Topic: Correcting the disenfranchisement of college student votes Rep. Rebekah Warren (Candidate for Michigan Senate, Moderator/Q&A Session) Rep. ...
Blogging For Michigan - Sat 6:04 a.m. - 7 clicks
Interesting. Both the U.S. House and Senate voted to raise the national debt limit by $1.9T yesterday. The entire Michigan House delegation voted against it , including all Democrats. The measure snuck by on a 217-212 vote. Senators Levin and Stabenow voted for it. ...
Blogging For Michigan - Fri 1:48 p.m. - 7 clicks
ESCANABA – Standing alongside local business leaders and anglers, lawmakers from the Upper Peninsula today launched an online campaign at www.noasiancarp.com demanding that Chicago bureaucrats and the Governor of Illinois close two shipping locks to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. If the invasive species enters Lake Michigan it would destroy the native fish and plant life in wat...
Michigan House Democrats - Fri 1:27 p.m. - 5 clicks
The Michigan House voted to end lifetime benefits for legislators this week, but Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry says the reality isn’t at all what it seems. Hear Audio Story Here's something you may believe, but which just isn't so. A......
Jack Lessenberry - Fri 12:02 p.m. - 10 clicks
This old Lear/GM plant will house Hangar 42 Film Studios During the SotS Address Wednesday night, the governor rattled off a bunch of cities and companies that are creating jobs for the new Michigan economy. Renewable energy, automotive, life sciences, movie studios, other big name projects, all in the works or already creating jobs, with thousands to follow in the next few years. Thi...
Blogging For Michigan - Fri 11:43 a.m. - 11 clicks
MI-07 Rep. Mark Schauer is questioning whether or not rules were broken during the apprehension of the so-called Christmas Day bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab on Flight 253 inbound to Detroit. Via the Detroit Free Press : Was protocol violated when Flight 253 -- after a failed attempt to set off a bomb on the Christmas Day flight from Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Detroit -- proceeded to a gat...
Blogging For Michigan - Fri 11:28 a.m. - 6 clicks
Cross-posted at Eclectablog.com and Blogging for Michigan . I hate to give teabagger candidate Brian Rooney more attention than he deserves because the only thing that would be worse than Tim Walberg regaining his seat in MI-07 would be if Brian Rooney were to succeed in defeating Mark Schauer. But his latest " press release " screams to be addressed. It is a nauseating example of ex...
DailyKos (Michigan) - Fri 6:07 a.m. - 7 clicks
I hate to give Brian Rooney more attention than he deserves because the only thing that would be worse than Tim Walberg regaining his seat in MI-07 would be if Brian Rooney were to succeed in defeating Mark Schauer. But his latest " press release " screams to be addressed. It is a nauseating example of exploiting one's children, in this case a child with a serious medical condition, for personal ...
Blogging For Michigan - Fri 5:02 a.m. - 7 clicks
(cross-posted at WMR, ML, BFM, and SSP-pb) February 1 marks a big day for Michigan political junkies, a day when candidates and officeholders who have filed a candidacy committee to run for office on the state level must file an annual compliance statement (CS). Candidates who have filed for a financial waiver (meaning that they are not going to spend or raise more than $1,000 on their campaign...
Blogging For Michigan - Thu 3:35 p.m. - 9 clicks
(cross-posted at WMR, ML, BFM, and SSP-pb) February 1 marks a big day for Michigan political junkies, a day when candidates and officeholders who have filed a candidacy committee to run for office on the state level must file an annual compliance statement (CS). Candidates who have filed for a financial waiver (meaning that they are not going to spend or raise more than $1,000 on their campaign...
West Michigan Rising - Thu 3:25 p.m. - 5 clicks
Western Michigan University Takes Top $20,000 Prize in the iOMe Challenge; Texas Tech and St. Norbert College Also Receive Honors and Cash Prizes After extensive review, a blue-ribbon panel of judges announced today that the winner of the iOMe Challenge - and a cash prize of $20,000 and $1,000 for their faculty advisor - is the team from WesternMichigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich. The winn...
West Michigan Rising - Thu 12:05 p.m. - 4 clicks
Governor Granholm delivered her final State of the State address last night. Her speech focused on education, job-creation and the economy. However, Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks we should pay attention more to what the Governor didn’t say......
Jack Lessenberry - Thu 10:43 a.m. - 9 clicks
We all saw that Frank Luntz used a picture of Congressman Mark Schauer in his memo to the Republicans on how to defeat financial reform. Keith Olbermann did his comment on it tonight. ...
Blogging For Michigan - Wed 8:54 p.m. - 9 clicks
UPDATE: full text of the speech here . Hello from Lansing. Coming to you live from a darkened room inside the Capitol - this place is pretty much empty right now. A few school groups are touring, but other than that, it's nice and quiet. The legiscritters are out doing other things today, the media isn't here yet... very peaceful. Gives me time to shoot this beautiful build...
Blogging For Michigan - Wed 11:41 a.m. - 10 clicks
Governor Granholm delivers her final State of the State address tonight. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry knows what he’d like to hear. Hear Audio Story Governor Jennifer Granholm’s final state of the state speech is tonight, and the state’s political commentators......
Jack Lessenberry - Wed 10:48 a.m. - 13 clicks
This year, a number of gubernatorial candidates are expected to seek state campaign finance funds for the primary election. But, as Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry explains, the money might not be there… Hear Audio Story Once upon a......
Jack Lessenberry - Tue 12:24 p.m. - 7 clicks
After years of updating, the ArborUpdate crew is taking a break. It may be temporary, it may be permanent, but for now the ArborUpdate sign is flipped to “closed.” There’s a few reasons for this: What had set ArborUpdate apart was intelligent discussion of local issues. You can now find intelligent reporting and discussion on Ann Arbor Chronicle , the Michigan Dail...
Arbor Update - Tue 11:49 a.m. - 8 clicks
Jay Kaplan, ACLU of Michigan LGBT Project Staff Attorney Today marks the first congressional hearing on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in 17 years. The repeal of this misguided policy, which calls for the discharge of members of the military who engage in “homosexual acts” or “demonstrate a propensity to engage in homosexual acts”, is long overdue. ...
ACLU of Michigan - Tue 9:27 a.m. - 10 clicks
In November of last year Secretary of State (SOS) Terri Lynn Land declared she was shutting down or consolidating 11 Secretary of State offices. As part of that plan, she announced she would shut down the two Muskegon County offices which provide excellent coverage to the citizens of Muskegon County, in favor of one office located in the southernmost part of our county on Sternberg road. She ...
West Michigan Rising - Tue 9:04 a.m. - 9 clicks
Most observers agree that the only road to a Democratic majority in the Michigan Senate runs through Kalamazoo. Now that Campaign Finance Reports are out for 2009, how do the contenders stand? Raised Spent Taylor $112,100 $5,769 Totten $133,862 $13,826 Jones ...
West Michigan Rising - Tue 7:43 a.m. - 12 clicks
Governor Granholm startled many on Friday when she unveiled a tough government reform plan that calls for considerable sacrifice. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a closer look… Hear Audio Story We’ve all seen those situation comedies where a......
Jack Lessenberry - Feb 1 - 10 clicks
The first weekend of the 9th Annual Ferndale Blues Festival is behind us, and it was "all good". About 25 concerts were held so far, with six more days to go ! FAQ's How do I get my band in the festival? Each venue selects its own music and talent and does its own booking. Most bands are paid, although some donate their time to the "cause". We can send you a list of the bars, restaurants...
Covey's Corner - Feb 1 - 12 clicks
This November, the State of Michigan is to vote whether to hold a Constitutional Convention and completely re-do much of what went wrong during the Bush years, and protect our state's consitution from conservative onslaught in the future. ...
DailyKos (Michigan) - Feb 1 - 10 clicks
Representative Tom Pearce was recently quoted in the Press saying we shouldn’t expect much from the legislature in an election year – a statement that was remarkable for both its candor and its fecklessness. Since Representative Pearce is term-limited, he can actually tell the truth – something Michigan politicians seem to have trouble with when they think their positions are on the line. ...
Public Pulse - Jan 31 - 12 clicks
On Friday, the Press reported that the state was canceling 243 highway construction projects, resulting in the loss of 10,000 jobs and the accelerated deterioration of Michigan’s infrastructure. The reason is that Michigan’s gasoline tax is too low to win Federal matching grants. Because of this, we will forgo $2.1 billion in grants and get back only 50% of the federal taxes we pay at the pump. ...
Public Pulse - Jan 30 - 13 clicks
The Grand Rapids Press : One poll, of 845 likely Democratic voters conducted Jan. 20, shows LaGrand besting Dean in the August Democratic primary 37 percent to 13 percent with 51 percent undecided. The poll has a 4 percent margin of error. A second poll of 1,325 likely voters conducted Jan. 26 shows LaGrand beating Republicans Dave Hildenbrand and Lori Wiersma by an average of 45 to 39 percent...
West Michigan Rising - Jan 29 - 16 clicks
Governor Jennifer Granholm yesterday supported the idea of a new Constitutional Convention. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry explains why this may be the time for a so-called “Con-Con.” Hear Audio Story Sixteen years ago, Michigan voters who went to......
Jack Lessenberry - Jan 29 - 13 clicks
Grand Haven, MI - January 18, 2010. Growing up and living in Grand Haven for over 30 years, I would be the first to admit our community has changed - we have become more interconnected with the rest of the County as we have continued to grow. Our citizens depend on the County for valuable services from road maintenance to health care. We need to refocus on our commitments and make sure...
West Michigan Rising - Jan 29 - 13 clicks
January 28th - Detroit clerk might enter secretary of state raceJanuary 26th - Stupak won't run for governorJanuary 20th - [...] ...
Bay County Dems - Jan 29 - 12 clicks
From a Press Release from the LaGrand for State Senate Campaign : Polls Show David LaGrand Winning Primary and General Election LaGrand up 3 to 1 in Possible Democratic Primary Election Grand Rapids, Mich. January 28, 2010 - Just three weeks after announcing his candidacy for State Senate, two polls released today show former City Commissioner David LaGrand winning a potential August pr...
West Michigan Rising - Jan 28 - 10 clicks
Mike Rogers' response to President Obama's State of the Union address? "While Michigan families can certainly appreciate the President focusing on getting America back to work, he unfortunately continues to advance policies that will cost more jobs. His plans to create a massive new energy tax and have the government run America's health care system from Washington, D.C. , are both job kille...
Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood (MI-08) - Jan 28 - 8 clicks
Mark Brewer has an idea : Brewer told the Free Press he will ask hundreds of top party officials today to call for an “endorsement convention” as a way to give those candidates more months to raise money for their campaigns, and to promote the party’s ticket – whatever that will be. Those endorsements would virtually assure the candidates’ nomination at the regula...
West Michigan Rising - Jan 27 - 9 clicks
LANSING – The Michigan House of Representatives today approved a bipartisan plan sponsored by State Representative Deb Kennedy (D-Brownstown) to protect Michigan families by banning the manufacture, sale and distribution of products in Michigan that contain a toxic fire retardant found in everyday products in our homes, offices, vehicles and schools. Studies show that exposure to the ch...
Michigan House Democrats - Jan 27 - 5 clicks
Local Residents Call on Senator Levin and Stabenow and the Democrats to Fight for Real Change WHAT: Rally for Real Change WHO: MoveOn members, Organizing for America and other local residents WHERE: Federal Bldg. corner of Ottawa and Michigan NE WHEN: Tuesday, 25 January, 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Press Release: On Tuesday, local residents will rally at the Federal Bldg. in downt...
West Michigan Rising - Jan 25 - 14 clicks
Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm proclaimed January 2010 Stalking Awareness Month in Michigan. For more information about stalking, you may also contact your local domestic violence program, visit the Michigan Resource Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence Web site at www.resourcecenter.info or the National Stalking Resource Center at www.ncvc.org/src. ...
Ismael Ahmed - Jan 25 - 12 clicks
Fred Johnson, Democratic candidate for the 2nd District House seat (Pete Hoekstra's seat) has been invited, and has accepted, an invitation to a candidate's forum organized by the Holland-Zeeland faction of the West Michigan Tea Party Patriots . All four of the Republican candidates for US House will be in attendance: Wayne Kuipers, former Buffalo Bills tight-end and Holland golden bo...
West Michigan Rising - Jan 24 - 10 clicks
Read about it in the GR Press: Some Grand Rapids school board members pushing for town hall meeting on possible school closings . ...
West Michigan Rising - Jan 24 - 7 clicks
LANSING – With new evidence that DNA from Asian carp has been found in Lake Michigan, House Democrats today launched an online petition calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to immediately reconsider Michigan's request to block this dangerous invasive species by closing two Chicago-area shipping locks. An Asian carp assault on the Great Lakes could devastate the multibillion-dollar fish...
Michigan House Democrats - Jan 22 - 5 clicks
LANSING – House Democrats today blasted a U.S. Supreme Court decision that will allow corporations to spend nearly unlimited amounts of money to influence elections. "Elections should be about issues and candidates, not who has the most money or the closest ties to Wall Street banks and big insurance companies," said House Majority Floor Leader Kathy Angerer (D-Dundee). "At...
Michigan House Democrats - Jan 22 - 4 clicks
