8 Mile Luncheon Inspires Vision of Collaboration (A guest column by Sheryl Mitchell, April 27, 2014) I had the opportunity to attend the Leadership Luncheon on April 25th that was held at Cobo by the Eight Mile Boulevard Association (8MBA) and witnessed an unexpected show of regional collaboration that was so powerful that it almost…
Oak Park and Hazel Park Get Pot Petitions Turned In, Berkley Next (Crystal A. Proxmire, April 23, 2014) City by city, pro-marijuana activists have been placing decriminalization ordinances on the ballot. On Tuesday Andrew Cissell and Debra Young turned in petitions in both Oak Park and Hazel Park, putting the issue on the ballot for…
ACLU Sues Michigan to Recognize Marriages of Same-Sex Couples (ACLU Press Release, April 14, 2014) The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan filed a lawsuit today to guarantee that the marriages of 300 same-sex couples performed in Michigan last month are recognized by the state. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of eight same-sex couples…
11th District State Senate Democrats Square Off at First Forum (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, April 12, 2014) A dozen days before the filing deadline, three Democratic candidates for the State Senate 11th District came before the Oak Park-Huntington Woods Democratic Club for their first forum. Current State Senator Vince Gregory of Southfield is being challenged…
11th District State Senate Democrats Square Off at First Forum (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, April 12, 2014) A dozen days before the filing deadline, three Democratic candidates for the State Senate 11th District came before the Oak Park-Huntington Woods Democratic Club for their first forum. Current State Senator Vince Gregory of Southfield is being challenged…
Be Part of the Seeds of Support Campaign Sign up now to get your own custom ad! Conditions are growing worse in the corporate news landscape. Cutbacks in journalism jobs including the shutdown of traditional publications and the de-staffing of AOL’s Patch chain have left news deserts, places where citizens are thirsty for a local,…
Hazel Park Warehouse Home of Large Retail Fraud Ring (Oakland County Sheriff’s Department, April 9, 2014) The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET) has arrested five individuals that were part of a major retail fraud ring in Hazel Park that led to the recovery of over $3 million in stolen merchandise. NET investigators…
Hazel Park Pot Petition Gets Start, Other Cities Too (Crystal A. Proxmire, April 9, 2014) The push is on to spread marijuana decriminalization ordinances to as many municipalities as possible, with Oak Park and Hazel Park among those likely to have initiatives on the ballot for the August primary. Hazel Park City Councilperson Andy LeCureaux was…
Divided R.O.Commission Sends AG Recommendation on DeBoer Case (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, April 8, 2014) The Royal Oak City Commission passed a resolution Monday urging Governor Rick Snyder and Attorney General Bill Schuette to stop using taxpayer resources to appeal the case that overturned Michigan’s ban on same-sex marriage. The March 21 decision in DeBoer…
Divided R.O.Commission Sends AG Recommendation on DeBoer Case (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, April 8, 2014) The Royal Oak City Commission passed a resolution Monday urging Governor Rick Snyder and Attorney General Bill Schuette to stop using taxpayer resources to appeal the case that overturned Michigan’s ban on same-sex marriage. The March 21 decision in DeBoer…
Ferndale Police Identify Armed Robbery Suspect, Seek Help Locating Him Ferndale Police are looking for the following suspect in the armed robbery case. Thanks to media help in broadcasting the security video footage and public input, police are searching for the RAY SLAYTON. Anybody with information should contact Ferndale Police or call Crime Stoppers (1…
Teens in Stolen SUV Arrested After Chase on 696 (Crystal A. Proxmire, April 3, 2014) Two minors are in custody after a high-speed chase in a stolen white SUV that went from Detroit, through Oakland County, and into Macomb County. According to WDIV, “Detroit police said they were pursuing the SUV for reckless driving, but…
Teens in Stolen SUV Arrested After Chase on 696 (Crystal A. Proxmire, April 3, 2014) Two minors are in custody after a high-speed chase in a stolen white SUV that went from Detroit, through Oakland County, and into Macomb County. According to WDIV, “Detroit police said they were pursuing the SUV for reckless driving, but…
President Obama Visits Ann Arbor to Promote Minimum Wage Increase (Crystal A. Proxmire, April 2, 2014) The move is on in Michigan and across the country to raise the minimum wage, and to help promote the effort President Barack Obama came to Ann Arbor for a speech at the University of Michigan. Stepping off Air…
Details of the DeBoer Case (Jane Bassett, ongoing – March 2014) Jane Bassett is an attorney in Ann Arbor who specializes in elder law and helping families with adoption-related issues. She is a graduate of University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and opened her own practice in 1994. She has been attending the trial…
Demonstrators Try to Stay Warm, While State’s Case Runs Cold by Crystal A. Proxmire News spread quickly Sunday that over 100 Detroit-based pastors would be convening at the Federal Courthouse Monday to protest marriage equality. Rumors put expected turnout as high as 600. The Detroit Police stood ready with extra officers in the area and…
Ferndalians Channel Leaders Past, Spread Love in Hopes for Equality (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 3, 2014) Blowing bubbles, singing a freedom song, and breathing in the cleansing scent of burning sage were all part of a “love ritual” held at Affirmations on Sunday in honor of April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse, the Hazel Park…
Opponents to Equality Make Big Showing in Support “Biblical Marriage” (C. Proxmire, March 2, 2014, see also Between the Lines) Mike Grant of Ypsilanti believes that because of his personal religious beliefs, other individuals should be denied the right to get married. He spent several hours Tuesday pacing in front of the Federal Courthouse in…
Ritual in Ferndale to Spread Love to Hazel Park Couple Sunday (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 1, 2014) In support of the Deboer and Rowse family going to court for the right for Second Parent Adoption and marriage equality, Jacki Smith of Candle Wick Shoppe will be leading the Ferndale community in a ritual to transform…
MEAP Scores Released, Improvement in Reading Celebrated (Michigan Dept. of Education Press Release, Feb. 28, 2014) Reading test scores for Michigan fourth graders improved for the fourth consecutive year, the Michigan Department of Education reported today. Results from the Fall 2013 Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP) are reflective of what children had learned the previous…