The Rose Bowl and Parade, Through the Eyes of a Loyal Spartan (Crystal Proxmire, Jan. 1, 2014) Dedicated Spartan fan and former Michigan State student John Taylor was able to go to Pasadena, California for the 100th Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. There he watched his green-and-white-clad favorite team beat the Stanford Cardinals with…
Area Libraries Switch to New Inter-loan System (Crystal A. Proxmire, Dec. 26, 2013) Beginning Jan. 1, the system through which patrons can check out items from libraries other than their own will be changing throughout Michigan. Those who wish to borrow items will need to stop by their home library and get either a new…
Christmas Tree Recycling in Oakland County (Oakland County Press Release, Dec. 23, 2013) Oakland County Parks and Recreation offers free Christmas Tree Recycling at 11 park locations. Dec. 26, 2013 – Jan. 20, 2014 Free Self-Serve Christmas Tree Recycling, seven days, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Please remove all decorations, metal, plastic and string. Locations: Addison Oaks near…
More than Just a Pretty Trunk: How Trees Enhance Complete Streets (Jeff Prygoski, orig. Transportation for Michigan, Dec. 19, 2103) Roads and sidewalks have undergone dramatic transformations in communities with complete streets policies. More than 90 Michigan communities have passed complete street policies, which contain a variety of design elements that foster a safer, more…
DNC Chair, Michigan Dems Rally For LGBT Equality (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Between the Lines, Dec. 18, 2013) As Republicans continue to condone the hateful, anti-gay comments of their Republican National Committeeman Dave Agema, Democrats brought out the big guns for a community forum at Affirmations featuring Democratic National Committee Chairperson Debbie Wasserman Schultz. “In…
Deadlines For CDL Drivers And Their Medical Providers Fast Approaching (Michigan Secretary of State Press Release, Dec. 12, 2013) Secretary of State Ruth Johnson strongly encourages Michigan residents with a Commercial Driver License (CDL) to self-certify to which type of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operation they perform to avoid losing CDL privileges after Jan. 30.…
EAA Expansion to be Voted On (Crystal A. Proxmire, Dec. 11, 2013) Michigan legislators are considering bills this week to expand the State’s authority to take over schools and run them as part of a State-controlled school district known as the Education Achievement Authority. The EAA takes over failing schools and puts them in a…
How Michigan Funds Schools (Kevin Deegan-Krause, orig. Ferndale Friends/ KevinDeeganKrauseForFerndaleSchools.com, Dec. 10, 2013) Please put away your notes and let’s begin our discussion of school funding with a high-stakes multiple choice test: 1. Does Michigan fund schools from: A. Local sources B. Federal sources C. State sources 2. Does the revenue come from: …
SEMCOG Approves I-94, I-75, US-23 Amendment to Expand (David Sands, SEMCOG, Dec.7, 2013, orig. http://wearemodeshift.org/node/1055) Although plans to widen the I-94 and I-75 expressways have been generating a bit of a buzz this week, dissenting voices seemed to have little sway over the bulk of the Southeast Michigan Council of Government’s Executive Committee. At a Friday meeting, the…
Guest Column: Reckless Driving: MDOT’s Lead Foot on Freeway Projects (Richard Murphy, Michigan Suburbs Alliance, December 4, 2013) The public appeals to delegates entering SEMCOG’s June meeting. The sign in back, “No new gas tax, Snyder — We don’t need our freeways wider,” demonstrates our trust problem. Over the past few years, Governor Snyder’s Lansing…
Holiday Shopping Legal Tips (Guest Columnist Atty. Tim Burns, Nov. 29, 2013) It’s November and for many people that ushers in the start of the Holiday shopping season. As you are hitting the stores and shopping on the Internet it’s important to be proactive in knowing your legal rights so that your gift giving experiences…
Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption Deadline Nears (Oakland County Press Release, Nov. 28, 2013) Counselors in Oakland County’s Veterans’ Services Division are ready to help totally disabled veterans meet the Dec. 5 deadline to retroactively claim their homestead property tax exemption for 2013. Under a new Michigan law, Public Act 161 of 2013, totally disabled…
Madison Heights Police Sued in Death of Transgender Woman (Crystal A. Proxmire, Between the Lines, Nov. 27, 2013) The October 2011 death and dismemberment of 19 year-old Shelly Hilliard (Moore) sent shock waves through the community and has reappeared in media reports this week, as Detroit investigates another brutal murder of a transgender individual that…
Small Turtles Not a Good Pet Choice: Risky and Illegal (Oakland County Health Dept. Press Release, Nov. 27, 2013) According to the Michigan Departments of Community Health (MDCH) and Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) small turtles with shells that measure less than four inches in length…
Senator Stabenow Speaks to Women Elected Officials (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Nov. 25, 2013) In her over 34 years in public office, Senator Debbie Stabenow has seen the faces of leadership change in Michigan and in the nation. In particular she’s witnessed the impact of increasing the number of women holding elected office. On Nov.…
Free Kids Environmental Calendar, Order Online (Oakland County Water Resource Commission Press Release, Nov. 24, 2013) For the ninth year in a row the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s office (WRC) is proud to offer its 2014 Kids’ Clean Water Calendar free of charge to the public. The Kids’ Clean Water Calendar was designed to…
Ellen Cogen Lipton Shares EAA Concerns, Education Alternatives (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Nov. 21, 2013) As Democratic Vice Chair of the Education Committee of the Michigan House of Representatives, Ellen Cogen Lipton saw first-hand the way The Michigan Education Achievement Authority has taken shape. Beyond that, she has looked into the results of having the…
New Testing Standard for Teachers Announced (Michigan Dept. of Education Press Release, Nov. 15, 2013) Better prepared and effective teachers will be available for Michigan students with the advent of a more rigorous teacher certification exam this year. “We want the best and brightest teachers in Michigan classrooms,” said State Superintendent Mike Flanagan. “Increasing the…
Birmingham Seaholm High Closed After Shots Fired in Robbery (C. Proxmire, Nov. 12, 2013) An investigation is under way at Birmingham Seaholm after an early morning robbery. According to The Detroit Free Press, a maintenance man was robbed at gunpoint while entering the school at approximately 4:50am. According to the report, the robber fired a…
Birmingham Seaholm High Closed After Shots Fired in Robbery (C. Proxmire, Nov. 12, 2013) An investigation is under way at Birmingham Seaholm after an early morning robbery. According to The Detroit Free Press, a maintenance man was robbed at gunpoint while entering the school at approximately 4:50am. According to the report, the robber fired a…