SEMCOG Releases Traffic Crash and Fatality Report, Urges Safety

SEMCOG Releases Traffic Crash and Fatality Report, Urges Safety (SEMCOG Press Release, April 29,2014) The number of traffic crashes in Southeast Michigan increased by more than four percent in 2013 compared with the previous year, according to an analysis of traffic crash data by SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. Traffic Crashes, 2009-2013 The…

Democrats Pack Cobo for Fmr. President Bill Clinton Speech (video)

Democrats Pack Cobo for Fmr. President Bill Clinton Speech (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, April 27, 2014) Raising over $500,000 for the Michigan Democratic Party, the 2014 Jefferson-Jackson Dinner at Cobo Hall featuring Former President Bill Clinton was considered “a rousing success” by Democratic Party Chair Lon Johnson. Johnson and others took time to share their…

8 Mile Luncheon Inspires Vision of Collaboration

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…

11th District State Senate Democrats Square Off at First Forum (video)

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)

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…

Teens in Stolen SUV Arrested After Chase on 696

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

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…

Northland Mall Death Caused by Position, Compression, Asphyxia

Northland Mall Death Caused by Position, Compression, Asphyxia (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 12, 2014) The investigation into 25-year-old McKenzie Cochran’s death continues as the medical examiner’s report has been released, listing the cause of death as “accidental position, compression, asphyxia,” according to Local 4 News. On Jan.28 the man had a verbal confrontation with mall…

Northland Mall Death Caused by Position, Compression, Asphyxia

Northland Mall Death Caused by Position, Compression, Asphyxia (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 12, 2014) The investigation into 25-year-old McKenzie Cochran’s death continues as the medical examiner’s report has been released, listing the cause of death as “accidental position, compression, asphyxia,” according to Local 4 News. On Jan.28 the man had a verbal confrontation with mall…

‘Madam Mayors’ Share Success Stories and Advice (video)

‘Madam Mayors’ Share Success Stories and Advice (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 1, 2014) Fighting and faith were themes that came up repeatedly in the “Madam Mayors” discussion with the Women Officials Network on Feb. 28 in West Bloomfield.  Mayor Deirdre Waterman (Pontiac), Mayor Brenda Lawrence (Southfield), and Mayor Marian McClellan (Oak Park) spoke to…

MEAP Scores Released, Improvement in Reading Celebrated

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…

Investigation Continues in Northland Mall Death (video)

Investigation Continues in Northland Mall Death (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 10, 2014) Southfield Police continue to investigate the death of a 25-year-old Ferndale man who was pepper-sprayed and restrained by private security guards on Jan. 28.  The man’s death was captured on cell phone videos where he could clearly be heard telling the security…

Southfield, Ferndale and Royal Oak Urge State to Restore Funding

Southfield, Ferndale and Royal Oak Urge State to Restore Funding (Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 9, 2014) Elected officials in Southfield, Ferndale and Royal Oak have a message for the legislature in Lansing: restore municipal funding. At the most recent Council and Commission meetings, each City passed a nearly identical resolution calling on state leaders to…

Southfield, Ferndale and Royal Oak Urge State to Restore Funding

Southfield, Ferndale and Royal Oak Urge State to Restore Funding (Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 9, 2014) Elected officials in Southfield, Ferndale and Royal Oak have a message for the legislature in Lansing: restore municipal funding. At the most recent Council and Commission meetings, each City passed a nearly identical resolution calling on state leaders to…

Southfield, Ferndale and Royal Oak Urge State to Restore Funding

Southfield, Ferndale and Royal Oak Urge State to Restore Funding (Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 9, 2014) Elected officials in Southfield, Ferndale and Royal Oak have a message for the legislature in Lansing: restore municipal funding. At the most recent Council and Commission meetings, each City passed a nearly identical resolution calling on state leaders to…

Bridge Magazine Ranks Michigan School Districts

Bridge Magazine Ranks Michigan School Districts (Crystal Proxmire, Feb. 9, 2014) Bridge Magazine looked at public school districts and public charters and compared them based on performance weighted by economics to determine how schools are performing compared to expectations.  The publication used three years’ worth of data and ranked the schools.  A score of 100…