Ferndale Area Fundraisers for Murdered Fighter’s Family

Ferndale Area Fundraisers for Murdered Fighter’s Family (Crystal A. Proxmire, April 29, 2014) Family and friends from Detroit to LA are remembering Justin Schalk who was murdered on April 14 in California. The 40-year-old Ferndale native went to school in both Ferndale and Berkley and has ties throughout the area from his family’s involvement in…

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…

Atty. General Denied Special Hearing in Marriage Case

Attorney General Denied Special Hearing in Same Sex Marriage Case (Crystal A. Proxmire, April 29, 2014) While over 300 legally-married same-sex couples wait in limbo for their marriages to be recognized, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that that the appeal must go through the traditional appeals process. Attorney General Bill Schuette petitioned…

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…

Oak Park & Hazel Park Get Pot Petitions Turned In, Berkley Next

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 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)

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…

Hazel Park Warehouse Home of Large Retail Fraud Ring

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

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…

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…

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 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

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…