AltWeeklies Wire
Upside Down in Pontiac: How Investors Walk Away from Disasternew
Many Pontiac houses sit and continue to decline in value, blight the community, attract nuisances, cost lenders and the city money in maintenance, and pull down the values of nearby properties. Some have resold for a fraction of their taxable values, further driving down home prices around them. Others will sit vacant for years.
Metro Times |
Sandra Svoboda |
09-15-2009 |
Economy
Michigan Communities Use HUD Dollars for Demolition, Rehab and Ownershipnew
In Michigan, the HUD Neighborhood Stabilization Program is funding projects aimed at offsetting some of the harmful effects that foreclosed and vacant properties have on neighborhoods, as well as increasing home ownership and redevelopment.
Metro Times |
Sandra Svoboda |
06-09-2009 |
Economy
Huffing and Puffing, and the New Justicenew
Thirty-seven states have outlawed smoking in bars and restaurants. Some have done so in all public places. Sadly, Michigan lags behind, even though polls show the vast majority of us want a smoking ban.
Metro Times |
Jack Lessenberry |
06-09-2009 |
Policy Issues
Enviros Urge Michigan to Stop New Coal Plantsnew
A coalition of citizens and environmental groups urged Gov. Jennifer Granholm at a press conference this morning to "Stop the Coal Rush" and place a moratorium on the construction of new coal-fired power plants.
City Pulse |
Angela Vasquez-Giroux |
01-07-2009 |
Environment
A Bailout is Needed, but a New New Deal Would be Betternew
Why not create something like the old New Deal, which put millions to work doing everything from building post offices to writing nature guides. Ours would be more limited, however; we could call it the Michigan Infrastructure Corps. We are going to be paying out billions in unemployment insurance anyway. Why shouldn't we get something out if it?
Metro Times |
Jack Lessenberry |
12-09-2008 |
Economy
Escaping Baghdad and Finding Refuge in Metro Detroitnew
Hundreds of Iraqis have resettled in metro Detroit during the last two years as the United States finally opened to these refugees of the war in Iraq. This year, more than 2,000 Iraqis are expected to flock here. These are some of their stories.
Metro Times |
Sandra Svoboda |
12-09-2008 |
Immigration
Phys Ed in Michigan Isn't What it Used to Benew
With attention to both the rising rate of childhood obesity and the emphasis on test results, Michigan school districts are revisiting their game plans for gym classes. Their playbooks reduce the focus on competitive sports and increase it on lifestyle fitness activities that will help create healthier kids now and fitter adults in the future.
Metro Times |
Sandra Svoboda |
11-25-2008 |
Education
Why the Feds Must Bail Out General Motorsnew
Massive restructuring is needed, but the patient first has to be stabilized, by any means necessary. Otherwise, we will be looking at something very like the Great Depression.
Metro Times |
Jack Lessenberry |
11-20-2008 |
Economy
Should We Rescue Detroit's Sinking Ship?new
Any bailout for the Big Three must be seriously questioned and come with conditions, because we can't let these companies hold us hostage anymore.
City Pulse |
Lawrence Cosentno, Neal McNamara and Angela Vasquez-Giroux |
11-20-2008 |
Economy
Michigan Voters Will Likely Vote in November on State's Stem-Cell Research Bannew
Frankly, supporters of both sides have been guilty of distortions on the issue.
Metro Times |
Jack Lessenberry |
07-22-2008 |
Science
One Exoneree Finds Purpose in Advocacy, Closure in ID of Perpnew
Ken Wyniemko spent nearly a decade behind bars for a rape. His most pressing concern was surviving. His second was proving his innocence. He succeeded at both.
Metro Times |
Sandra Svoboda |
07-08-2008 |
Crime & Justice
DNA Points to Perp in Rape for Which Wrong Man Did Timenew
Five years ago, Ken Wyniemko was released from the Michigan prison system, exonerated after a decade behind bars for a rape that DNA evidence concluded he did not commit. On Wednesday, police confirmed that a match has been made to the DNA collected at the scene of the 1994 Macomb County rape for which Wyniemko was arrested, convicted and incarcerated.
Metro Times |
Sandra Svoboda |
07-01-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Outlook is Bleak for Man Who Claims He Was Falsely Convictednew
Things aren't looking too good for Fredrick Freeman, who is serving a life sentence for the 1986 murder of Scott Macklem in Port Huron. He's exhausted his state appeals and now has filed a habeas petition in U.S. District Court in Detroit. That case is still pending.
Metro Times |
Staff |
07-01-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Michigan's HIV Stats Show Young African-Americans Hit Hardnew
African-Americans are twice as likely as whites to be diagnosed with HIV, with people younger than 25 at the highest risk, according to the annual report analyzing new HIV diagnoses in 2006 by race, sex and age.
Metro Times |
Staff |
06-17-2008 |
Science
Proposed Foreclosure Moratorium Bill in Michigan Recalls 1930s Legislationnew
You know things are getting bad when legislators start drafting new bills modeled on laws originally enacted as a way to help people survive the Great Depression. But that's the spot we're now finding ourselves in when it comes to the issue of home foreclosures.
Metro Times |
Staff |
06-10-2008 |
Economy
