Sarah Cwiek

Peters uses Keystone XL vote to push for petroleum coke investigation

Sarah Cwiek — Thu, 23 May 2013 01:06:37 +0000

The U.S. House voted Wednesday to sidestep President Obama, and authorize the first leg of a controversial pipeline project carrying tar sands oil to the US from Canada.

Henry Ford, Beaumont health care systems call off mega-merger

Sarah Cwiek — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:40:15 +0000

A planned mega-merger between two of Michigan’s largest health systems has been scuttled.

Beaumont and Henry Ford health systems are two of southeast Michigan’s three largest health care providers.

Oakland County to appeal Fannie, Freddie case to US Supreme Court

Sarah Cwiek — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:02:16 +0000

Oakland County officials hope their lawsuit against Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac goes to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Oakland and Genessee County treasurers are both suing Fannie and Freddie because they didn’t pay millions in so-called “transfer taxes” on a number of real estate deals.

The mortgage giants have claimed that under federal law, they’re exempt from those state and local taxes because they’re government agencies.

Detroit state lawmakers suggest alternative auto insurance changes

Sarah Cwiek — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:34:10 +0000

State lawmakers from Detroit say they will put forth their own package of bills to overhaul m auto insurance in Michigan.

The Democrats oppose Governor Snyder’s plan to cap insurance payouts for catastrophic car accident injuries at $1 million.

Snyder and some Republicans say Michigan’s unique “no-fault insurance” policy bumps up Michiganders’ auto insurance premiums. They say their proposal will bring those rates down by $125 per vehicle for at least one year, with possible future savings.

With immigration overhaul on the horizon, one immigrant looks for change now - from jail

Sarah Cwiek — Fri, 03 May 2013 19:25:08 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f43aR03r9uk

The U.S. appears to be on the verge of the biggest immigration changes in a generation. Legislation being debated in Congress would allow many immigrants who are now here illegally an eventual path to citizenship.

Detroit high schoolers explore wilder side of Belle Isle

Sarah Cwiek — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:43:05 +0000

If you’ve heard about Belle Isle in the news lately, it was probably a story about people fighting over who should control Detroit’s famous island park. Those political fights tend to overshadow the island’s unique ecosystem. It’s a tiny fragment of what southeast Michigan looked like before industrialization.

Recently, some Detroit schoolkids got to take a look at this natural heart of Belle Isle. I had the chance to tag along.

It wasn’t a great day to be out on Belle Isle. In fact, it was pretty miserable. It was rainy and cold, and a lot of these ninth-graders from Detroit’s Western International High School didn’t exactly dress for the weather. But too bad.

Vote to shift federal transit funds from Detroit to suburbs opens old wounds

Sarah Cwiek — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 23:08:24 +0000

A rift over transit money is once again dividing Detroit from its suburban neighbors.

The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments voted Friday to shift money from Detroit’s bus system to a suburban line.

SEMCOG has temporary oversight of federal transit funds for capital investment while the new southeast Michigan Regional Transit Authority gets up and running.

FOIA documents reveal financial troubles, loans for Education Achievement Authority

Sarah Cwiek — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:50:22 +0000

A suburban Detroit state representative says newly released documents raise some “serious red flags” about the Education Achievement Authority.

That state-run “reform district” for the lowest-performing schools is only operating in 15 former Detroit Public Schools right now.

State Representative Ellen Cogen Lipton, a Huntington Woods Democrat, got the information through a Freedom of Information Act request.

The records released so far reveal some financial trouble for the EAA.

Detroit prepares to fight for federal bus funds

Sarah Cwiek — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 02:07:47 +0000

A vote this Friday could determine how federal transit money is split between Detroit and its suburbs—and Detroit officials aren’t at all happy with what’s being proposed.

Right now, that federal money is divided based on ridership. So the Detroit Department of Transportation gets about 65% of the funding, while the suburban system—known as SMART—gets 35%.

Now on the sidelines, Detroit City Council still wants look at city contracts

Sarah Cwiek — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 23:52:56 +0000

The Detroit City Council wants a clearer view of what emergency manager Kevyn Orr is doing.

Some Council members said Tuesday they want to see all city contracts that Orr approves.

Those contracts are public record. Orr spokesman Bill Nowling says they’re working out “how to post them in an efficient manner,” though there’s no timeline for when that will be up and running.

Councilman Ken Cockrel Jr says that shouldn’t take too long because “it ain’t rocket science.”

Detroit Council member, former interim mayor Ken Cockrel won't seek re-election

Sarah Cwiek — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 22:26:40 +0000

Detroit City Council member and former Detroit mayor Kenneth Cockrel Jr. says he won’t seek re-election this year.

Cockrel is serving his fourth term on the City Council. He also served briefly as mayor after Kwame Kilpatrick resigned in 2008—but lost the follow-up election to Dave Bing.

In a statement released Tuesday, Cockrel says he’s decided that “now is the time” to leave the Council.

Oakland County helps neighboring Macomb with IT after building fire

Sarah Cwiek — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:46:32 +0000

Oakland County is helping neighboring Macomb County get back online after a fire last week.

That suspected electrical fire seriously damaged Macomb’s IT department—shutting down phones and computer networks.

So Oakland County is offering Macomb staff, equipment and space to start re-building.

“Oakland County has opened up its data center to host Macomb County’s equipment and personnel on a temporary basis in order to get Macomb County back online,” says a press release from Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson’s office.

With Education Summit, some hints and questions about Snyder's education priorities

Sarah Cwiek — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:00:35 +0000

Business leaders and others share their thoughts on the future of Michigan’s education system Monday.

Report: Metro Detroit #1 for 'job sprawl'

Sarah Cwiek — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:33:59 +0000

Detroit has the most “job sprawl” of any metropolitan area in the country, according to a new Brookings Institution report that looks at how jobs are distributed throughout metro regions.

The report found that 77 percent of metro Detroit’s jobs are more than 10 miles outside the city’s central business district. The nationwide average is 43 percent.

Governor Snyder appoints state review team for Hamtramck

Sarah Cwiek — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:49:27 +0000

Hamtramck could be the next Michigan city to get an emergency manager.

Governor Snyder appointed a state review team to examine the city’s finances Wednesday.

Hamtramck city officials actually asked for the state review. The tiny enclave within Detroit has struggled financially for many years.