Boost for Detroit neighborhoods, schools
Governor Snyder was in Detroit yesterday to kick off an intensive neighborhood stabilization effort. It will focus on 3 neighborhoods, anchored by 9 Detroit schools. Sarah Cwiek reports:
The effort kicked off outside Clark Preparatory Academy in Detroit’s Morningside neighborhood, on the city’s east side. Morningside is one of three communities that will get state help to demolish the abandoned homes dotting the neighborhood, and clean up the area. Lansing also plans to send in some state police patrols, and will put social workers in the neighborhood schools. Governor Snyder says Detroit must strengthen its neighborhoods if the city is to truly come back. “That’s the goal. We’re doing this because we believe it will work, and we want to get good experience and do continuous improvement, and then continue to ramp up the program.” The state is putting $10 million into the effort so far, and Snyder says more could become available. City officials say the state helps supplement existing blight eradication programs.
Republican Senate candidates hold primary season debate
Three Republicans running for their party’s U.S. Senate nomination appeared together yesterday in their only televised debate of this primary season. Former Congressman Pete Hoekstra, charter school executive Clark Durant, and former judge Randy Hekman are running. Rick Pluta reports:
The debate was heated at times, but the candidates did agree on gun control, school reform, requiring super-majorities for tax hikes, and opposing federal money for a new international bridge in Detroit. A fourth Republican, Gary Glenn, will also appear on the primary ballot, even though he dropped out and endorsed Durant.
Enbridge pipeline break in WI blamed for MI gas price spike
Gasoline prices in parts of Michigan are soaring over 4 dollars a gallon. Steve Carmody reports the recent leak that shut down an oil pipeline in Wisconsin is getting much of the blame:
The Enbridge Energy pipeline has been shut down since it sprung a leak last week. Patrick DeHaan is with Gas Buddy dot com. He says the pipeline shutdown is slowing the delivery of crude oil to at least one Chicago area refinery. “The spike that we’re seeing is very regional specific. This is not happening to the degree outside of our area.” Federal officials are holding up the restart of the pipeline until Enbridge completes a review of a recent leak. Federal officials have been highly critical of Enbridge for how it handled another pipeline accident near Marshall in 2010.
