LANSING, Michigan -- Republican presidential nominee John McCain and running mate Sarah Palin head to Sterling Heights today, making their first post-convention trip to a state that could determine if they win the White House.

The battle for Michigan has been fought all summer, but it intensified this week as the presidential candidates wrapped up their national conventions.

Continue reading "Republican presidential nominee John McCain and running mate Sarah Palin coming to Michigan today" »

LAPEER COUNTY, Michigan -- Robert "Bob" Milne was an up-and-coming ragtime pianist when he got a call from former President George H.W. Bush in 2003, asking him to play at the family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine.

"I said, 'Yes, sir, when do you want me there, sir?" Milne recalled. "I was there the next week."

It would be the first of many visits, including the most recent last month, when he attempted to play a broken-down piano at a local lobster bar.

Continue reading "Lapeer County pianist Robert 'Bob' Milne tickles ivories - and fancies - of America's elite" »

Editor's note: This is an updated version of an earlier post on this topic.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota -- Federal prosecutors have charged a Flint man as part of what they say was a scheme to use Molotov cocktails to attack the main arena for the Republican National Convention.

The U.S. attorney's office in Minneapolis says Matthew DePalma, 23, of Flint was charged Saturday with possessing unregistered firearms.

Authorities say DePalma attended an event in Waldo, Wis., in July called the CrimeThinc Convergence and told an FBI source he wanted to attack the convention.

Continue reading "Flint man, Matthew DePalma, accused of plotting attack on GOP convention" »

ST. PAUL, Minnesota - A 23-year-old Flint man was plotting to set off bombs to coincide with the Republican National Convention, according to details federal prosecutors released Wednesday.

The suspect, Matthew DePalma of Flint, Michigan, is charged with possessing Molotov cocktails, a type of gasoline bomb.

DePalma was locked up on August 30.

The criminal complaint also alleges that in July 2008 DePalma told an FBI confidential source that he wanted to travel to the RNC to "make some bombs" and "blow s-t up."

Read the criminal complaint

Read the rest of the CNN story

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• Flint Journal Feedback: What do you think are John Cherry's chances of becoming Michigan's next governor? Vote in our poll below and tell us your view of him in the comments area below.

• Flint Journal extras: Read regular updates from the Democratic convention posted by State Rep. Lee Gonalzes, D-Flint Township, on his blog.

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DENVER, Colorado -- Michigan Lt. Gov. John Cherry is grabbing the chance in Denver to woo hundreds of Michigan Democratic activists he'll need to back his 2010 run for governor.

At the Democratic National Convention, he's hosting parties and meals and has handed out tote bags stuffed with Michigan products for delegates to munch on.

Question of the Day:

"Whenever politicians gather together, there's always discussions about the future," said Cherry of Vienna Township, who became lieutenant governor in 2003 after serving a combined 20 years in the state House and Senate. "I'm looking at running for governor very seriously in 2010."

Cherry is a superdelegate at the convention, as is his boss, Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

Continue reading "Flint's John Cherry laying groundwork for 2010 campaign for Michigan governor" »

GENESEE TOWNSHIP, Michigan-- Until this month, Supervisor Scott Streeter and local businessman Steven Fuhr were the only contenders for the township's top position.

Fuhr defeated Streeter in Genesee Township's Aug. 5 Democratic primary election but another candidate, Steve Myers, has emerged to run for supervisor in the Nov. 4 general election. Myers filed last month to run as an independent.

Continue reading "Steve Myers jumps into Genesee Township Supervisor race: Independent Myers to take on Democrat Steven Fuhr in November election" »

GENESEE COUNTY Michigan -- Flushing Township has officially told Genesee County officials that it intends to submit ballot language for another police millage in November, while Flint wants a proposal that could lead to developing a city park.

Tuesday was the deadline for local communities to indicate their interest in proposals for the Nov. 4 ballot. There were no surprises.

Continue reading "Variety of proposals, candidates await Genesee County voters in November" »

FENTON TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- Republicans have traditionally governed in this township, but Democrat Richard Steinhoff believes there is a place for him on the Township Board.

"The board needs an alternative voice," he said. "We need someone who will ask questions and make sure it's not all, 'I agrees' and 'yes, toos.'

"I may agree with a board decision, but you have to ask questions and make sure the public knows you're seeing both sides of the issue."

Steinhoff received 66 votes in the Aug. 5 primary as a write-in candidate for the Democratic nomination to run for Township Board trustee -- enough to place his name on the ballot in November, according to the Genesee County Election Commission office.

However, a write-in candidate in Flushing Township, Democrat Joyce Lanckton, found out that she fell short of the required votes to challenge Republican Bill Noecker for treasurer there.

Continue reading "Write-in votes put Richard Steinhoff on ballot for Fenton Township trustee" »

MUNDY TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- "This is a major turning point for Mundy Township," Trustee Tonya Ketzler said after hearing the results of Tuesday's primary election.

Treasurer David Guigear's stunning victory over Supervisor Karen Bond may signal the end of years of contentious board meetings, where Bond more often than not has been pitted against the majority of the board.

Continue reading "Mundy Township Board winners expect less board conflict following primary election" »

FLUSHING TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- A story in today's Flint Journal should have said Flushing Township resident Joyce Lanckton did not make the ballot as a write-in candidate for treasurer. Lanckton needed 24 votes to make the ballot, but only received 22, according to the Genesee County Clerk's Office.

FLUSHING TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- Looks as if there will be some competition for the treasurer's seat in Flushing Township come November.

Tuesday's primary election also was successful for Joyce Lanckton, an unopposed write-in candidate for the Democratic nomination.

Genesee County reports about 40 people in Flushing Township voted for a write-in candidate. However, an official count of how many votes Lanckton received hasn't been tallied.

Continue reading "Write-in candidate Joyce Lanckton nabs Democratic nomination in Flushing Township treasurer race, will challenge Bill Noecker in November" »

GENESEE COUNTY, Michigan -- It's a year marked by political firsts, and the 51st District is no different.

In the overwhelmingly white district, Paul Scott -- a young, black Republican -- beat out two competitors to win a chance at the 51st District state House seat.

It is a barrier-shattering achievement that is generating even more excitement in the already closely watched race that pits Scott, 26, against Democrat Michael J. Thorp, a former radio and television personality.

"It's going to be a huge race," said Bill Ballenger, editor of "Inside Michigan Politics" newsletter. "The fact you have got a black Republican running against a television newscaster, a Democrat, is a very unusual race.

"What's interesting is you're going to have a black presidential nominee and a black Republican nominee in a district that's 90-plus percent white."

Continue reading "Paul Scott: 'We showed a minority can win in any district'; Scott to face Michael J. Thorp for state House seat in November" »

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Flint Journal extras: 2008 Election:

• See more election results below

• View all contested races and proposals in the Genesee County area

• Read more of our 2008 election coverage

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GENESEE COUNTY, Michigan -- Voters are dumping elected officials in droves these days.

Nine of 10 incumbent township supervisors who faced challenges were defeated in Tuesday's primary. And just three months ago, a host of school board incumbents were booted from office.

Are voters fed up with local politicians, or are they expressing a more general discontent with their lives?

Some analysts say that a bad economy, job losses, high gas prices and a weak housing market -- in addition to specific local issues -- have a lot of people lashing out at the polls.

Continue reading "Angry Genesee County-area voters take revenge at polls" »

SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, Michigan -- If Deana Finnegan becomes Shiawassee County's sheriff in November, she'll have ended a 16-year dry spell in Michigan -- and 70 years in the county -- without a female sheriff.

And she would become only the 19th female sheriff in the state's nearly 200 year history. It's so rare in fact that only seven women even sought the seat in Michigan's 83 counties on Tuesday.

Continue reading "Shiawassee County's Deana Finnegan looking to become third woman elected county sheriff in state history" »

GENESEE TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- It was a rough night for some incumbents in northern Genesee County.

Voters practically cleaned house in Genesee Township, while a mix of incumbents held on in Mt. Morris, Thetford and Vienna townships.

Of the seven-member Genesee Township Board, Trustee Richard Burrus was the only incumbent tapped to remain.

Voters instead gave the nod to challengers Kathy Sutton, who earned the most votes with 1,264; David Stephens with 966; and Pat Witte with 907.

Continue reading "Few incumbents survive in Genesee Township, Mt. Morris Township, Thetford Township and Vienna Township" »