MICHIGAN OPINION

The Latest Editorials, News Blogs, Opinion Articles & Political Cartoons

Michigan’s school bus inspection program has promoted safety for public and private school students for 20 years. Failing to fund it is yet another way Lansing lawmakers let schools down in the budget process this year. It’s not too late for legislators to pull over, pop the hood and fix this by funding a stripped-down, efficient program. The current version... Full story »

Two weeks ago I was diagnosed with colon cancer — and stumbled on a valuable life lesson on the importance of perspective. Full story »

Budget crunch? To all the kids who study hard and test well, the Michigan "Promise" turned out not to be a promise after all. The cuts in per-pupil spending for all the schools - that'll really help educate our children. Full story »

Home Repair Services strives to make "Kent County look like God's kingdom." Full story »

Wingnuts of the world unite. You have nothing to lose but election ... after election ... after election. That's the lesson from the far right's stinging defeat in yet another Republican congressional district this week. Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman harangued GOP Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava into dropping out - hailed as a huge victory for Real Republicans - and then the clueless teabagger-cum-carpetbagger went on to lose the upstate New York seat to a little-known Democrat. Full story »

U.S. House of Representatives moves toward a vote on a sweeping health-care reform bill Saturday. Full story »

Drawing profound conclusions from limited data is dangerous anywhere, including in off-year elections. Results from Tuesday’s local and state balloting — whether in Virginia’s governor’s race or the battle for the Grand Rapids Board of Library Commissioners — were in large part matters of parochial concern and distinct personalities, not broad messages. Of course, that has not stopped Republicans and... Full story »

Veterans Memorial Park is a constant reminder of sacrifices made on our behalf Whenever you drive by Veterans Memorial Park on the Causeway, you feel a sense of peace. For some, it’s the pastoral setting of the fountain, anglers on the Muskegon River and the geese, gulls, herons and swans. For others, it’s the walkway, green grass and flowering... Full story »

Come Heller high water...  Full story »

To make a nomination, send a letter that details what the person or business has done for the community and why the nominee deserves the award. Include daytime telephone numbers for yourself and the nominee. Mail or hand-deliver nominations to the editorial department at the Jackson Citizen Patriot, 214 S. Jackson St., Jackson, MI 49201-2282. Or send e-mails to jcpnews@citpat.com.... Full story »

The Saginaw News Story originally appeared Sunday, Nov. 1 Saginaw’s arson spree that made national news on Devil’s Night and Halloween  in 2006 keeps fanning the flames of volunteerism. Richard D. Russell and Faye L. Mason were among more than 800 new volunteers working this weekend for Arson Watch, credited by firefighters with helping limit Saginaw’s number of Devil’s... Full story »

The Flint Journal Original story posted Oct. 27 GENESEE COUNTY, Michigan — The head of the county Road Commission says it’s becoming increasingly clear that police are needed to investigate a growing scandal involving employee thefts at the one of the county’s largest taxpayer-funded agencies. John Daly, manager-director of the Road Commission, said he has changed a paid suspension... Full story »

What a week for Ford Motor Co.! The strongest of the Detroit Three automakers — at least the one to survive without government money — announced a surprising third-quarter profit of almost $1 billion. It also refinanced a big chunk of its long-term debt, and two credit-rating agencies boosted Ford's outlook. After a wretched couple of years for the... Full story »

Blogger asks: Was Weezer ever good to begin with?  Full story »

Politics and contentiousness seem to go hand in hand. Divisive issues were in play during elections across southwestern Michigan on Tuesday. There were some ugly tactics employed, realities we are learning to expect these days, unfortunately. But the elections are over. It’s  time for some healing, and to get back to the business of governing, especially considering all of... Full story »