A panel of jurists that includes a Michigan Supreme Court justice, a U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals judge, and several others has released a set of recommended changes in the Supreme Court justice election system. The proposals represent sound, reasonable, and necessary changes that would make the justice election process more transparent and logical. Our hope is that, despite this being an election year, state lawmakers and the governor give the recommendations honest consideration [...]

A new Encroachment Resolution Initiative (ERI) unveiled by the state Department of Natural Resources last month offers a measured and reasonable solution to cases of encroachment or trespassing by property owners on any of the DNR’s more than 4.5 million acres of public land available for recreational purposes like hunting, fishing and camping. We urge area residents who may have encroachment or trespass issues to take advantage of this opportunity while they still can. According [...]

With all the hubbub that has been raised over the existence of so-called medical marijuana dispensaries in the state following the enactment of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act (MMMA), a group of lawmakers is looking for support from fellow legislators to legalize what they are referring to as “provisioning centers” for medical marijuana — effectively, dispensaries. And while we supported the legalization of medical marijuana in 2008 when the state’s voters approved the measure that [...]

We recently reported that a group of candidates for elected positions representing all or portions of Waterford Township at various levels had signed a pledge against erecting political signs well in advance of the upcoming primary election. We agree with the spirit of the pledge initiative, and ask candidates across the lakes area to show restraint and refrain from erecting their political signs until one month before the August primary or November general elections. Incumbents [...]

Lawmakers in Lansing are being asked to take up a bill that would strengthen the state’s laws on the sale and purchase of synthetic cannabinoids — commonly known as “Spice” or “K2,” among a bevy of other handles — to prevent some from allegedly skirting the spirit of Michigan statutes by changing the chemical makeup of the compounds in order to continue selling their products and getting them into the hands of users, typically teenagers [...]

Senate Democrats are backing yet another attempt to revise state law to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Given the GOP’s control of both legislative chambers in Lansing, and the high degree of partisanship gripping the Legislature, we’re not too optimistic that this long-overdue revision will be enacted. Nevertheless, we beseech the lakes area’s delegation in Lansing — yes, Republicans, too — to set aside partisan differences and nonsensical arguments, and support [...]

For at least the third time in the last year, Michigan Senate Republicans have introduced legislation that would phase out, if not eliminate altogether, the state’s personal property tax (PPT) — a tax paid by businesses on their various equipment, including everything from furniture and computers to factory machines and research lab equipment. In early February after the introduction of different PPT reform legislation, we acknowledged the need to nix the tax that many claim [...]

West Bloomfield School District parents and students were surprised when they woke up on Wednesday, April 18 to find that school had been canceled due to vandalism targeting 20 buses during a 15-minute window the night before, marking the second time in less than three months that the district was forced to cancel classes due to disabled school buses. The district is taking immediate action to enhance its surveillance system at the bus lot, but [...]

Many have decried in recent years what have become known as “stealth elections” — those placed on ballots in elections, typically held in February or May, when fewer people tend to show up at the polls. And now, the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) is hoping it has enough support from the Oakland County Board of Commissioners to put a tax proposal on the Aug. 7 primary election ballot that would, if passed, levy up [...]

State Sen. Joe Hune, after last year introducing a bill in an attempt to ensure that members of Michigan’s school boards avoid conflicts of interest, is at it again, this time with a more palatable approach to compelling ethical behavior. Hune’s latest bill may be more reasonable than it’s predecessor, but it still needs a little tinkering before lawmakers give it consideration. Hune recently introduced Senate Bill (SB) 1051, which would require those serving on [...]