Free Republic

Mackinac Center analysts have long been critical of the way consultants — and frequently their clients — misuse economic modeling software. We were reminded why with the recent publication of two papers purporting to show large job creation, if only state voters would approve a renewable energy mandate on the statewide November ballot. The initiative, commonly known as the Michigan Renewable Energy Amendment, would mandate that 25 percent of Michigan's energy usage be provided by renewable sources by the year 2025. There is at least one major problem with each study, however: costs. The study authors' did not include the...

The city of Holland, Mich., has reportedly granted limited permission to operate a downtown hot dog cart to Nathan Duszynski, the 13-year-old who received national attention for his efforts to open the cart to help his troubled family. The Holland City Council voted Wednesday to allow Nathan to run his hot dog business until the end of October on the sidewalk adjacent to a downtown sporting goods store. Reliable Sport had initially given Nathan permission to set up the stand in the store's parking lot. Minutes after Nathan opened for business on July 17, however, a city official informed him...

EAST LANSING (WWJ) - A Michigan State University student is recovering after he was beaten up and had his mouth stapled shut during what investigators are categorizing as a brutal hate crime. Zachary Tennen, a 19-year-old sophomore in MSU’s journalism program, said he was at a house party on the 500 block of Spartan Avenue early Sunday morning when two men approached him and asked if he was Jewish. When he responded “Yes,” the two men raised their arms into a Nazi salute and said “Heil Hitler” before knocking him unconscious, according to Tennen’s mother, Tina. About 20 people reportedly...

DETROIT (AP) -- Police say an attack on a Michigan State University student at an off-campus party is not being investigated as a hate crime. Zach Tennen says he was at a party when two men asked if he was Jewish, and when he responded "yes," punched him in the face.

The successful comedic recipe of tragedy-plus-timing can spell disaster in politics. A mistake late in the race can be a game changer. A gaffe that may sound like a career-ender may be forgotten by the electorate a few months later. So Republicans look like they have a chance to get the last laugh in Michigan, even as their chances in Missouri are looking more like a lead balloon. Former Republican Rep. Pete Hoekstra, left for dead after his infamous "Debbie Spend-it-now" Super Bowl ad, has been clawing his way back and is now in a statistical dead heat with two-term...

University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman has said her college needs to be a global leader when dealing with energy sustainability. Yet, Coleman's own university provided residence has the most expensive energy costs among state universities, both in total costs and cost per square feet, with a gas-electric-steam bill reaching nearly $30,000 in one year. When receiving a grant for "sustainablity fellows" from Dow Chemical last year to help people "live cleaner, greener and sustainably," Coleman said: "[This partnership] is broad and comprehensive as sustainablity itself, and frankly, I believe it is the only way to solve problems as...

EAST LANSING, Mich. — President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney are deadlocked again in the battleground state of Michigan according to the latest Mitchell Poll. Romney and Obama are tied at 47% with 3% voting for someone else and 3% undecided. Just ten days ago, Obama led Romney by 5% (49%-44%). -snip- If the election for the United States Senate was being held today and the candidates were Debbie Stabenow the Democrat and Pete Hoekstra the Republican who would you be voting for? If you are voting for or leaning towards Stabenow press 1, voting for or leaning...

This is a real howler coming from a woman replaced by a Republican after her failed policies rained as much misery on the State of Michigan as any hurricane. But let's talk about the real issues, and that's the media. If some obscure, no-name Republican City Councilman in some unincorporated small Southern town tweeted these exact words out after President Obama's convention was delayed by a hurricane, right now it would be the lead on Politico, Andrea Mitchell's wig hair would be on fire, Michael Steele and Joe Scarborough would've called a joint press

A zinger on the campaign trail.

<p>In what is rapidly becoming the norm for Mitt Romney, he opened his mouth and something stupid popped out. This time, it is a comment that references the birtherism ridiculousness (and if you don't think it's ridiculous, you're a f**king dumb**s. Go read another blog.) Speaking at a rally in Michigan, Romney said, "No one's ever asked to see my birth certificate."</p>

Those promoting the "Keep Home Care Safe" ballot proposal want people to believe the constitution changing plan would create a benefit to allow disabled people to be taken care of in their homes. The thing is, that protection and a program to ensure it continues already exists. The federal Home Help Program would continue to exist in Michigan regardless of the constitutional amendment change that's being proposed. However, passing the proposed amendment in November would lock the forced unionization of home health care workers into the state constitution and ensure that the Service Employees International Union continues to get about...

Lost amid the daily uproar over embattled Senate candidate Todd Akin's refusal to drop his Missouri bid is a growing effort by the GOP to spotlight a tightening presidential race in the Upper Midwest. The Republican National Committee has pounced on new polling data in Michigan and Wisconsin that show President Obama losing ground to Mitt Romney after the latter announced Paul Ryan as his running mate. And in what may -- or may not -- have been a coincidence, Vice President Joe Biden made a pair of campaign stops in Minnesota on Tuesday and will make several more in...

We need some good news. Second look at stealing the midwest right out from under Obama's nose? PPP's first Wisconsin poll since Mitt Romney announced Paul Ryan as his running mate finds him taking a small lead over Barack Obama in the state, 48-47. That represents a 7 point shift from PPP's last look at the state in early July, which found Obama ahead 50-44.The biggest change Ryan's selection seems to have brought about is the unification of the GOP. Romney's gone from a 78 point lead with Republicans on our last poll (87-9) to now an 88 point lead...

Rebecca Kiessling, a pro-life attorney from Michigan, fully understands the national debate going on concerning the controversial comments Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin made about abortion and rape. Kiessling was conceived when her mother was victimized by a rapist.“It seems to me, first of all, from what I understand from doctors, if it’s a legitimate rape, that’s really rare. The female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down,” Akin said. “The punishment ought to be on the rapist, and not in attacking the child.”Kiessling responded to the comments saying that the use of the term “legitimate...

Fox News in Detroit reports that a new poll shows Mitt Romney pulling substantially ahead of Barack Obama in Michigan. Romney is a native of the state, but it looks from this poll as if adding Paul Ryan to the ticket pushed him over the top. The poll, produced by Foster McCollum White Baydoun, showed Romney leading Obama in Michigan by 47 to 43 percent, which is just outside the poll’s 2.35 percent margin of error. Paul Ryan was said to make Michigan voters more likely to vote for Romney by an 8 percent margin. Ryan’s budget proposals, which are...

WJBK Fox 2 - Foster McCollum White Baydoun (FMW)B, a national public opinion polling and voter analytics consulting firm based in Michigan and representing the combined resources of Foster McCollum White & Associates (Troy, Michigan) and Baydoun Consulting (Dearborn, Michigan) conducted a telephone-automated polling random survey of Michigan registered and most likely November 2012 general election voters to determine their voting preferences. In what will be a significant blow to Democratic campaign efforts, native son Mitt Romney has climbed into the lead in Michigan's Presidential contest. The naming of Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan has delivered a targeted affect on the...

Michigan siblings killed in gasoline-soaked bonfire explosion at high school graduation party A celebration ended in sadness Saturday night in St. Clair Township, when recent high school graduate Savannah Blewett and her older brother died in a large bonfire explosion. St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon said in a release that 27-year-old Christopher Blewett poured a large amount of gasoline on a two-story pile of wood in his backyard and, according to witnesses, invited his sister to light it on fire. When she did, the gasoline exploded, scattering wood up to 100 yards and blowing out windows in the back...

Despite having no horses, the water and sewerage department for the city of Detroit employs a horseshoer. Yet even with a department so bloated that it has a horseshoer and no horses, the local union president said it is "not possible" to eliminate positions. Union rules have turned the department into a government jobs program, some critics say...

Stunning new footage of six police officers gunning down a Michigan man in an intense, five-second burst of 46 shots was made public Friday, setting off fierce reaction from members of a community still grappling with the incident. "I'm stunned that six human beings would stand in front of one human being and fire 46 shots," victim Milton Hall’s mother, Jewel, told CNN.

<p>With no television cameras allowed, Local 4 captured just a few images during a media Q & A session with former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick on Thursday.</p> <p>The disgraced ex-mayor was the featured guest speaker at the Detroit Chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists.</p>