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Macomb County’s Selfridge Air National Guard base has lost its bid to house a fleet of next-generation warplanes. Selfridge was one of five U.S. bases competing to host the new F-35 fighter jets. But the Air Force announced Thursday it chose bases in Wisconsin and Alabama as winners in this round. A bipartisan group of Michigan political leaders lobbied hard in Washington to land the F-35 and boost Selfridge’s long-term prospects. Despite this setback, those leaders now say Selfridge proved itself a top contender for future opportunities. “Although we are disappointed Selfridge was not selected to house the F-35 fighter...

Connecticut continues to be dogged by messy finances. The budget legislators and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy adopted in late October for fiscal year 2017-18 is in deficit. Gov. Malloy’s Office of Policy and Management estimated a $202.8 million hole Nov. 20, while state Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo concluded Dec. 1 that the hole is $207.8 million. Before these forecasts were issued, the state was expected to contend with a $4 billion deficit in the 2019-21 biennium. ... “between 2015 and 2016, Connecticut saw a net loss of 2,050 tax filers who earn more than $200,000 per year.” This amounted to...

A two-day professional development conference held recently at the University of Michigan included a training session that aimed to help white employees deal with their “whiteness” so they could become better equipped to fight for social justice causes, according to organizers.

More than 600 Hepatitis A cases have been reported in Southeast Michigan as the outbreak continues to ravage the communities. Public health officials are continuing to see these numbers elevate, and warn that it will continue to worsen as we approach the holidays. According to Voice News, more than 80 percent of those who have contracted the highly contagious liver disease have required hospitalization. Another 20 people have died after becoming infected with the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that symptoms can be mild or severe depending on the health of the person who contracts the...

The drama between Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and President Donald Trump has reached absurd heights. First, there was that rather tweet from the president, which was not out of the ordinary. He accused Gillibrand of doing “anything” for campaign contributions. Gillibrand said this was a sexist smear, despite the president using that line on pretty much everyone. This all is part of the ongoing sexual harassment reckoning on the Hill and elsewhere. Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) is gone, and Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) has signaled his intention to leave…whenever that may be. Gillibrand has called on Trump to resign, as...

The Republican tax plan that will cut U.S. coporate taxes will create jobs because "ultimately you're going to have a lot more capital retained and invested here," JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said at an Axios event Wednesday at the University of Michigan. Dimon said current tax rate is "a mistake" because other nations have reduced taxes while the U.S. hasn't. Why it matters: Republicans are nearing a final agreement on tax legislation to cut corporate rates from 35% to 21%. Some economists have warned the increased corporate profits wouldn't be used to create jobs

Well, the dam broke for Sen. Al Franken (D-MN). He’s going to leave. After eight women accused him of sexual misconduct, along with the resignation of Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) who also faced sexual harassment accusations, Democratic leadership decided it was time to clean house. It’s not a profile in courage. It’s not a come to Jesus moment. It’s all politics, which you already know. Franken is from a Democratic state with a Democratic governor. He was expendable and his exit allows Democrat to refocus their pressure on Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore. It still doesn’t erase the fact...

America is having a reckoning and it’s long overdue. I’m talking about the movement to hold sexual harassers accountable for their actions. This important movement is now shaking the halls of power in Congress and state capitols and I am determined to help lead it. I remember my first year in the Tennessee House of Representatives. It was 1998, and having spent my career as a nurse and an educator, I had a lot to learn about the legislative process. I immediately figured out that the state House had a “good ol' boy” culture - and learned about the inappropriate...

More women are speaking out against boorishness and much worse that they claim to have experienced from prominent politically active men, encouraged by the courage of others, and by the contrition expected of their accused tormentors. A decision appears to have been made at the top levels of the Democratic Party that the sacrifice of the careers of their own pawns on the political chessboard is worthwhile in the quest to unseat a sitting POTUS. So, the longest-serving member of the House of Representatives, John Conyers, only partially functional owing to advanced age, is stepping down from his safe seat...

After spending almost 60 years in Congress as a politician and a staffer, Rep. John Conyers II has to decide which of his many relatives to pass Michigan’s 13th congressional district to. It’s like King Lear, if Shakespeare’s fictional monarch had been forced to step down after groping a woman in church. The 13th is a very nice district to inherit. Conyers has won it by 77%, 79% and 82%. Fidel Castro couldn’t ask for better elections. Whichever Conyers clan member gets it will be staying in Congress for 60 years. And will inherit Rep. Conyers’ government Cadillac Escalade. The...

DETROIT (AP) — Michigan’s Republican governor announced Friday that Democrat John Conyers’ congressional seat will not be filled until the regularly scheduled November election, leaving it vacant for nearly a year. Gov. Rick Snyder decided the post will be listed twice on the August primary and November general election ballots. While unlikely, it is possible voters could choose one candidate to fill the vacancy until January 2019 and elect another to a full two-year term after that. **SNIP** Michael Gilmore, a Detroit attorney who is running for the seat, said not having representation in the House for nearly a year...

Check out the full Kate’s List below: Kathy Steinle Kathy Steinle Rep. Scott Taylor (R-VA) (202) 225-4215 (Facebook) Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) (202) 225-5816 (Facebook) Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) (202) 225-2371 (Facebook) Rep Mark Amodei (R-NV) 202 225-6155 (Facebook) Rep Mike Coffman (R-CO) (202) 225-7882 Facebook Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA)(202) 225-4540 (Facebook) Rep. Mia Love (R-UT) (202) 225-3011 (Facebook) Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) (202) 225-4276 (Facebook) Rep. Peter King (R-NY) (202) 225-7896 (Facebook) Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) (202) 225-2778 (Facebook) Rep. Ryan Costello (R-PA) (202) 225-4315 (Facebook) Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) (202) 225-3761 (Facebook) Rep. John Faso (R-NY) (202) 225-5614...

A former congressional intern reportedly says she too was a victim of inappropriate sexual contact by now-retired Rep. John Conyers, saying Conyers even claimed during that encounter to have “inside information” on then-missing federal intern Chandra Levy. Courtney Morse, 36, described the incident from 16 years ago to The Washington Post. She said Conyers, D-Mich., mentioned the Levy case when Morse was a college intern for him and the congressman drove her home one night. Morse said Conyers wrapped his hand around hers while it was in her lap and said he was interested in a sexual relationship, the newspaper...

A former “Jeopardy!” winner and one-time record holder; has been charged with two felony counts after an investigation into alleged cyber crimes commited in the school she worked as a history professor. Stephanie Jass appeared in Lenawee County court, in southern Michigan, on Tuesday to face charges of unauthorized access to a computer in Adrian College, where she taught, and using it to commit a crime. According to The Daily Telegram, a local news outlet, the first charge alone carries with it a potential penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The former game show champ allegedly...

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, posted to Facebook her call on Franken to resign Click here to see the list of Senators calling on Franken to resign. A top Senate Dem says he expects Franken to resign Thursday shortly after Franken’s office said he would be making an announcement Thursday. Democrat Senator Ron Wyden tweeted,”I expect that Senator Franken will announce his resignation tomorrow. It is the right thing to do given this series of serious allegations.”

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Al Franken will resign from the U.S. Senate on Thursday, Minnesota Public Radio reported, after more than half of his Senate Democratic colleagues urged him to do so in light of sexual misconduct accusations.

Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), the longest serving member of the House of Representatives and the subject of a flurry of sexual-misconduct allegations in the last few weeks, said he was "retiring today" during a radio interview Tuesday. "I'm in the process of putting my retirement plans together and I'll have more of that very soon," Conyers said in an interview with the station, Praise 102.7. No sooner had he announced plans to vacate his seat, however, than an intra-family feud erupted into public view over who would take it over. The embattled Michigan Democrat said on Tuesday that he wanted...

Rep. John Conyers on Tuesday announced his retirement from Congress while in a Michigan hospital bed, saying he is endorsing his son, John Conyers III, for the seat he has held for more than a half century amid growing sexual-misconduct allegations. “I’m retiring today,” the 88-year-old Michigan Democrat said in a phone interview with a local radio station from a Detroit hospital, where he has been since last month after experiencing chest pains. “I want everyone to know how much I appreciate [their] support.” Conyers, the longest-serving congressman, made the decision two weeks after sexual harassment allegations first surfaced and...

WASHINGTON — Representative John Conyers Jr., who faces allegations that he sexually harassed former employees, announced Tuesday that he will leave Congress immediately, and he endorsed his son, John Conyers III, to replace him. Mr. Conyers, the longest-serving current member of the House and the longest-serving African-American in history, called into a local radio show on Tuesday to break the news. “I am retiring today,” Mr. Conyers said from a hospital in Michigan. “I am in the process of putting together my retirement plans. I will have more on that soon.” He continued to deny that he has harassed any...

Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), the longest serving member of the House of Representatives and the subject of a flurry of sexual-misconduct allegations in the last few weeks, said he was "retiring today" during a radio interview Tuesday. "I'm in the process of putting my retirement plans together and I'll have more of that very soon," Conyers said in an interview with the station, Praise 102.7. No sooner had he announced plans to vacate his seat, however, than an intra-family feud erupted into public view over who would take it over. The embattled Michigan Democrat said on Tuesday that he wanted...