Free Republic

BRIGHTON, Mich. (WXYZ) - Is Proposal 1 the right solution for our crumbling roads? It has the support of Republicans in Lansing, but one local GOP group is breaking with their party on this vote. Three weeks from today, voters across the state will have the final say on Proposal 1. In the meantime, there's no shortage of opinions on this proposed "fix" for Michigan's crumbling roads. "I'm like everyone, I'm for getting the roads fixed and I don't want taxes to increase," says voter Jim Johnson. "I want it to go to what they actually are saying it's supposed...

As Rare and other news outlets have reported, a SuperPAC has been running ads against Rand Paul tying his foreign policy positions to President Obama. A new report reveals who some of the people behind the ads are, and they have ties to one of the major Republican candidates likely to enter the presidential race. Matt Flynn of Breitbart News reports that the consultants who make up Foundation for a Secure and Prosperous America have extensive ties to the Bush family. Flynn reports that many of these people also have ties to Karl Rove and other GOP establishment figures. According...

The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority has wrapped up an initial round of public meetings as part of a feasibility study of north-south commuter rail between Ann Arbor and Howell, a project often referred to as WALLY. But after meetings in Brighton and Ann Arbor, and another one Monday night in Howell, questions still remain about how the service would be funded. Michael Benham, strategic planner for the AAATA, acknowledged it's possible that communities along the line could be asked to pay for the service through taxes, as fares alone wouldn't be enough to cover the costs. He said that...

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2015/03/25/gov-snyder-dc-talk-military-issues/70438024/ Link only due to copyright rules

U.S. Rep. Candice Miller (R-Harrison Township) announced Thursday that she will not seek re-election in 2016. "I freely pass the baton to whomever my community chooses to serve as their next voice in the US House of Representatives," Miller said in a statement. "I pledge to support their choice to the very best of my ability, as I pledge to finish my term with a commitment to fulfill my duties and responsibilities to the best of my ability, as I swore in my oath of office."

ATHENS, Ohio — Suspended Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly was led away in handcuffs yesterday after a jury found him guilty of 18 crimes, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. Visiting Judge Patricia A. Cosgrove revoked Kelly’s bond. She said he needed to be incarcerated because he posed a flight risk and his conviction on the corrupt-activity charge, a first-degree felony, carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Kelly, 64, could face even more prison time if the judge orders the sentences for his convictions to run consecutively. Cosgrove set sentencing for March 20. Kelly’s conviction...

JACKSON, MI - The first female mayor of Saline hopes to keep her streak going and become the first female representative in Michigan's 7th Congressional District, currently held by Republican incumbent Tim Walberg. Driskell, a Democrat in her second term representing the 52nd District in Michigan's House of Representatives, announced her candidacy Monday morning, Feb. 9. "I believe in helping neighbors in my district," the Saline resident said. "I hope to bring their concerns to Washington and work toward a better Michigan. I don't believe they're getting the representation they deserve."

Swear in downtown Brighton near the Imagination Station playground, and there’s a good chance you’ll be getting a ticket. Colin Andersen learned this lesson the hard way. Upset that his friend had been ticketed for skateboarding in downtown Brighton and told to leave, Andersen said he was simply venting when he said, “This is f------ bull----.” The 19-year-old Brighton resident was hanging out with his friends on a sunny April day in a parking lot next to the pavilion and Imagination Station; Andersen said he swore under his breath and no children heard him. However, a Brighton Police Department officer...

BURTON, MI – Two 16-year-old Flint boys are facing assault charges after they allegedly punched a 52-year-old teacher from Otisville in the head while he shopped at Wal-Mart then posted video of the alleged attack online as part of the so-called "knock-out" game. The assault took place around 7 p.m. March 17 at the Wal-Mart on Court Street in Burton. The man was shopping alone when a teen ran up and punched the man while another teen filmed the attack with a cellphone, according to police. They then fled the scene. The victim, a teacher at an area school, suffered...

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – A Traverse City man is accused of trying to strangle his girlfriend because she did not like him going to strip clubs, authorities said Thursday, April 24. Sean Jones, 30, has been charged with attempted murder and assault by strangulation, Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Bob Cooney said. "The allegation is that he was strangling her in an attempt to kill her,” Cooney told The Grand Rapids Press/MLive.com. He said that Jones allegedly tried to kill her because of “her not wanting him to go to strip clubs.” Cooney said it was unclear what club Jones...

LANSING, MI -- Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Mark Schauer this week outlined his plan for K-12 schools, knocked Gov. Rick Snyder's education policies and fired back at Republicans who say he doesn't have a plan for… much of anything, really. Welcome back to Michigan Political Points, my weekly roundup of interesting news, views and YouTubes from the state Capitol and beyond. POLITICS AND PLANS: Schauer, asked about the Republican narrative that he has "no plan" for Michigan's future, called his education proposal "a concrete policy plan" and invited Republicans to read it. "They should have read my proposal to raise the...

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (WJBK) -- Detroit high school student Brooke Kimbrough, along with the pro-affirmative action group By Any Means Necessary, staged a protest Tuesday to demand more diversity at the University of Michigan. BAMN is demanding an immediate appeal on behalf of Kimbrough and Birmingham Seaholm student Daisha Martin. Both applied to the university school and were denied admission. Kimbrough, who is black, says she carries a 3.6 GPA, scored a 23 (out of 36) on the ACT test and is a leader of University Prep High School's winning debate team. Martin's is president of Seaholm's Black Student Union,...

ROSCOMMON TOWNSHIP, MI — Flood water reportedly is moving quickly downstream toward Old 27 and U.S. 127 after a dam failed in the area. A flash flood warning is in effect for southwestern Roscommon County until 6 p.m. Tuesday following the breakage of the Wraco Lodge Dam. Shortly after noon, the National Weather Service reported water was just inches below a U.S. 127 bridge. There is the possibility of water overtopping the highway between mile markers 185 and 186. Motorists are advised to not drive over flooded roads. "The water is about a foot and a half from the top...

The hunt is on today for a black bear who mauled a woman at her home in an upscale central Florida neighborhood, leaving her with injuries to her face, legs and torso and requiring her to get 40 stitches to the head. Terri Frana of Lake Mary, Fla., went to her garage Saturday evening to grab bicycles for her children to ride down to their neighbor's house when the attack happened, according to her husband, Frank Frana. As soon as the children left, Frana, 45, saw two bears in the driveway. She walked to the patio area where there were...

Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office deputies released a sketch of the man believed to have assaulted a woman who he called a gay slur in Ypsilanti Township. The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office detective bureau is now investigating the assault of a woman who was targeted by her assailants because she is a lesbian. Sheriff’s office spokesman Derrick Jackson said detectives met the 28-year-old woman again Wednesday to further develop a suspect description. Jackson said the sketch will hopefully help identify the suspect. Snipped Sheriff’s office officials have said they have no reason to doubt the woman’s report and her injuries —...

<p>DETROIT, MI -- Candidate for governor Mark Schauer plans to announce his running mate in a series of news conferences Thursday.</p> <p>Two Lansing-based news services, Gongwer and MIRS, report that Schauer is expected to name Oakland County Clerk Lisa Brown as his candidate for lieutenant governor.</p>

MIDLAND, MI — Less than 24 hours after U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, R-Midland, announced he will not seek re-election in November, Midland's state senator announced he will run for Camp's seat. State Sen. John Moolenaar, R-Midland, issued a press release Tuesday afternoon, April 1, stating he will seek election to represent Michigan's 4th Congressional District. "I will be a strong conservative voice for the hard working families of mid and northern Michigan," Moolenaar said. "In Michigan I have fought against overreaching government policies that are killing jobs and overburdening individuals." Camp announced late in the day Monday, March 31, that...

Republicans are jumping in quickly to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, who announced Friday he’ll be leaving Congress at the end of the year to be a talk radio host. Mike Bishop, former majority leader in the Michigan Senate, confirmed Monday he’ll be in the running. And Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan K. Barnett has set up a page on the social media site Facebook to push his own candidacy. Bishop, an attorney and Rochester Republican, said via the social media platform Twitter that he’ll seek the seat. “Yes sir,” Bishop tweeted in response to a direct message Monday morning....

SAGINAW, MI — As a federal judge weighs Michigan's gay marriage ban, the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan issued a statement supporting the overturn of the ban. Bishop Todd Ousley on Thursday, March 13, stated that ending the ban, which U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman may do after hearing eight days of testimony during a trial for a Hazel Park couple's case against the state, would extend “justice and equality to all of God's children.” “My own experiences with same-sex couples and the experiences in communities and congregations across our diocese have show that there is holy...

LANSING, MI -- A group of two dozen activists rallied at the state Capitol on Tuesday, promising to launch a ballot campaign to repeal Michigan's "stand your ground" law if lawmakers fail to update it. The Rev. Charles Williams II, Detroit head of the National Action Network, said that the group supports 2nd amendment and self-defense rights but believes Michigan's law goes too far and does not encourage residents to "choose peace" when the option is available. "We're going to go to every community across the state of Michigan and we're going to get 'stand your ground' repealed right here...