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KALAMAZOO, MI — Controversial Michigan Republican National Committeeman Dave Agema is close to endorsing Ted Cruz for president and is considering a Congressional run. Agema, who attended a Monday morning Cruz rally at the Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo, said he is impressed by Cruz's knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, because "we have a president right now that is, in my opinion, ruining the constitution by his executive orders." A tea party favorite and social conservative, Agema said his initial list of top candidates in the crowded GOP presidential field included Cruz, Ben Carson, Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum and Bobby...

It’s not just Democrats considering a challenge to Michigan Rep. Dan Benishek, who plans to run for a fourth term after pledging to serve only three. Several Republicans in the state were mentioned as potential primary challengers to the 1st District incumbent. State Rep. Peter Pettalia had been encouraged to run before Benishek announced his intent to seek another term, and “that talk hasn’t stopped” since, Pettalia told CQ Roll Call. The legislator declined to say which “supporting groups” have reached out to him. But, as a “loyal Republican,” Pettalia noted he’d have to give “deep thought” to challenging a...

The canvassing process in Michigan’s 1st district, where there is a recount needed to sort out the winner of Tuesday’s Republican primary, may start moving faster. After the initial unofficial vote count, surgeon Dan Benishek was just one vote ahead of state Sen. Jason Allen in the northern Michigan district currently represented by retiring Rep. Bart Stupak (D). The count: 27,091 to 27,090. The winner will face state Rep. Gary McDowell (D) in what is expected to be a very competitive race in November. Here’s what happens next. Michigan law gives county election boards 14 days to certify results —...

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One of the ways that lawmakers in Michigan have been making names for themselves is by employing targeted tax incentives. The practice is both criticized and applauded, depending on if the critic or the one who praises benefits in any way. The purpose of easing taxes on business to motivate them or encourage them to do business in Michigan seems like a noble thought, after all, Michigan's unemployment rates are the highest in the country, and have been for 4 years now. But one cannot ignore the absolute fact that the only benefit these schemes have is to vault the...

Jason Allen RevisitedOn August 15, 2008 ‘Detroit International Bridge’ contributed $5,000 to Sen. Jason Allen’s Administrative Fund. “Hmmm, interesting,” thought I. “It might be enlightening to dig into this and see what Allen could possibly be doing to earn the gift.” To paraphrase the late Paul Harvey, what follows is part of the rest of the story. Reclusive billionaire and trucking industrialist Manuel ‘Matty’ Moroun owns the Detroit International Bridge Company. Matty Moroun wants to build a second International Bridge, which he claims he’ll do at no cost to Michigan taxpayers. It seems the old bridge became a matter of...

State Sen. Jason Allen is joining a very crowded Republican field for this August’s First District congressional primary. “He going to get in it,” said Allen’s Chief of Staff Norm Saari Friday, who added that the necessary paperwork to form a campaign committee and start raising money should be filed by “early next week ... hopefully it’s Monday.” Allen, who had previously been eyed as a potential Lieutenant Governor candidate this fall, became the subject of Republican speculation as a potential candidate within a just a few days of Rep. Bart Stupak’s announcement that he would retire from Congress.

Detectives testing residents' guns 2 Bodega Bay men voluntarily help investigators in Jenner killings, say rights violated Friday, September 3, 2004 By DEREK J. MOORE THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Detectives investigating the slayings of two young campers on a Jenner beach have visited the homes of at least two Sonoma County residents this week, seeking permission to test their handguns. Sheriff's officials wouldn't discuss why the people were contacted, but a Bodega Bay man said he voluntarily handed over two guns. Bruce, who asked that only his first name be used, wouldn't divulge the make or caliber of the weapons, saying...

JENNER, Calif. More mystery in the investigation into the killings of two youth camp counselors on a remote Sonoma County beach. A Jenner man has told investigators that he saw the couple alive more than 24 hours after they failed to show up for work at a Christian youth camp. Lodge owner Bert Rangel told the San Francisco Chronicle he's certain he saw the couple last Monday night. The couple had stopped to ask if there were any cabins available. 23-year-old Lindsay Cutshall of Ohio and 26-year-old Jason Allen of Michigan were reported missing last Monday after they failed to...

Sonoma County, California, authorities have located the young Wisconsin man they were looking to question in connection with the mysterious shooting deaths of two camp counselors in Jenner. Twenty-one-year-old Nicholas Scarseth contacted authorities after he found out through media reports that they were looking for him. Sonoma County Sheriff's Department Lieutenant Dave Edmonds says Scarseth remains a — quote — "person of interest" in the case. Scarseth has not been charged and authorities are not saying exactly what tip led them to question the young man from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Investigators say Scarseth was in the area about the time...

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) - A 21-year-old Wisconsin man contacted police Tuesday and was questioned in the mysterious shooting deaths of two Christian camp counselors. Sonoma County detectives sent out a statewide alert Tuesday seeking Nicholas Edward Scarseth, of Chippewa Falls, Wis., as a "potential witness" in the killings. When Scarseth heard about that from media reports, he got in touch with authorities, Sheriff's Lt. Dave Edmonds said. "We have located him and we are speaking with him," Edmonds said. "We want to question him to determine what he knows about this case. He has not been charged. This is...

SANTA ROSA, California (AP) -- A 21-year-old Wisconsin man was being sought for questioning in the mysterious shooting deaths of two camp counselors, according to a newspaper report. Sonoma County detectives sent out a statewide alert Monday seeking Nicholas Edward Scarseth, of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported Tuesday. "We have information he may have been in the area at the time of the incident," Sheriff's Lt. Dave Edmonds told the newspaper. "He could have information related to the case." Edmonds wouldn't say why detectives are interested in Scarseth. Scarseth was stopped on Friday by police in...

The mysterious shooting deaths of two campers from the Midwest who planned to wed next month have prompted a massive manhunt on California's North Coast, where some residents in the Russian River area were terrified that a killer was on the loose. [snip]...[I]nvestigators were considering the possibility that they were killed in a hate crime against Christians because the pair were missionaries who spent the summer working as river guides at Rock-N-Water, a religious camp near Coloma in El Dorado County about 40 miles east of Sacramento. ...[snip]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Two soon-to-be-married Christian camp counselors reported missing earlier this week were shot to death in their sleeping bags on a remote beach, authorities said. The bodies of Lindsay Cutshall, 23, and Jason Allen, 26, were discovered Wednesday when deputies rescuing a stranded hiker spotted the crime scene from their helicopter. "They were shot in the head, presumably in their sleep," Sheriff's Lt. Dave Edmonds said. "It appears to be a terrible crime absent of motive, which is a concern to us." There were no signs of sexual assault or robbery, and the possibility of a murder-suicide...