Grand Rapids Opinion

As Grand Rapids embraces beer and nightlife, readers debate whether discussion should turn to safety

2013-05-20T18:29:49Z

If Grand Rapids is going to rally around its Beer City U.S.A. title and thriving bar scene, does it need to do a better job promoting responsibility to both servers and people being served?

Andrew Heller: You write, I write - the May edition

2013-05-20T15:00:00Z

"See what you started, Andy? Now every right-wing knucklehead on MLive is thinking you have somehow validated their slanted view.

Micah Center: Restore the Earned Income Tax Credit to help struggling families (Guest column)

2013-05-20T14:43:41Z

Employees in the lowest income levels are fighting to survive with a primary concern of just trying to find affordable rent in a safe neighborhood.

Tim Skubick: Sales tax hike to fund roads has conservative lawmaker conflicted

2013-05-20T10:45:19Z

When you vote for a lawmaker do you send him or her to Lansing to vote their conscience or vote the way you want them to vote?

Ban late-night fireworks? MLive readers sound off about proposed change to law

2013-05-19T19:29:17Z

See what readers had to say about a proposal that would allow cities to further restrict fireworks usage.

Letters to the editor: Lawmakers should hold off on plans to tie teacher pay to student performance

2013-05-19T15:14:15Z

Readers writing letters to the editor also opine on a plan to raise Mayor Heartwell's pay, political polls, trickle-down economics and other topics.

Julie Hoogland: Let's keep the momentum going on Andy's House

2013-05-19T13:35:57Z

Donors to The House That Andy Built Habitat for Humanity project include a lead gift from MLive Media Group/The Grand Rapids Press.

Conservationist: Michigan's dunes are worth too much to develop (Guest column)

2013-05-19T13:30:42Z

We shouldn't be fooled by the majesty of the dunes; despite how far they stretch along Michigan's freshwater coastline, they are still fragile and they still need protecting.

Tim Skubick: Woman lieutenant governor candidate might make a difference in a tight race

2013-05-19T10:57:53Z

Picking a woman running mate in this governor’s contest could provide a meaningful contrast.

Fireworks law changes would halt 'rude' late night din, say letter writers

2013-05-18T13:49:28Z

Fireworks were one of the topics on the minds of students in Michelle Jesky's Hudsonville High School class.

Andrew Heller: This isn't the president I thought I knew

2013-05-17T14:00:00Z

If I had the chance to say one thing to President Obama about his leadership and the actions of his administration in recent days, it would be "You're better than this."

Deaths in a 'Beer City' bar lead to questions about personal and business responsibilities

2013-05-17T11:56:41Z

As much as we can make changes to buildings, we need to also ask questions about personal responsibility. What is the role of friends and family in keeping each other safe when they go out on a night on the town?

Tim Skubick: Re-do of fireworks law should solve those 3 a.m. explosions

2013-05-17T10:38:28Z

Some local officials were inundated with citizen complaints because revelers set off legal fireworks at all hours of the day and night.

GVSU and GRPS: We have a 'collective obligation' to ensure all students are prepared to succeed in college, work and life (Guest column)

2013-05-16T17:38:14Z

"GRPS and Grand Valley understand that we have a collective obligation to ensure that all students in the city of Grand Rapids graduate from high school prepared to succeed in college, work, and life."

Live Chat: Ask questions about Amway’s role in redeveloping Village of Ada

2013-05-16T13:01:00Z

Live Chat is noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 16.

Tim Skubick: Gov. Engler's 'nickel' argument may help kill auto insurance reform

2013-05-16T10:38:42Z

It was one of the more unique attempts to derail the GOP attempt to change the state’s no fault car insurance system. It came from Dan Pero and John Truscott. Dan and John who? They were two stalwarts in...

West Michigan hospital CEOs: Medicaid expansion would help people, the economy (Guest column)

2013-05-15T16:32:38Z

Hospital leaders: To those who argue we cannot afford to support Gov. Snyder’s plan, we say, "We cannot afford not to support it."

Come Heller high water: Where were the lawsuits while Flint, Detroit were dying?

2013-05-15T15:30:00Z

The question, I guess, comes down to this: Is the right to “self-determine” your city into the ground absolute? I say it’s not.

Ken Braun: An 'Obama Boom' could lead to an unexpected energy legacy, deserved or not

2013-05-15T11:15:00Z

Soon, North America will produce more oil than it consumes and be functionally independent of overseas imports. Republicans and environmentalists will claim the president gets no credit. Even if right, few will listen.

Tim Skubick: Michigan Common Core school standards face political headwinds in GOP

2013-05-15T10:30:00Z

The business community and other stakeholders are all in on Common Core, but lots of Republican lawmakers are caught in the crosshairs.