http://www.mlive.com/opinion/saginaw/index.ssf/Local Columns, Blogs, Editorials, Letters and Guest Columns from Saginaw, Michigan.enMon, 17 Jun 2013 06:30:14 PDTMovable Type Enterprise 4.29-advance http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/noLocal Columns, Blogs, Editorials, Letters and Guest Columns from Saginaw, Michigan.saginaw_opinionhttp://feedburner.google.comhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/saginaw_opinion/~3/4cx4A30XcgQ/demolition_funds_for_five_mich.htmlSarah Schuch | sschuch@mlive.comTue, 18 Jun 2013 14:39:19 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2013:/news/flint/index.ssf//2552.10771876 ]]>By July, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority should know how the $100 million will be split among the cities, said Michele Wildman, MSHDA's blight expert and special assistant for program development. noBy July, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority should know how the $100 million will be split among the cities, said Michele Wildman, MSHDA's blight expert and special assistant for program development. By July, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority should know how the $100 million will be split among the cities, said Michele Wildman, MSHDA's blight expert and special assistant for program development. http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2013/06/demolition_funds_for_five_mich.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/saginaw_opinion/~3/f1a367mi1sA/demolition_of_blight_in_sagina.htmltag:saginaw-businesstag:saginaw-city-counciltag:saginaw-county-land-banktag:saginaw-ddatag:saginaw-demolitionMark Tower | mtower@mlive.comTue, 18 Jun 2013 04:15:14 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2013:/news/saginaw/index.ssf//3472.10766175 ]]>The use of $100 million in federal dollars on demolishing blighted properties in five Michigan cities is a good use of the funds, according to the majority of readers responding to a recent MLive poll.noThe use of $100 million in federal dollars on demolishing blighted properties in five Michigan cities is a good use of the funds, according to the majority of readers responding to a recent MLive poll.The use of $100 million in federal dollars on demolishing blighted properties in five Michigan cities is a good use of the funds, according to the majority of readers responding to a recent MLive poll.tag:saginaw-business, tag:saginaw-city-council, tag:saginaw-county-land-bank, tag:saginaw-dda, tag:saginaw-demolitionhttp://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2013/06/demolition_of_blight_in_sagina.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/saginaw_opinion/~3/-bbK2WmKVDo/tim_skubick_medicaid_expansion.htmltag:Tim SkubickTim Skubick | Politics Columnist for MLive.comTue, 18 Jun 2013 03:18:31 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2013:/politics/index.ssf//3203.10764099 ]]>Twenty-eight Republicans stood up to the threats from the Tea Party by voting for Medicaid expansion.noTwenty-eight Republicans stood up to the threats from the Tea Party by voting for Medicaid expansion.Twenty-eight Republicans stood up to the threats from the Tea Party by voting for Medicaid expansion.tag:Tim Skubickhttp://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/tim_skubick_medicaid_expansion.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/saginaw_opinion/~3/_UbbLNHOhhY/andrew_heller_you_write_i_writ_3.htmlcat:Andy's Journal columnsAndrew Heller | Flint JournalMon, 17 Jun 2013 07:30:55 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2013:/flintjournal/aheller//1580.10763408 ]]>Here's what bothers me most about this phone monitoring mess – the secrecy. Why'd they have to hide it – so the bad guys didn't know we were doing it? Please. I doubt they're that dumb. I suspect this was being kept secret from us, not for us. And that's scary. noHere's what bothers me most about this phone monitoring mess – the secrecy. Why'd they have to hide it – so the bad guys didn't know we were doing it? Please. I doubt they're that dumb. I suspect this was being kept secret from us, not for us. And that's Here's what bothers me most about this phone monitoring mess – the secrecy. Why'd they have to hide it – so the bad guys didn't know we were doing it? Please. I doubt they're that dumb. I suspect this was being kept secret from us, not for us. And that's scary. cat:Andy's Journal columnshttp://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/aheller/2013/06/andrew_heller_you_write_i_writ_3.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/saginaw_opinion/~3/NCCLHNmtR9E/buena_vista_schools_news_promp.htmltag:Buena Vista schoolstag:buena-vista-schoolstag:sn-educationHeather Jordan | heather_jordan@mlive.comMon, 17 Jun 2013 06:30:14 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2013:/opinion/saginaw/index.ssf//3477.10764216 ]]>News of state Rep. Stacy Erwin Oakes' response to legislation giving the state superintendent and state treasurer the authority to dissolve Buena Vista School District, and of the school board’s special meeting and response to the state provoked a lot of conversation among MLive readers. Catch up on the stories you may have missed and see what readers had to say about them here. noNews of state Rep. Stacy Erwin Oakes' response to legislation giving the state superintendent and state treasurer the authority to dissolve Buena Vista School District, and of the school board’s special meeting and response to the state provoked a lot of News of state Rep. Stacy Erwin Oakes' response to legislation giving the state superintendent and state treasurer the authority to dissolve Buena Vista School District, and of the school board’s special meeting and response to the state provoked a lot of conversation among MLive readers. Catch up on the stories you may have missed and see what readers had to say about them here. tag:Buena Vista schools, tag:buena-vista-schools, tag:sn-educationhttp://www.mlive.com/opinion/saginaw/index.ssf/2013/06/buena_vista_schools_news_promp.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/saginaw_opinion/~3/BUQSt0aYPQo/barb_byrum_one_year_after_vagi.htmltag:vaginagateGuest writerMon, 17 Jun 2013 03:50:05 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2013:/politics/index.ssf//3203.10745983 ]]>Barb Byrum writes about the time a year ago when she and then-Rep. Lisa Brown "were banned from speaking on the House floor for using two 'V' words: vagina and vasectomy."noBarb Byrum writes about the time a year ago when she and then-Rep. Lisa Brown "were banned from speaking on the House floor for using two 'V' words: vagina and vasectomy."Barb Byrum writes about the time a year ago when she and then-Rep. Lisa Brown "were banned from speaking on the House floor for using two 'V' words: vagina and vasectomy."tag:vaginagatehttp://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/barb_byrum_one_year_after_vagi.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/saginaw_opinion/~3/3YkSUIxIisI/tim_skubick_gretchen_whitmer_h.htmltag:gretchen whitmertag:Tim SkubickTim Skubick | Politics Columnist for MLive.comMon, 17 Jun 2013 03:18:50 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2013:/politics/index.ssf//3203.10759079 ]]> Gretchen Whitmer clapped for Gov. Snyder at his State of the State address, but their relationship has always been tenuous due to cuts the governor made early on.File Photo  Three years ago the Snyder administration swiped $1 billion from...no Gretchen Whitmer clapped for Gov. Snyder at his State of the State address, but their relationship has always been tenuous due to cuts the governor made early on.File Photo  Three years ago the Snyder administration swiped $1 billion from... Gretchen Whitmer clapped for Gov. Snyder at his State of the State address, but their relationship has always been tenuous due to cuts the governor made early on.File Photo  Three years ago the Snyder administration swiped $1 billion from...tag:gretchen whitmer, tag:Tim Skubickhttp://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/tim_skubick_gretchen_whitmer_h.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/saginaw_opinion/~3/Xjb1BXpJlT0/cheers_and_jeers_covering_fest.htmlBernie Eng | beng1@mlive.comSun, 16 Jun 2013 18:56:05 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2013:/opinion/bay-city/index.ssf//5002.10750618 ]]>There's lots of activity going on in the Great Lakes Bay Region, some to celebrate and some that raise concern. The editorial boards of The Saginaw News and The Bay City Times offer some cheers and jeers for events from the past week.noThere's lots of activity going on in the Great Lakes Bay Region, some to celebrate and some that raise concern. The editorial boards of The Saginaw News and The Bay City Times offer some cheers and jeers for events from the past week.There's lots of activity going on in the Great Lakes Bay Region, some to celebrate and some that raise concern. The editorial boards of The Saginaw News and The Bay City Times offer some cheers and jeers for events from the past week.http://www.mlive.com/opinion/bay-city/index.ssf/2013/06/cheers_and_jeers_covering_fest.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/saginaw_opinion/~3/TZtgPsQoyTc/michigan_how_they_voted.htmlTim Martin | tmartin4@mlive.comSun, 16 Jun 2013 05:10:12 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2013:/politics/index.ssf//3203.10757697 ]]>Lawmakers will cast several key votes again this week as they wrap up issues before summer break.noLawmakers will cast several key votes again this week as they wrap up issues before summer break.Lawmakers will cast several key votes again this week as they wrap up issues before summer break.http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/michigan_how_they_voted.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/saginaw_opinion/~3/vd8i_tTwXFM/tim_skubick_gov_rick_snyder_st_1.htmltag:rick-snydertag:tea partytag:Tim SkubickTim Skubick | Politics Columnist for MLive.comSun, 16 Jun 2013 03:46:33 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2013:/politics/index.ssf//3203.10760215 ]]>Snyder supporters could argue when the Tea Party took him on, he did what he thought was right and did not worry about the impact his decisions might have on his own reelection.noSnyder supporters could argue when the Tea Party took him on, he did what he thought was right and did not worry about the impact his decisions might have on his own reelection.Snyder supporters could argue when the Tea Party took him on, he did what he thought was right and did not worry about the impact his decisions might have on his own reelection.tag:rick-snyder, tag:tea party, tag:Tim Skubickhttp://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/tim_skubick_gov_rick_snyder_st_1.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/saginaw_opinion/~3/LNv7GpFk2qQ/letter_to_the_editor_sarah_gri.htmlMLive/Bay City Times guest opinionSat, 15 Jun 2013 06:33:21 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2013:/opinion/bay-city/index.ssf//5002.10728346 ]]>Truancy is an issue, but it is an issue across the board- welfare or no welfare. Rather than cut benefits of families who are already struggling financially, implement programs and interventions to address the underlying issues that contribute to truancy.http://www.mlive.com/opinion/bay-city/index.ssf/2013/06/letter_to_the_editor_sarah_gri.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/saginaw_opinion/~3/Sc6iLrJKZ9k/dna_supreme_court_accused_felo.htmltag:Ken BraunKen Braun | braun.ken@gmail.comSat, 15 Jun 2013 07:09:49 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2013:/politics/index.ssf//3203.10745412 ]]>The Supreme Court has disrespected a citizen's right to reasonable searches and seizures by ruling suspects can be swabbed for DNA.noThe Supreme Court has disrespected a citizen's right to reasonable searches and seizures by ruling suspects can be swabbed for DNA.The Supreme Court has disrespected a citizen's right to reasonable searches and seizures by ruling suspects can be swabbed for DNA.tag:Ken Braunhttp://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/dna_supreme_court_accused_felo.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/saginaw_opinion/~3/ZfU5nDIZzQU/andrew_heller_maybe_we_have_th.htmlcat:Andy's Journal columnstag:ANDREW HELLER To Andrew Heller @bc-opinionAndrew Heller | Flint JournalFri, 14 Jun 2013 08:19:43 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2013:/flintjournal/aheller//1580.10748305 ]]>I love the cards, gifts and hugs. But none of it is why I like Father's Day so much. I like it because it reminds me how lucky I am to have them in my life, a feeling that grows sharper each year they get closer to leaving.noI love the cards, gifts and hugs. But none of it is why I like Father's Day so much. I like it because it reminds me how lucky I am to have them in my life, a feeling that grows sharper each year they get closer to leaving.I love the cards, gifts and hugs. But none of it is why I like Father's Day so much. I like it because it reminds me how lucky I am to have them in my life, a feeling that grows sharper each year they get closer to leaving.cat:Andy's Journal columns, tag:ANDREW HELLER To Andrew Heller @bc-opinionhttp://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/aheller/2013/06/andrew_heller_maybe_we_have_th.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/saginaw_opinion/~3/yWDf6L6KioM/tim_skubick_gov_rick_snyder_ma_1.htmltag:Tim SkubickTim Skubick | Politics Columnist for MLive.comFri, 14 Jun 2013 03:19:11 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2013:/politics/index.ssf//3203.10746096 ]]>Will he or debate or won't he? A debate commission would set groundrules for Gov. Rick Snyder to debate his opponent in 2014.noWill he or debate or won't he? A debate commission would set groundrules for Gov. Rick Snyder to debate his opponent in 2014.Will he or debate or won't he? A debate commission would set groundrules for Gov. Rick Snyder to debate his opponent in 2014.tag:Tim Skubickhttp://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/tim_skubick_gov_rick_snyder_ma_1.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/saginaw_opinion/~3/XU-ipLIbm0c/majestic_vessels_indian_sailor.htmltag:tall-ship-celebration-2013Rob Clark | rclark2@mlive.comThu, 13 Jun 2013 11:08:15 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2013:/opinion/bay-city/index.ssf//5002.10745521 ]]>Bay City hosts its fifth Tall Ship Celebration July 11-14 with a dozen vessels scheduled to be in port. The city also hosted festivals in 2001, 2003, 2006 and 2010, twice earning Port of the Year honors.noBay City hosts its fifth Tall Ship Celebration July 11-14 with a dozen vessels scheduled to be in port. The city also hosted festivals in 2001, 2003, 2006 and 2010, twice earning Port of the Year honors.Bay City hosts its fifth Tall Ship Celebration July 11-14 with a dozen vessels scheduled to be in port. The city also hosted festivals in 2001, 2003, 2006 and 2010, twice earning Port of the Year honors.tag:tall-ship-celebration-2013http://www.mlive.com/opinion/bay-city/index.ssf/2013/06/majestic_vessels_indian_sailor.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/saginaw_opinion/~3/LvDNoNvSZ3I/poll_is_demolishing_saginaws_b.htmltag:saginaw-businesstag:saginaw-city-counciltag:saginaw-county-land-banktag:saginaw-ddatag:saginaw-demolitionMark Tower | mtower@mlive.comThu, 13 Jun 2013 06:09:37 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2013:/news/saginaw/index.ssf//3472.10739210 ]]>Do you think demolition of blighted properties in cities like Saginaw is a good use of the $100 million in federal funds recently released for blight projects in five Michigan cities?noDo you think demolition of blighted properties in cities like Saginaw is a good use of the $100 million in federal funds recently released for blight projects in five Michigan cities?Do you think demolition of blighted properties in cities like Saginaw is a good use of the $100 million in federal funds recently released for blight projects in five Michigan cities?tag:saginaw-business, tag:saginaw-city-council, tag:saginaw-county-land-bank, tag:saginaw-dda, tag:saginaw-demolitionhttp://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2013/06/poll_is_demolishing_saginaws_b.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/saginaw_opinion/~3/Qf75_fnTCJA/eric_baerren_he_who_fishes_sub.htmltag:Eric BaerrenEric Baerren | For MLive Media GroupThu, 13 Jun 2013 04:48:51 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2013:/politics/index.ssf//3203.10739938 ]]>The way fishing licenses are sold may be changed to help support the fishery. But it also acknowledges that general fund support is declining.noThe way fishing licenses are sold may be changed to help support the fishery. But it also acknowledges that general fund support is declining.The way fishing licenses are sold may be changed to help support the fishery. But it also acknowledges that general fund support is declining.tag:Eric Baerrenhttp://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/eric_baerren_he_who_fishes_sub.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/saginaw_opinion/~3/njqIGGOY1NA/tim_skubick_do_dems_help_gov_s.htmltag:Tim SkubickTim Skubick | Politics Columnist for MLive.comThu, 13 Jun 2013 03:29:36 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2013:/politics/index.ssf//3203.10736679 ]]>The governor knows that the Democrats know he can't do squat without them.noThe governor knows that the Democrats know he can't do squat without them.The governor knows that the Democrats know he can't do squat without them.tag:Tim Skubickhttp://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/tim_skubick_do_dems_help_gov_s.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/saginaw_opinion/~3/zA08uMkvCmM/letter_to_the_editor_chris_tho_6.htmlMLive/Bay City Times guest opinionWed, 12 Jun 2013 14:27:07 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2013:/opinion/saginaw/index.ssf//3477.10728565 ]]>When citizens take soldier-like steps, reason says they should be signed up for potential service to our country. In America, rights involve responsibilities. noWhen citizens take soldier-like steps, reason says they should be signed up for potential service to our country. In America, rights involve responsibilities. When citizens take soldier-like steps, reason says they should be signed up for potential service to our country. In America, rights involve responsibilities. http://www.mlive.com/opinion/saginaw/index.ssf/2013/06/letter_to_the_editor_chris_tho_6.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/saginaw_opinion/~3/2EC1cpaI2xg/ken_braun_sand_is_shifting_in.htmltag:drugstag:Ken BraunKen Braun | braun.ken@gmail.comSat, 15 Jun 2013 04:12:24 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2013:/politics/index.ssf//3203.10739301 ]]>Attorney General Bill Schuette says just legalizing pot exposes kids to “ever more potent drug use.” But many fellow Republicans disagree.noAttorney General Bill Schuette says just legalizing pot exposes kids to “ever more potent drug use.” But many fellow Republicans disagree.Attorney General Bill Schuette says just legalizing pot exposes kids to “ever more potent drug use.” But many fellow Republicans disagree.tag:drugs, tag:Ken Braunhttp://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/ken_braun_sand_is_shifting_in.htmlnonadult