The St. Lawrence Seaway, an engineering marvel that linked the Great Lakes to the global shipping trade 50 years ago, has been an economic bust and an environmental disaster for the region, environmentalists said Monday.

The Seaway is a series of seven locks and three dams in the St. Lawrence River, between Lake Ontario and Montreal. The $1 billion project, which gave ocean freighters access to the Great Lakes for the first time, was supposed to create an economic bonanza in scores of Great Lakes coastal communities, including Muskegon.

But the volume of international cargo transported on the Seaway never met initial economic projections. In recent years, ocean freighters have accounted for less than 10 percent of all cargo transported on the Great Lakes, according to government data.

Continue reading: Muskegon News

The Senate today approved a 10% pay cut for the next governor and Legislature, a reduction that was demanded by Gov. Jennifer Granholm to acknowledge the state’s economic difficulties, but a gesture that would not apply to current officeholders.

The measure goes to the House, where approval is likely.

The pay cut was approved two weeks ago by the State Officers Compensation Commission (SOCC), which is the only body allowed by the state constitution to set salaries for the governor, lieutenant governor, Legislature, attorney general and Supreme Court. The court was excluded from the cuts because of a constitutional conflict.

Continue reading: Freep.com

Gerald Crouterfield believes in the power of prayer, and good fortune.

Last September, the 40-year-old former automotive parts worker from Standish, Mich., was laid off from his job at auto parts supplier Tubular Metal Systems, where he built turbo pipes for GMC’s hulking Duramax diesel truck. Seeking a new direction, he attended a local job fair and connected with “No Worker Left Behind,” a state program to retrain unemployed workers.

By October, the organization had arranged and paid for Crouterfield to enroll at Delta College, a community college in nearby Saginaw, Mich., in an accelerated five-month program to train for a new career in the chemicals industry. He graduated in February and begins work at Dow Chemical in April.

Continue reading and watch the video at MSNBC.com

Ice cover on the Great Lakes has declined more than 30 percent since the 1970s, leaving the world’s largest system of freshwater lakes open to evaporation and lower water levels, according to scientists associated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

They’re concerned about how the milder winter freeze may affect the environment. But they’re also trying to come to terms with a contradiction — the same climate factors that might keep lake ice from freezing might make freezing more likely if lake levels drop due to evaporation.

Continue reading: Great Lakes’ Environment and Conservation News & Articles on mlive.com

George Kell, one of the true gentlemen of baseball, died this morning at his home in Swifton, Ark. He was 86.

Kell, enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983, broadcast Detroit Tigers games for 37 years before retiring in 1996.

“George had two great careers,” said Tigers Hall of Fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell. “He was a wonderful third baseman and a Hall of Famer, and then as an announcer.

“I think George’s appeal was that he brought the field to the booth. There was an authoritative ring to what he said. He was straight forward with a laid-back touch. It was nothing fancy; George just laid it out.

Continue reading: mlive.com

Early this season, Derrick Nix was explaining to a reporter how losing weight had made him a significantly better player than he was a year ago and how this season he is able to make plays that were impossible for him to make a year ago.

“I was way too big last year,’’ Nix said. “I’m still a little big now, but I’m still losing weight. I’m proud of myself, my teammates are proud of me, my coach is proud of me, you’re proud of me, everybody’s proud of me.’’

He can add the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan to the list of those who are proud of the Detroit Pershing senior.

Read the entire article at Freep.com

A dismal economy means a 3% to 4% drop in Michigan tourism this year, a Michigan State University tourism analyst predicts.

But expert Don Holecek has an upside to the gloomy forecast: Gas prices will remain at or below $2 a gallon – half of what they were a year ago – and people who’ve been laid off have more time to take inexpensive vacation trips.

Holecek said Michiganders make up 70% of the state’s tourism business, and the industry will rely even more heavily on them, as people from other states trim back their travel plans. He said the industry should tap into potential vacationers who want to stretch their dollars.

Read the entire article at Freep.com

The Detroit Media Partnership today unveiled a new music video featuring Brian Vander Ark that’s an anthem to strength and grit of southeast Michigan — first on Twitter, and then to freep.com visitors.

Vander Ark is the lead singer, principal songwriter and guitarist for the Verve Pipe, the Michigan-based band that has sold millions of albums worldwide.

Read more and watch the video at the Freep.com

ANN ARBOR — The Special Olympics Michigan president said today she’d welcome the opportunity to send the nonprofit’s top bowler to the White House.

President Barack Obama made an offhand remark on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” Thursday comparing his bowling to “the Special Olympics or something.” He quickly apologized and told the Special Olympics chairman he wants to have some Special Olympic athletes visit the White House to bowl or play basketball.

Kolan McConiughey, who is cognitively impaired, has bowled five perfect games since 2005, said Special Olympics Michigan President Lois Arnold.

“It would be an honor for him to bowl with the president of the United States,” Arnold said.

Continue reading and watch the video: The Freep

Currently, the state legislature is considering a bill that would create a voluntary $10 addition to state license plate fees. Anyone with a Michigan plate would gain free admission to Michigan state parks. Out-of-state visitors would still pay an out-of-state fee.

The beauty of the plan is that it allows for a voluntary opt-out. If your personal bank account is not big, you can tell the Secretary of State workers that you do not want to pay the fee.

Are we ready for a high-speed, hydrogen-powered, magnetically-driven rail line from Detroit to Lansing?
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A state House task force hopes to find out in hearings on an ambitious plan by private investors to build a first-of-its-kind rail line along state freeways.

The elevated rail line would use cars — built by Detroit Three automakers — that would use solar energy to power hydrogen batteries, said Justin Sutton of Whitmore Lake, founder of Worldwide Hydrogen Super Highways, which has designed the rail system.

The batteries would power a magnetic field to drive the trains along stainless steel tracks, capable of speeds approaching 200 m.p.h.

Continue reading: Freep.com

The governor who signed Michigan’s model wetlands protection legislation into law 30 years ago believes it is vital to keep that commitment even in tough economic times, according to a statement by former Gov. William G. Milliken posted today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). Former Gov. Milliken’s statement comes just days before the Legislature decides whether to follow current Gov. Jennifer Granholm in her call for abolishing the state wetland program in order to save approximately $2 million in state funds.

Continue reading: commondreams.org

Thirty years ago the Michigan State men’s basketball team, led by All-Americans Greg Kelser (32) and Earvin “Magic” Johnson (33), completed a championship run to the NCAA title with a historic 75-64 victory over unbeaten Indiana State and future NBA Hall of Famer Larry Bird.

Check it out the interactive feature at LSJ.com

Here it comes, straight from the heartland and the hinterlands, loaded with powerhouses and puny programs (with all due respect). It’s the ultimate road trip to Detroit, the March to Motown, with multiple stops in between.

It officially was launched Sunday night with true stirring emotion, as the NCAA men’s basketball tournament bracket was revealed. And how about this for nice timing? Michigan finally joined Michigan State in the 65-team field, unleashing a wild celebration at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, more than a decade in the making.

It all ends in Detroit’s Ford Field with the Final Four April 4-6, but it begins in all sorts of places, familiar and unfamiliar. Of course it starts in East Lansing, where the Spartans (26-6) earned a No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region and will face No. 15 seed Robert Morris (24-10) Friday in Minneapolis. If the Spartans find their shooting touch, they legitimately could be pointed toward Detroit.

Continue reading: The Detroit News

The WindTronics 760 produces power at the turbine blade ends instead of at the hub of the unit where traditional turbines power a gear box.
A new residential “wind turbine in a box” was introduced at a Las Vegas Ace Hardware show last week to rave reviews, according to the head of the Muskegon-based EarthTronics.

The technology was developed through Grand Valley State University’s Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center and is being commercialized by EarthTronics. Muskegon and Michigan remain in the running for the location of the initial production plant, which could start with 60-100 employees.

“The reaction was overwhelming,” said Reg Adams, president of EarthTronics — a startup distributor of alternative energy devices. “The unit was the talk of the show. Our booth activity was nonstop.”

Continue reading: mlive.com

Bob Dylan, the surviving members of the Grateful Dead, the Black Crowes and Willie Nelson are among the acts coming to Rothbury for the July 2-5 event, festival organizers announced today.

The release of the 2009 lineup comes two days after “early bird” tickets went on sale Saturday for $229.50.

The sale of regularly priced tickets ($249.50 plus fees) starts Friday.

Other artists on the Rothbury roster include: The String Cheese Incident, Damian ‘Jr. Gong’ Marley & Nas, Gov’t Mule, Guster, Girl Talk, Mstrkrft, Martin Sexton, Flogging Molly, Railroad Earth, Zappa Plays Zappa and more.

Continue reading: mlive.com

Stephanie Godden is enjoying her piece of the pi.

In a quiet classroom filled Friday with peers, the 16-year-old junior slowly and in her own cadence of numbers recited from memory 2,000 digits of pi, commonly known as the approximation 3.14159265.

“Encore!” someone yelled. The Henry Ford II High School junior — with eyes closed and microphone in hand — had just finished rattling off the numbers at the Utica Center for Mathematics, Science and Technology.

Continue reading: Freep.com

If you weren’t already aware March 14th is Pi Day

Motorists would no longer be charged entrance fees to use state parks and boat launches, instead paying $10 more a year in vehicle registration fees under bipartisan legislation to be announced Thursday.

It currently costs $6 daily and $24 annually to enter state parks or use boat launches.

Vehicle stickers would go by the wayside under the plan. Only a license plate would be needed to visit all 98 state parks and recreation areas, five state park trails, more than 1,000 boat sites and state forest campgrounds. Nightly camping fees would stay intact.

Continue reading: Freep.com

Here’s to hoping that it stays windy in West Michigan.

This morning, Spain-based company Logística Energética and West Michigan-based Rockford Construction announced a partnership in creating a new organization combining “wind farm construction and comprehensive logistical services.”

The new organization, Rockford Bergé, will focus its initial efforts in Michigan, according to the press statement.

Rockford Construction was recently ranked as a Top 50 Green Contractor by Engineering News-Record. Bergé has expertise in energy infrastructure logistics, including transporting massive turbine parts from around the world.

Continue reading: WZZM13.com

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich says Michigan should pay pregnant teenagers to take prenatal vitamins and stay healthy so the government avoids expensive costs when babies end up in neonatal intensive care units.

The Republican also told state senators Wednesday he supports paying poor children to read, and the state should consider paying girls to not get pregnant.

Continue reading: mlive.com

In Michigan’s depressed economy, it would’ve been hard to lure back corporate sponsors and find new ones for the Michigan State Fair.

But the event’s new general manager, former Ferndale Mayor Robert Porter, faces the task with a fresh handicap — executive orders by Gov. Jennifer Granholm that end state support for the fair and abolish Porter’s job Oct. 1.

Countless people think the fair already is dead, Porter said.

“We want to put together a news conference right away to make it damn clear that there is a fair this year, and there’s a Shrine Circus here this year, too,” he said.

Continue reading: Freep.com

Artist Bren Bataclan figures that if any region needs a boost right now, it’s southeast Michigan. That’s why the Boston-based painter agreed to let two women leave 15 of his bright, upbeat paintings in the state as gifts for whoever finds them.

Bataclan, 40, has been giving away art for about five years for the Smile Project. With each painting featuring a smiling, cartoon-like character with big eyes he leaves a note, “Everything will be all right!” He sells similar, but larger, art that starts at $95.

Look for the paintings to appear soon on a sunny day near unemployment centers, stores that are going out of business and around downtown Detroit and in Midland, he said.

Continue reading: Freep.com

Jay Leno’s comic relief gesture is coming under scrutiny by the Detroit City Council.

One day after the NBC comedian announced a free April 7 show at The Palace of Auburn Hills for the unemployed, Councilwoman Martha Reeves questioned why it’s in the suburbs, rather than Ford Field. That could be a problem: The venue is hosting the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship on April 6.

Nevertheless, Council President Monica Conyers designated Reeves, a singer and entertainer herself, as the point person to lobby Leno to move the show to within city limits.

Continue reading: The Detroit News

Michigan State cleaned up on the Big Ten this season, and on Monday the Spartans swept the major individual awards as well.

Kalin Lucas is MSU’s first Big Ten player of the year since Morris Peterson won it in 2000. The league’s coaches and media agreed on that selection. Travis Walton is defensive player of the year, an award voted on solely by the coaches.

And Tom Izzo was voted coach of the year by his peers. Penn State’s Ed DeChellis was the media’s choice for coach of the year.

Lucas is the sixth Spartan to win Big Ten player of the year, joining Jay Vincent (1981), Scott Skiles (1986), Shawn Respert (1995), Mateen Cleaves (1998 and 1999) and Peterson.

Continue reading: LSJ.com

“Tonight Show” host Jay Leno plans to help stimulate America by tickling funny bones.

“Jay’s Comedy Stimulus Plan” is set to come to Michigan. The comedian announced Monday that he will have a free show on April 7 at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

“One of my favorite places is Detroit,” the late-night show host said. “I called up Pepsi, one of our sponsors, and I said I want to do a show for not just the autoworkers — anybody out of work in Detroit.’

Continue reading: Freep.com

All proceeds go to 4 Paws for Ability, a service dog organization, on behalf of Whit Warren who is in need of an Autism assistance dog. For more info visit http://www.4pawsforwhit.com “

By now, if you give a damn about arts funding, you’ve probably already fired off a fiery e-mail, phone call or form letter to Gov. Jennifer Granholm and your representatives in Michigan’s House and Senate, pleading that the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs grant money for Fiscal Year 2010 be reinstated. Or perhaps you haven’t done anything.

Joan Bauer, D-Lansing, said she had “huge concerns” over cuts to the arts. “When we look at revitalizing Michigan and getting our young people to come back to Michigan, getting the companies to come here that we want that are the new economy companies … it really isn’t always taxes. It really is the quality of life and the quality of place, and the arts have a huge role in creating that,” Bauer said.In the scope of the state’s projected $1.6 billion deficit for 2010, Whitmer said the state may be better off finding other ways to save $6.9 million. “It’s a very small piece of the budget, and it has a big return in terms of quality of life, so I don’t know if it’s the wisest piece to throw in when you’re trying to balance such massive deficits as we have,” Whitmer said. Like Whitmer, state Rep. While she didn’t offer any way the state could better save the money than taking it from the arts, Bauer said she hoped that some general fund money could be made available for the arts once Michigan received its money from President Obama’s economic stimulus package.

Read the full story on the Lansing City Pulse Webstie

An unknown crochet enthusiast has been busy making downtown Bay City a bit cozier.

The anonymous person or group has covered many of the Water Street bench armrests with crocheted covers. The tops of the pillars outside the Brownstone Condominiums have also been covered with colorful crocheted trimmings. Even a stop sign post at the corner of Water and Sixth streets has been adorned with yarn decorations.

The concept isn’t new as so-called “guerilla knitters” have infiltrated cities across the country, and even around the world. A Google search brings up knitters and crocheters who post their work quietly on city streets.

The Bay City crocheter – or group of crocheters – has been busy since early winter when the Water Street benches were decorated. The pillars at the condominiums were adorned in the past couple of weeks, area residents say.

No one seems to know who the crocheter is.

Continue reading: mLive.com

Talk with staff, enjoy a light lunch, and explore ways that you can be involved in the work of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy.
Location: 3860 North Long Lake Road, Traverse City

Directions: from Division Street (US 31/37), take Front Street West approximately 1 mile to Oleson’s West Plaza.

Follow the balloons to the parking area and entrance, located in the back of the Oleson’s plaza.

Starting on Saturday, March 14th at 12:00 noon eastern time, ROTHBURY will offer a limited quantity of Early Bird Tickets. Early Bird tickets will be available while supplies last, or until the start of the general on sale on March 20th. The artist line-up for ROTHBURY will be released at a time following the Early Bird on sale, and prior to the general on sale.

The Early Bird Ticket is a general admission ROTHBURY Weekend Ticket and includes a four day festival pass (Thursday through Sunday) and onsite camping/parking.

The Early Bird Weekend Ticket Price is $229.50 (plus ticket fees).

Visit the official Rothbury Festival website for details