http://www.record-eagle.com en-us Copyright CNHI All Rights Reserved. 5 Sat, 16 Aug 2008 20:00:56 +0000 http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_230095349.html http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_230095349.html Early in the presidential primary season, Michigan got a cold shoulder, mostly from national Democrats who were more adamant than GOP leaders in opposing the state's challenge of the stranglehold that New Hampshire and Iowa have on the early nominating process. Sat, 09 Aug 2008 20:00:56 +0000 http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_223094648.html http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_223094648.html In downstate congressional races, a Democrat just had a huge primary scare and two Republicans face high profile challenges this fall. Up North, eight-term Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Menominee, has a spirited challenge but is heavily favored in a district that, on paper, is competitive. Nine-term Rep. Dave Camp, R-Midland, and eight-term Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, again have easy sledding in solidly Republican districts. Sat, 02 Aug 2008 20:00:57 +0000 http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_216095623.html http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_216095623.html If pending charges against scandal-plagued Kwame Kilpatrick lead to prison, he would be the third among Detroit's 57 mayors to become a jailbird. Detroit also had post-mayoral high achievers. Two were elected governor, and three became U.S. senators. Sat, 26 Jul 2008 20:00:56 +0000 http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_209093108.html http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_209093108.html The summer ride of Dave Dempsey underscores his rising role as the Paul Revere of the Great Lakes, sounding battle cries against those who menace their waters. His lantern is the written word. An environmental adviser to ex-Gov. Jim Blanchard, former policy director of the Michigan Environmental Council and current communications director for Conservation Minnesota, he is author of previous and two timely new Lakes books. Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:00:57 +0000 http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_202093534.html http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_202093534.html Family ties abound in the Aug. 5 primaries for the State House of Representatives -- a house decimated because 44 of its 110 members are term-limited. In Macomb County, the son of Rep. Jack Brandenburg, R-Harrison, is the sole Republican to compete against eight Democrats. A cousin of Rep. Daniel Acciavatti, R-Chesterfield, is among four GOP candidates for his seat, and the eight Democrats include a son of ex-Detroit Mayor Jerome Cavanagh. Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:00:57 +0000 http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_195100022.html http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_195100022.html There is concern in some circles that the Great Lakes Compact, the anti-diversion pact sent to Congress last week after Michigan was the last state to approve it, might fail on Capitol Hill because thirsty states have more clout than the Lakes states. Lt. Gov. John Cherry, chairman of the Great Lakes Commission, is not in that circle -- especially if Congress votes before the next census costs Rust Belt states even more seats. Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:00:57 +0000 http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_188100038.html http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_188100038.html Not since the late 1950s, when its cash crisis and payless paydays for state workers prompted "Michigan on the Rocks" stories, has Michigan had such a run of bad news in the national media. Over the decades, Detroit, as other big cities, has had some bad apples in City Hall. Sat, 28 Jun 2008 20:00:57 +0000 http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_181101023.html http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_181101023.html Stealth political scam artists are taking aim on Michigan's constitution with a sweeping cockamamie bait-and-switch proposal that could further dilute northern Michigan's voice in the judicial and legislative branches. Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:00:57 +0000 http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_174095551.html http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_174095551.html I was pleasantly surprised last week when the 50,000-member MUCC (membership now down to about half of what it was during its glory days) announced "a major initiative to expand the state's 32-year-old bottle bill to include water and other non-carbonated beverage containers." Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:16:00 +0000 http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_167094527.html http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_167094527.html That ex-Govs. Bill Milliken and Jim Blanchard lack their former clout in Lansing is underscored as they and an outmanned, not-so-merry band of environmentalists buck a tide of powerful interests in the Legislature's latest debate on water laws. Sun, 08 Jun 2008 10:20:00 +0000 http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_160102115.html http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_160102115.html Every election year since the environmental movement gained traction in the late 20th century, political war dances have been held to drum up commitments for the restoration and protection of the Great Lakes. The drums throb again. Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:00:56 +0000 http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_153094527.html http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_153094527.html In the battle for control of the state House, northern Michigan has three toss-up races, two of them GOP seats along shores of Lake Michigan, and some spirited primaries. Mon, 26 May 2008 00:00:58 +0000 http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_146093020.html http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_146093020.html For those concerned about the Great Lakes and waters that feed them, it's a time to be wary of the ways of Washington and Lansing. Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:56 +0000 http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_139093524.html http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_139093524.html This year's GOP challenge of five-term Sen. Carl Levin shapes up as another Mission Improbable, but Michigan faces some of its most spirited challenges of congressional incumbents in decades. Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:56 +0000 http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_132093611.html http://www.record-eagle.com/georgeweeks/local_story_132093611.html If, as expected, Sen. Barack Obama is the Democratic presidential nominee, he could have explaining to do in Michigan on a few fronts, including snubbing its primary and bashing its auto industry.