News tidbits from Michigan....on a bright sunshine Day...

Not really the Lansing Rally....close

A rally of protest, busing in participants is taking place as I type--or has ended very recently:
...teachers, Bus drivers, other ASCME & AFL-CIO members are protesting the State Budget proposals;
...many of those rallying should be 'working' today;
...many families had to make changes in daily schedules to accommodate those students NOT in classes;
...the ironic part is the dishonesty in the folks who organize these events---"They" are not in danger of being 'docked',
nor do those in leadership positions have to wonder about being 'released' from their jobs;
...this is not a strike for the educators, thus not illegal, [such a strike is being bandied about for the near future];

The bus or Ddot drivers who did get "sick", left 'riders' up a political creek, as they need the bus to get to & from their JOB.
This is so sad to see.
How ever is a state to recover from the vast economic down-turns experienced IF those who may, should, & probably will be impacted by cuts or cutbacks continue to use this 'hostage-type' tactic to ensure that others take the cuts [for them].

As the Budget to be signed, the "Pension-crises" compromise would be:
...those 67+ years old---status quo;
...those born from 1946-1952--55 - 49 will see some tax over a $$$$ amount = $45,120 / single or $90,240 / couple;
...those born after 1952 will be taxed on their pension amounts;
...this from an article in one paper found on Page 5 A and a reference on early news with an 11:00 pm report;
...what so far has not been presented is the $$$ amount union members will pay for benefits / Health care;
...this is the basic reason for many of the walkers at Lansing, today.
This compromise will be voted upon later ths week or next. Keep tuned.





DTE has announced the development of three new fields of wind-mills;
...to be built in both Huron Co. & Sanilac Co. in the Thumb area of Michigan;
...to be built in rural areas on basically non-residential areas;
...DTE has a 2015 deadline to produce more electricity / services from alternative sources.
...a comment made on the radio was to "the impact on local farms has been studied;
...that area has a number of sugar beet, beans, corn & other such products, as well as Dairy farms;
...placing them in the non-residential areas was a result of the noise studies & that impact on people.

Warren, MI will be the First city in the nation to have the newest solar energy "tree":
...Warren will use this "Tree" for solar energy and to power the Chevy "Volt";
...San Diego based Envision Solar Inc. designed & developed other renewable energy systems;
...their "Tree" will resemble a canopy to create parking lot shade while producing electricity;
...this 'canopy tree' will be placed at residential, commercial & campus-like settings in the area;
...it will be the first solar tracking station [tracking the sun], but also will be able to charge 8 vehicles per day;

See: www.macombdaily.com / Wednesday April 13, / Region & state section / pg 3 A / Norb Franz /
"solar 'tree' sprouts'
...the solar Tree will be installed on a parking lot owned by GM at 11 Mile Road & George Merrelli Drive.
...the "Tree" will produce approximately 26 megawatts of electricity per year.



Local Teacher to run Monday's Boston Marathon:
...Nancy Smith, a 17 year teacher at Robert's Elementary School in Utica will be absent-from-class on Monday;
...this will be her 11th straight year she has participated;
...Nancy is involved through out the year on other fitness-type projects within the Utica Community Schools;
...she is the chairwoman of the UCS's "Stay Well Committee";
...the group is sponsoring a fundraiser for the "Shelby Relay Race For Life" May 21-22, which is a fundraising event
for the American Cancer Society.
see: www.macombdaily.com / April 13,2011 / Pg 7 A / Frank DeFrank / "The long run"