Friday, January 28, 2011

Mayhem in Michigan

It's everywhere, readers.

In the municipalities:

"Strapped Michigan city considers radical plan: bankruptcy; More cities could follow example as cash dwindles" by Monica Davey, New York Times / December 28, 2010

HAMTRAMCK, Mich. — The political leaders of this old working-class city perched on the edge of Detroit are pleading with the state to let them declare bankruptcy — a desperate move the state is not even willing to admit as an option.

States have a say in whether a municipality may pursue bankruptcy at all, and they have every reason to avoid such an outcome, not least of all for fear of a creating a ripple effect that could cripple the municipal bond market and drive up the cost of borrowing....

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Related: Municipal bonds set for worst quarter since 1994

Also see: Municipal Bond Milking

"Woman accused of faking son’s cancer" by Associated Press  |  October 2, 2010

ROSEVILLE, Mich. — An unemployed Detroit-area mother accused of drugging and shaving her healthy 12-year-old son so he appeared to have cancer, then accepting thousands of dollars in donations for his treatment, was arraigned yesterday on charges of fraud and child abuse....

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I want to know when some looting bankers or lying war promoters are going to be charged.

In the malls:

"Two critically hurt in mall shooting

HARPER WOODS — A dispute between two rival groups of teenagers escalated into gunfire yesterday when members of one of the groups opened fire inside a shopping mall, critically injuring one teenager and a clothing store worker as holiday shoppers dashed for cover, police said. The shooting happened around 6 p.m. at Eastland Mall, east of Detroit. The mall was closed as police searched for suspects, said Harper Woods deputy police chief Jim Burke (AP)."

In manufacturing:

"GM reportedly adding shift, jobs" by Associated Press / January 23, 2011

DETROIT — General Motors Co. will add a shift and more than 650 jobs at its cab-truck assembly plant in Flint, according to a person familiar with the plan. The person spoke yesterday on the condition of anonymity because the announcement had not yet been publicly made. An announcement is scheduled for tomorrow. Flint is the birthplace of GM and once was a powerful auto manufacturing town, but its economy and population have steadily declined over the past few decades.

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Also see: Blog targeting gay student roils Mich.

Rape charge dropped after Mich. suicide

Autopsy clears wife in Mich. man’s death

Police doubt father of missing Michigan boys

Search continues for 3 Mich. boys after father’s attempted suicide

Missing boys’ father fights extradition  

Father of missing boys returned to Mich.

Father of missing boys waives hearing

Furniture store owner survives explosion that kills 2 employees in Michigan

Mich. man gets 4 years for spy effort 

Mascoma snags funding for Mich. ethanol plant

Mich. health insurer sued over price deals

Officers kill gunman who opens fire, wounds four inside Detroit police station

Detroit police hunting for serial rapist