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By: Dave Rupe | stonesdetroit.com Have a brown thumb rather than a green thumb? A care free container garden may be right for you. Small space or large garden, it’s entirely up to you and how much you want to spend. This setup is my own design brought about by dabbling in hydroponic system builds and passive self watering container ... Read More »

Michigan road funding: House panel debates 20% registration fee increase, more for electric/hybrids (via Mlive.com) AnnArbor.com File Photo LANSING, MI — Michigan motorists could be asked to pay more at the pump — and at their local Secretary of State branch — under a road funding plan that continues to take shape in Lansing. Republican state Rep. Wayne Schmidt of ... Read More »

‘We have liftoff’ on marijuana decriminalization: Grand Rapids to start issuing civil infraction tickets (via Mlive.com) MLive.com File   GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The city on Wednesday, May 1, will begin issuing civil infraction tickets for “minor” marijuana offenses, according to a statement from City Hall. The statement was released after Grand Rapids City Commission met in closed session this ... Read More »

On Earth Day, modern effort hopes to save ancient redwoods (via Observer-Dispatch) A team led by a nurseryman from northern Michigan and his sons has raced against time for two decades, snipping branches from some of the world’s biggest and most durable trees with plans to produce clones that could restore ancient forests and help fight climate change. Now comes ... Read More »

America’s most interesting development since November is the Republican Party becoming more interesting. Consider the congressman from Grand Rapids who occupies the seat once held by Gerald Ford, embodiment of vanilla Republicanism. Justin Amash, 33, may seek the Senate seat being vacated by six-term… Read More »

Detroit City Council members raised several concerns this morning about a pending contract with the Jones Day law firm, emergency manager Kevyn Orr’s former employer. Council members want to know if Jones Day has any connections to banks that hold the city’s municipal bonds and whether Orr, who immediately quit the firm upon being hired as emergency manager, is still tied to it. “Is ... Read More »

The Associated Press DETROIT—Plans are moving forward for a hiking and biking trail from Belle Isle park in Detroit to Ironwood on the Wisconsin boundary in the western Upper Peninsula, and one man is getting ready to walk the route even though it’s not anywhere near completion. Officials with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources plan to meet with trail organizations and community planners next month ... Read More »

By Stephen Hendersonand Nancy Kaffer Free Press Editorial Page Editor and Free Press Columnist Detroit Free Press editorial page editor Stephen Henderson and Free Press editorial writer Nancy Kaffer discuss the naming of Kevyn Orr, a Washington, D.C., lawyer, as Detroit’s emergency financial manager.   Nancy Kaffer: So Detroit finally has an emergency financial manager. Kevyn Orr’s credentials are impeccable, but, of course, ... Read More »

LANSING, Mich. - Michigan lawmakers are planning to consider a bill that would require welfare applicants and recipients to pass drug tests. Republican-sponsored legislation being considered Wednesday by a House committee would establish a program of suspicion-based substance abuse screening and testing for Family Independence Program applicants and recipients who are at least 18 years old. READ: House Bill 4118   ... Read More »

House Republicans would balance the budget with repeal of the Obama health care law and an overhaul of Medicare. Susan Davis, USA TODAY | WASHINGTON — House Republicans unveiled a budget Tuesday that would balance the nation’s books in 10 years without raising taxes but by eliminating President Obama’s health care law, revamping Medicare for future retirees and creating just two ... Read More »

By Karen Pierog (Reuters) – The Detroit City Council will argue its case on Tuesday against a state takeover of the city, but history shows a successful challenge would be unprecedented. So far, none of the five Michigan cities declared in financial emergency has been able to change the state government’s position through a hearing, Terry Stanton, a spokesman for ... Read More »

Gracie Love | StonesDetroit.com Canton Senator Colbeck says Michigan can raise an extra $1.2 billion a year to fix the state’s roads and bridges without hiking fuel taxes, sales taxes or vehicle registration fees. Sen. Patrick Colbeck, R-Canton, said Monday that he is working on bills to raise the money through allocating increased revenue generated by economic growth; reducing interest ... Read More »

By MARK BINELLI | contributing writer – Rolling Stones DETROIT WITH the fourth anniversary of the Obama administration’s auto bailout approaching, the Detroit comeback narrative has settled into accepted history. Just last week, Chrysler, once the wobbliest of the Big Three, announced a ninefold increase in profits since 2011. In its Sunday Super Bowl ad, the company exuded such confidence, it no longer felt the need ... Read More »

By Josh Kassabian | StonesDetroit.com Unemployment experience in Detroit, MI   Welcome to 3024 Grand Blvd.  Detroit, MI. Home of the official unemployment office headquarters in Detroit. I wanna share my experience with you and give you an idea of what you’re in for if you are in need of assistance.   I arrived at 9:07am, the doors open at 8am. ... Read More »

By: Patrick Holliday|StonesDetroit.comDetroit fun fact of the day- Michigan State University is the largest institution of higher learning in the state and one of the largest universities in the country. It was founded in 1855 as the nation’s 1st land-grant university. It was the 1st institution of higher learning in the nation to teach scientific agriculture. Read More »

By Jimmy Haddad | StonesDetroit.com There has been a horrific accident on South bound I-75 @ Springwells. A multi-vehicle accident has already lead to 4 deaths and 8 wounded, 2 of them adults for certain. The freeway is shut down and cleanup crews, EMS, Fire Department and warming buses are on the scene. It all started with 3 separate accidents ... Read More »