Saturday Shorts: The case against bipartisanship

Decriminalizing marijuana

Latin American presidents who support decriminalization of marijuana won a big diplomatic victory in recent days when the 34-country Organization of American States issued a report that considers decriminalization as one of several policies that might hel

Rethinking education funding

In the past couple of weeks, many of us have followed the news of the Buena Vista School District and the Pontiac School District, which were in jeopardy of having to close their doors early before the end of the school year.

The real meaning of Memorial Day

Have you seen anyone wearing a red poppy?

Our readers, on the News

Re: Chad Livengood's May 22 report, 'Judge won't allow hearing in lawsuit to void Detroit EM Orr's appointment':

Throw Detroit pension trustees overboard

Scores of public sector pension fund administrators are skipping this week's annual National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems in Hawaii for fear that the lavish junket sends the wrong message at a time when public pensions are struggling.

Sergio Garcia 'chicken' gaffe reveals our thin skin

Given the events of the last week, I'm not sure it's permissible for me to make this admission.

Prisoner Re-Entry an investment in public safety

Prisons, and the nearly $2 billion we spend on them every year, are rarely a popular budget line item. Nonetheless, Michigan allocates over 25 percent of its general fund budget to housing prison inmates and supervising parolees.

Editor's Picks: What Henry Payne is reading

Editor's Picks: What Henry Payne is reading. Despite a push from Gov. Rick Snyder, Michigan's 2014 budget will not include a massive expansion in Medicaid to 133 percent of poverty in accordance with Obamacare.

Detroit is shrinking slower

Re: Mike Wilkinson's May 23 report, 'Census: Detroit population loss slows, some suburbs see growth':

Debating Common Core

Re: State Rep. Tom McMillin's May 22 op-ed,

Hitting the chalkboard on Mackinac Island

Next week, education and business will merge on Mackinac Island, as both educators and businessmen acknowledge the vital link between the two.

Taxpayers to get bill for Pontiac school mess

The meltdown of the Pontiac School district is about to show up on the tax bills of property owners in several Oakland County communities.

Was Superman the hero of the 20th century?

My nomination for American hero of the 20th century is someone who lived half his life in disguise and the other half as the world's most recognizable man.

Editorial: Early budget deal good for state

Snyder and GOP leaders have cut a deal on a budget surplus that places lawmakers in a good position to finish the 2014 fiscal year budget by their self-imposed ...

Obama and the Congress who cried 'Nixon'

'Once upon a time, there was a boy tending the sheep who would continually go up to the embankment and shout, 'Help, there's a wolf!' The farmers would all ...

Letters: Donald Trump comes to Michigan

Re: Lauren Abdel-Razzaq's May 22 report,

Letters: What to do with the surplus?

Re: Chad Livengood's May 22 report, 'GOP, Gov. reach deal on surplus': Shoving right to work down the throats of Michiganians will be Gov. Snyder's undoing.

A new model for better evaluating Mich. teachers

The past couple of years have seen significant changes to Michigan's state government, with no issue receiving more attention than our public education system.

Editorial: Lower fuel taxes make for friendly skies

A package of bills in the state Legislature would remedy the situation by helping to keep commercial airlines as major contributors to Michigan's economy. The ...

Common Core the wrong plan for Michigan

'Draw a deep breath,' I tell myself before explaining my opposition to the Common Core system. There's not one reason to oppose it, there are several. And they ...

Labor Voices: GOP's agenda sells Michiganians short

It is time for Michiganians to have a real conversation about both value and values.

The big chill: AP, the IRS and free speech

Chilling effect. That's the term lawyers and judges use to describe the result of government actions that deter people from exercising their right of free ...

Letters

Re: The Detroit News' May 21 Editorial, 'Michigan becoming a smart investment': This is exactly what the state needs to retain top talent.

Letters: Are surpluses bad news?

Re: Nolan Finley's May 19 column,

Editorial: Michigan becoming a smart investment

Money attracts money, and Michigan is attracting a lot more venture capital today than it has in a decade and at a faster pace than the rest of the nation.

The zero-emission vehicle myth

Auto enthusiasts were thrilled last week as green automaker Tesla made it into the black, earning $11 million profit on revenue of $562 million in the first ...

Our choice: U.S. energy renaissance, or lights out?

Our nation is on the cusp of the holy grail of energy independence and a jobs and investment boon that would accompany it – that is, unless it is stunted by ...