Updated: Ann Arbor’s City Seal Ordinance: Less than an hour of legal work (turns into 13 more hours when the city rechecks records)

[Note: A week after this piece was published, the City of Ann Arbor appears to have checked through the city attorney staff electronic time records again. Some additional time records, were found and provided on Dec. 12. The additional records show 13 hours of work that was done on the city seal ordinance before the item was … Continue reading Updated: Ann Arbor’s City Seal Ordinance: Less than an hour of legal work (turns into 13 more hours when the city rechecks records) →

Four new councilmembers don’t mean Ann Arbor’s next city council will lack collective experience

When the newest edition of the Ann Arbor city council convenes its first regular meeting after the Nov. 6 elections, four out of 11 people at the table will have no experience as councilmembers. First-timers on the council are Jeff Hayner (Ward 1), Kathy Griswold (Ward 2), Elizabeth Nelson (Ward 4), and Ali Ramlawi (Ward … Continue reading Four new councilmembers don’t mean Ann Arbor’s next city council will lack collective experience →

Photos: “Nobody is above the law” demonstration (Bloomington, IN)

In Bloomington, Indiana, at the southeast corner of the Monroe County Courthouse, a couple hundred people gathered Thursday at 5 p.m for the local edition of a demonstration that was organized nationally by moveon.org. The "Nobody is Above the Law" demonstration was a response to events earlier in the week. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions … Continue reading Photos: “Nobody is above the law” demonstration (Bloomington, IN) →

Ladies and gentlemen: South Dakota

South Dakotans voted Republican Kristi Noem governor of the state on Tuesday, which will make her the first woman to serve as the state's top elected official when she's sworn in early next year. Noem prevailed with a roughly 3-point margin over Democrat Billie Sutton. That was 10 times closer than the 30-point margin Donald … Continue reading Ladies and gentlemen: South Dakota →

A democratic case against voting? The case of one Michigan city’s mayoral race

Voters in Ann Arbor, Michigan, will have a somewhat unusual choice on Nov. 6. If they participate in the mayoral election, their vote won't affect the election outcome—because only one candidate is eligible be elected. But under the city charter, each voter who chooses to participate in the mayoral election, will have an incremental negative … Continue reading A democratic case against voting? The case of one Michigan city’s mayoral race →

On the death of a South Dakota Supreme Court Justice

In a news release issued Tuesday, South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard announced the death of Steven Zinter, an associate justice on the South Dakota Supreme Court. The statement from Daugaard read in part: “Linda and I were shocked to hear this news. Justice Zinter was a towering figure in South Dakota law and a consummate … Continue reading On the death of a South Dakota Supreme Court Justice →

Roll in on the river: Once in a tickle trunk is easy; forever is hard

Southeastern Michigan's newest social media sensation (on Facebook) is News on the River, produced by Jim Roll. The daily newscast, anchored by Roll, is shot in front of the mighty Huron River. Each edition lasts one to two minutes. The first one aired on Oct. 19. In the first handful of episodes, a fashion correspondent, … Continue reading Roll in on the river: Once in a tickle trunk is easy; forever is hard →