Wednesday, October 27,2010

Four local school board races

by Andy Balaskovitz

Mark Slabaugh, 53, is the third candidate. Slabaugh, who has a bachelor’s degree in energy management from Eastern Michigan University, is an energy engineer at Johnson Controls, a high-tech manufacturing company that invented the first electric thermostat.

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Wednesday, October 27,2010

Streamlining district court

by Andy Balaskovitz

Allen, who was appointed to the position by Gov. Jennifer Granholm in 2008, got his law degree from Wayne State University in 1983. He went on to be an assistant attorney general, deputy legal counsel for Granholm and the state “drug czar” for two-and-a-half years ' “All of that is a rich history,” Allen said during an Oct.

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Wednesday, October 27,2010

Enderle carries banner for Dems against Rogers

by Andy Balaskovitz

The first sentence on the “About Lance” website of Lance Enderle says: “I am not a politician; I am a teacher, and a citizen.” Enderle, a 41-year-old graduate of Lansing Eastern High School, happens to be running against one big name of a politician: Republican Mike Rogers.

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Wednesday, October 27,2010

Meet your Ingham County commissioner candidates

by Andy Balaskovitz

District 1 — Northwest and west Lansing, Lansing Township Neal Alan Barncard (R) Age: 51 | Occupation: Civil engineering technician | Barncard lost against incumbent Victor Celentino in the 2008 election, but was later appointed to a spot on the Environmental Affairs Commit...

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Wednesday, October 27,2010

Mudslinging in the 7th

On the campaign trail in the spirited 7th Congressional District

by Andy Balaskovitz

Republican Tim Walberg, who wants to win back the seat, paints Democratic incumbent Mark Schauer as a freespending liberal in cahoots with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Barack Obama and accuses Schauer of “smear and fear” campaign tactics.

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Monday, October 25,2010

Cash for Knapp's?

The Lansing City Council votes tonight on tax incentives for developers of the Knapp’s building downtown

by Andy Balaskovitz

Monday, Oct. 25 — The Lansing City Council is scheduled to vote tonight on a $22.5 million tax incentive plan for the $36.4 million effort to redevelop the Knapp’s building downtown.

Thursday, October 21,2010

Remember Michael Milken?

Lansing gets thumbs-up from the Milken Institute and the mayor takes credit

by Andy Balaskovitz

Wednesday, Oct. 20 — Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero’s office — and his gubernatorial campaign headquarters — issued press releases today on a Milken Institute report that touted Lansing as one of the top 10 cities in the country for job growth. ...

Wednesday, October 20,2010

A fair wage, please

One union leader gives his side on the Market Place project: ‘We’ve started to talk past each other as far as developing our city’

by Andy Balaskovitz

“It’s important to have individuals work and get paid a fair wage. We have to make sure labor is valued,” said Davis, who is a representative with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. “That shouldn’t stop with the person who has the ability to finance the project.

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Wednesday, October 20,2010

Virg Watch

The youth vote: Bernero’s last ace in the hole?

by Andy Balaskovitz

Wednesday, Oct. 20 — One Democratic political consultant says there is still one "under-the-radar" way gubernatorial candidate Virg Bernero can make a run at his Republican opponent Rick Snyder in the next 13 days.

Tuesday, October 19,2010

Kids in the Hall

Was it illegal for the City Council to block tax incentives for Pat Gillespie’s Market Place project?

by Andy Balaskovitz

Tuesday, Oct. 19 — Developer Pat Gillespie is exploring the option of suing the city over the City Council’s decision last week to block tax incentives for his $23 million Market Place project downtown.