In Northern Mich. locals worry biomass harvesting will harm tourism, recreation

Gov. Jennifer Granholm says she is pleased with the action being taken by the administration of President Barack Obama, but feels the feds can still do more.

Granholm and other Great Lakes governors met with Obama officials at the White House Monday afternoon. During that meeting, Granholm said the administration said it is taking many actions to address the threat posed by Asian Carp to the Great Lakes.
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The 'nerd' governor?

In one of the more interesting political ads in recent memory — especially for a Republican — Ann Arbor venture capitalist and first-time candidate Rick Snyder branded himself “one tough nerd” in the 60-second spot that ran during the Super Bowl coverage yesterday.

Typically, Republican candidates don’t embrace their intellectual sides, instead often preferring to brand “elitist” Democrats with the egg-head epithet. But not Snyder. He’s apparently decided to goes full steam ahead on the embrace-your-inner-wonk front, albeit with a humorous touch.
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Detroit’s latest public corruption production is, mercifully, almost over. In fact, closing arguments over political consultant Sam Riddle’s alleged scheme to extort thousands in bribes were entered into the record just a couple hours ago.

Summing up the prosecution’s take on the self-described “political pirate” (courtesy of extensive wire tapped phone calls), Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gardey asked jurors to make a statement with their verdict on Riddle, ex-chief of staff to former Detroit City Councilor Monica Conyers:
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A seven member financial review team appointed by the governor to investigate Benton Harbor’s financial situation has found that a local government financial emergency exists in Benton Harbor and is recommending that the governor appoint an emergency financial manager.

The panel said that state intervention is necessary in Benton Harbor, “because no satisfactory plan exists to resolve a serious financial problem.”
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While the media is focused on Lansing Mayor Virgil Bernero’s announcement that he will be seeking the Democratic nomination for governor this year, Peter Luke over at MLive.com has an interesting tidbit about Rep. Andy Dillon.

Luke reports Dillon will announce his formal candidacy “very soon, in a matter of weeks.” Dillon, who is the current speaker of the state house, also said in an interview on the Detroit Public Television show “Am I Right or Am I Right?” that he will surpass one of his key goals before announcing his candidacy:
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It didn’t take long for the GOP gubernatorial race and the special interests to launch the ad wars over who should be the standard bearer for the Republicans in the August primary.

Last week, the campaign of Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard became the target of a nonprofit organization’s criticisms with a billboard and website. The billboard, located on the high traffic area of I-75 in Auburn Hills, directs people to the website OaklandSheriff.net. There, the viewer is treated to criticisms of Bouchard involving his management style, spending and issues at the county jail. Most damning, is a transcript from a deposition in which Bouchard walks out without discussing an alleged affair.
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Attorney General Mike Cox has filed a brief, along with 13 other state attorneys general, in a case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court called Christian Legal Society v. Martinez. The case involves the question of whether recognized student organizations at a publicly funded university can set their own standards for membership or whether the university can force them to include those who disagree with the founding goals and ideals of the organization based upon the school’s anti-discrimination policies.
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