Muskegon, Norton Shores, Fruitport Township tout lower rates, 'stability' with new agreement | MLive.com#incart_river#incart_river
Norton Shores and Fruitport Township will pay 15 percent more than the cost of producing filtered water, but won’t pay for the cost of operating and maintaining Muskegon’s water distribution system. Because they will build their own pipeline and won’t pay for Muskegon’s distribution costs, it could work out to less than 115 percent of what customers within the city of Muskegon pay.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Judge strikes down law affecting long-term state employees' pensions
Judge strikes down law affecting long-term state employees' pensions | MLive.com
An Ingham County judge on Friday struck down a requirement that long-term state employees contribute 4 percent of their pay to stay in a defined benefit pension plan as opposed to switching to a 401(k)-style system.
The ruling by Circuit Judge Joyce Draganchuk is a win for workers hired before April 1, 1997, who get a traditional pension benefit.
All new hires after that qualify for a defined contribution plan.
An Ingham County judge on Friday struck down a requirement that long-term state employees contribute 4 percent of their pay to stay in a defined benefit pension plan as opposed to switching to a 401(k)-style system.
The ruling by Circuit Judge Joyce Draganchuk is a win for workers hired before April 1, 1997, who get a traditional pension benefit.
All new hires after that qualify for a defined contribution plan.
Inter-governmental water agreement: Why now? What about Muskegon Heights?
Inter-governmental water agreement: Why now? What about Muskegon Heights? | MLive.com#incart_river
Muskegon Heights Mayor Darrell Paige announced earlier this week that he is appointing an ad-hoc committee to formulate a recommendation and possible solution to the expected loss of Norton Shores and Fruitport Township as customers.
Norton Shores and Fruitport Township account for about 70 percent of the current usage from the Muskegon Heights water plant.
Muskegon Heights Mayor Darrell Paige announced earlier this week that he is appointing an ad-hoc committee to formulate a recommendation and possible solution to the expected loss of Norton Shores and Fruitport Township as customers.
Norton Shores and Fruitport Township account for about 70 percent of the current usage from the Muskegon Heights water plant.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Analysis: Nation's Water Costs Rushing Higher
Analysis: Nation's Water Costs Rushing Higher - - CNBC
Higher rates still ahead
The costs continue to rise even though residential water usage dropped sharply nationwide in the past three decades amid conservation efforts.
U.S. water systems will need as much as $1 trillion in infrastructure improvements by 2035 to keep up with drinking water needs, according to a survey of industry experts released in June.
The bond debt needed to fund those projects' work will be passed on to consumers, including the many Americans struggling with the economic fallout of the great recession.
A virtually irreplaceable resource that Americans rely on for health and daily living "could potentially get more and more expensive," says John Chevrette, who heads the management consulting arm of Black & Veatch, the firm that conducted the industry survey.
He predicts rate increases of 5% to 15% every few years, saying the cost of water "could take a larger and more significant bite out of otherwise disposable income."
Higher rates still ahead
The costs continue to rise even though residential water usage dropped sharply nationwide in the past three decades amid conservation efforts.
U.S. water systems will need as much as $1 trillion in infrastructure improvements by 2035 to keep up with drinking water needs, according to a survey of industry experts released in June.
The bond debt needed to fund those projects' work will be passed on to consumers, including the many Americans struggling with the economic fallout of the great recession.
A virtually irreplaceable resource that Americans rely on for health and daily living "could potentially get more and more expensive," says John Chevrette, who heads the management consulting arm of Black & Veatch, the firm that conducted the industry survey.
He predicts rate increases of 5% to 15% every few years, saying the cost of water "could take a larger and more significant bite out of otherwise disposable income."
Our Feckless First Leader
Our Feckless First Leader - Thomas Sowell - National Review Online
Barack Obama is not the first leader of a nation whose actions reflected some half-baked vision, enveloped in lofty rhetoric and spiced with a huge dose of ego.
Nor would he be the first such leader to steer his nation into a historic catastrophe.
Barack Obama is not the first leader of a nation whose actions reflected some half-baked vision, enveloped in lofty rhetoric and spiced with a huge dose of ego.
Nor would he be the first such leader to steer his nation into a historic catastrophe.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Muskegon Heights forming committee to investigate water options without Norton Shores, Fruitport
Muskegon Heights forming committee to investigate water options without Norton Shores, Fruitport | MLive.com
Convinced that their two current customer communities will be buying water from another source, Muskegon Heights city officials are making preparations to move forward without them.
Convinced that their two current customer communities will be buying water from another source, Muskegon Heights city officials are making preparations to move forward without them.
All quiet by 9 p.m.? Readers debate how early is too early in proposed Norton Shores noise ordinance
All quiet by 9 p.m.? Readers debate how early is too early in proposed Norton Shores noise ordinance (with poll) | MLive.com
Police Chief Dan Shaw emphasized that the ordinance would be enforced only if someone complained, and that officers would ask the people making noise to quiet down before issuing a citation.
Police Chief Dan Shaw emphasized that the ordinance would be enforced only if someone complained, and that officers would ask the people making noise to quiet down before issuing a citation.
Melching vision: Hotels and marinas are possible on Sappi mill property on Muskegon Lake
Melching vision: Hotels and marinas are possible on Sappi mill property on Muskegon Lake | MLive.com
Melching said the former Sappi site will become his demolition company’s Muskegon base of operations with the creation of the metal scrap processing operation.
Melching said the former Sappi site will become his demolition company’s Muskegon base of operations with the creation of the metal scrap processing operation.
Vision for Muskegon area's future the focus of five community forums
Vision for Muskegon area's future the focus of five community forums | MLive.com
Those who want to be part of generating an area-wide vision and planning document for Muskegon County are encouraged to provide input during community forums in October.
Those who want to be part of generating an area-wide vision and planning document for Muskegon County are encouraged to provide input during community forums in October.
Study: Female GOP politicians look more feminine
Study: Female GOP politicians look more feminine - Washington Times
If a new academic study is to be believed, Republican women politicians look more feminine than their Democratic counterparts.
The study, by two UCLA researchers, found that female politicians with what are described as stereotypically feminine features tended to be Republicans, and the reverse was also true for Democratic women. GOP women rated, on average, twice as stereotypically feminine as Democrats. In fact, the authors said the correlation was so strong that undergraduates were regularly able to guess someone's party affiliation just by the way she looked.
If a new academic study is to be believed, Republican women politicians look more feminine than their Democratic counterparts.
The study, by two UCLA researchers, found that female politicians with what are described as stereotypically feminine features tended to be Republicans, and the reverse was also true for Democratic women. GOP women rated, on average, twice as stereotypically feminine as Democrats. In fact, the authors said the correlation was so strong that undergraduates were regularly able to guess someone's party affiliation just by the way she looked.
Men-You MUST own this shirt!
Amazon.com: The Mountain Three Wolf Moon Short Sleeve Tee: Clothing
"The Three Wolf Moon shirts power is obvious.
This video is living proof that you will get women, and fly.
Most importantly my son was born without bones and when I put this shirt on him he grew bones.
Don't ask me how it happened but the magic is there.
I wish I could hug the designer of this shirt and thank them for everything they have done for my family."
Watch the video (http://www.amazon.com/review/R29Z83O4AK10UD/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm), read the other comments and try to deny the power of a simple piece of clothing!
Own it and rise above it all!
"The Three Wolf Moon shirts power is obvious.
This video is living proof that you will get women, and fly.
Most importantly my son was born without bones and when I put this shirt on him he grew bones.
Don't ask me how it happened but the magic is there.
I wish I could hug the designer of this shirt and thank them for everything they have done for my family."
Watch the video (http://www.amazon.com/review/R29Z83O4AK10UD/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm), read the other comments and try to deny the power of a simple piece of clothing!
Own it and rise above it all!
One hard-boiled egg and crackers for lunch
EAG FOCUS: One hard-boiled egg and crackers for lunch
At the Tewksbury school district in New Jersey, children who fall $3.10 behind on their food payments get one hard-boiled egg, a package of crackers and a carton of milk for lunch.
Seriously.
At the Tewksbury school district in New Jersey, children who fall $3.10 behind on their food payments get one hard-boiled egg, a package of crackers and a carton of milk for lunch.
Seriously.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Photograph of man and his arthritic dog raises so much money they've started a foundation to save other animals
Photograph of man and his arthritic dog raises so much money they've started a foundation to save other animals | Mail OnlineMr Unger's good friend Hannah Stonehouse Hudson, who is a professional photographer, captured the heartbreaking moment between the man and his aging rescue dog in Wisconsin when Mr Unger thought his best friend was at the end of his life.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Hunger on the Rise in Spain
Hunger on the Rise in Spain - NYTimes.com
For the wholesalers who have businesses here, the sight of people going through the scraps is hard.
“It is not nice to see what is happening to these people,” said Manu Gallego, the manager of Canniad Fruit. “It shouldn’t be like this.”
For the wholesalers who have businesses here, the sight of people going through the scraps is hard.
“It is not nice to see what is happening to these people,” said Manu Gallego, the manager of Canniad Fruit. “It shouldn’t be like this.”
Tax Credit in Doubt, Wind Power Industry Is Withering
Tax Credit in Doubt, Wind Power Industry Is Withering - NYTimes.com
But without the tax credit in place, the wind business “falls off a cliff,” said Ryan Wiser, a staff scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory who studies the market potential of renewable electricity sources.
But without the tax credit in place, the wind business “falls off a cliff,” said Ryan Wiser, a staff scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory who studies the market potential of renewable electricity sources.
The Magnitude of the Mess We're In
Shultz, Boskin, Cogan, Meltzer and Taylor: The Magnitude of the Mess We're In - WSJ.com
Did you know that the federal government had 46 separate job-training programs?
Yet a 47th for green jobs was added, and the success rate was so poor that the Department of Labor inspector general said it should be shut down.
Did you know that the federal government had 46 separate job-training programs?
Yet a 47th for green jobs was added, and the success rate was so poor that the Department of Labor inspector general said it should be shut down.
Chevy Volt Battery Plant Floundering Despite $151M from Obama
Chevy Volt Battery Plant Floundering Despite $151M from Obama
Two years ago, President Obama visited the LG Chem battery plant in Holland, Michigan.
He then hailed the plant, saying,
"You are leading the way in showing how manufacturing jobs are coming right back here to the United States of America."
But today, those LG Chem jobs Obama claimed were "coming back" are seeing intermittent layoffs instead of growth.
In 2010, the plant, which supplies batteries for the Chevy Volt, received $151 million in tax money from the U.S. Department of Energy, but it has been good money after bad.
Today, $133 million of that $151 million has been spent, but since April, the company's 200 workers have been on "rolling furloughs" because the electric vehicle market has failed to blossom as promised by many.
In 2010, the plant was projected to create 443 new jobs within five years.
Those projections have been shelved as the company says it can't predict when the furloughs will stop for its current employees.
Two years ago, President Obama visited the LG Chem battery plant in Holland, Michigan.
He then hailed the plant, saying,
"You are leading the way in showing how manufacturing jobs are coming right back here to the United States of America."
But today, those LG Chem jobs Obama claimed were "coming back" are seeing intermittent layoffs instead of growth.
In 2010, the plant, which supplies batteries for the Chevy Volt, received $151 million in tax money from the U.S. Department of Energy, but it has been good money after bad.
Today, $133 million of that $151 million has been spent, but since April, the company's 200 workers have been on "rolling furloughs" because the electric vehicle market has failed to blossom as promised by many.
In 2010, the plant was projected to create 443 new jobs within five years.
Those projections have been shelved as the company says it can't predict when the furloughs will stop for its current employees.
Obama suddenly slips, Romney gains in updated Rove Electoral Map
"Mr. Obama is down to 196 'safe Electoral College votes with four states (51 EC votes) 'leaning' in his favor.
"Mr. Romney's 'safe' EC votes increased to 159, with three 'lean' states (32 EC votes) that are more than likely to be in his column on Election Day.
"It should be noted this is the first time since August 1st that Mr. Obama's 'safe' EC vote total decreased while Mr. Romney's grew.
"There are also eight 'toss up' states and a coveted 100 EC votes are up for grabs.
These states remain too close to call and show little movement, even after a week of rigorous polling (52 surveys conducted in 18 states)."
USDA offering women, Hispanic farmers over $1.3B in discrimination payouts
USDA offering women, Hispanic farmers over $1.3B in discrimination payouts | The Daily Caller
As part of “a new era of civil rights” at the Department of Agriculture, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced Monday that Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who believe USDA discriminated against them can file claims to get a piece of at least $1.33 billion in cash awards and tax relief payments and up to $160 million in farm debt relief, beginning this week.
As part of “a new era of civil rights” at the Department of Agriculture, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced Monday that Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who believe USDA discriminated against them can file claims to get a piece of at least $1.33 billion in cash awards and tax relief payments and up to $160 million in farm debt relief, beginning this week.
We Are Hungry
Not only is the mandated food not popular and often wasted, there also is not enough of it, and students are protesting. Students in one district have released a YouTube video parodying their quest for enough to eat during the day. A Facebook page asks kids to send in pictures of their meager lunches.
According to Livestrong.com, teenagers need between 2,000 and 3,000 calories per day to be healthy, and athletes can need as many as 5,000 calories. But the new regulations limit the intake to just 750-850 calories on the tray. Which, if the food is unpalatable, means the students may not be getting even that much.
USDA spends millions for globe-trotting conferences
Watchdog: USDA spends millions for globe-trotting conferences | WashingtonExaminer.com
In one instance, the USDA spent nearly $57,000 for a conference attended by only one of its employees, according to agency disclosures that do not provide any explanation of the cost.
In one instance, the USDA spent nearly $57,000 for a conference attended by only one of its employees, according to agency disclosures that do not provide any explanation of the cost.
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