Category: Analysis
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Commentary: COVID-19, mail-in voting challenge the USPS, election clerks
By Paul Rozycki What would it take to make 2020 the most disruptive year in decades? How about a global pandemic, where the U.S. has more cases than every other nation on earth? How about an economic collapse, with unemployment worse than anything seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s? How about racial divisions…
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Funding for Flint Registry to expire in 2021 unless Congress acts
By Coner Segren Without action from Congress, funding for the Flint Registry will expire in June of 2021, several top Michigan elected officials and a health expert announced at a press conference Aug. 26. Congressman Dan Kildee, Mayor Sheldon Neeley, Senator Gary Peters, and Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha all spoke in favor of legislation designed to…
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Flint voters experience troubled waters of democracy leading up to Nov. 3 election
By Tom Travis What is the prospect for accurate and reliable voting for the people of Flint as the Nov. 3 election approaches? Several recent developments focusing on the Flint City Clerk’s office are attempting to assure access and trustworthy handling of absentee ballots and election procedures for the high-stakes election. City Hall Shuts Down…
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Flint Schools eventfully roll into new school year: lawsuits settled, sports cancelled, student no-shows
By Harold C. Ford Events in August kickstarted the 2020-21 school year for Flint Community Schools in a most newsworthy fashion. The settlement of two longstanding lawsuits brought by the American Civil Liberties Union had important ramifications for Flint’s schoolchildren. All fall sports have been canceled. Fewer than 50% of Flint’s students showed up for class at the…
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Education Beat: Student no-shows spur FCS “Operation Return to Learn”
By Harold C. Ford “All hands on deck.” — Kevelin Jones, assistant superintendent, Flint Community Schools More than 50 percent of students expected to attend Flint Community Schools (FCS) during the 2020-21 school year were no-shows through the first week and a half of school that began Aug. 5.. In response, teams of FCS educators—including Superintendent…
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Flint Unity Coalition of Pastors call out John Gleason; “Today we stand in solidarity and support of Ms. Brown”
By Tom Travis Pastor Chris Martin spoke on behalf of the Flint Unity Coalition of Pastors at a press conference on the northeast lawn of the Genesee County Court House Tuesday to show support for City Clerk Inez Brown and to call out County Clerk John Gleason for a letter sent by his office last…
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“Music in the Heart of the City” returns to St. Paul’s starting Sept. 27
By Jan Worth-Nelson After months of COVID-dominated musical silence in the sanctuary of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, live concerts in the “Music in the Heart of the City” series are returning. Holly Richardson, the music series organizer, announced a five-concert schedule starting at 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, when vocalists Joseph Baunoch and Daniel Ewart…
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Top eight ways to spend $1 million in Flint announced by Mott Foundation
Demolishing vacant houses, setting up youth jobs for neighborhood cleanup, assistance for home repairs, and beautification efforts topped the tally of how to spend $1 million the C.S. Mott Foundation money has set aside to strengthen neighborhoods, according to a press release from the Foundation issued today. Several months ago the Foundation invited residents to…
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$2.7 million on its way for early childhood ed, child care in Genesee County, Kildee announces
A $2.7 million federal grant to Genesee Intermediate School District to fund Early Head Start education and child care programs for children in mid-Michigan was announced today by Congressman Dan Kildee (M-05). According to a press release issued by Kildee’s office, the $2,739,105 federal grant is being awarded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services…
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Genesee County Elections Supervisor calls out city clerk on election “deficiencies” and “failures”
By Tom Travis Election procedures in the Aug. 4 primary were compromised by multiple “deficiencies” and “failures,” in the Flint City Clerk’s office, Genesee County Election Supervisor Doreen Fulcher alleged in a scathing Aug. 19 letter to City Clerk Inez Brown. Many items noted flaws in handling of absentee ballots, and in the record keeping…
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