Category: Features
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Flint Public Library opens in temporary quarters with COVID precautions in place
By Coner Segren After a months-long closure due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Flint Public Library reopens its doors to the public at its temporary location in Courtland Center Mall today, July 23. Conditions for the “phased re-opening” include face masks, social distancing, frequent sanitizing, the use of “quarantine bins” for item returns, a…
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“We’re at an intersection of crisis,” Mayor Neeley says and offers three point plan to combat crime in Flint
By Tom Travis In a press conference today Mayor Sheldon Neeley along with Police Chief Phil Hart presented a three-point plan to combat crime in the City of Flint: — Formation of a Special Investigative Unit, — A recruitment effort to hire new officers, and — A “no questions asked” gun buy back program. Noting…
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He changed my life: A remembrance of John Lewis
By Harold C. Ford “When you see something that is not right, not just, not fair, you have a moral obligation to say something. To do something.” — John Lewis, December 2019 It was Sunday, March 7, 1965. I was an 18-year-old freshman student at Flint Community Junior College (FCJC). I still lived at my…
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“FACES of Flint” GOTV videos going public
It’s happening! The premiere, LIVE ON ZOOM, of “FACES of Flint: a message from the anvil of American democracy” Two “Get out the vote” videos produced by East Village Magazine feature 130 Flint residents offering a heart-touching Get Out the Vote message. Featuring narration by Flint poet laureate Semaj Brown and East Village Magazine Editor at Large…
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Education Beat: Flint School board approves plan to re-open schools online Aug. 5
By Harold C. Ford A plan for all Flint students to return to school Aug. 5 on a virtual/online basis only has been approved by the board of the Flint Community School (FCS) district. Then in September, following recommendations from the state and other sources, FCS students would continue school in three possible formats: face-to-face/brick-and-mortar;…
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City Clerk and City of Flint respond to ACLU complaint about absentee ballot/voters rights concerns
By Tom Travis In response to a complaint filed in the Genesee County Circuit Court Thursday by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan and five Flint residents, City Clerk Inez Brown has announced 24-hour access to a secured absentee ballot drop box now installed in front of City Hall, 1101 S. Saginaw Street,…
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Flint receives $400,000 grant from the Department of Justice to fight Coronavirus
By Tom Travis The City of Flint has won a $411,348 grant from the Department of Justice to fund COVID-19 response and related expenses, city officials announced this week. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a part of the U.S. Department of Justice and administers assistance in the form of grants to municipalities and local…
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ACLU sues City of Flint Clerk’s office over absentee ballot concerns
By Jan Worth-Nelson and Tom Travis Concerns about processing of absentee ballots have led to a complaint by The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan against the Flint City Clerk’s office seeking to account for absentee ballot requests submitted to the clerk and getting the ballots out to voters in time for the upcoming…
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Local ACLU fires off complaint to the Mayor and City Clerk; mail-in and absentee ballots in question
By Tom Travis The City of Flint is not complying with absentee balloting requirements approved by Michigan voters, Greater Flint American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) officials claimed Tuesday in a letter of complaint to Mayor Sheldon Neeley and Flint City Clerk Inez Brown. The letter, titled Flint’s “Disenfranchisement of Absentee Voters,” said the Flint City…
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Free COVID testing for Flint residents returns to Shiloh MBC Thursday and Friday
The City of Flint has issued the following announcement: “FLINT, Michigan—Free COVID-19 testing will return on Thursday and Friday to Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church through the continued partnership of state, county and local entities. Testing at Shiloh has been extremely popular with residents with more than 1,200 tests conducted during two previous testing cycles [starting…
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