Old Media Watch Section

Bloomberg News reports that Jared Pinsker, a former employee at the Borders Group headquarters in Ann Arbor, has filed a potential class-action lawsuit against Borders “alleging that employees at the head office were fired in July and August without 60 days’ notice required by federal law. If the workers have a valid claim, it may represent an expense of the Chapter 11 case that must be paid in full before there can be confirmation of a liquidating Chapter 11 plan.” The article provides other updates in the firm’s bankruptcy. [Source]

The Ann Arbor Chronicle is one of the publications featured in an American Journalism Review report titled “Hyperlocal Heroes,” which looks at local online news publications nationwide. The article quotes Chronicle publisher Mary Morgan: ”One of the biggest challenges is stamina. It is a startup, and like any startup it takes a great amount of work and commitment. We work every day. We haven’t taken a vacation in three years. You get up in the morning and you’re doing Chronicle stuff, and the City Council can last until midnight on a regular basis. Twelve- to 16-hour days are not unusual.” [Source]

The Detroit News reports on how research funding at the University of Michigan and other state institutions might be affected by cutbacks in federal grants. The article quotes Stephen Forrest, UM vice president for research: “We are just hoping and semi-confident that Congress will still regard innovation as being the engine of the American economy and will continue to support it at the levels that are needed to maintain leadership.” [Source]

The Washtenaw Voice, the student newspaper for Washtenaw Community College, publishes a profile of WCC’s new president, Rose Bellanca. The report includes a look at some of the conflicts during her tenure as president at St. Clair County Community College (SC4) in Port Huron, as well as her plans for WCC. The article quotes Jim Frank, an English professor at SC4: “When there was conflict, it arose from trying to enact policies without engaging with the people they would affect. I think she learned a lot from her experiences here, the sort of relationships you need to build when you’re administrating over a college, the importance of good communication and the importance of information that should be shared when possible.” [Source]

The Detroit News reports on efforts to sell off General Motors’ factories that have been closed, including the Willow Run plant, where the trust that was created to sell the plants is based. From the article: ”Like many of the former GM facilities for sale, the plant is massive and full of history. The Albert Kahn-designed facility was first used by Ford Motor Co. to build B-24 bombers during World War II. The plant’s productivity was a big reason Metro Detroit was dubbed ‘the great arsenal of democracy’ by President Franklin Roosevelt during the war. Its last use was as a GM transmission plant, closing in 2010. The plant is so sprawling it could house six Comerica Parks, the home stadium … [Full Story]

Law school enrollment is declining, due in part to a lack of jobs after graduation, according to an Associated Press report. The article quotes Sarah Zearfoss, assistant law dean and admissions director for the University of Michigan Law School, which saw a 14% drop in new student enrollment: “This year, people realize that this is not a one-year economic decline. It seems to be a much longer-term problem. … Now that people are aware it’s not a cakewalk to get a big salary, they’re thinking more carefully and a little more rationally about making this choice.” [Source]

The Wall Street Journal reports on a slight rise in housing prices nationwide, and quotes Vance Shutes, an associate broker for Real Estate One in Ann Arbor: “The pace of sales is better than a year ago. In our northern suburbs, where the automotive companies were just decimated, those markets are now rebounding strongly as the auto companies have started bringing people back after five years of shedding them.” [Source]

The Detroit Free Press reports on a new partnership between Ford Motor Co. and Zipcar, the car-sharing service, to increase the number of Ford vehicles that Zipcar uses in college towns nationwide. From the report: “Ford and Zipcar will offer $10 off the $35 annual membership fee for the first 100,000 new university students members who sign up for Zipcar, plus $1 off the hourly rate for the first 1 million hours of use on any of the new Ford vehicles at select colleges and universities. New Ford vehicles start arriving on campuses this week.” Zipcar operates in Ann Arbor and has several locations on the University of Michigan campus. [Source]

In a report on President Obama’s choice of Princeton labor economist Alan Kreuger to be the next chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, NPR’s Michel Martin interviews Susan Collins – dean of the University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy – about the role that Kreuger might play in improving the nation’s economy and job growth. [Source]

The Detroit Free Press reports that Ann Arbor police chief Barnett Jones advises returning University of Michigan students to be on guard, although there have been no recent assaults following a series of attacks in July. Says Jones: “The person seemingly has disappeared. But being mindful of that does not allow us to drop our guard. And I don’t want the students to drop their guard also. He has not been caught.” [Source]

In a piece aired on American Public Media’s Marketplace Money, Michigan Radio’s Jennifer Guerra reports on how an Ann Arbor lemonade stand run by Molly and Lucy Prochaska has been affected by the economy – business is down. The report also interviews Ellen Daniel, who teaches at an Ann Arbor middle school and says that many students have parents who’ve been laid off or had to move out of town for a job: “That whole idea that we’ve moved from an economy where you could be part of a big company and work there your whole career and retire from there. And I don’t think kids see that the same way.” [Source]

The Detroit News reports that Wayne County hopes to partner with the University of Michigan to have UM take over some of the county’s medical examiner services. The Wayne County board of commissioners still needs to approve the deal, which is expected to save the county $1.5 million over three years. The article quotes county executive Bob Ficano: “We’re facing a lot of budget issues. This is a step in the direction that helps soften the cuts we have to make. We’re happy to have UM help with the situation.” [Source]

The Los Angeles Times reviews “Fair Food: Growing a Healthy, Sustainable Food System for All,” a new book by Oran B. Hesterman, founder of the Ann Arbor nonprofit Fair Food Network. From the review: ”Hesterman’s work follows a library’s worth of books and movies that have questioned the wisdom of enormous corn and soybean farms, the morals of food advertising, the dangers of fast food diets, the health of confined animal feeding operations and more. But while Hesterman argues that the status quo is not working, he hopes to inspire readers to do more than plant tomatoes in their yards. He wants a food system that values “equity, diversity, ecological integrity and economic viability,” and much of the book is … [Full Story]

Detroit News columnist writes about The Ecology Center’s petition drive to get solar panels installed in Michigan Stadium: ”…policy specialist Monica Patel concedes that ‘Michigan Stadium probably isn’t the most ideal solar location in town.’ Simply floating the notion, though, promotes solar energy and the 121 businesses in the Michigan solar energy supply chain, so the Ecology Center figures it’ll score a few points even if the project never gets off the bench.” [Source]

NPR’s Weekend Edition includes an interview with Chris Leinberger, a University of Michigan professor of practice in urban and regional planning, about what happens to neighboring areas when anchor stores like Borders bookstore close. When asked if there’s an upside to urban stores like Borders closing, Leinberger says: ”Actually yes, because most of the national chains led by chains like Target and Safeway and Whole Foods are all experimenting and implementing urban formats. So, Targets, most of the major grocery chains understand that walkable urban places are very successful, much more profitable than their drivable suburban places. And believe it or not, even Wal-Mart – I’ll believe it when I see it, of course – but even Wal-Mart’s experimenting with urban stores.” [... [Full Story]

The New York Times reports on how efforts to cut health care costs will likely curb that industry’s job growth. The article quotes Doug Strong, CEO of the University of Michigan Hospitals and Health System, who reports that even though the health system is adding roughly 560 jobs with its new children’s and women’s hospitals and an expanded emergency department, in the future the system will need to deliver care with fewer people at less cost. “I think that is what the nation is asking of all of us.” [Source]

The Detroit News profiles Sue Snyder, wife of Gov. Rick Snyder, focusing on her family, philanthropic efforts and battle with breast cancer. The article notes that the Snyders have set up two endowments at the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, including a scholarship fund for children who go to Ann Arbor’s Daycroft Montessori School in Ann Arbor, which their two daughters attended. Sue Snyder cites Betty Ford as the first lady she most admires: “She was just a woman ahead of her time. But yet she was so strong on her family and that’s what I always say, my family comes first.” [Source]

 

Detroit Free Press columnist Tom Walsh interviews Alison Davis-Blake, new dean of the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. She tells Walsh: “Higher education used to be a lot more sleepy. Today all the top schools are deeply invested in nontraditional education – executive MBAs, evening MBAs, weekend MBAs, global MBAs, nondegree executive education. Those are very sensitive to economic downturns and upturns, so you have to be very attuned to your markets … very nimble and adaptable to your marketplace.” [Source]

The Detroit Free Press reports that although more than 500 tips have been received regarding the six attacks on women in downtown Ann Arbor last month, police say information about possible leads has slowed down. They urge anyone with tips to call the Ann Arbor police at 734-794-6939 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAKUP. A $1,000 reward is offered for information that leads to an arrest. [Source]

The Lansing State Journal reports on a rally in Lansing that’s part of the weeklong Moveable Peace Walk: ”During the Capitol rally, organizers presented a petition to State Rep. Jeff Irwin, an Ann Arbor Democrat, to call on Gov. Rick Snyder and the Legislature to create a Michigan Commission for Peace and Justice. The new commission would be aimed at examining alternatives to reduce crime and bolster social justice in the state. Irwin will present the petition, which has 1,350 signatures, to his colleagues in coming days.” [Source]

Michigan firms are taking a beating on Wall Street in Monday’s trading, according to a Detroit News report, following the downgrade of the U.S. credit rating on Friday. ”Even Domino’s Pizza Inc., the Ann Arbor company that has enjoyed much success during the past year and a half, saw the value of its shares marked down 7 percent to $23.60.” [Source]

The Detroit News is among several media outlets reporting on an alleged hate crime that occurred against a 21-year-old Muslim woman on Sunday morning in Ann Arbor. The woman, wearing a hijab, said she was in her car at State and Eisenhower when a driver in a black Dodge Ram truck pulled up behind her and starting yelling insults, calling her a terrorist and saying her people should be killed. She told police he pointed a handgun at her. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has asked the FBI to investigate. [Source]

The Detroit News reports on the impact of the new “oddly shaped” U.S. 14th Congressional District in metro Detroit, which resembles a large S and spans a wide range of communities. The article quotes John Chamberlin, a University of Michigan professor of political science and public policy: “It’s the ugliest district Michigan has had since they’ve started doing redistricting. It’s clearly tortured. Something is going on.” [Source]

The Detroit Free Press reports that donations to the University of Michigan athletic department, including donations required for premium seating at Michigan Stadium, had increased 22% by the end of May, compared to the previous year. The article notes that the increase began soon after UM hired Brady Hoke to replace Rich Rodriguez as its football coach. A UM spokesman downplayed the connection, while some fans indicate otherwise, like Mike Warren of Grand Rapids: “Me and some friends were actually talking about getting some of those club seats, but they sold out before we got them. We weren’t going to do it if RichRod was still there, but I think Brady is going to turn this whole program around.” [Source]

The Michigan Daily interviews Ann Arbor city council candidates in the Aug. 2 Democratic primary races for Wards 2, 3 and 5, with a focus on student issues. [Source]

Bloomberg reports that the Washtenaw County Employees Retirement System has filed a lawsuit against Princeton Review Inc., the test-preparation firm, for securities fraud. The lawsuit claims that Princeton Review issued “false and misleading statements” about the business related to the company’s April 2010 secondary stock offering and financial results. The pension system is seeking class-action status for its suit, according to the report. [Source]

The Pensacola News Journal reports that Bill Reynolds, former Washtenaw County deputy administrator, has been hired as the new city manager for Pensacola, Fla., at a salary of $130,000 a year. [Source] Reynolds had been on the job in Washtenaw County just under a year when he went on paid medical leave in April 2011, citing post-military issues. He had been hired here at a salary of $138,000. He turned in his resignation in late May, effective June 17. While on paid leave, he was interviewing for other jobs nationwide, according to several news reports, and was a finalist for a county administrator job in St. Croix County, Wisc.

WXZY-TV, Detroit’s ABC affiliate, reports on a “Take Back the Night” march in downtown Ann Arbor, a response to recent sexual assaults against women. “Accompanied by a few men, they chanted “Hey hey, ho ho, sexual assault has got to go,” as they marched through Ann Arbor’s streets Thursday night. While Ann Arbor Police and the FBI search for the suspect or suspects responsible, a young woman from Ypsilanti organized a rally. Rebecca Craigmile says someone had to step up to the plate and bring people together to march against fear.” [Source]

The Community Farm of Ann Arbor, People’s Food Co-op and Real Time Farms are featured in a New York Times article about eating parts of fruits and vegetables that many people throw out. The article – “That’s Not Trash, That’s Dinner” – quotes Kevin Sharp of the People’s Food Co-op: “People know that nasturtium flowers are edible, but the leaves are also great salads and the seed pods, if you pickle them, make a wonderful substitute for capers.” [Source]

Crain’s Detroit Business reports that a free print edition of the satirical publication The Onion will be distributed in Ann Arbor, through a partnership with Chicago-based Bopper Media Inc., which was founded by University of Michigan alum Bobby Mitchell. The Onion is also based in Chicago. [Source]