Category: News

Local News: Michigan Unemployement rates are now at 15.2 percent, across ALL Markets

Oh Wonderful…. 🙄

Lansing — Unemployment rates rose in all 17 of Michigan’s major labor markets in June.

The loss of manufacturing jobs and of seasonal employment in education drove up the unemployment rates announced by the state Thursday. Michigan gained seasonal tourism jobs.

All of Michigan’s regional markets had unemployment rates of more than 10 percent last month, ranging from a low of 10.6 percent in Ann Arbor to a high of 17.4 percent in Flint.

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Two rural counties, Baraga and Oscoda, each had jobless rates of more than 20 percent.

Regional unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted. National and state unemployment rates are adjusted to remove seasonal influences.

Michigan’s statewide seasonally adjusted rate of 15.2 percent was highest in the nation.

via Unemployment rates rise across Mich. —  The Detroit News.

Just another perfect example of the failure of the socialist Democrat polices in my wonderful state. When will the fine people of Michigan wake up and realize that the Democrats have nothing, but their own special interests in mind and vote these socialist twits out of office, once and for all?

I will not hold my breath, least I turn blue and die.

Michigan needs change, but not what Obama and Socialist goon Jennifer Granholm have mind.

NJ sting nets Mayors and Rabbis

An interesting story….

Via CNN:

The New Jersey officials and their associates charged in a federal probe of public corruption exchanged hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in parking lots, restaurants, boiler rooms and bathrooms, an acting U.S. attorney said Thursday.

The investigation netted 44 defendants — 29 on corruption charges and 15 for alleged money laundering, acting U.S. Attorney Ralph Marra Jr. said at a news conference.

Defendants were to begin appearing Thursday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Newark.

Among the 15 are five rabbis, including the national leader of the Syrian Jewish community. They are alleged to have laundered more than $3 million in a “high-volume, international money-laundering conspiracy,” Marra said. Their alleged dealings stretched to Israel and Switzerland.

“These complaints paint a disgraceful picture of religious leaders heading money-laundering crews, acting as crime bosses. They used purported charities … as vehicles for laundering millions of dollars in illicit funds,” Marra said.

The rabbis named in the indictments are accused of setting up charitable tax-exempt organizations at their synagogues that they used to launder money.

According to the indictments, a confidential witness working for federal authorities approached the rabbis and offered to make donations to the charities in return for the rabbis writing back a check to the undercover agent. The rabbis collected a fee for the service by writing a smaller check back, sometimes returning $45,000 for a $50,000 donation to the charity, the indictments said.

Charges against the rabbis include bankruptcy fraud, bank fraud and trafficking in counterfeit goods.

Marra said more than $650,000 in bribes was paid to those accused in the criminal complaints. “And the politicians willingly put themselves up for sale,” he said.

I suppose that some of you think that I am going to go on some sort of Anti-Semite rant here, right? Well, Surprise. 😐

Anyone that would use this simple case of corruption to say something to the effect of, “See? All ‘dem Jews are corrupt!”; has got a serious problem.  Corruption is corruption and it does not discriminate against race, color or creed. White Anglo Saxon’s are just capable of being corrupt; as Jews, Blacks, Latinos, or any other race. Anyone that says a anything other than this, is either; 1. Stupid or 2. Anti-Semitic or a racist bigot. (I know, redundency)

So, let me go on record as being quite happy that the justice system is actually, in this case, doing what it is supposed to; for a change.

Walter Cronkite KB2GSD has died

….and that is the way, that it was….

America has lost it’s uncle.

Walter Cronkite has died.

Here’s a report via the AP: (H/T to Allan Combs, yes, that Allen Combs…)

Here is the CBS NEWS Special Report on it: (H/T to Freedom’s Lighthouse and thanks to Free Republic)


The Story via NYT:

Walter Cronkite, who pioneered and then mastered the role of television news anchorman with such plain-spoken grace that he was called the most trusted man in America, died Friday, his family said. He was 92.

From 1962 to 1981, Mr. Cronkite was a nightly presence in American homes and always a reassuring one, guiding viewers through national triumphs and tragedies alike, from moonwalks to war, in an era when network news was central to many people’s lives.

He became something of a national institution, with an unflappable delivery, a distinctively avuncular voice and a daily benediction: “And that’s the way it is.” He was Uncle Walter to many: respected, liked and listened to. With his trimmed mustache and calm manner, he even bore a resemblance to another trusted American fixture, another Walter — Walt Disney.

Along with Chet Huntley and David Brinkley on NBC, Mr. Cronkite was among the first celebrity anchormen. In 1995, 14 years after he retired from the “CBS Evening News,” a TV Guide poll ranked him No. 1 in seven of eight categories for measuring television journalists. (He professed incomprehension that Maria Shriver beat him out in the eighth category, attractiveness.) He was so widely known that in Sweden anchormen were once called Cronkiters.

Yet he was a reluctant star. He was genuinely perplexed when people rushed to see him rather than the politicians he was covering, and even more astonished by the repeated suggestions that he run for office himself. He saw himself as an old-fashioned newsman — his title was managing editor of the “CBS Evening News” — and so did his audience.

My Parents raised me with this sort of a philosophy; if you do not have anything good to say about the dead, say nothing at all.

On a personal note, Mr. Cronkite was a Amateur Radio operator. He held the Novice class license.  QRZ.COM has a entry up and Hams from around the world; including yours truly, are remembering him.

As a political blogger, I do not celebrate his politics. As someone who has always admired the news business, I admired him. He hearkens back to era, when there was still an ounce of integrity in journalism itself. Some may disagree with that, but I do not care. It is my opinion and that’s that.

Here’s the memorable footage of him, announcing the death of President John F. Kennedy:

cronkite

Rest in Peace old man; you have earned it.

Memeorandum has the roundup

Follow-Up: Clean up on Freeway Accident and Fire Begins; EnviroNuts Come out in Force.

The Freeway Clean up begins….

Via WXYZ-TV:

Quote:

The damage is being assessed at 9 Mile Road and I-75 after Wednesday night’s massive tanker explosion in Hazel Park.

Northbound and Southbound I-75 is shut down in both directions from 8 mile to I-696 and will remain closed until further notice.

Three vehicles were involved in the accident – the tanker truck, a Meijer semi-truck and a car. The tanker was carrying more than 13,000 gallons of gas and approximately 4,000 gallons of diesel when it exploded right under the 9 Mile overpass.

The intense heat of the explosion forced the overpass to collapse onto the freeway below as hundreds of people watched, stunned by what was happening.

Amazingly, no one was killed. Three people were taken to Beaumont hospital with non-life threatening injuries. They were the 44-year-old tanker driver Michael St. John of Armada, the 38-year-old driver of the Meijer truck Jody Cicero of Monroe, and the 27-year-old driver of the car Saied Haidarian-Shahri of Clawson. All three have been released from the hospital.

Police tell Action News Haidarian-Shahri may have lost control of the vehicle and hit the tanker.

A driver who was stopped at a light just ahead of the overpass, told Action News she saw the explosion and flames engulf the bridge. Mary Greiv says she was "in shock" by what she saw. "Oh my god, I’m so grateful to God that I’m alive because I was right there," Greiv told Action News.

Another witness says she actually felt the explosions from a distance. "I’ve never been in an earthquake type situation, but I would dare say that’s what it felt like – like an aftershock."

I am just glad that no one was actually killed in the accident. I mean, the fact those drivers had the frame of mind and the wits about them to get the heck out of dodge before the fire really hit says quite a bit about them. Of course, now your EnviroNuts are out in force:

Via WXYZ-TV:

Video:

Quote:

Once the raging inferno was brought under control following the I-75 accident Wednesday night, environmental concerns emerged.

Ferndale sent a half-million gallons of water to help extinguish the flames.

Also involved, thousands of gallons of fuel inside the tanker that had to go somewhere.

Ferndale DPW officials were up through the night working with the EPA and other agencies.

They were working to figure out where the water went underground in the sewers.

Thursday, crews pumped out the runoff and tried to determine the concentration of the fuel.

There are lingering concerns about fumes that could possibly ignite.

That’s the main concern, because experts can control the flow of anything in the sewer systems.

Fuel left on the road was being soaked up by sand.

There never was a threat to drinking water.

Heh… "ZOMG! Some gasoline and Diesel got into the water and the sewer! We might have to flush it out!" Liberals are such morons, I’ll tell ya!  That Gas and Diesel was so damn diluted from all that water, that what did not burn off was so watered down; the chances of it exploding were slim to none. But then again, this is liberal Michigan. :loser: :struggle:

Anyways, the mess is being cleaned and the overpass will be fixed. The real kicker is, they just rebuilt that overpass; a year ago! D’OH! DohRolling on the floorLaughing I would be willing to bet, that the guys who worked on that little project let out a groan when they found out what happened. Waiting I mean, I could just hear it now; "They could have picked any overpass on that freeway, but they just had to pick the one we worked on!" Angry

chodun2005One thing I will say here is this; Cheryl Chodun is the best. My Mom alerted me to the fact that this accident was happening. She told me to turn to channel 4, which is WDIV in the local area here. They had a lousy picture. So, I flipped over to WXYZ-TV, which is channel 7 here in the local area. There was good ol’ Cheryl Chodun; practically standing on top of the tanker saying stuff like, "Man, this is a really big fire!" God Love her. She really does a excellent job, even it does mean standing way too close to a tanker, that they had no idea, at the time, what was exactly in the taker itself. Heck, even Bill Proctor was not even that brave, He was at least a block away. Not Cheryl, she would have been helping put out the fire, if they would have allowed it.

Update Friday 3:22 A.M. (I really should be in bed…Yawn): I Wrote Cheryl Chodun an e-mail, letting her know that I wrote about her. Much to my shock and surprise; she replied! SurpriseHypnotized Here’s Mrs. Chodun’s Reply:

Thanks for the kind words and thanks for watching us!  I was pretty close but we were up-wind, not in the fumes or smoke and while I am pretty passionate and intense about my job, I think I will leave the fire-fighting to the experts!  To be honest, I was really hoping the explosions were over as I was talking…and talking…for about 2 hours.

All the best to you,

Cheryl

Thanks for reply Mrs. Chodun. Keep up the good work. Big GrinBatting EyelashesHappy

Breaking News: Major Tanker Accident, Explosion, Overpass collapse

There has been a horrific crash and explosion in Hazel Park, Michigan…

tankerfire

Video Via WXYZ, Shot earlier:

Better Via via Fox 2 Detroit:

The Story WXYZ-TV:

HAZEL PARK, Mich. (WXYZ) – A tanker truck–and possibly two or three semi trucks–has exploded in the vacinity of northbound I-75/I-696/Nine Mile Road in Hazel Park, causing a massive fire and explosion. Eyewitnesses say the tanker tried to make it under the Nine Mile overpass but the top of the tanker hit the bridge, causing the explosion. It is not known what the tanker was carrying. A Michigan State Police officer told Action News reporter Cheryl Chodun that there were “two or three” trucks involved in the explosion.

Preliminary reports indicate one person has been injured, but it is still not known how many vehicles are involved in the accident/explosion.

Michigan State Police say Eastbound I-696 ramps to northbound and southbound I-75 are now closed, and I-75 has been shut down in both directions at Nine Mile from the center of the fire. Response teams from Hazel Park, Madison Heights and Ferndale are at the scene, along with the Michigan State Police.

Multiple sources have told Action News that the Nine Mile Road overpass has collapsed at the center of the fire. The explosion, according to witnesses, occurred around 8:15 p.m.

According to what I’ve just heard from on WXYZ, the tanker driver is alive and a friend of theirs, which relayed it to the local news station that someone “T-Boned” or stuck his truck. Which caused the accident.

Consider this a live Blog, I will be posting more information; once I receive. If you are on twitter; if you have information or saw the accident or have a picture. Please, reply to my tweet and/or e-mail me via the Blog and I will post it here.

Update @ 1:24 A.M: Via WXYZ:

HAZEL PARK, Mich. (WXYZ) – Investigators at the scene of a massive tanker truck fire on I-75 say the fire is under control but crews are letting it burn itself out.

Officials say the tanker truck and two other vehicles were involved in the crash and explosion in the vacinity of northbound I-75/I-696/Nine Mile Road in Hazel Park Wednesday evening.

Officers say the tanker truck was hit by another vehicle and slammed into one of the concrete supports under the Nine Mile Road overpass. Multiple sources have told Action News that the overpass collapsed at the center of the fire. This overpass was rebuilt just one year ago; now it will have to be rebuilt again.

The accident and explosion, according to witnesses, occurred around 8:15 p.m. Police say three persons were hurt. They were taken to Beaumont Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

A Michigan State Police officer told Action News reporter Cheryl Chodun that the tanker truck was carrying 13,000 gallons of fuel and 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel.

I’m sure this will be a mess for a while. Oy. 🙄

Update July 16, 2009: The Clean up Begins!

One of the reasons why I do not use WorldNetDaily as a news source

WorldNetDaily, I have always felt; is the National Enquirer of Conservative News. Well, they have given me another reason to feel that way. They are reporting on an American Solider, who is refusing to reporting for duty, because he does not believe that President Obama is an American citizen.

Quote:

His attorney, Orly Taitz, confirmed to WND the military has rescinded his impending deployment orders.

“We won! We won before we even arrived,” she said with excitement. “It means that the military has nothing to show for Obama. It means that the military has directly responded by saying Obama is illegitimate – and they cannot fight it. Therefore, they are revoking the order!”

She continued, “They just said, ‘Order revoked.’ No explanation. No reasons – just revoked.”

Confederate Yankee is baffled:

I have no ready explanation for why the military would rescind his deployment orders, unless they plan to keep him stateside to begin a disciplinary investigation against him. Frankly, for the sake of our nation, I hope this is the case.

Because if the Pentagon allows soldiers to simply declare Obama an an illegitimate Command in Chief—as the article would have you believe—it would seem to set a precedent that would lead to chaos in the military, allowing service members to question all orders for the executive branch. It would be anarchy.

WorldNet Daily simply must have this wrong. The larger ramifications of the case being dismissed for the reasons alleged by the attorney are too terrible to consider.

John Cole, A blogger on the left, that I happen to respect; is a bit more direct:

This guy is going to get court-martial-ed so quickly, brutally, and publicly that it isn’t even funny, and his lunatic lawyer thinks they have won something. It hasn’t even occurred to them that the order to deploy was rescinded because they are about to hammer him with disciplinary action.

I think I tend to agree with John here. That this ol’ boy is about get put through the meat grinder with the Military. 😯 :hypnotized: 😮