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FLINT, Michigan -- A group of Arab grocery store owners agreed on Thursday to help the city of Flint raise money for surveillance cameras that would help protect their stores.

The American-Arab Heritage Council hosted a meeting at the North Bank Center with interim Police Chief David Dicks to collaborate on how to reduce crime occurring near stores in the city.

The cameras would be mounted outside stores in high traffic or high crime areas and could be accessed live by police officers from their cars or the office.

Continue reading "Looking to cut crime, Flint store owners to fund police security cameras" »

ARGENTINE TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- An Argentine Elementary School parent today was struck by a Genesee Intermediate School District bus in the school's parking lot.

The parent was transported by ambulance to a local hospital, according to a news release issued by the Linden School District.

Three Argentine students were on the bus and a group of Head-Start students was outside while EMS was at the scene.

A family member told school district officials the person did not suffer life-threatening injuries, the news release stated.

Continue reading "Parent hit by school bus at Argentine Elementary School" »

FLINT, Michigan -- Less than two weeks after announcing it would close its day care facility, the YWCA of Greater Flint has announced it will close its gym as well.

Interim CEO Paul Newman wrote a letter to health and fitness club members on Nov. 17, informing them the health club -- located in the YWCA's building on Third Street in downtown Flint -- would close by Dec. 20 due to financial issues.

Continue reading "YWCA to close gym at its downtown Flint location at the same time it closes day care" »

CLIO, Michigan -- It has been a long time, but folks in Clio can finally say ah. The doctor is in town.

Dr. Joseph Armovit, a family physician, moved his medical practice to the area in September as part of an effort to make the Clio area a healthier community and in partnership with Hurley Medical Center.

Continue reading "After years without one, the doctor is now in in Clio" »

Flint Journal extras: See below for more articles on this topic. | See below for a poll on this issue.

DETROIT, Michigan -- United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger urged Congress and the Bush administration to act immediately on loans for the U.S. automakers, saying one or more of them could collapse by the end of the year without it.

Gettelfinger spoke at a Detroit news conference just as reports surfaced that a bipartisan group of auto-state senators had reached a compromise on bailing out Chrysler LLC, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp.

The deal still faces heavy opposition, however.

Continue reading "Ron Gettelfinger, UAW president, says Washington inaction on bailout plan 'not an option'" »

GENESEE COUNTY, Michigan -- High school students who want to take up to 100 percent of their required classes online are free to sign up for the new program, school leaders said today.

Up to 10 percent of all public high school students in Genesee County can enroll in online or off-site classes after the state signed off this month on a waiver that essentially allows the students to graduate without setting foot in a high school classroom, school superintendents announced at a news conference.

Continue reading "Genesee County education leaders unveil online classroom program; first in state to be allowed to use system in which students can work from home computer" »

Flint Journal extras: See below for more articles on this topic.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A plan to give troubled U.S. automakers billions of dollars in government-backed loans is stalled on Capitol Hill, leaving the fate of hundreds of thousands of workers and Detroit's once-venerable car companies hanging in the balance.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., canceled plans Wednesday for a vote on a bill to carve $25 billion in new auto industry loans out of the $700 billion Wall Street rescue fund. The Bush administration and congressional Republicans have rejected the Democrats' plan to dip into that pot of money.

Warning of economic disaster, a bipartisan group of senators from auto industry states is trying to reach a deal on an alternative package. Even if an agreement can be reached, Reid signaled Thursday that the Senate would likely not be able to consider the bill until after Thanksgiving.

"We have some procedural roadblocks," Reid said.

With all sides sensing doom for a Big Three automaker rescue, the finger-pointing began. White House press secretary Dana Perino said that if Congress "leaves for a two-month vacation without having addressed this important issue ... then Congress will bear responsibility for anything that happens."

Continue reading "Auto bailout: Plan to rescue GM, Ford and Chrysler stalls in U.S. Senate" »

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Note: This story has been updated from its original post earlier today after additional elements were added.

ATLAS TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- Attention cell phone users: chatting and driving may soon cost you $100.

Recent fatal accidents on M-15 were a wake up call for Atlas Township Trustees -- who now want to crack down on drivers who talk while behind the wheel.

They are considering a number of possibilities -- including a ban on M-15 drivers talking on cell phones or perhaps an added fine for any distracted drivers ticketed for another reason, Trustee Scott Statson said.

"There were two fatalities in the past month and some communities don't have any traffic fatalities and have more people drive their streets than we do," said Statson, who is pushing for the change.

"I've asked (our attorney) to look at different legislation that has been written in other communities and put in place what's reasonable and enforceable."

Continue reading "Atlas Township mulling cell phone ban for drivers after two fatal crashes on M-15" »

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If General Motors goes bankrupt, what will it mean for worker pensions?

What about the warranty on your GM vehicle?

These are just two questions on people's minds today as the country waits to see if the Detroit automakers will receive a bailout from Congress.

So, tell us what questions do you have and we'll try to get them answered.

Feel free to post a comment below or email writer Ron Fonger.

Be sure to include your name and contact information.

Continue reading "Reader feedback: If General Motors goes bankrupt, what are the implications?" »

Note: This story was updated from its original post on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008. It includes additional elements.

GRAND BLANC, Michigan -- There's nothing the members of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Flint like better than to run around, have fun and get creative.

So it was only natural for club member Vance Newton, 16, and others to use that as inspiration for a music video that won a national grand prize and earned him an all-expenses paid trip to Washington D.C.

Vance got to meet Washington Wizards superstar Gilbert Arenas -- a "real cool dude," he said.

"The whole experience was just shocking," said the Grand Blanc High School junior.
Vance was the winner of a nationwide contest sponsored by the Ad Council on "Small Steps" kids take to get fit.

Continue reading "Grand Blanc High School teen wins big national video contest; NBA star is a "real cool dude," he says" »

Flint Journal extra: Do you think Dayne Walling will be Flint's next mayor? Vote in our poll and tell us why or why not in the comments area below. | View the more than 40 comments on this story below.

This is an updated version of a story first posted Nov. 19

FLINT, Michigan -- A candidate aiming to replace Mayor Don Williamson has started campaigning already, three months before voters decide whether they want to recall the two-term mayor.

Dayne Walling is fundraising for a special election that would be scheduled if voters boot Williamson out of office on Feb. 24.

Walling sent a mass e-mail Wednesday afternoon announcing his plan to run for mayor again and asking for campaign contributions.

"I'm preparing to run again. We will need the money for whenever the opportunity arises," Walling said. "I'm not making any assumptions about the recall."

Continue reading "Dayne Walling makes another bid for Flint mayor in wake of recall election aimed at Mayor Don Williamson who bested Walling in 2007" »

Flint Journal extra: Related article: Christmas gifts for less than $25 will keep the holiday merry

Flint Journal poll: What's your favorite type of Christmas gift? Vote in our poll below.

Budgets are tight this holiday season, but there's no need to break the bank for a gift that's both functional and fun.

Here are 10 worthy gifts for under $10:

• The Utensil Pot Clip ($7, Sur La Table and other retailers, www.surlatable.com) may not look like much, but it does create commotion in the kitchen. It ingeniously holds a spoon teetering above a pot of boiling water with a dash of cool. Continue reading "Inexpensive Christmas gifts for $10 or less" »

Flint Journal extra: Related article: Inexpensive Christmas gifts for $10 or less

If you are talented enough to be able to knit scarves, carve a piece of wood into a treasure box, or bake breads worthy of a ribbon and gift card, you are probably already on your way to saving money on gifts for the upcoming holiday season.

But not everybody is quite so crafty. For those who need a little help coming up with gift ideas for a shrinking budget, get ready -- we're here to help.

Some cost little more than your precious time, some require a little creativity or shopping, but everything costs less than $25.

Land's End (www.landsend.com) has a holiday gift guide that breaks down gift categories by price.

In the under $15 category (if you order online you need to save room in the budget for shipping and handling) you can find everything from turtlenecks, towels and men's fleece vests to passport holders, pajama pants and a cable sweater for your pooch.

Electronic gadgets seem to be on everybody's list, and it's possible to keep a gadget lover happy for less than $25.

Continue reading "Christmas gifts for less than $25 will keep the holiday merry" »