Village Life: East Village Magazine, an old friend made new
Apr07

Village Life: East Village Magazine, an old friend made new

By Nic Custer In the 1990s, one afternoon each month, my father would pick me up from school in his Plymouth minivan and instead of heading home, I’d help distribute this magazine.  Dwarfed by seats stacked high with rubber-banded East Village Magazine issues – counted earlier that day by volunteers who’d batched them into the exact numbers needed for each neighborhood drop – we would drive across the city, listening to “Science...

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Education Beat: COVID-relief confusion for Flint schools after announcement by Trump administration
Apr03

Education Beat: COVID-relief confusion for Flint schools after announcement by Trump administration

By Harold C. Ford Flint Community Schools (FCS) finds itself in increased fiscal uncertainty after U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon announced on March 28, 2025, that the deadline on federal reimbursement for COVID-related projects was changed to that very day at 5 p.m.  Prior to McMahon’s announcement, the deadline had been one year later – March 28, 2026 – for reimbursement of pre-approved projects.  The amount in question...

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Parks & Rec in Flint and Beyond: Jack N. Abernathy Park
Mar30

Parks & Rec in Flint and Beyond: Jack N. Abernathy Park

By Christina Collie This is the fourth in a series about parks and recreational areas to explore in Flint and surrounding areas within 20 miles, presented in no particular order. Jack N. Abernathy Park 402 Dayton St Davison, MI 48423 Hours: 8 am – 8 pm Jack N. Abernathy Park offers a variety of amenities that cater to diverse recreational interests. Nature lovers can enjoy the paved walking trails that meander through the park’s...

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Education Beat: Diminished enrollment and test data dismay Flint Board of Ed president
Mar26

Education Beat: Diminished enrollment and test data dismay Flint Board of Ed president

By Harold C. Ford “Evidently there is something missing.” – Joyce Ellis-McNeal, president, Flint Board of Education, Feb. 19, 2025 An outpouring of frustration by Flint Board of Education (FBOE) President Joyce Ellis-McNeal – fueled by persistently diminished student enrollment and less-than-average state test scores – was a centerpiece at the body’s 3.5-hour meeting on Feb. 19, 2025.  Following a presentation by Wendell Greene and...

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The Kildee Legacy: From Flint to Lansing to Washington and back again
Mar24

The Kildee Legacy: From Flint to Lansing to Washington and back again

By Paul Rozycki Those of us in Flint and Genesee County owe much to the many families that made our city and county what it is today. Flint wouldn’t be Flint without the early and continuing influence of the Motts, the Ballengers, the Dorts, the Durants, the Whitings, and many others.  In recent years, though, a list of other well-known families have also played a critical role in the politics of Flint and the surrounding area. Those...

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