Hockey tickets, anyone?

Detroit News:

"Times are tough. Tough enough, in fact, that the Red Wings, the standard-bearers for success in the NHL the last two decades, have turned to a teetering expansion franchise for help.

In an attempt to halt sagging attendance at Joe Louis Arena and reclaim the 'Hockeytown' crown Sports Illustrated unceremoniously bequeathed to the Minnesota Wild last week, the Wings have hired a new vice president of business affairs. Enter Steve Violetta, who leaves a similar position he held with the Nashville Predators?

'It's Hockeytown instead of Honkytonk town, right?' Violetta joked Monday, shortly after meeting the staff at Joe Louis Arena."

Search For Missing Michigan Hiker In Hawaii

WWMT.com:

"A 67-year-old suburban Detroit man has been missing since Wednesday after heading out to hike a Mauna Kea trail.

Brian Murphy of Plymouth, Mich., told his traveling companion he was going to the snowy volcanic mountain.

He later signed in at the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station, which is at 9,200 feet, about noon Wednesday and spoke to an employee about going about a mile up the Humuula Trail. The old footpath climbs about 3,800 feet up the mountain, up to Lake Waiau at 13,020 feet. "

Senate butts in, ashes rule on smoking ban

Freep.com:

"Up in smoke, blown away, snuffed out: Pick your cliche' to describe the shelving yet again of legislation to ban smoking in most public places in Michigan.

The state House passed the ban last week; the state Senate effectively said no Tuesday, sending the legislation not to the Health Policy Committee where it belongs but to a bottle-up committee chaired by Senate Republican Majority Leader Mike Bishop of Rochester, who says it's not a priority."

Battle brewing over Michigan's utility choice law

MLive.com:

"The Tri-City area is poised to become an energy producing powerhouse as plans take shape to build coal-fired plants in Bay and Midland counties. But a growing political fight over how the state regulates electric utilities could decide if one or both of the plants ever break ground.

'The premiere issue people are coming to my office to discuss is this issue,' said state Rep. Jeff Mayes, D-Bay City, a member of the House Energy and Technology Committee."

Exalt Entertainment Group Uniting Live Jazz and Public Institutions

All About Jazz:

"Exalt Entertainment Group premiering jazz and spoken word artists nationally. Today announced that public institutions are increasingly benefiting from the presence of live jazz artists performances. Stressing that live jazz adds value to the ambiance of public institutions, contributes friendly family entertainment and advances educational missions by introducing the art form of jazz music.

According to Exalt Entertainment the art form of jazz is effective in public institutions such as public libraries, museums, zoos, and schools. The booking agency relates that museums in particular have responded to the demand for live jazz with increased bookings. Noting that they have been successful at securing live jazz bookings from various museums including, Philadelphia Museum of the Arts, Baltimore Museum of the Arts, Rubin Museum of the Arts in New York and the High Museum in Atlanta, Georgia."

Huckabee First Place in Michigan!

Huckabee Hound:

"A new poll out in Michigan shows that Mike Huckabee has come out of no where to take the lead in Michigan. HERE ARE THE NUMBERS: MIKE HUCKABEE: 21% MITT ROMNEY: 20% RUDY GIULIANIL 19%"

Michigan legislature starts approval process for regional Great Lakes compact

The Canadian Press:

"The Michigan legislature on Wednesday began passing a regional compact to prevent Great Lakes water from being sent to thirsty regions.

But final approval isn't expected until January at the earliest because of disputes over related legislation involving large-scale water withdrawals from Michigan lakes and waterways.

The compact was approved by a Democratic-controlled House committee and Republican-led Senate panel."

Aetna may reduce Michigan business

Freep:

"The nation's third-largest health insurer, which has invested $400 million to expand its business in Michigan in the past two years, plans to significantly scale back if rate-altering legislation promoted by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan becomes law.

Mark Bertolini, executive vice president and head of business operations of Aetna, said Wednesday the legislation would force the company and others to reduce Michigan operations, resulting in fewer choices for consumers and, eventually, higher costs for health insurance."

5 Degrees

Buford T. Porcupine's Wild and Wacky Adventures:

"Life around the cabin here in Alaska has been quiet so far this winter. What little snow we've had has kept the moose up in higher elevations. The end of November has been cold. On this paticular morning, the thermometer read 5 degrees. Glancing out the window I could see frosted adventures dancing in my head. With that in mind I scurried to get ready for the cold, thinking of the macro possibilities I would encounter. With my camera, lens and tripod - out the door I went, slowly walking through the woods, looking in every direction and checking every little nook and cranny. I always ponder at each stop, scannng up and down trying not to miss anything."

Photos of Hemingway to tour Michigan

Traverse City Record-Eagle:

"An exhibit featuring photographs of Ernest Hemingway's summers spent in Michigan is on display during a statewide tour and is designed to promote reading while highlighting the influence the state had on his writing.

'Up North With the Hemingways' showcases scenes from times his family spent on Walloon Lake near Petoskey between 1899 and 1921.

Greg Parker, program and development officer for the Michigan Humanities Council, which is supporting the event, said the exhibit specifically encourages the reading of the 'Nick Adams Stories,' written between 1921 and 1933."

Officials probe why trains were on same tracks

mlive.com:

"Federal transportation officials said Saturday their main priority as they investigate a train collision on Chicago's South Side is to figure out why both trains were on the same track at the same time.

People were catapulted from their seats when the double-decker Amtrak train traveling to Chicago from Grand Rapids crashed into a freight train Friday.

Most of the 187 passengers aboard the Pere Marquette walked away without major injuries."

Services tax goes in and out of effect

Freep:

"The short, unhappy life of the new Michigan services tax ended Saturday as Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed repeal and replacement legislation, even as confused business owners and their customers tried to figure out whether they were required to collect or pay the tax.

An agreement to repeal the 6% tax on some services and replace it with a surcharge on the state's main business tax came just two months after it was enacted as part of the Oct. 1 deal to address the state budget crisis, but not in time to beat the Dec. 1 effective date.

The surcharge will increase business taxation about $750 million a year, the amount needed to fully replace the services tax."

Democrats Strip Michigan of Delegates

The Associated Press:

"Democratic leaders voted Saturday to strip Michigan of all its delegates to the national convention next year as punishment for scheduling an early presidential primary in violation of party rules.

In spite of the vote, some party leaders and officials said they believed the delegates would eventually be seated at the convention.

Michigan, with 156 delegates, has scheduled a Jan. 15 primary. Democratic Party rules prohibit states other than Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina from holding nominating contests before Feb. 5. Florida was hit with a similar penalty in August for scheduling a Jan. 29 primary."