Crain's Detroit Business articles from September 2005

Crain's Detroit Business archives from September 2005

On the Web.
September 5, 2005... * Coverage from other Crain Communication publications, including Automotive News, Business Insurance and other city business weeklies. * Links to other coverage, resources for donations and other information on the effects of the...

'Steakout' will return to raise laughs, money.(Detroit Press Club)
September 5, 2005... 'Steakout' will return to raise laughs, money The "Steakout'' dinner and parody show hosted for decades by the Detroit Press Club before it folded 13 years ago will return Oct. 26. "The Steakout Returns - for Charity and a Good...

Etouffee preview a hit, but opening day delayed.(opened on August 20th)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Brent Snavely Back in July when Matt Prentice told me that his new restaurant was going to have soul food and Memphis barbecue themes, I was worried he was trying to combine too many ideas under one roof. But when Prentice...

A disaster, surely, but no surprise.(Hurricane Katrina 2005)
September 5, 2005... Death. Lawlessness. Chaos. Despair. Ruin. For a nation that had Sept. 11 as its benchmark for disaster within its borders, Katrina has introduced a new standard for absolute destruction. The territory covered by federal disaster...

Shipping disruptions require rerouting; costs unknown.(Hurricane Katrina )
September 5, 2005... Byline: Michelle Martinez, Terry Kosdrosky Detroit area companies are just beginning to tally the costs of rerouting shipments and price spikes in oil, gas and other materials from the closure of fuel pipelines and the Port of New Orleans....

Wayne State offers free tuition, housing.
September 5, 2005... Byline: Tom Henderson Wayne State University has announced it will waive tuition for the fall semester and provide free on-campus housing for students who had been enrolled in universities affected by Hurricane Katrina. Already, 18...

Feds may look to Champion for housing.(Champion Enterprises Inc. to provide housing to storm refugees, Federal Emergency Management Agency )
September 5, 2005... Byline: Jennette Smith The Federal Emergency Management Agency is expected to tap Auburn Hills-based manufactured-home builder Champion Enteprises Inc. to provide housing to storm refugees. FEMA has requested inventory information from...

And now for the rest of the story ...(Metaldyne Corp., Collins and Aikman Corp.)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Mary Kramer Tim Leuliette doesn't mince words. The chairman, president and CEO of Metaldyne Corp. thinks Crain's got it wrong when we put a story on Page 1 last week about accounting-system problems the privately owned supplier is...

The right stuff; From chest shaves to dye jobs, a new generation of grooming puts the `man' in manicure.
September 5, 2005... Byline: Constance Crump Every man should have two eyebrows - no more, no less.'' That's the word according to Barry Klein, who is writing a book on men's grooming and fitness. When he is not working on his book, Klein is chairman of...

Grooming: What, where and how much?(beuty treatments)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Constance Crump Shaving The foundation of manly grooming is facial-hair removal, best accomplished with a hot-towel shave from a barber in a barbershop. The face is wrapped in hot towels to warm and soften whiskers, then shaved...

An island home gets mainland amenities.(Moffat McGuire Inc. in Detroit)
September 5, 2005... Byline: JoAnn Amicangelo Working with your spouse can be a nightmare for some folks, but not for Monica Moffat, 50, and Patrick McGuire, 55. The two graphic designers met in 1973 when McGuire moved his design studio into the same...

People.(John Crissman, John Crissman, Laura Oberholtzer promoted)
September 5, 2005... BIOTECHNOLOGY John Crissman, professor, department of pathology, and retired dean, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit; and Madhava Reddy, president and CEO, HTC Global Services Inc., Troy; both to the board of directors,...

Local companies pitch in to rebuild.(Belfor USA dispatches 600 employees)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Anjali Fluker, Amy Lane As the Gulf Region begins to rebuild in Katrina's wake, Detroit area companies will be helping with the effort. Through Wednesday, Birmingham-based Belfor USA had dispatched nearly 600 employees from...

Businesses search for employees amid chaos, work to help where they can.(Borders Group Inc., Con-Way Transportation Services Inc., Strategic Staffing Solutions Inc.)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Michelle Martinez As the aftermath of Katrina heads into its second week, local companies have been far more concerned about finding employees than gauging the financial toll of the hurricane. Power outages, blown communication...

Maximum potential; It's not ready yet, but backers say WiMax may beat Wi-Fi.(Oakland County to be connected by WiMax)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Andrew Dietderich Wi-Fi is on the minds of many in metro Detroit with countywide wireless Internet networks planned in Washtenaw and Oakland counties, but to John Ogren it's yesterday's news. Ogren said there's a faster, more...

Ann Arbor, Pall Life Sciences battle over dioxane.(lawsuit over water pollution liability)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Sheena Harrison The city of Ann Arbor is suing Pall Life Sciences over a chemical the city says is contaminating its water supply. The legal battle is being fought over a substance called 1,4 dioxane that Ann Arbor-based Pall...

In the spotlight.(American Axle and Manufacturing Inc. appointments)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky American Axle & Manufacturing Inc. has announced several appointments effective Oct. 1: * Yogendra Rahangdale has been named president and COO. He had been executive vice president, operations and planning. He...

Marathon refinery to shut down for 45 days.(Marathon Ashland Petroleum L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Anjali Fluker The Marathon refinery in Southwest Detroit plans to shut the plant down for 45 days beginning in late September for routine maintenance in spite of Hurricane Katrina's impact on gas supplies. Rob Wood, manager of...

Automation Alley to honor the best.(Focus)
September 5, 2005... Automation Alley will host its fifth annual awards gala Sept. 23 at the Ford Conference and Event Center in Dearborn. Crain's Detroit Business is the exclusive media sponsor of the event. The event starts at 6 p.m., and tickets are...

Analysts: Sarbanes-Oxley moves bar for disclosures.(Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky With Sarbanes-Oxley forcing auto suppliers into unprecedented accounting analysis, the trick for analysts and investors will be sorting out serious issues and restatements from minor ones. Accountants and...

Ritz-Carlton workers head south to help.(Ritz Carlton Hotel Company L.L.C., Texas)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Tom Henderson Three employees of The Ritz-Carlton, Dearborn hotel left Friday for Texas to help beleaguered and exhausted colleagues from New Orleans. Until Friday morning, the Ritz-Carlton on the outskirts of the French...

This Just In.(SBC Communications Inc. hires Randall Feger, Allen Bros. Attorneys and Counselors P.L.L.C. hire three lawyers)
September 5, 2005... Pampas heads to Vegas Birmingham-based Pampas Churrascaria Brazilian Grille signed a lease last month for a second restaurant in Las Vegas and may soon sign a lease for a third in West Palm Beach, Fla. Pampas plans to open a...

Letters.(gasoline prices affect Detroit area)(Editorial)
September 5, 2005... Break the nation's oil addiction Editor: I read with great interest the Aug. 22 editorial, "Really - high gas prices aren't all bad,'' and must say I disagree with your assertion. Dealing with the skyrocketing prices on a local...

Sushi surge has Musashi on a roll.(Koji Watanabe)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Brent Snavely Musashi owner Koji Watanabe continues to find ways to evolve and innovate, even after 20 years of running his famed Japanese restaurant at Southfield Town Center. Watanabe has struck deals with both Tom's Oyster...

Broad-spectrum investing; Liggett returns to early days with investment in innovative Internet provider.(Robert Liggett)(Biography)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Brent Snavely In some ways Robert Liggett's ownership of a high-speed Internet provider called SpeedNet L.L.C. puts him back where he was in the 1960s - on the cutting edge of communications technology. Liggett, who sold nine...

Detroit offers itself up for conventions.
September 5, 2005... Byline: Michelle Martinez, Jennette Smith As New Orleans struggles to restore order and basic services, event planners with shows scheduled during the next six months are scrambling for alternative host cities. Detroit is offering itself as...

Gas prices hit businesses, nonprofits hard.(cab drivers, non profit organizations affected the most)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Anjali Fluker, Sherri Begin Hurricane Katrina wreaked physical havoc on the Gulf Coast last week, but local businesswoman Karen Anderson said the storm's aftermath also left things bleak for her company farther north. Anderson,...

Woodward Dream Cruise pulls in $500,000 despite attendance drop.(Hurricane Katrina 2005 damages)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Sherri Begin In spite of the storms that lowered attendance by more than half a million people, the Woodward Dream Cruise brought in slightly more money this year. The August cruise attracted about 1.1 million people this year,...

Briefly.(Farbman Group Inc. acquires Wayne, National City Bank, Metro Parent Publishing Group)
September 5, 2005... Oakland Road Commission proposes 2006 fiscal budget The Road Commission for Oakland County has proposed a 2006 budget of $125.7 million that includes plans for $49 million in road improvement projects. The commission's fiscal year runs...

Reporter's Notebook.(Oakland County to be Wi-Fi network)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Andrew Dietderich First and foremost, I admire L. Brooks Patterson for his foresight and enthusiasm that he has for Oakland County and its residents, but, as one of them, I have two words: please stop. Or how about "slow...

New MEDC chief wants strategy for 2008.(Michigan Economic Development Corp., Jim Epolito)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Amy Lane Jim Epolito's on the move to make the Michigan Economic Development Corp. the top economic-development organization in the country. A strategic vision for 2008, and tactical steps to be taken in 2006 toward the 2008...

Remember, we're all on the same team.(Detroit)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2005... Byline: KEITH CRAIN I know that folks who live in Detroit carry a particular pride about where they live. Not all of them, but many. I think that many folks who work in Detroit carry that same pride about where they live whether they...

Let's talk Super Bowl.(Calendar)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Joanne Scharich "Touchdown in Detroit: Super Bowl XL'' is the topic of the Sept. 15 Ideas Before Dawn meeting. Susan Sherer, Super Bowl XL Host Committee executive director, is to speak. The Downtown Detroit Partnership...

Week In Review.(AT&T Corp., SBC Communications Inc., Mary Brown, Melvin Hollowell, Jerry Mosingo)
September 5, 2005... Kickback scheme leads to jail Two former Thyssen N.A. Inc. executives and their lawyer were sentenced Aug. 30 for their roles in a $6.5 million kickback scheme that government prosecutors say they ran at the company. U.S. District...

Business Diary.(FEV Engine Technology Inc. expands, Velcura Therapeutics Inc., Nippon Chemiphar Company Ltd.)
September 5, 2005... ACQUISITIONS The Hayman Co., Troy, has acquired the Triad office property in Greenwood Village, Colo. Hayman plans about $2 million in renovations to the 411,000-square-foot property. CALL FOR NOMINATIONS The Women Business Owners...

Covansys to process billions in flood claims.(Federal Emergency Management Agency signs contract)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Andrew Dietderich Farmington Hills-based Covansys Corp. plans to hire an unknown number of employees to process the billions of dollars in insurance claims expected to be filed when the chaos and flooding caused by Hurricane...

Make Cool Places to Work your destination.(News)(Column)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Bob Allen Last week's issue was, to use a technical term in our industry, a big-honker. The only reason I even was able to skim through it was that I have to go through it all when I'm posting this issue on the Web site,...

Calendar.
September 5, 2005... Tuesday Sept. 6 Using Credit Wisely: What You Don't Know Could Really Cost You! Women Business Owners of Southeastern Michigan. 6-8:30 p.m. Speaker: Katherine Greiner, Washtenaw Credit Counseling. Lake Forest Golf Club, Ann Arbor....

Acquisition has General Wine & Liquor in high spirits.(General Wine Co. acquires Decanter Imports Inc.)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Brent Snavely Sydney Ross, president and owner of Highland Park-based General Wine & Liquor Co., has completed the acquisition of Decanter Imports Inc., which he said is one of the finest moments of his career as a wine and liquor...

Corrections.(Correction)(Correction Notice)
September 5, 2005... * A story about Metaldyne Corp. on Page 1 in the Aug. 29 issue should have said that the material weaknesses in accounting systems cited by auditor KPMG were first noted in the company's restated 10-K for 2003 filed in November 2004, not in a...

Entrepreneur still thrives.(Robert Liggett)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Brent Snavely Radio station entrepreneur Robert Liggett sold nine radio stations in 2000 (See box, next page), but he continues to be involved in companies ranging from the Big Boy restaurant chain to radio stations and a...

Salary raises stagnant at 3.6%.(survey of Michigan companies)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Brent Snavely Raises are expected to hold steady next year at about 3.6 percent, according to the latest salary survey by the American Society of Employers. The survey of 188 Southeast Michigan companies, scheduled to be...

New owner would redevelop Hazel Park site.(Jerry Watha invests)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Andrew Dietderich A highly visible, run-down and shuttered hotel in southern Oakland County is scheduled for demolition later this year or early 2006 after the former owner defaulted on two loans and was forced to close earlier...

Retirement communities, national aspirations lead building trends.(home builders develop more homes for retired peoples)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Jennette Smith Metro Detroit's leading home builders continue to add housing starts in record numbers, but several are adjusting business models because of long- term trends. Courting retirees With more than 44 million...

Bankruptcies.(Matai Machine Tools Inc., Automotive Performance Group Inc., Brothers Family Inc.,)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2005... The following businesses filed for Chapter 7 or 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Detroit Aug. 26-Sept. 1. Under Chapter 11, a company files a reorganization plan that the court must approve. Chapter 7 involves total liquidation. ...

Passing the torch; In family succession sagas, one generation must learn how to take on responsibility, while the other generation must learn how to give it up.(Focus)(succession planning strategies of Elaine Fontana of Michigan Box Co. )
September 12, 2005... Byline: Sheena Harrison Although Elaine Fontana enjoyed being CEO of Michigan Box Co. in Detroit since 1994, she says it was time to take on a new role with the company. Fontana handed the CEO title to her son, Joseph, in August, but...

Free the ticket market.(Opinion)(anti-ticket-scalping ordinance)(Brief Article)
September 12, 2005... It's about time somebody used an ax on Detroit's anti-ticket-scalping ordinance. In addition to prohibiting the resale of tickets at higher than face value, the ordinance prohibits reselling tickets at face value or even lower. A lawyer...

Corrections.(Correction)
September 12, 2005... The Sept. 19 Detroit Economic Club meeting featuring Robert Pozen has been moved to the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn. The announcement was made after Crain's calendar, which appears on Page 24 in this issue, went to press.

Remember Katrina and the Torch Drive.(Opinion)(Hurricane Katrina, 2005)(Brief Article)
September 12, 2005... Katrina's power still shocks us, while the outpouring of support for her victims inspires us. Americans are generous people. We hope that generosity extends to the 2005 United Way Torch Drive campaign that kicked off last Friday. The...

Resource centers help navigate family waters.(Focus)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Sheena Harrison Owning a business can be tough, but having family members as employees can be even tougher, said Raymond Campbell, president of Service America Courier Corp. and Mastermind Solutions Inc. in Lake Orion. ...

Selling lake water can aid state economy.(Opinion)
September 12, 2005... The line goes: "Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink.'' This is because while about three-fourths of the earth's surface is covered with water, only about 2.7 percent of it is drinkable. Given this, logic tells us that water is...

Wayne health authority seeks biz backing for its plan for uninsured.(Detroit-Wayne County Health Authority introduces Networks 2010 plan)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Michelle Martinez The Detroit-Wayne County Health Authority says it's ready to start weaving an ambitious safety net for the county's more than 700,000 uninsured and underinsured, if it can only gather the funds and support it...

A Conversation With.(Focus)(interview of Pat Mansfield)(Interview)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Michelle Martinez Pat Mansfield is a partner with the tax practice of Deloitte & Touche USA L.L.P. in Detroit. He talked to Crain's about what business owners can do to make sure family emotions stay in check within...

Week In Review; From www.crainsdetroit.com, Week of Sept. 3-9.(Briefs)(ArvinMeritor Inc. to close its facility)(United Way's donations)(Detroit Institute of Arts opens after renovations)
September 12, 2005... Farmer Jack union OKs deal to clear way for sale Farmer Jack's union members on Wednesday voted for a contract that cuts their wages by about 10 percent, with the hope that the new contract will be enough to satisfy another company...

Neeme, Max buoy DSO sales; Despite revenue spike, orchestra still faces challenges.(News)(Detroit Symphony Orchestra)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Robert Ankeny Record revenue and ticket sales increases posted by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 2004-2005, with classical concert sales up by almost 8 percent, were a shift from a decade-long industrywide trend. The DSO's...

TRW purchase part of move to smaller, targeted deals.(News)(TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. acquires Dalphi Metal Espana S.A.)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.'s proposed $240 million acquisition of a Spanish supplier is a sign of today's automotive deal - smaller than in the past but targeted for a specific goal. In TRW's case, the deal...

From flea market to fine dining.(News)(Wendy Achatz and Dave Achatz of Achatz Handmade Pie Co.)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Anjali Fluker Wendy Achatz remembers sitting all day at the Armada Flea Market, waiting for someone to buy one of her homemade pies for about $7. But it's been nearly a decade since Achatz has had to sell her wares in such...

In the spotlight.(People)(Stephen Forrest joins University of Michigan)(Brief Article)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Sherri Begin The University of Michigan has tapped Princeton University professor Stephen Forrest as its new vice president of research. The appointment takes effect Jan. 1, pending approval of the UM board of regents. ...

Delphi may shrink by $4 billion, regain profits by restructuring.(News)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Robert Sherefkin Automotive News CEO Steve Miller's looming overhaul of Delphi Corp. could leave the giant parts maker 20 percent - or $4 billion - smaller than it is today. Assuming that Delphi sells or closes the 11 North...

Flint Ink, XSYS merger approved.(News)(XSYS Print Solutions)(Brief Article)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Sheena Harrison The federal government and the European Commission have approved the merger of Ann Arbor-based Flint Ink Corp. and Stuttgart, Germany-based XSYS Print Solutions, according to a statement released Aug. 29 by Flint...

People.(Barry Johnston joins Ford and Earl Associates)(Michael Stobak joins Barton Malow Co.)(Tom Chen joins Plante & Moran P.L.L.C.)
September 12, 2005... ARCHITECTURE Raviprakash Dhyani to project architect, Yamasaki Associates Inc., Troy, from project architect, SmithGroup Inc., Detroit. Also, Thomas Stecker to project architect from project architect, Hamilton Anderson Associates,...

Briefly.(Briefs)(small businesses surveyed abouth the economic develoment in Michigan)(Benteler Automotive Corp. received a $43,628 job-training grant)(county development official Robert Tess awarded)
September 12, 2005... Survey: State small-biz owners not as optimistic as elsewhere Michigan's small-business owners have a bleaker outlook than their counterparts in other Midwest states, according to a poll conducted for the Cleveland-based National City Bank....

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
September 12, 2005... Retaining nurses is critical Editor: As you noted in your editorial on Aug. 1, "Creative solutions for nursing shortage,'' the nursing shortage continues to grow. However, the need for universities to turn out more nurses addresses...

Rumblings.(Grand Hotel Co. to start a new hotel)(Sterling Bank and Trust deals with the Detroit Pistons for the naming rights)(Sweet Adelines International moved its convention from New Orleans to Detroit)
September 12, 2005... Set your calendar a day early for Mackinac in 2006 Attendees at next year's Detroit Regional Chamber conference on Mackinac Island will find a new schedule, and one of their favorite island watering holes under new ownership. The...

Independent board helps restore expertise if it's lost.(Focus)(Mariah Industries Inc.)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Sheena Harrison When Mary de la Garza died suddenly of a brain aneurysm in 2003, her four children, a niece and a nephew took ownership of her automotive supply company, Mariah Industries Inc. in Warren. Though her son and...

Spotlight on: Family-owned companies.(Focus)(family-owned businesses)
September 12, 2005... You might be surprised that a publicly traded company tops this list. But it would be hard to construct a definition of "family-owned'' that wouldn't include Kelly Services Inc. While they don't quite reach that level of family control,...

Bankruptcies.
September 12, 2005... The following businesses filed for Chapter 7 or 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Detroit Sept. 2-8. Under Chapter 11, a company files a reorganization plan that the court must approve. Chapter 7 involves total liquidation. Air...

This Just In.(General Motors Corp. to ask for its supplies from Collins and Aikman Corp. as it files for bankruptcy)
September 12, 2005... GM asks to pull tools from Collins & Aikman General Motors Corp. has asked for court permission to pull its equipment from Collins & Aikman Corp. factories if the supplier, which is in Chapter 11, refuses a purchase order or is unable to...

Changing stations; Local radio cuts back ads, offers HD to blunt satellite, MP3 threats.(radio broadcasting industry)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Jennette Smith, Andrew Dietderich Local radio stations are embracing digital technology and even cutting commercial time as more listeners tune in to satellite radio or create their own MP3 playlists. Both products have station...

So which way are we going, anyway?(United States economic conditions)(Column)
September 12, 2005... Byline: KEITH CRAIN I told some folks during a speech a while ago that the economy was either getting better or getting worse. That may sound funny, but that's how I feel. With some very creative marketing, car sales are booming in...

Plans for development of Vernors site lose fizz.(News)(Wayne State University to find a suitable partner for developing Vernors)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Sherri Begin Plans for private retail and residential development of the former site of the Vernors ginger ale plant were too lofty for property owner Wayne State University. Negotiations between the university and Wayne South...

Calendar.(Calendar)
September 12, 2005... ***** Correction: The Sept. 19 Detroit Economic Club meeting featuring Robert Pozen has been moved to the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn. The announcement was made after Crain's calendar, which appears on Page 24 in this issue, went to press....

The big picture on Katrina.(News)(Hurricane Katrina, 2005)(Brief Article)(Column)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Bob Allen Most of us around here figured that our generation's Dec. 7 was Sept. 11. And then came Aug. 29. Even now, two weeks later, it isn't entirely clear the extent of the loss of life and, to an infinitely less important...

Detroit Thermal gets rate hike for steam system.(News)(Detroit Thermal L.L.C.)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Amy Lane State regulators have set new rates for Detroit's steam-system company, but it's not likely to end disagreement between Detroit Thermal L.L.C. and some of its customers. Detroit Thermal says the order, closing a...

Deal doubles American Laser; Acquisition adds western clinics.(News)(American Laser Centers L.L.C. acquired Advanced Laser Clinics Inc.)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Brent Snavely Farmington Hills-based American Laser Centers L.L.C. in July acquired Advanced Laser Clinics Inc. in a deal that gives American Laser a western U.S. presence and could double its revenue this year. Founded in 2002...

Execs form nonprofit to fight growth in township.(News)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Andrew Dietderich, Jennette Smith Two well-known local businessmen have formed a nonprofit to fight development in Oakland Township, and their first target is the 700-acre, $400 million Harvest Corners project of Auburn Hills-based...

State on wrong track, executives say in survey.(News)(business conditions in Michigan surveyed)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Amy Lane Michigan business executives have strong concerns about the direction the state is heading, according to a new poll. The poll, to be released later this week at a Michigan Chamber Foundation-sponsored conference in...

Merger continues credit-union trend; New entity will have $725M in assets.(South Oakland County Credit Union to merge into the Macomb Schools and Government Credit Union)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Tom Henderson The most significant credit-union merger in the history of the state is on track, having received regulatory and member approval and waiting now only for the state to sign off on a proposed new name. Members of...

Detroit voter rolls suspect.(Opinion)(Brief Article)
September 19, 2005... According to Detroit's city clerk, the city has 637,870 registered voters. According to the U.S. Census, the city has barely 900,000 residents. Based on 2000 census data (and even accounting for a population loss since), Detroit...

Asian ties can help state's businesses.(Opinion')(make it with asia)(Brief Article)
September 19, 2005... Democrats who think they can use off-shoring and Asian operations as weapons against Amway heir Dick DeVos, the presumed Republican candidate in Michigan's gubernatorial race next year, might think again. Michigan may be hungry for jobs,...

Long-term insurance: Not all qualify; those who do pay high rates.(Focus)(insurance)(Brief Article)
September 19, 2005... To reduce their financial risk, most insurers have tightened underwriting standards. Many plans now refuse to cover patients with insulin-dependent diabetes, Alzheimer's disease or a history of strokes. And those who do qualify often face...

Art Center to add 4,000-square-foot addition.(Brief Article)
September 19, 2005... Byline: Anjali Fluker The Art Center in Mt. Clemens is expected to break ground Thursday on a nearly 4,000-square-foot expansion to make the three-story building compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, among other features. ...

Bankruptcies.(bankruptcy protection business listings)(Brief Article)
September 19, 2005... The following businesses filed for Chapter 7 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Detroit Sept. 9-15. Chapter 7 involves total liquidation. KJ Miles Corp., dba Tuffy Auto Service Center, 48126 Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Township, voluntary...

Foundation gets $5M more for GreenWays project; Program becomes model of cooperation for other areas.(environmental conservation program grants)
September 19, 2005... Byline: Sherri Begin The Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan said a $5 million grant will keep it in the conservation business for a long time as it inspires similar efforts across the country. The grant from the Kresge...