Telephones are an amazingly useful modern convenience, but sometimes you wish they hadn't been invented.

Black History Month in Michigan
All this month, Michigan newspapers and government have been honoring Black History Month with calendars of events, photo galleries and feature stories.
Black History Month links from the Michigan Electronic Library
Black History Month coverage in the Lansing State Journal
Black History Month coverage in the Detroit Free Press

HockeyDown (for the count)
The Detroit News reports that the National Hockey League has made history as the first major sport to cancel a season because of a labor dispute.
Mitch Albom column Hockeyfrown: NHL season dies a senseless death in the Detroit Free Press

Hotel Pontchartrain Purchased, To Be Renovated
The Detroit Free Press reports that Detroit's Hotel Pontchartrain has been purchased by Shubh Hotels Detroit LLC (a Florida-based group of investors) just weeks before it was to have been auctioned off. The new owners plan to renovate the Pontchartain top to bottom, a few floors at a time and the hotel will remain open throughout the renovation.

More Trees, Less Farms
The Detroit Free Press reports that Michigan has more forested land than 10 years ago, but that (according to Larry Pedersen of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources) abandoned farm fields being overgrown by immature stands of trees account for much of the increase.

Sport Fishing Group Urges Continuation of Lake Superior Splake Stocking
The Detroit Free Press reports that the Alger County Fish and Game Alliance is urging the state not to dismantle a program that stocks Lake Superior with splake, a cross between female lake trout and male brook trout.

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