Check out the Flint: Vehicle City photo galleries from Michigan History Magazine!

Report: School Facility Funding Needs Work
The Detroit News says that a report released today by the Education Policy Center at MSU finds that poorer Michigan school districts are not providing the facilities students need, despite high tax rates, while richer districts often exceed the needs of students and have low tax rates. The report suggest steps the state may consider to help districts provide better facilities.

Forest Service Moves Ahead on Mason Tract Drilling Plans
The Traverse City Record-Eagle reports that, despite appeals from advocacy groups and individuals (including the family that donated the land), the U.S. Forest Service reaffirmed its decision to allow natural gas drilling near the Mason Tract, a 5,300-acre natural area along the South Branch of the AuSable Rivers. The Mason family will now appeal to the Bureau of Land Management.

Michigan Businesses Turn to Blogs
Today's Lansing State Journal has an in-depth look about how Michigan businesses from small realtors to General Motors are utilizing blogs to promote their business and interact with potential clients. The feature also offers a basic primer on the blogosphere.

MEAP Results Released
The Michigan Newswire has the results of the Michigan Educational Assessment Program test (MEAP). Among the highlights: 4th grade students meeting or exceeding Michigan reading standards increased 3% over 2004 and 7th graders increased 12%. The Freep reports that math test scores for 4th graders and elementary a slight decline for 8th graders.
Read Math scores worry educators in the Freep
Full Winter 2005 MEAP Test Results

School Consolidation a Difficult Road
The Detroit Free Press had a weekend feature on the obstacles for school consolidation including post-merger tax hikes and funding changes and community attitudes. In the 1950s & 1960s, mergers took the number of districts from almost 5,000 to less than 650. Michigan now has 552 traditional K-12 districts along with some 200 charter schools.

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