News Bits: GM awards $15 billion for IT, Mike Martz rejects Detroit Lions, Stem-cell supporters hope to bridge partisan divide. And sorry to get all lazy and not post these individually.

Super Bowl Watch: t-minus 2 and Counting

Question: What will we do when the spotlight goes away??

• Crain's Web Guide to Super Bowl XL ... SBXL is a HUGE business story for SE Michigan (Crain's Detroit Business)



• Onion Sports has a little fun with XL ... Bill Cowher's Jaw Arrives In Detroit Four Days Ahead Of Rest Of Steelers (The Onion)



• Movie: On the party scene with Mike Wedland ... taking in the scene, talking w/ the Gov (Freep)



• Follow the Super Bowl Money ... What is a Super Bowl worth? Good question (ESPN)




• A woman's place is on the sidelines ... XL the first time no male a sideline reporter (mLive)



• UP Links to Super Bowl XL ... Flat Broke Blues Band, Steve Mariucci and ... well ... that's it (Mining Journal)



• Detroit's far-off visitors ... Suburbanites become tourists in Detroit (Freep)




• Why the Super Bowl Is Totally XL-ent ... winner "Most Extra-Large References (TV Guide)



• Celebrating Super Bowl XL and great golf moments in Michigan ... winner "Best Execution of a Concept that Sounded Totally Artificial" (MichiganGolf.com)

February is Black History Month

Absolute Michigan has compiled a huge list of resources and articles about Black History Month in Michigan. In addition to events, sites, photo galleries and state resources, there's also a few articles that ask "Why should the accomplishments of the African-American community be relegated to one month of the year, and the shortest one at that?"

Black History Month in Michigan

Oh, and About Those League-Leading Pistons

Chris McCosky of the Detroit News has a truly excellent feature on Joe Dumars and the manner in which he turned the Detroit Pistons around that looks to some of the NBA's most insightful folks to explain what he did to take the Pistons from the train wreck they were in 2000 to the freight train they are in 2006. Five-star reading for all Pistons fans!

Read Joe D's reconstruction company in the Detroit News

Sherman, set the wayback machine for 2001 and this excellent dig by Detroit Bad Boys of a story by Mr. McCosky written in 2001 called "Is Joe Dumars fit to run the Pistons?" I bet McCosky is plenty happy he was a bit off.

Huge Grant to Expand Fuel Cell Development Efforts in Michigan

FCW reports that the Mid-Michigan Innovation Alliance has received a $15 million federal grant to help expand fuel cell development in the auto industry. The grant was awarded under the Workforce Innovation for Regional Economic Development (WIRED) program and includes 13 counties stretching from Lansing to Flint to Saginaw. Flint's Kettering University already has a fuel cell research center and is planning a huge research laboratory. Another grant was awarded to a seven-county region in the Grand Rapids area.

Read Grant to promote fuel cell development in region from the FuelCellWorks News and Information Portal

Michigan Sulfide Mining Rules Finalized

The Mining Journal reports that Michigan now has regulations in place to oversee deep-shaft sulfide mining, which hasn't yet been done in the state. Numerous companies are exploring underground deposits of nonferrous minerals in the Upper Peninsula, and Kennecott Minerals is preparing to seek a permit to develop a nickel and copper mine in western Marquette County.



This and other mines would use a process known as sulfide mining, in which metals such as nickel and zinc are extracted from rock formations containing sulfur. When the rock is brought to the surface and exposed to air and moisture, a chemical reaction generates sulfuric acid laden with dissolved heavy metals, which can leach into surface or ground water.

Read State finalizes mining rules in the Mining Journal

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