Warren GM plant receives environmental award... So does Muskegon's J.H. Campbell power plant. Mitch Albom says Enough with the guarantees, Pistons.

Detroit News Michiganians of the Year
The Detroit News has profiles (including video) of their 14 Michiganians of the Year. Their list includes former Detroit Lion turned entrepreneur and philanthropist Robert Porcher, David Milarch of the Champion Tree Project and Arab American National Museum founder Anan Ameri.
Read 2005 Michiganians of the Year in the Detroit News

Michigan Teacher Developing Skateboard Curriculum

The Traverse City Record-Eagle has another great multimedia feature by Taylor Sipe about Traverse City East Junior High tech-ed teacher Scott Diment. Diment, a skateboarder for about 30 years, is working with Paul Schmitt of skateboard company PS Stix in developing a curriculum and pilot program called CreateAskate that encourages students to apply math and science in constructing and engineering a skateboard.
Read Lessons in Motion: Skateboard making teaches math, science in the TC Record-Eagle

Venture Capital Event Turns 25
The Michigan Growth Capital Symposium is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry interviews David Brophy about the "original venture fair" and what Michigan industries (internet, technology, life sciences) investors will be looking to invest their money in.
Read/Listen to Interview: David Brophy from Michigan Radio

Starbucks Founder Talks About Corporate Responsibility

The Freep reports that Howard Schultz, chairman of Starbucks Coffee Co. and a Northern Michigan University grad, addressed the Detroit Economic Club on how to build a company that makes profits without sacrificing corporate responsibility. Schultz said "We knew early on we were not in the coffee business. We are in the people business. We created and we are the quintessential experiential brand. It comes to life when people feel a sense of value, appreciation and respect."

Schultz also criticized corporations who are very profitable but are not paying their part of the nation's health care costs.
Read Starbucks strategy goes beyond java in the Detroit Free Press

Employment and Environment in Competition
The Detroit News takes a look at mining, logging and farming initiatives that promise jobs but carry with them the potential of negative environmental impacts. All three job initiatives concern environmentalists, and depend on state administrative or legislative action.
Read Job initiatives ring environmental alarm in the Detroit News