July 13, 2026

As anticipated, “It’s official,” The Detroit News has reported. “Michigan’s 16 presidential electors cast their ballots Monday afternoon in the state Capitol for Democratic President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris following a bitterly contentious election process.”

Read “It’s official: Michigan’s presidential electors vote for Biden, Harris at Capitol,” by Riley Beggin, Melissa Nann Burke, and Craig Mauger.

via Baptist Beacon (April 1, 2022)— "Inwardly strong, outwardly focused," by Mike Durbin, State Evangelism Director for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan: Legendary football coach, Vince Lombardi, started the first day of the Green Bay Packers training camp in 1961 with a football in his right hand and these words:…

– April 10, 2022
via Lifeway Research (December 28, 2021)— "New Year's Resolutions Focus on Health, God and Money," by Aaron Earls: After a season in which avoiding sickness was on most everyone’s mind, many Americans say their New Year’s resolutions address their health .... As people contemplate their 2022 resolutions, more than 2 in…

– January 23, 2022
via What Christians Want to Know (May 27, 2019)— "Should Christians Protest Or Demonstrate?" by Jack Wellman, Christian author, prison minister, and pastor of Heritage Evangelical Free Church, in Udall, Kansas: ... especially when they see injustice? ... The Bible admonishes us to 'Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights…

– June 12, 2022
via Lifeway Research (September 1, 2021)— "Most Americans Know and Trust Their Neighbors," by Aaron Earls: Despite quarantines and social distancing keeping people in their homes during the pandemic, Americans still say they know their neighbors. Almost 7 in 10 U.S. adults (68%) say they trust the people who live in…

– January 17, 2022
National Day of Prayer for Law Enforcement Officers— via National Police Association (June 23, 2021), by Stephen Owsinski, retired law enforcement officer with experience in Field Training Officer (FTO) unit and the Community Traffic Safety Team (CTST): "Like anyone else, our nation’s cops harbor every desire to return home each day…

– June 17, 2022
via Baptist Beacon (June 1, 2022)— "A small church serves as a large witness in the wake of Taylor tornado," by Mike Durbin, State Evangelism Director for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan: An EF3 tornado ripped through Gaylord tragically taking the lives of two people and injuring more than…

– June 5, 2022
re United States Supreme Court decision in Carson v Makin— Lifeway Christian Resources referenced Article 12 of the Southern Baptist Faith and Message, which "deals specifically and uniquely with the topic of education. ... our confessional statement affirms, Christianity is the faith of enlightenment and intelligence. As we shall see, one…

– June 21, 2022
via Lifeway Research (April 5, 2021)— "Americans Most Want to Avoid Fear and Anxiety, Gain Freedom and Safety," by Aaron Earls: After what was a scary year for many, more Americans say they want to avoid fear. According to a study from Lifeway Research, when asked which feeling they seek to…

– January 2, 2022
Mother's Day— via Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (September 16, 1953): "Sermons – Billy Graham on the Need for Godly Mothers," 13:27-minute audio recording, free online. 'If we had more Christian mothers, we would have less delinquency, less immorality, less ungodliness and fewer broken homes.' Listen to Billy Graham’s Mother’s Day…

– May 9, 2022

Exclusive interview with Brian Cox, former journalist with “The Saline Reporter,” on loss of local media: Part 2

September 17, 2019

Tomorrow morning, the Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti Regional Chamber will host another Early Edition breakfast from 7:00am to 8:45am at Weber’s Inn. Once again, a distinguished panel will discuss an area of immediate, practical concern. [1,2] Its title: ” The Loss of Local Media: How to Remain Informed and Engaged.” [3] Distinguished as its panel promises to be, there’s a lot to be said from the perspective of a “Hometown Newspaper” that made its first ....

Sergeant Eugene Rush, Washtenaw County Sheriff's Deputy

Some Americans would be unsettled to learn that their favorite hero was a Black man; others, the complete opposite

February 22, 2021

“The Lone Ranger’s Black?” [1,2] As histories go, it’s hard to imagine four words that intersect more threads than those above — spoken by a fictional character. Spoken by time machine pilot Rufus Carlin during the 2016-2017 season of Timeless, it was his typically matter-of-fact reaction when he first saw Deputy Marshall Bass Reeves in the year 1882. [3,4] In 2018, “pop culture historian” Martin Grams Jr produced a 22-page white paper earnestly aimed at debunking this ....

Update To Santa’s “List” Located In Saline (None Naughty, All Nice), Although “Sleigh” Appears To Be A Silverado

November 22, 2018

The spirit of Christmas giving was clearly not about to wait for Thanksgiving to pass this year. Example for today: The Bottomless Toy Chest donation drive. Pun intended. [1,2] Spearheaded by Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers, its aim is to expand the ‘Tons of Toys’ Holiday Event” for this 501(c)(3) not-for-profit by encouraging communities to literally fill pickup truck beds in local showrooms with gifts for children with extreme medical challenges. In Saline, that means Bill ....

Exclusive interview with Brian Cox, former journalist with “The Saline Reporter,” on loss of local media: Part 1

September 16, 2019

Our Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti Regional Chamber is set this week to tackle the challenge of remaining “informed and engaged” at a time after “The Loss of Local Media.” Saline Journal is set to cover the presentation, offered as part of their September “Early Edition” breakfast. [1,2] Professional journalism and the press is an important subject of scrutiny on a broader stage today. But one of the best examples in advance of the upcoming Chamber ....

Assistant Superintendent Steve Laatsch on value of SHS Drama performances that go beyond Saline High School

February 17, 2020

As Newsies cast rehearsals focused in on closer, more detailed staging last week, we took this opportunity to take a step back for a look at the bigger picture. [1] In this case, Steve Laatch is more than our Saline Area Schools Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services. He is also a personally invested patron of our high school theater program, making time to attend SHS Drama Club performances as they open. [2-4] Following are his answers ....