Author Archives: admin

Kwamegate vs. Sludgegate

Posted on July 2, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell There’s a thing in architecture called perspective. Look at a five-story building by itself, without comparison to other structures, and it looks big. Stand beside it, and it seems gigantic. Build a 60-story tower next to it, … Continue reading →

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Fantasy JOA for Detroit?

Posted on July 2, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell In January, joelontheroad.com broke news about the start of a possible Joint Operating Agreement between my blog and the Detroit News and Free Press.     I didn’t get much response.   In fact, the only response … Continue reading →

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Embarrassing John Conyers?

Posted on July 1, 2008 by admin

  By Joel Thurtell   Sam Riddle thinks the FBI wants to embarrass U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr. He’s convinced that’s why the feds reportedly are investigating the congressman’s wife, Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers.   No, Sam, I don’t … Continue reading →

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Aides: Conyers made us babysit

Posted on July 1, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell [donation] Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers is the target of an FBI investigation, according to the July 1, 2008 Detroit Free Press. The FBI is looking into her role in a city sludge contract. But Monica Conyers … Continue reading →

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2 Conyers staffers at center of inquiry

Posted on June 29, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell [donation] This is the third Detroit Free Press story I wrote about misuse of congressional staffers by U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr. The first two stories appeared on Nov. 21, 2003 and are republished in the “Conyers … Continue reading →

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Times public editor “over the top”?

Posted on June 28, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell Well, Clarkie’s been at it again. I was hoping that after a couple of my punitive columns, New York Times public editor Clark Hoyt would have seen the light. After my onslaughts, I can’t understand why he … Continue reading →

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Bye-bye, yak

Posted on June 26, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell Obituary time at the Detroit Free Press: That venerable promotional creature, the furry, goofy Yak, is dead. Word from inside the Freep is that this popular creature — an educational feature aimed at kids, part of it contained … Continue reading →

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Free Press or fish wrapper?

Posted on June 26, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell Could Michigan’s oldest newspaper become a tabloid?   Hey, it could be worse.   The Detroit Free Press could wind up just as its top editors now envision it — a skimpy rag for home subscribers who … Continue reading →

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Disappearing staffer turns up in Chicago

Posted on June 25, 2008 by admin

The story that follows — “Disappearing staffer turns up in Chicago” — is the second in a series of articles I reported and wrote for the Detroit Free Press in 2003-2006. My hope is that these seemingly historical footnotes will … Continue reading →

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Conyers’ staff broke rules for campaign work, aides charge

Posted on June 24, 2008 by admin

This is the first of a series of stories reported largely by me between 2003-2006 on the behavior of U.S. Rep. John Conyers, a past master at ordering his taxpayer-paid staffers to work on political campaigns and act as his … Continue reading →

Posted in Conyers series, JC & Me | Tagged , | 2 Comments