Category Archives: People

A Jewish airman in a Nazi POW Camp

BY JOEL THURTELL The Detroit Free Press scrapped this story when I wrote it 21 years ago. What do you think? Would you have published this story? First, some background: He was retired in 2002, but Detroit TV weather caster … Continue reading

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Calling Schuette’s shots

By Joel Thurtell I complimented Free Press reporter Joe Guillen for dogging the billionaire Matty Moroun and his brazen takeover of the Detroit-Wayne County Port Authority. I was glad to see the Free Press report Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette’s … Continue reading

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Good job, Free Press — keep the heat on Matty!

By Joel Thurtell The Detroit Free Press reports that Michigan Attorney General William Schuette, without explanation, has declined to review the deal that gave billionaire Manuel “Matty” Moroun control of the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority. That is disgusting. Kudos to … Continue reading

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WSU reporters and Duggan: the rest of the story

By Joel Thurtell You would think from reading the August 18, 2015 Detroit Free Press article about two Wayne State University student reporters who were stonewalled by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s staff that the Free Press broke the story. Thanks to … Continue reading

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Hey, Donald — you are full of what?

By Joel Thurtell Thank God this is not a family newspaper. I can report exactly what Chrysler vice president Ralph Gilles tweeted about Donald Trump. Without resorting to #$&%! Full of shit. That’s what Gilles said. According to the Detroit … Continue reading

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All in the family: Sarah Palin

By Joel Thurtell As soon as John McCain announced Sarah Palin was his running mate in 2008, my sister-in-law, Anne Potter of Dayton, Ohio, started hearing from people who thought she was the spittin’ image of the wannabe VP. So … Continue reading

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Two scoops off one story!!! Read about it here!!! Free Press leaves out a Hoffa demise

By Joel Thurtell I just scooped the Detroit Free Press. On a story they already had. Since I wrote the first story, it gives me two scoops. Two scoops for the price of one. Same story, two scoops? How’s that … Continue reading

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Thank you, Jack!

By Joel Thurtell I’ve been very slow to acknowledge these kind words from Metro Times columnist Jack Lessenberry on June 20, 2012: The bridge to somewhere: You just had to be happy last week when Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper … Continue reading

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Me & Jimmy

By Joel Thurtell Joelontheroad.com had its debut on Sunday, December 9, 2007, the same day I was featured on E! Entertainment as an “expert” on labor history and the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa on E! Hoffa show. Two years later, … Continue reading

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Spiking the Super Bowl pizza

Here, slightly edited, is my annual Super Bowl story: By Joel Thurtell I’m no sports writer, so it was neat to think my byline would appear over a Super Bowl story. What a drag that my first-ever Super Bowl piece … Continue reading

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