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In the Wall Street Journal’s article, Michigan Takes On Its Deadly Cities, it was argued that the fight to make Michigan’s most troubled cities safer  “promises to be tougher” for Governor Rick Snyder who today presented his fiscal year 2013 state budget and attempts to address public safety in it.

Public safety is one of five priorities targeted by the governor for “strategic investments” in the budget. Snyder has recommended:

• Strong investments in public safety are to include funding of $164.7 million for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and $567.6 million for the Michigan State Police, which includes $55.7 million in funding for Military Preparedness for the Michigan National Guard and funding for core state police programs such as road patrol, motor carrier enforcement, and investigative services. According to the governor, this is a 16% increase in funding over the current year.
• An additional $15 million in general fund for law enforcement enhancement, which will further be detailed in the governor’s upcoming March 2012 Special Message on Public Safety.
• $5 million to implement a summer initiative for at-risk youth with an emphasis in Flint, Pontiac, Saginaw and Detroit. This program is expected to expose youths to positive after-school activities that allow them to experience constructive alternatives to going down the wrong path in life. More details of this program will also be detailed in the Special Message on Public Safety.

Is this enough in the budget to address public safety within the state? The cities above are “four of the 10 U.S. cities of at least 50,000 people with the highest 2010 violent-crime rates” mentions the Wall Street Journal. It continues that under state law, emergency managers (which Flint and Pontiac are under current control of) have authority to cut budgets and that law enforcement costs have been among the targets.

Flint has seen numerous cuts to its police department in recent years and is currently operating with about 50-60 officers less then the crime dictates. State Representative Jim Ananich (D-Flint) agreed with Attorney General Bill Schuette who came out and said he would like to see $107 million of the state’s budget surplus go to hiring 1,000 new police officers within the state.

Ananich, who sits on the Appropriations Committee released a statement: “Today’s presentation at least acknowledges the work that needs to be done to make our communities safe, educate our kids, and create jobs. Unfortunately, I’m concerned that the levels of funding won’t be enough to reverse the damage that has been done in these areas with previous budgets. I’ll also push to see action on improved public safety as soon as possible, instead of waiting for more speeches.”

To see the Governor’s complete budget presentation, click here.

Comment below to let us know what you think on the amount of money the governor has budgeted for public safety.

Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images News

A new report from Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget shows Flint (Genesee County) posting solid employment gains in the month of November, increasing by 2%. The other two areas covered in the report, Bay City (Bay County) and Saginaw (Saginaw County), also saw gains of 1.3% and 0.6% respectively.

Overall, Michigan’s seasonally unadjusted jobless rate fell by 0.8% to 8.4%. The jobless rate in the Flint metropolitan statistical area (MSA) experienced the largest reduction, moving down 0.7% to 8.7% over the month.

Labor force levels advanced throughout as job seekers entered the labor market looking for temporary holiday employment. The Flint MSA once again saw the largest gain of 1.2%.

December’s statistics will be available later this month.

To view the entire statewide report from Michigan Department of Technology, Management, & Budget click here.

U.S. Army Environmental Command, Flickr

This year Flint’s News Talk – WFNT is teaming up with the WIlliams Gun Sight in Davison to give you a chance to show off your trophy deer. Find out how you can show off your deer after the jump.

All you have to do is submit a photo of your deer that you have taken during this years deer season — bucks or does taken with a bow, crossbow, firearm or muzzle loader — and each week we will select a random winner to receive a $50 Gift Certifircate from the WIlliams Gun Sigh in Davison.

Just fill in the information below and upload a photo — check back each week for new additions to the gallery and to see the featured winner of the week.

Sponsored by:

Jason Cooper, WFNT

The grassroots movement that started on Wall Street has now spread across the nation and popped up in cities across Michigan. The ‘Occupy” movement are gatherings of residents who say they are tired of America’s corporate forces and income disparities. On Friday, Detroit and Flint residents held “occupations” through sit-ins and protests. Friday also happened to be the same day President Obama visited Metro Detroit to tour an auto plant. The Flint gathering,  took place at Saginaw and First Street at noon.

Famous moms deserve just as much thanks as others. Here’s a list of famous moms and their kiddos, from the First Lady to the Material Girl.

The world was brought to a standstill late Sunday evening when President Barack Obama confirmed that terrorist leader Osama bin Laden had been killed by U.S. operatives in Pakistan.

Americans quickly gathered to celebrate outside the White House, and before you knew it, New Yorkers were gathering in Times Square and at Ground Zero, as well.

We’ve pulled together photos from this truly historic moment. Check them out now.

Protests in Egypt continued today and the military said it would cease to use force against the demonstrators. Other nations are backing the protestors and urging Egypt’s government to consider reform.

Check out the photos from last nights State of the Union Address.

Let’s just be happy that Michigan was missed by this blizzard!

For all you car enthusiasts, check out the cars of today, tomorrow, and yester-years.

As Detroit Lions Fans we all stand behind the team and say, “this will be the year”. It’s always the year, the year of losing. We’ll at lease we can say the Lions are good at something.