The Kent Area Narcotics Enfocement Team (KANET) recently ended an investigation into a multi-state drug ring which resulted in the seizure of over $240,000.00 in cash, two houses, 35 firearms and several vehicles including a 2008 Honda Ridgeline, a 2009 Honda Ridgeline and a 1999 Harley Davidson Fatboy were seized.

According to this press release from KANET, this criminal organization was responsible for distributing over 3000 pounds of marijuana since 2008. The value of the marijuana is at least $3,600,000.00 and was being sold in pound quantities in the greater Kent County area and Leroy, MI. The marijuana was purchased in Albuquerque, NM and smuggled in cars and trucks to Grand Rapids MI, Belding MI and Leroy MI. The investigation culminated in January 2009 with the arrest of the Rene Jimenez-Saenz, the Albuquerque, NM marijuana source of supply.

The pictures below show some of the seized drugs, money and guns. You can also download the full press release here or read the story from the Grand Rapids Press.

Governor Granholm on Thursday, February 11, 2010, unveiled her executive budget proposal for the State of Michigan’s 2011 fiscal year, which is slated to begin on October 1, 2010 and end on September 30, 2011.

The General Fund spending plan calls for roughly $8.9 billion worth of state spending that would be supported with about $7.8 billion in state revenue. The $1.1 billion difference would be closed with an about $570 million worth of program cuts and reforms and about $514 million in anticipated federal stimulus money.

The School Aid Fund spending prescribes about $12.9 billion worth of state spending on Michigan K-12 school districts that would be supported with $12.5 billion in taxpayer dollars, with the difference being made up with revenue adjustments and reforms. 

For Highlights of the Granholm proposal hit the "Read More" link

GCSI last week sat down with Senate Republican Bill Hardiman who is the Senate Appropriations Transportation Subcommittee Chair to talk about who the state is set to fall $84 million short on the match dollars it needs to bring down some  $475  million  in  federal  road  funds.

GCSI, this week, also talked to U.S. Congressional Republican, and Gubernatorial candidate, Pete Hoekstra about his run for Governor.

This article comes from Attorney Mark A. Porter of Map-Law.com

Greetings to All,

Below are 3-articles about the indictment and trial outcome of aSergeant in the Highland Park PD.

On January 31, 2008, I received a phone call at the office from an HPPD officer who was calling to talk about the fact that all uniforms, weapons, and other equipment had to be personally purchased by each officer. At the end, he said, "Oh by the way -- the FBI came to my house the other day and interviewed me about an investigation into one of my sergeants for punching a prisoner. They said there may be a grand jury and I may be called to testify -- is there anything I should know about that?"

Hit the "Read More" link for the rest of the article

Last week the Michigan senate passed a bill making texting while driving illegal as a secondary offense. This bill must be reconciled against a competing house bill, but the legislation does appear to be headed to the Governor's desk eventually.

Senator Kahn address his support for the bill in his latest podcast.

Click below to listen to Senator Kahn's podcast

William Cook, 23, of Battle Creek, held a stolen .45-caliber handgun to his head and pulled the trigger at the end of a two-minute standoff with the deputy, according to Capt. Matt Saxton of the Calhoun County Sheriff Department.

Cook was stopped by a Calhoun county Deputy who then smelled marijuana in the vehicle and was told by Cook that he did not have a license. When the Deputy asked Cook to step out of the vehicle, Cook pulled a stolen .45 pistol out and held the Deputy there before putting the gun to his own head and pulling the trigger.

Hit the "Read More" link for the dash cam video of the encounter

GCSI has posted the full speech on their website, if you would like to read it hit the link below:

• Click here to download the full text of the speech

Before the address Granholm released a white paper with more specifics about her reform ideas which she outlines in her speech. The links below refer to that:

• Download the press release regarding Granholm's proposed reforms
• Download the white paper outlining Granholm's proposed reforums

A new report from Towers Watson shows that during the recent economic downturn defined benefit (DB) pension plans outperformed defined contribution (DC) plans providing greater rates of return for DB plans.

Click here to read the full article from PlanSponsor.com

The Grand Rapids Press has an article today regarding Mike Bishop's new reform initiative outling some of the argument for and against Bishop's massive proposed cuts to public employees.

Punctuating this are statements from Kent County Administrator Daryl Delabbio who states in the article he sees public employees as “easy targets,” and many (legislators) don’t realize the reason behind the compensation packages they receive.

Grand Rapids City Manager Greg Sundstrom is quoted in the article as saying:

“A debate on the topic is reasonable, as long as people remember that we have very valuable public employees who deserve a fair wage.”

Click here to read the article from the Grand Rapids press

Several (actually 5) different tax reform proposals are being pushed and debated in the Michigan Legislature right now. GCSI has taken the time to break these down for us in a nice grid showing how each will affect both business and personal taxes.

Click here to download the chart from GCSI's website