The Center for Michigan’s Bridge Report published an article last week referring to the plight of unemployed people from the closing of Greenville’s Electrolux plant. We acknowledge the plight of the people interviewed, but the publication missed by a mile the actual vitality of this area.

In this column last week we discussed some of the myths and facts surrounding Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Since that time, the Legislature has included language in the budget of the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) which would prohibit the use of state funds to implement or support the CCSS. The Legislature must now revisit the issue and pass a bill allowing the MDE to continue their efforts on the Common Core before the state budget goes into effect on October 1.

Competing in a triathlon (swim, bike, run … in that order) is a unique and demanding physical endeavor. Organizing one may be even more difficult.

Who’s gonna get the money? It’s expected that the state of Michigan might well have a few hundred million in surplus revenue in this year’s budget … and the competitors for a share of the bonus are already lining up.

For several weeks we have been discussing the history and philosophy of public education. Now it is time to put that information into practice. Some bills have been introduced in Lansing that merit response from the citizens that they will impact.

We owe a great debt to the brave patriots who answered the nation’s call to defend our liberty. We enjoy the blessings of freedom today due to the selfless courage of America’s service men and women, many of whom protected our lives at the cost of their own.

The Center for Michigan’s highly acclaimed Bridge Report revealed this week that dozens of Michigan cities are facing serious to devastating financial shortages in the foreseeable future. Bridge reported financial viability scores provided by Auburn Hills data consultant Munetrix. Much of the cities’ problems result from a perfect storm: years of increasing pension and health care obligations, in many cases unfunded; coupled with consistent decreases in funding from state revenue sharing. Of course, a decade of shrinking employment exacerbates the issue.

Michigan’s leadership status in matters relating to the automobile industry may soon rise or fall depending on how we settle a very serious matter. Our state has the nation’s only no-fault law that includes unlimited lifetime benefits for medical expenses resulting from auto accidents.

Working together is what creates good school systems — and other systems. I have intended to have these columns be about public education and not about Greenville Public Schools. But comments in a recent Daily News editorial have prompted me to deviate in this column.

If you missed reading your local Daily News last Wednesday, May 8: