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Gov. Rick Snyder's surprise appointment of James Haveman to head the Department of Community Health raises troubling questions about the direction of mental health care in Michigan. During the administration of Gov. John Engler, Haveman was the department head largely responsible for sweeping changes that undermined community mental health care and, in effect, pushed tens of thousands of mentally ill people into jails, homeless shelters, prisons and hospital emergency rooms, as reported in this year's Free Press editorial page series, "Criminal Negligence."
Engler and Haveman closed 10 of the state's 16 psychiatric hospitals. And in the most egregious example, they waged a contentious battle over Lafayette Clinic in Detroit, cheap Air Max 95 during which Haveman was held in contempt by Wayne County Circuit Judge Richard Hathaway. Few people dispute that shifting more mental health care from institutions into the community was, in general, humane and cost-effective. Still, the pace of the hospital closings left community mental health agencies unequipped to handle the changes. In April 1992, the Free Press editorial page called on Engler to replace Haveman. Mental health -- and other health care -- professionals and advocates also say Haveman, who takes office Sept. 1, was often imperial and arrogant. He angered some providers -- as well as some consumers and family members -- by moving the state from a fee-for-service system to a managed-care model of Medicaid. Snyder's press secretary, Sara Wurfel, on Monday cited Haveman's expertise in integrating physical and mental health care, as well as his demonstrated ability to lead a large agency. He will not, she said, change Snyder's mental health policies or priorities. Haveman's appointment follows the unexpected resignation of Community Health Director Olga Dazzo. Haveman served first as Engler's director of the Department of Mental Health, and then as DCH director after the two departments merged. Later, Haveman helped set up the national health care system in Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein. Haveman's new tenure ought to be watched closely by the public, legislators, the mental health community and the governor himself. The state Senate, in its advise-and-consent role, should grill Haveman about where he plans to take health care in Michigan, including whether he would require mentally ill Medicaid patients to take low-cost generic drugs, even when no generic equivalent exists. Haveman should reach out to the mental health and health care communities, including advocates, providers, consumers and families, to ensure lines of communication remain open. "The last thing anyone would want is a return to the '90s," said Mark Reinstein, president of the Mental Health Association in Michigan. "We need to wipe the slate clean and figure out a way to do better." Michigan's 46 local community mental health agencies reach less than half of the people who may need their services. Meantime, the state provides the fourth-lowest number of public psychiatric hospital beds, per capita, in the nation. Michigan needs an adequately funded and more efficient community mental health system -- and a sufficient number of public psychiatric hospital beds to serve the state's most severely mentally ill patients. To move the state forward, Haveman must learn from past mistakes. The Nasdaq Stock Market has warned battery-maker A123 Systems that it may be removed from the exchange if its stock price doesn’t improve, according to an SEC filing.
A123 said it received a delisting notification from Nasdaq, standard procedure when a company’s stock price has traded below $1 for at least 30 consecutive business days. The stock closed down 2.3 cents on Wednesday to 37.9 cents. Three key A123 executives sold nearly 7,000 shares for 46 cents each on Monday, Nike Air Max Shoesaccording to SEC filings released Tuesday. The Waltham, Mass.-based company, which has nearly 800 employees in Michigan, has been given 180 calendar days to get its stock price above a dollar. At that point, it could get an extension, after which Nasdaq may delist the stock. “The company intends to actively monitor the bid price for its common stock between now and Feb. 19, 2013, and will consider available options to resolve the deficiency,” A123 said in an SEC filing. The news comes a week after A123 completed a deal with China auto supplier Wanxiang Group Corp., which will invest up to $465 million in A123. Contact: Nathan Bomey at 313-223-4743 or [email protected] John Goci, Wayne-Westland school board member who made an unsuccessful run for a congressional seat earlier this month, was charged with lying to federal agents, according to documents unsealed in federal court today.
The businessman was arrested this morning, made his initial court appearance and was released on bond, a spokeswoman with the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. The allegations against Goci, who lost to Democratic U.S. Rep. Cheap Nike Air Max John Conyers in the primary, resulted from an investigation into high-interest loans. According to court documents, federal agents believe Goci obtained a loan for $30,000 and paid more than 45% interest on it. Goci was interviewed by federal agents in July and said he paid 15% interest, the documents state. Authorities said Goci received the loan from businessman Tomo Duhanaj, who also was charged with lying to federal agents. “The circumstances indicate that Goci lied about this interest rate to assist Duhanaj in concealing the criminality of his loan sharking operation,” a court document said. Goci, vice-president of the Wayne-Westland Board of Education, called the allegations against him false. He told the Free Press that he received a $30,000 loan, but said he didn’t get it from Duhanaj and paid 15% interest on it. “I know I’m innocent,” he said. “I look forward to defending myself and being vindicated.” He said he intends to fully cooperate with the FBI throughout their investigation. Duhanaj’s attorney Sanford Schulman said his client maintains his innocence and denies any wrongdoing. He said Duhanaj was charged with lying even though he was telling the truth. Wayne-Westland Community Schools Superintendent Gregory Baracy said he wouldn’t speculate on how the allegations may impact Goci’s school board seat. Baracy called Goci’s arrest a “terrible distraction” to the school district. “I want to assure the staff, parents and students of the Wayne-Westland Community School District that this distraction and Mr. Goci’s arrest and personal issues will not impact the daily operations of this school district,” Baracy said in a statement. Contact Elisha Anderson: 313-222-5144 or [email protected] JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jaguars are going to be England's team.
The NFL and the Jaguars announced Tuesday that the small-market franchise will play one home game in London for four consecutive seasons beginning in 2013 — a step the team believes will broaden its fan base and take some pressure off locals who have mostly failed to fill the stands in recent years. "I passionately believe the big growth now is going to come from overseas," owner Shad Khan said. "We've got to go where we can leverage and take advantage of some of those things. Cheap Nike Air MaxYou've got to fish in ponds where you've got fish in there. We're going to a pond where there are no fishermen." The Jaguars will play at historic Wembley Stadium, which has hosted one NFL game annually since 2007. "We want to create an identity, a bold, ambitious franchise that is aggressive and forward-thinking on the field and away from the field," Khan said. "We want to be the kind of franchise players want to belong to, sponsors want to be part of, and Jacksonville is proud of. ... The key point is to sell Jacksonville to the world. We are a well-kept secret, but after today, that's not going to be the case." By all accounts, the Jaguars are the NFL's least popular team. They rank at or near the bottom of the league in website hits as well as Twitter and Facebook interactions. Although Jacksonville is the largest city in the continental United States in terms of land mass, it is home to just 1.3 million people — and that includes several surrounding areas; London alone has 8 million people. Missing the playoffs in 10 of 12 seasons has made attracting fans a problem in Jacksonville. The team used to pack the stands regularly, even though it plays in a stadium built to house large crowds for the annual Florida-Georgia college football game. But in 2005, the Jaguars decided to cover up nearly 10,000 seats with tarps to reduce capacity and limit television blackouts. Even though the Jaguars haven't blacked out a home game since 2009, they still have struggled to fill EverBank Field. Playing an annual game in London will reduce season-ticket prices by 10 percent, possibly making the remaining package a more affordable and enticing option. Reaction, though, was mixed among the fan base. Some supported the decision and others questioned the team's motives. After all, if the Jaguars become England's team and continue to have issues back home, what's to stop the NFL from moving them across the pond for good? "You can't fault them if anyone is mad about this," kicker Josh Scobee said. "We can only ask for their support in going over there and ask them to watch it on TV." The St. Louis Rams had been scheduled to play in London in 2013 and 2014, but they pulled out last week, citing a need to focus on lease negotiations and ease fan discontent. The Jaguars scooped up the available games — plus some. "It's just good for the Jaguar brand," tight end Marcedes Lewis said. "It's exciting to go over there and put ourselves on the map worldwide. When I got drafted in 2006, there were some of my family members who didn't even know who the Jaguars were." Players recognized the major pitfalls — traveling overseas and giving up home games — but no one knocked the decision publicly. "We know football is the greatest sport in the states, so for fans in other areas who don't get to watch it first hand, it's good for them to experience and see what we all brag about," cornerback Rashean Mathis said. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell joined Khan for the announcement, which fittingly came on a gray, rain-soaked day in Jacksonville — typical London weather. Goodell reaffirmed his commitment to expanding to multiple games in England and eventually establishing a franchise there. "The big issue for us was finding a community that understood that this could be great for the community, wrap their arms around it and say this is a win-win situation," Goodell said. Khan said the Jaguars are committed to playing all four years at Wembley, even if the team becomes a Super Bowl contender and a hot ticket in Jacksonville. "I think if you make a commitment, you stick with it," said Khan, who bought the team in November for $770 million. "To me, we're all in." Khan added that he would consider playing more games overseas after the deal expires in 2016. He also acknowledged that the payoff probably won't be seen immediately. He suggested that Londoners could fall in love with the Jaguars and decide to visit Jacksonville regularly. The ultimate goal, though, would be to have European companies spend millions in Jacksonville. "If somebody builds a container port, if somebody makes an investment out of Germany or England or Netherlands and they chose Jacksonville, that would be a huge return from my viewpoint," Khan said. "You could have people come here — we've got beautiful golf, weather — instead of vacationing in Miami or some place and they come up here and watch a game or two. That would be a huge return for me." Coach Mike Mularkey and cornerback Aaron Ross have made the trip before — Ross with the New York Giants in 2007, and Mularkey with the Dolphins that year — and both praised the fans and the experience they gained from making the trip. "I know Shad's been trying to have people recognize what's going on here in this town," Mularkey said. "I think this is a great opportunity to get it. Obviously going overseas, that's making a statement." Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Rubby De La Rosa will soon make his season debut after being activated from the 60-day disabled list on Tuesday.
De La Rosa, 23, underwent Tommy John surgery last August after suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He pitched 12 innings in minor- air max 2012league rehab assignments and did not allow a run. As a rookie last year, De La Rosa posted a 4-5 record with a 3.71 ERA in 13 games -- 10 starts. To make room on the roster, the Dodgers optioned reliever Javy Guerra to Triple-A Albuquerque. 单击此处进行编辑.
The Buffalo Bills have released defensive end Shawne Merriman.
The Bills' official Twitter account broke the news early Monday morning: the #Bills have released DE @shawnemerriman — Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) August 20, 2012 The veteran defender played five games for the Bills in 2011, recording just nine tackles and one sack. He was injured midseason and placed on IR because of a nagging Achilles tendon injury. What It Means The NFL's most dominant pass-rusher of 2006 is in search of a job after being released this summer. Merriman was a force in the league just a few seasons back, Nike Air Max 95but now it seems his days as an elite defender are over. Some fans forget that the former Maryland Terrapin recorded 17 sacks, four forced fumbles and an interception in 12 games during the 2006 season with the San Diego Chargers. Monday's news means that Merriman has gone from "Lights Out" to out of a job in less than five years. Will Shawne Merriman play in at least one NFL game in 2012? Will Shawne Merriman play in at least one NFL game in 2012? Yes79.2% No20.8%Total votes: 6,786 What Happens Next Merriman's résumé is good enough to catch the eye of a team in desperate need of a veteran at defensive end or linebacker, but his track record over the past few seasons is troublesome. His injuries and declining play signal the end of a brief, but at times dominant NFL career. At age 28, it's hard to say Merriman can't still play at a high level, but given the wear and tear on his body, it seems that we have seen his best football. Of course, injuries happen to every team during the course of an NFL season, and when they do, Merriman will get his fair share of chances to prove he belongs in the league. Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter for more NFL reaction and analysis. Update on Monday, August 20 at 6:12 p.m. ET by Jesse Reed
It's official. Crawford's season is over. According to NESN's Jenny Dell: #RedSox NEWS: Carl Crawford will undergo Tommy John elbow surgery on Thursday. — Jenny Dell (@JennyDellNESN) August 20, 2012 While this is surely disappointing news for the Crawford, Air Max 95the Red Sox and their fans, it's better to get these things taken care of than to let them linger. Hopefully, he makes a full recovery and has a monster year in 2013. ---------End of Update---------- According to ESPN, it would now be a surprise if the Boston Red Sox’s 31-year-old outfielder didn’t have Tommy John surgery this week, on Tuesday. Crawford is currently playing through a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, and the Sox obviously don’t believe it’s worth it for him fight through that pain and finish the 2012 campaign. The ball club will make an official announcement on their star’s injury status Monday, but according to sources, a decision has already been made. General manager Ben Cherington actually denied the report, though. Said Cherington, via ESPN: We want to make a focused decision tomorrow on what's best for Carl. Listen to him, look at all the available information and figure out if this is something that needs to be fixed (immediately) or if he can continue to play with it. Considered a major disappointment after inking a seven-year, $142-million deal with the BoSox in late 2010, Crawford has batted well recently. In the past seven days, he’s recorded a batting average of .375 as well as six RBI. And the odds that the Red Sox fight their way into the postseason would shrink even further without No. 13. Right now, Boston has a record of just 59-62 and is 4-6 in its last 10 games. The Sox aren’t making any progress and are 13.5 games back in the AL East and 7.5 in the wild-card race. They haven’t been doing themselves any favors as of late. And that may be why they throw in the towel on Crawford’s season. If they throw in the towel, of course. David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicatedwriter. Follow @TheRealDDaniels |
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