Mike Tobin Archive

Ex-Detroit mayor sentenced to 28 years in prison for corruption

Published October 10, 2013

Kwame Kilpatrick, the disgraced former mayor of Detroit, was sentenced Thursday to 28 years in prison for corruption following a series of scandals that showed he had unchecked power while in office.

Groups wage grassroots battle ahead of ObamaCare launch

Published September 19, 2013

Though Republicans in D.C. are facing headwinds in their push to de-fund ObamaCare, conservative activists are plugging away at an on-the-ground effort to upend the program.

Illinois officials under fire for ObamaCare contracts

Published August 30, 2013

Making ObamaCare a reality will require massive computing power to track, store and process the millions of individual cases. But in Illinois, contracts to compute that state’s cases – valued as high as $190 million – are being awarded without competitive bidding.

Team of wounded war veterans race against the odds to finish grueling Leadville Trail 100

Published August 12, 2013

As 1,549 Mountain bikers lined up in the pre-dawn cold of the Colorado Rockies to race the Leadville Trail 100, one of them was different. Matt Dewitt doesn’t have any hands.

Sequester cuts taking toll at high-flying Oshkosh air show

Published August 03, 2013

Once a year, pilots and aviation enthusiasts make the pilgrimage to Oshkosh, Wisconsin for the Experimental Aircraft Association’s “Airventure.” But this summer, for the first time in six decades of the air show, the Federal Aviation Administration announced that due to the sequester, there was no money to get air traffic controllers to Wisconsin or pay them overtime for the big show.

Detroit emergency manager poised to make deep cuts, amid protests

Published March 26, 2013

As Kevin Orr begins his stint as the first-ever emergency financial manager for Detroit, he's already facing a backlash -- from civil rights leaders like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson who have descended on Detroit to oppose his installation. But this isn't the first time a Michigan city has been thrown into this situation because of poor financial decisions. 

Chicago's efforts against illegal firearm possession may face Statehouse obstacles

Published March 04, 2013

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, as well as the city's police superintendent and district attorney, are calling for legislation to toughen the penalty for illegal firearm possession and for so-called truth-in-sentencing law.

Chicago has tough gun laws, but leads nation in gun violence

Published January 04, 2013

Any night in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago’s West side can explode into gunfire. 

Critics question aim of $25-per-gun tax in Chicago

Published December 28, 2012

With gangland shootings becoming an every-day occurrence in Chicago, the Board of Commissioners in surrounding Cook County is trying anew to tackle the deadly problem -- with another tax. But already, some are questioning whether the move is more about making a statement than addressing the violence. 

Campaigns step up efforts to win undecided Ohio women

Published October 26, 2012