Category Archives: Uncategorized

A Jewish airman in a Nazi POW Camp

BY JOEL THURTELL The Detroit Free Press scrapped this story when I wrote it 21 years ago. What do you think? Would you have published this story? First, some background: He was retired in 2002, but Detroit TV weather caster … Continue reading

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Victoria Burton-Harris: ‘Yes, I would’

By JOEL THURTELL I asked Democratic Wayne County prosecutor candidate Victoria Burton-Harris if she would investigate and prosecute public officials who illegally withhold records. She replied: Good afternoon, Joel. Yes, I would. This is simple and a part of my … Continue reading

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Letter to Wayne County’s next prosecuting attorney (I hope!)

To Victoria Burton-Harris, greetings: If a citizen were denied access to public records and requested that you enforce Michigan’s 1931 Penal Code provision that government officials be prosecuted for withholding public records, and if you were Wayne County prosecutor, what … Continue reading

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CASS COUNTY ‘JUSTICE’

BY JOEL THURTELL Police unions are taking the rap for defending lawbreaking cops. Police chiefs argue that they are powerless to fire bad cops. There was a time when top cops openly made the case for protecting bad police officers. … Continue reading

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I BEAT OHIO STATE!

By Joel Thurtell The 80-year-old old guy with the shock of white hair wore a fading maize and blue University of Michigan t-shirt, but this old man was not just any Michigan fan. Nor was it just any UM t-shirt. … Continue reading

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Morounopoly

Originally published here on February 1, 2012 By Joel Thurtell The answer: MOROUNOPOLY. The question: How do you spell Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority? According to Gongwer News Service, Gov. Rick Snyder might use the port authority to bypass the Legislature … Continue reading

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Calling Schuette’s shots

By Joel Thurtell I complimented Free Press reporter Joe Guillen for dogging the billionaire Matty Moroun and his brazen takeover of the Detroit-Wayne County Port Authority. I was glad to see the Free Press report Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette’s … Continue reading

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Free Press memory hole

A memory hole is any mechanism for the alteration or disappearance of inconvenient or embarrassing documents, photographs, transcripts, or other records, such as from a website or other archive, particularly as part of an attempt to give the impression that … Continue reading

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WSU reporters and Duggan: the rest of the story

By Joel Thurtell You would think from reading the August 18, 2015 Detroit Free Press article about two Wayne State University student reporters who were stonewalled by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s staff that the Free Press broke the story. Thanks to … Continue reading

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Waiting for Worthy

By Joel Thurtell More than two months ago, I mailed a letter asking Kym Worthy, the Wayne County prosecuting attorney, to investigate Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s office for refusing to disclose his deal with Ambassador Bridge owner Matty Moroun for … Continue reading

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