Up North Progressive

For-profit “punk prison” North Lake Correctional Facility, owned by GEO Group, announced today that they have a shiny new federal prison contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, aka ICE. The prison corporation that maxed out contributions to the Trump campaign by February 2024 got its payoff. The 1,800-bed facility just north of Baldwin, in Lake County, will begin the next chapter…

March 6, 2025, will go down as a busy day for Republican State House Rep Tom, a two-year or five-year fight Kunse. In typical Republican fashion, ole Tommy Boy sent mixed messages about supporting Michigan public schools and students. The day began with an article in the local paper that Kunse was holding an art contest for 100th State House District school students. Then, on the same day, King…

    It’s going to be one of those years.

Last month, GEO Group contested a property tax assessment with the Michigan Tax Tribunal, demanding that the value of their sole Michigan prison be significantly reduced. The assessed property is the shuttered North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin, Michigan. The facility was built 26 years ago with the approval of the Lake County Board of County Commissioners. GEO Group, then called…

Lake County’s primary election on August 6, 2024, eliminated a long list of candidates for Lake County Probate Judge. Of the two remaining candidates, one of them is a Lake County resident with real community roots and an impressive career history. That candidate is Floyd Brown.Floyd Brown graduated from Baldwin High School in 1984. He attended community college in Kalamazoo for one year before…

The dust settled over Michigan on August 6, 2024, and there were happy surprises. In State House District 107, Neil Friske (R-Watch me chase a stripper while armed and receive no charges!) lost his primary race to represent the Northern Lower Peninsula district for another term. In a statement, Friske stated: In Lansing, where conformity often overshadows conviction, I’ve made it my mission to…

There have been new developments in the case of the Lake County probate judge who lives in a 600-square-foot three-season hunting cabin in the woods. David Glancy claims his main homestead is 10211 East 16th Street in Lake County. Until recently, according to one source, the answer was no. Glancy and his family have a much larger, more excellent home in Traverse City. Why live in a tiny cabin…

Occasionally, the Up North Progressive receives a tip from a reader about strange things happening with political candidates. This time, the tip is about a candidate for probate judge in Lake County and the case of his home address. David M. Glancy is the current Probate Court Judge of Lake County. He was appointed to the position by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on April 26, 2023, after the…

Neil Friske faces multiple felony charges, including sexual assault, assault of a sexual nature, and a felony weapons charge. The Ingham County Prosecutor told the police to keep investigating. Friske isn’t getting out of jail any time soon.In other news, the Supreme Court once again upheld its ruling that red flag laws do not violate the Second Amendment.

State news reporting today that Republican State House Rep Neil Friske of the 107th has been sitting in a Lansing, MI, jail since early Thursday morning. Major news outlets so far say the reason is undisclosed at this time. State Rep. Neil Friske, R-Charlevoix, was arrested around 2:45 a.m. on the 2000 block of Windbreak Lane in Lansing and remained in custody Thursday, Lansing Police Public…

Only days after yet another mass shooting happened in Michigan, this time at a water park in Rochester Hills, state media reported a dozen Republicans in Lansing sponsored a bill to make the AR-15 the official state rifle. Adopting state emblems began in the late 19th century. Michigan adopted the apple blossom in 1897. Over time, the robin became the state bird, the white pine became the state…

  May there be more peace in the world.

It seems only a year ago that a former Republican Speaker of the State House was found guilty of taking bribes for medical marijuana dispensary licenses. That’s because it is! Today, Attorney General Dana Nessel read the charges against Lee Chatfield and his wife in Lansing. Both are charged with misusing social welfare account contributions and stealing from taxpayers. Happy crooked Republican…