Chicago suburbs, by flikr user Scorpions and Centaurs
American student loan debt totals nearly one trillion dollars. These loans break down to about $23,300 owed by each borrower. Changing Gears has been reporting on the effects of that debt and what it takes to pay it off.
We want to know how student debt affects big purchasing decisions. Are you ready to buy a house? And if so, can you get a mortgage?
Budget cuts Illinois Governor Pat Quinn outlined plans yesterday to cut the state’s pension costs and Medicaid programs. Partner station WBEZ Chicago says Quinn also plans to close two prisons and consolidate dozens of state offices.
Teacher teacher The Wall Street Journal looks at a shakeup for poor performing schools in Chicago, and sees a trend. More Democratic mayors are challenging teacher unions.
Clean energy ballot push Partner station WCPN Ideastream Cleveland reports there’s a new ballot initiative underway that would let voters choose whether the state should borrow billions to invest in clean energy. Turns out, environmentalists have nothing to do with the ballot initiative.
Surprise! It sold A busy real estate market is surprising some sellers in Northeast Ohio. Home sales were up more than 25 percent for the region in January, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
UAW protest plans The conservative web site, The Daily Caller, says it’s found evidence that the UAW plans to train 100,000 people for “The 99% Spring” protest movement. The Detroit News has a story. Changing Gears has discussed the UAW’s connection to the movement before.
Going private Proposals in Michigan would open the door to privately-run prisons.
Windy city The city of Milwaukee’s wind turbine is officially up!
There is a mixed bag of news on the housing front in our region, which keeps a close eye on home developments as an indicator of the way car sales may go.
Foreclosures are down sharply across the Great Lakes states, as well as nation wide.
For sale signs have become a common stable of front lawns in the Great Recession. Photo by Sean Dreilinger via Flickr.
In Michigan, foreclosures in July fell 42 percent compared with a year ago, and they fell 47 percent in metropolitan Detroit, to a two-year low. Continue reading
