AirAmerica: on the air in Michigan
Want to hear talk radio, but conservative chat from Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity isn't your cup of tea?

Providing a progressive (the new word for liberal) slant to the talk radio airwaves these days is "Air America," which airs on 89 stations nationwide, including four in Michigan.
The Michigan stations include:
Ann Arbor, WLBY, 1290-AM
Detroit, WDTW, 1310-AM
Grand Rapids, WTKG, 1230-AM
Petoskey, WWKK, 750-AM.

Listeners can also tune in on Air America via XM satellite radio (Channel 167) and streamed through the Internet at www.airamerica.com.

Weekday Air America personalities include Jerry Springer from 9 a.m. to noon (yup, that Jerry Springer) and Al Franken (noon to 3 p.m.). Other comedians, personalities and satirists are also featured.

Air America CEO Danny Goldberg said earlier this year that conservatives like Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly are constantly predicting the demise of Air America. In fact, there are a number of public service announcements aired instead of paid advertising. And the radio stations usually have weak signals.

But Air American is slowly picking up radio stations to air its programming. And the radio network celebrated its second birthday earlier this year.

"After having a near-monopoly on talk radio for so many years, some conservative media types are literally freaked out at confronting robust, persistent and passionate opposition," said Goldberg earlier this year. "Of course the talent and management of Air America have a love of our country which what animates all passionate debate on political issues from the left, right and center."


MBCTC brings n two new agents
Two new business agents have joined the staff of The Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council.

John Burman, 45, most recently a business agent with Roofers Local 149, was appointed in August by Council CEO Patrick Devlin and President Patrick "Shorty" Gleason to the position of upstate business agent. A Lewiston resident, Burman's area of responsibility for MBCTC issues will be north and northwest of Flint in the Lower Peninsula. He replaces Pete Reili.

"I look forward to working with Pat and Shorty," he said, "to do what I can to help workers in all the building trades."

Mike Thibault, 57, has succeeded now-retired Jack LaSalle as the MBCTC business agent for the entire Upper Peninsula, effective July 1.

"There are good union people in the U.P.," said Thibault, of Gwinn. "I'll do my best to work with Pat and Shorty to keep the affiliates in the same house in the U.P."

A business representative with Iron Workers Local 8 for the past 11 years, Thibault said the transfer from LaSalle has been "pretty seamless. Jack's been a big help."

Devlin said "John and Mike already have a lot of experience in their areas, and they have a proven track record of knowledge and service. We look forward to working with them."