WWMT Toms Corner

President Obama could be losing trust

Thu, May 16 2013, 05:08 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - The Obama Administration is in the middle now of what some people refer to as a perfect storm of scandal.

Tonight, in Tom's Corner, Tom Van Howe says it's not something that can be written off lightly, because at its very heart is the question of whether the President is losing the public's trust. ...

The budget busting sequestration

Thu, May 09 2013, 08:01 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - It made for an unusual standoff last week when Congress insisted on providing the U.S. Army with more tanks.

Even while the Army insisted it didn't want any more.

Tonight, in Tom's Corner, Tom Van Howe says the faceoff in these budget-conscious times would be high comedy, if only it was funny. ...

Michigan should stand against Citizens United

Thu, May 02 2013, 08:11 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - It’s been three years now since the united states supreme court upheld the controversial Citizens United ruling that allows unrestricted spending by big business and the wealthy to influence elections.

But now, ever so slowly, states—one after another—are passing resolutions asking Congress to overturn the legislation that put so much political clout in the hands of so few. ...

The newspaper industry on its deathbed

Fri, Apr 26 2013, 04:21 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - The new rankings are out, and it says if you're a newspaper reporter, you have the worst, lowest ranked job in the United States.

The career-guidance web site careercast.com evaluated 200 professions, and based on pay, chances for advancement, work environment, and stress, says being a newspaper reporters is as low as it goes. ...

On the end of the background check bill

Thu, Apr 18 2013, 06:54 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - According to a recent poll, a huge majority of the American people--near 95 percent--thought having universal background checks in order to buy a gun was a good idea.

Yesterday, the Senate defeated the measure, 54-45. ...

Enjoy the ride, U of M fans

Thu, Apr 11 2013, 03:56 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - It was an incredible ride to watch the Wolverine basketball team, with its sometimes unlikely and mostly lovable cast of characters, push its quest for the ultimate season to the very end.

But in tonight's Tom's Corner, Tom Van Howe says he hopes you enjoyed it, because it appears the magic isn't just over. ...

The kinder, gentler GOP

Thu, Apr 04 2013, 08:00 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - It's only been a few weeks since the Republican Party announced it was going to be a kinder, gentler, more inclusive organization, to appeal to a wider base.

Tonight in Tom's Corner, Tom Van Howe says all that introspection seems to have had little effect. ...

Detroit's Emergency Financial Manager

Thu, Mar 28 2013, 08:00 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Detroit has reluctantly handed over the keys to the city this week to its new Emergency City Manager.

But even as renowned bankruptcy lawyer Kevyn Orr began his 18-month-term in office, there were angry protesters outside City Hall arguing that Orr's appointment is an effort to destroy democracy. ...

Health Care Costs

Thu, Mar 21 2013, 06:50 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - It's not often that people in the news business find themselves extolling the work of some other journalist.

In this week's Tom's Corner, however, Tom Van Howe is doing exactly that.

Tonight, Tom is talking about the 38-page Time magazine article on the high cost of health care that we ignore at our peril. ...

News Junkies

Thu, Jan 24 2013, 05:34 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Even for diehard news junkies, it's getting hard, and sometimes depressing, these days to keep all the storylines straight.

There are people who say it's gotten so bad their outlook only brightens when they shove aside the morning paper and turn from TV news to, say, an old movie. ...

Getting rid of euphamisms in government

Thu, Jan 17 2013, 04:34 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Whatever else Governor Snyder said in his State of the State message on Wednesday night, the speech is already being remembered mostly as a pitch for more money for better roads.

But the Governor went to every length to avoid saying "new tax. ...

Gun violence continues in America

Thu, Jan 10 2013, 05:31 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - In Washington, Vice President Joe Biden got the high profile talks on curbing gun violence going Thursday when he suggested the President could take executive action if necessary.

Although the Vice-President gave no specific details, it was immediately suggested within the gun lobby that the White House was on the edge of starting to take away privately-owned weapons. ...

After the fiscal cliff

Thu, Jan 03 2013, 07:14 PM EDT

(NEWSCHANNEL 3) – Thursday is the last day of the 112th Congress; unpopular, unproductive and sometimes seemingly unhinged.

It did manage to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff with a lot of backroom brinksmanship over the past several days, but in this installment of Tom’s Corner, Tom Van Howe says he is not impressed. ...

The time for gun control talks is now

Thu, Dec 20 2012, 06:35 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - As you know, two days ago, Governor Rick Snyder vetoed the Republican-backed bill that would have allowed gun owners in this state to carry concealed handguns into schools and other public places.

Tonight, in Tom's Corner, Tom Van Howe says the veto kept us from following a disturbing path. ...

Michigan pushing through legislation in lame-duck

Thu, Dec 13 2012, 08:32 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Lame duck session of the Michigan legislature? Hardly.

Republicans are passing a flurry of bills.

In Tom's Corner, Tom Van Howe takes direct aim at a couple of them.

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Make no mistake, these are exhilarating days for the right wing of the Republican Party. ...

On Right to Work

Thu, Dec 06 2012, 07:22 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - It's been simmering on the back burner for a long time, but its sudden move to the front has taken a lot of people by surprise.

All of a sudden, Michigan is on the threshold of becoming a right to work state.

Tonight, in Tom's Corner, TOm Van Howe says the unions have only themselves to blame. ...

Declaring war on the War on Christmas

Thu, Nov 29 2012, 07:48 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Tomorrow is the last day of November, and Thanksgiving is behind us, while Christmas is straight ahead.

For a variety of reasons, many don't use the word Christmas as often anymore, opting instead for the Holiday, or simply the Season. ...

Why Mitt Romney lost

Thu, Nov 08 2012, 09:30 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - After what will probably be long-remembered as the $6 billion election that changed almost nothing, President Barack Obama is moving on to his second term in office.

House Speaker John Boehner has sent a carefully worded message to the President, suggesting he'd be open to new revenues, showing there's a kind of guarded optimism pervading Washington. ...

It's Election Time Again

Thu, Nov 01 2012, 08:52 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - With just four days left until Election Day, anyone and everyone with a political message is trying to get in one last shot before it's all over.

The airwaves are filled with commercials as this long-running political season winds down. ...

Voter Engagment and Turnout

Thu, Oct 18 2012, 08:22 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Some impressive numbers have emerged from Tuesday's second Presidential debate.

An estimated 65 million people watched the debate.

The Nielsen Company says that's down a little from the first debate a week ago, but still, those are big numbers--or are they?

65 million does not even represent half the total electorate. ...