Detroit— Michigan's controversial emergency manager law is among the most sweeping of its kind in the country, experts say, leading opponents to fear it could be used as a model for other states. Read more >>

The Orland Fire Protection District board took a tentative step toward consolidating with Palos Fire Protection District Tuesday, appointing a five-person task force to examine the neighboring district’s books. Read more >>

We hear all the time about exorbitant public-sector pensions, which leads many to believe mistakenly that retired nurses, firefighters, teachers and others are wealthy. We don’t hear that the average benefit for a member in the largest plan in New York — the New York State and Local Retirement System — is $19,000 a year, or that 76% of these pensions are less than $30,000 a year. Read more >>

MUNCIE -- Mayor Dennis Tyler on Tuesday proclaimed "the sky's the limit" for Muncie at a State of the City address before the Muncie Rotary Club. Read more >>

Does the punishment fit the crime? That is the question many South Bend firefighters are asking after one of their own was demoted. Read more >>

More than a hundred D.C. Firefighters turned their backs on Fire Chief Kenneth Ellerbe Tuesday in an effort to send an unmistakable message. The Chief had just finished a "State of the Department" speech when the firefighters stood up and walked out the door. The Chief is attempting to install a very unpopular new schedule that has done little more than infuriate the rank and file. Read more >>

A BRONX VOLUNTEER fire chief thumbed his nose Tuesday at an FDNY warning that he and his colleagues would be arrested if they continued responding to emergency calls. Read more >>

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has raised more than $12 million since the beginning of last year and has $2.6 million cash on hand for his likely 2012 recall election. Read more >>