MIDDLETOWN — After several months of an in-depth look of fire department operations, the city’s vice mayor said it’s time to move on. Read more:

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The city of Cleveland today suspended without pay 13 firefighters who were indicted last week by a Cuyahoga County grand jury on charges of theft in office. Read more:

It's certainly not news that public workers' pensions pose dizzying fiscal challenges for state and local governments. One study estimated states' combined unfunded pension liabilities at $1.38 trillion as of 2010, and many local governments also are staring down the pension-funding abyss. Read more:

Sounding at once hopeful and deadly serious about the city he’s trying to turn around, emergency manager Kevyn Orr said Monday he’ll know in as soon as six weeks — after good-faith talks with creditors, unions and others — whether Detroit’s financial meltdown can be resolved outside of a municipal bankruptcy. Read more:

Here in Stockton, the standard postcards show a palm-lined City Center, without revealing that under those palm trees, the homeless sometimes outnumber the homed. Read more:

SAGINAW, MI — In a tie vote Monday, May 20, Saginaw City Council resolved not to pass a budget that would result in deep cuts to public safety staffing for the fiscal year starting July 1. Read more:

FLINT, MI – Police and firefighters are spared the budget-cutting ax in a 2014 budget that lays off fewer than 30 city workers. Flint officials detailed the balanced budget for the Flint City Council on Monday, May 20. Read more:

The Sterling Heights City Council on Tuesday is to consider putting a millage proposal on the Nov. 5 ballot to levy a special 2.5-mill property tax for police and fire and for road improvements. Read more:

BAY CITY, MI — A Bay City firefighters union leader says officials are misguided when placing blame on his group for a missed $456,248 state grant. Read more:

The Ypsilanti City Council has declined to hear a presentation from local and statewide fire officials arguing against the creation of a hybrid public safety model and one council member said she believes the decision is a form of censorship. Read more: