Best of the Net 1/27-2/9

Chief For A Day

Huffington Post Detroit tells the story of Jayvon Felton's one day as chief of the Detroit Police Department. Jayvon is a 9-year-old cancer patient who dreams of being a police officer one day because of his desire to fight crime and help people. He was able to be the highest-ranking officer thanks to the efforts of the Children's Hospital of Michigan and the Detroit Police Department. Click here for the story.

Michigan Universities Foster Success

MLive reports that the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP) named two Michigan universities to its list 15 programs "making a critical difference" for foster care youth. Western Michigan University's Center for Fostering Success and Michigan State University's FAME program made the top 15 from a list of 130 nominees nationally.

Detroit Is Well-Read

In October, I visited John K. King Used and Rare Books for the first time and was overwhelmed by the building's four floors overflowing with books. Apparently, I am not the only one impressed by John K. King. Business Insider named it as one of the 18 Best Bookstores in the World.

Michigan Beers Impress Again

Michigan breweries continue to receive accolades. Ratebeer.com recently compiled world rankings of beers and brewers in several categories, and Michigan's craft brewers performed admirably. Rate Beer named Bell's Two Hearted Ale the best IPA in the world, Kuhnhenn Bourbon Barrel French Toast Mead as the best mead in the world, and Founders KBS as the best stout in the world and best overall beer in America. Michigan also placed seven breweries on the list of the top 100 breweries in the world.

Science Center Surviving

I remember childhood field trips to the Detroit Science Center, now known as the Michigan Science Center, and am happy it is still alive after briefly closing in 2011. Thanks to donations, the center has survived, and now the DTE Energy Foundation has announced a $1 million donation to the science center to be distributed over a period of five years according to this report by Michigan Radio. Hopefully donations like this will keep the center open for years to come.

Michigan Olympians

If you watched the Olympics during the first day of skating competitions, you probably heard the announcers mention Michigan several times. Several skaters train in Michigan, including skaters representing countries other than the United States. Many speedskaters, snowboarders, and, of course, hockey players also claim Michigan as their home or have Michigan ties. Additionally, with strong college hockey programs throughout the state and the Detroit Red Wings, Michigan has several ice hockey players in the Olympics with Michigan ties.

Detroit Teen Makes A Difference

TeenNick named DeQuan O'Neall, a high school senior from Detroit, as its February HALO Effect honoree. The HALO Effect recognizes young people who make a difference through helping and leading others.

DeQuan is an advisory board member of the Neighborhood Service Organization's Youth Initiatives Project, a representative of the "Hugs Not Bullets" campaign, the only youth member on the Advisory Board for the Chief of Police of the Detroit Police Department, and a founding member of the "Grads Not Inmates" campaign. TeenNick's interview with this impressive young man can be found here.