I don't believe GM has announced a specific date in July when the second shift will be eliminated. We'll report that date as soon as it's available. If somebody has better information, let me know.

As for the question of what the city and others can do to respond, read Business Editor Jim Leute's story in Sunday's Gazette and on gazettextra.com. It doesn't have every answer, but it does take a good look at the expected impact of cutting the second shift and what can be done in the short and long term.

Scott Angus

The Gazette does a fine job I agree. Now on the GM issue I think the Gazette could ask more indepth question of GM, and our Law makers
1. What is the due date for closing from GM

2. What are the law makers, and City workers doing to obtain new employers. And if the have done nothing to amount to. Why not?

Lets see some hard news for the people.

No queation that this is your article/blog/ whatever you would like to call it, Mr. Angus. However, it is a public Forum. All of that public is going to be effected in several negative ways pertaining to the story you think you "sniffed out". Perhaps you might reconsider patting yourself on the back when bringing the stories to light wherein several hundred families could/would appreciate your resources elsewhere. This story "broke" several weeks ago in many different areas of Rock County. So, you might also reconsider the pat on the back. Nothing personal, just the facts.

Toot ! Toot !

"Class, please put your math books away. Today we are going to talk about what a great job I am doing and how I am doing it."

But Scott is doing a great job.

George W Bush is no friend of mine. And if you expect him to do anything except screw things up, I salute your optimism.

Scott, you guys are doing a great job. Keep up the good work!!

Just to be clear, this is my blog, and it's mostly intended to give people a look behind the scenes at the Gazette and Gazettextra.com. I try to explain what we do and why we do it, and I sometimes commend our efforts and sometimes criticize or question them.

This isn't a traditional news story. It's a personal weblog. There is a difference.

So if I'm going to pat my team on the back for a job well done, this is the place where I will do it.

Scott Angus
Editor

I guess it's a little odd that a newspaper is " giving itself a pat on the back " for doing what they're supposed to do? A self-congratulatory article/editorial? Wow!

Gary Primer Where is your buddy, George W Bush, friend of labor, in this hour of despair? Oh thats rite he's spending billions in a war we can't win.

I say good job Mr. Angus. As a retired GM employee it is great to hear the news quickly and properly and you did just that. As a child of a retired television news director I know truely how important it is to have the stories quick and imformative, to keep a customer base watching or in your case reading. Keep up the good work!

Where is our buddy, Barack Obama, friend of labor, in this hour of despair?

Good job Gazette team. I like how you set up the "GM cutbacks" page to get all the news in one place. You also ended up answering a lot of questions that I had, with full articles. Suggestion: put the "read more..." link at the bottom of articles in bold face. The link seems to be easily overlooked if it gets added after I have initially read the article.

And, if the Gazette can't pat themselves on the back once in awhile, who the hell else will?

All you guys ripping the gazzette would still be ripping them had they waited a day while every other media outlet got the story out before them. You all would be saying stuff like "way to go gazzette! nice job on not keeping us informed!" Cut the people there some slack, will ya?

Well this is not good news. And will definitely be affecting our town. In ways we may not even begin to understand. Will the new hospital still be built, given this news?

oldtimer:

The local contract has not been ratified... The Gazette is good for blowing its own horn. :(

Did anyone ever consider how second shift GM employees feel to learn things concerning their jobs while on the way to work? It's quite aggravating when you are headed to work and learn something about your job and then be told 'all employees have already been notified'.
Sometimes the Gazette needs to think about something other than 'being first' to break a story.

The Janesville gazette is "good enough, and smart enough, and gosh darnit, people like them."

Did UAW 95 ever vote on the local contract?

If anyone had such news, wouldn't it be logical that the local newspaper would? Isn't it your job?

No one else had the news or even a hint of it this morning. None of the Detroit newspapers or national media had anything. We were first with this important local story, which also had national components. That's a testament to our team - especially Business Editor Jim Leute - and the strength of our local connections and knowledge.

Why don't you pat yourselfs on the back Janesville Gazette....