Michigan: DETROIT - Detroit is famous for its music, from the Motown hits of the 1960s to the cutting-edge punk of Iggy Pop to the rap of Eminem. Little known, though, is that Michigan was also fertile ground for folk music, brought to the region by immigrants in the early 20th century and played in the logging camps, mines and factory towns where they worked. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. A trove of his Michigan recordings is now being publicly released for the first time by the library, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of Lomax's trip. The release is causing a stir among folk music fanciers and history buffs. In an undated photo provided by the Library of Congress, the Floriani family performs their folk music in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Michigan was fertile ground for folk music, brought to the region by a wave of immigrants in the early 20th Century and played in the camps and factory towns where they worked. Legendary folklorist Alan Lomax discovered the music in 1938 when he visited the Midwest on his famous 10-year cross-country trek to document American folk music for the Library of Congress. A trove of his Michigan recordings is now being publicly released for the first time by the library, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of Lomaxs trip. AP Photo/Library of Congress, Alan Lomax Legendary folklorist Alan Lomax discovered the music in 1938 when he visited the Midwest on his famous 10-year cross-country trek to document American folk music for the Library of Congress. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Poland: The famed Solidarity banner, an icon of Polands struggle against communism, has returned to the streets of late, carried by thousands of union members demanding change. Unlike 30 years ago, however, when protesters wanted an end to the one-party Communist state, they now have the countrys freely elected, centre-right government firmly in their sights, according to The Chronicle Herald. For years Poland has been praised for transforming its economy from Communist basket case into one of the strongest in Europe. The troubles of the euro zone finally caught up with it this year, however, reducing growth during the year to March to 0.5 per cent. The unemployment rate hovers around 13 per cent, and in places such as Skarzysko-Kamienna, a dusty town south of Warsaw, the rate is twice that and Starting on Sept. 11, Warsaw saw four consecutive days of union-organized protests, culminating in one of the largest marches Poland has seen in recent years. Jan Guz, leader of the All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions, warned that, if the government failed to draw the right conclusions from the demonstrations, we will block the country. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Vince Gilligan: I did not see this coming, said Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, tipping his hat to Netflixs political thriller House of Cards, the first digital contender for top Emmy honours, according to The Chronicle Herald. Modern Family won its fourth consecutive trophy for top comedy series even though its oft-honoured cast was shut out this time and LOS ANGELES Breaking Bad, the brutal, drug-fueled saga of an everymans ambition turned evil, captured its first best drama Emmy Award on Sunday, denying the online series House of Cards a history-making honour. Attention and acclaim for the AMC cable channels Breaking Bad has built as it nears the end of its five-season run next Sunday, with the final eight-episode arc eligible for next years Emmys. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Quebecs National Assembly: Maybe, but it hasnt started so well, according to The Star. Electoral fortunes will ride in part on how parties cast their messages on secularism, about which the electorate is divided as a recent CROP poll cleverly illustrates between four roughly equal groups: closed secularists, open secularists, tolerant believers predominantly minorities and pure-laine Catholics and As the new session in Quebecs National Assembly begins in earnest with the charter of values looming large, the question on everyones lips is: Is there a path to a potential majority government for the Parti Qu b cois? Recent polls show that support for the charter and its main provisions has tapered off significantly. Meanwhile, the PQ has made modest gains in voting intentions, Liberal support is ebbing after a brief honeymoon for Philippe Couillard , and the Coalition Avenir Qu bec has dropped out of contention almost everywhere. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Wal-Mart: The world's largest retailer said Monday that 35,000 temporary workers will become part-time and 35,000 part-time workers will gain full-time jobs. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Last season, Wal-Mart hired 50,000 workers and said it would offer more hours in general to its existing employees. NEW YORK, N.Y. - Wal-Mart Stores is hiring 55,000 seasonal workers and is elevating 70,000 more to part- or full-time positions as the holiday season ramps up. The shift means that Wal-Mart will be offering more of its workers benefits. That's significant because Wal-Mart has been a target of attacks by labour groups for what they say are skimpy wages and benefits. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Parti Quebecois: MONTREAL - Supporters of Quebec's charter of values numbered in the hundreds as they descended on downtown Montreal calling for a secular state and urging the government to go forward with its plan to push state employees to leave their religious garb at home. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Several hundred gathered in a Montreal square on Sunday and marched to voice their support for the Parti Quebecois' controversial secular plan for public sector employees. Supporters of a proposed Quebec values charter gather in Montreal, Sunday, during a demonstration in favour of the charter which would ban the wearing of religious symbols and clothing from any public institutions if brought into law. The Parti Quebecois government formally announced its plan earlier this month, one that would prohibit state employees from wearing overt religious symbols. That would include everyone from judges and police officers to daycare and health care workers and school teachers. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Chris King: The S P/TSX composite index edged up 4.73 points to 12,811.2, according to Times Colonist. "This deal is an excellent example of another great Canadian takeunder, as opposed to takeover," observed Chris King, portfolio manager at Morgan, Meighen and Associates and TORONTO - The Toronto stock market closed little changed Monday as resource stocks failed to benefit from strong Chinese manufacturing data while BlackBerry shares TSX:BB Nasdaq:BBRY finished flat following a move to take the company private. BlackBerry has signed a letter of intent with a consortium led by its biggest shareholder, Fairfax Financial TSX:FFH , that involves shareholders getting US$9 a share. The Waterloo, Ont.,-based company's shares were unchanged from Friday at $9.08 as some analysts were clearly unimpressed by the offer. On the Nasdaq, the shares rose 9.5 cents to US$8.82. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Federal Reserve: NEW YORK/SAN ANTONIO - The Federal Reserve must for now continue to push hard against threats to the U.S. recovery, but should still be able to reduce its support for the economy later this year, an influential central bank policymaker said on Monday, according to Reuters. At a separate New York event, Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart likewise warned that America risked "losing its economic mojo" unless lawmakers worked to reverse declines in labor productivity and new job creation and By Jonathan Spicer, Luciana Lopez and Ann Saphir In a strong defense of the Fed's shock decision last week to keep buying bonds unabated, New York Fed President William Dudley warned in a speech that fiscal uncertainties "loom very large" as Congress prepares to hash out a deal to avoid a government shutdown and raise the nation's debt ceiling. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Nova Scotia: If anything, thats an understatement. Small business forms the backbone of Nova Scotias economy: more than 97 per cent of businesses in this province employ under 50 people. Together with the provinces mid-sized firms the companies that have up to 500 people on their payrolls our small-business community is responsible for over half of the provinces employment, according to The Chronicle Herald. Just as important, small businesses help create a communitys identity and attract visitor traffic. Just think: How different would Truro be in October without the local farms and their wildly popular pre-Halloween corn mazes? Or downtown Halifax without the many independently owned galleries and artists spaces that transform the city during the celebrated annual Nocturne event? These are just two examples of how small, independently owned businesses not only generate employment, but also help forge community identity. Yet small business in Nova Scotia is struggling. A recent Canadian Federation of Independent Business CFIB survey found that 40 per cent of respondents were pessimistic about the future of their business in Nova Scotia, and that over 60 per cent were also pessimistic about the future of the Nova Scotia economy and With a hotly contested election well underway in Nova Scotia, theres been much political talk about the importance of small business. But the importance of small businesses goes beyond just the numbers. In communities all across Nova Scotia, they re most often the ones supporting local charities, sponsoring kids sports teams and providing volunteers to help pull off signature community events. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Vince Gilligan: LOS ANGELES - Television drama "Breaking Bad" won the top Primetime Emmy award for the first time on Sunday, just as the gritty tale of a chemistry teacher turned meth cook and drug kingpin winds down to widespread acclaim, according to Reuters. "I don't think our show would have even lasted beyond season two if it wasn't for video on demand, and also the Internet component of it where folks get to chat," "Breaking Bad" creator Vince Gilligan said backstage. "It really has held us in good stand. It's a bold new era." By Mary Milliken Although it won best drama series for its fifth season, AMC's "Breaking Bad" has just one episode left to air next Sunday in its sixth and final season. Its creators credited a changing television world of binge-watching, video on demand, online streaming and social media buzz for its success Sunday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.