April 12, 2013 CNS Budget

April 12, 2013 – Week 12
To: CNS Editors
From: Eric Freedman & Sheila Schimpf
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SHERIFFS AHEAD: Next Monday, April 15, your correspondents will interview Terry Jungel of the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association. Possible topics include cuts in sheriffs’ road patrols, rising mental health costs for jail inmates, gun legislation and staffing.
HERE’S YOUR FILE:
SENTENCING: Average Michigan prison sentences are longer than the national average at significant expense to taxpayers. Experts say longer sentences don’t deter crime.  The Corrections director wants the Legislature to revamp sentencing laws, but there’s little interest. Instead, Linden and Byron Center lawmakers want longer sentences. We hear from Ferris State and Wayne State professors, a Warren senator and an Ann Arbor advocacy group. By Kyle Campbell. FOR MICHIGAN CITIZEN, LANSING, DEADLINE DETROIT, BIG RAPIDS, MACOMB, ROYAL OAK, LAPEER, MARQUETTE, GREENVILLE, BLISSFIELD & ALL POINTS.
NEWGRAPES: Researchers in Traverse City are experimenting with grape varieties new to Michigan in hopes of improving the rep of the state’s red wines. We hear from winemakers in the Northwest Lower Peninsula and MSU Extension. By Kyle Campbell. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, & ALL POINTS.
CONCUSSIONEDUCATION: As of June, schools and sports groups must better protect young athletes against concussions. The Community Health Department and federal government team up for online training. Royal Oak High football players already participate in an awareness program. Wayne State scientists are researching brain injuries, and a U of M scientist helped write new national guidelines. For news and sports pages. By Celeste Bott. FOR MICHIGAN CITIZEN, ROYAL OAK, MACOMB, DEADLINE DETROIT & ALL POINTS.
INCOMEINEQUALITY: Income inequality is wider in Michigan than in most other states. Changes in the poverty level vary among counties. We hear from experts at MSU and League for Public Policy and a Brookings Institution report.  By Michael Gerstein. FOR MICHIGAN CITIZEN, OAKLAND, MACOMB, DEADLINE DETROIT & ALL POINTS.
SOCIALMEDIA: A growing number of Michigan employers are restricting worker access to social media websites like Facebook and Twitter, saying such on-the-job diversions reduce productivity. We talk to a Muskegon hospital and the Manufacturers Association. By Cortney Erndt. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, LUDINGTON, MANISTEE 48, Harrisville 48740). ON, MANISTEE ity. We talk to a Muskegon hospital and the Manufacturers Association.Twitter, saying& ALL POINTS.
INMATESEDUCATION: Inmates are getting more opportunities to take community college courses but not at state expense. Prisoners or families must pay the tuition. Montcalm, Muskegon and Jackson community colleges are among the participants. By Cortney Erndt. FOR MACOMB, DEADLINE DETROIT, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, ROYAL OAK, LUDINGTON, LAKE COUNTY, MANISTEE, LAPEER, MARQUETTE, BAY MILLS, GREENVILLE & ALL POINTS.
FALSEALARMS: False alarms from private security systems are draining scarce police resources, the Montcalm County sheriff and Association of Chiefs of Police say. Local governments, including Detroit, are responding by policy and ordinance changes. By Michael Gerstein. FOR GREENVILLE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, DEADLINE DETROIT, MACOMB, ROYAL OAK, LANSING & ALL POINTS.
AIRPORTFUNDS: A decrease in federal and state support is reducing the ability of some Michigan airports to do maintenance and infrastructure projects. Gov. Snyder wants to raise aircraft registration fees. Small airports in Evart, Sturgis, Big Rapids, Cadillac, Cheboygan and Manistee are among 95 in the state getting money from a national program. By Edith Zhou. FOR HERALD-REVIEW, CHEBOYGAN, BIG RAPIDS, CADILLAC, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, SOUTH BEND & ALL POINTS.
DREDGING: The state will spend $20.9 million this season for 68 emergency harbor dredging projects due to record-low levels on the Great Lakes. The problem is that dredging can cause contaminated sediments, including ones with PCBs, to mix again into the water and contaminate fish. We hear from DEQ, National Wildlife Federation and Army Corps of Engineers. By Max King. FOR CHEBOYGAN, ALCONA, ALPENA, TRAVERSE CITY, CADILLAC, HARBOR SPRINGS, PETOSKEY, LUDINGTON, MANISTEE, HOLLAND, SOUTH BEND, MARQUETTE, BAY MILLS, MACOMB, ST. IGNACE & ALL POINTS.
WETLANDS: Long valued for biological diversity and flood control, Great Lakes coastal wetlands are seen as a tool to suck up and store excess carbon dioxide and blunt climate change. Experts, including ones from Central Michigan University and the U.S. Geological Survey, explain. By Matthew Cimitile: FOR CHEBOYGAN, ALCONA, ALPENA, TRAVERSE CITY, CADILLAC, HARBOR SPRINGS, PETOSKEY, LUDINGTON, MANISTEE, HOLLAND, SOUTH BEND, MARQUETTE, BAY MILLS, ST. IGNACE, MACOMB & ALL POINTS.
w/WETLANDSPHOTO: Michigan wooded swamp. Credit: Department of Natural Resources
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