Nov. 13, 2015 Budget

Capital News Service Budget – Week 10
Nov. 13, 2015
To: CNS Editors
From: Eric Freedman, Sheila Schimpf and Andi Brancato
http://news.jrn.msu.edu/capitalnewsservice/. For technical problems, contact CNS tech manager Tanya Voloshina (248-943-8979) voloshin@msu.edu.
You can email us at cnsmsu@gmail.com
SHERIFFS AHEAD: On Monday, Nov. 16, your correspondents will interview Terry Jungel, executive director of the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association. Potential topics include jail overcrowding and budgets, substance abuse treatment for inmates and new law enforcement technologies.
HOLLAND EX-EDITOR REMEMBERED: We were sorry to learn of the death of former Holland Sentinel editor and long-time CNS friend Jim Timmermann.
Here’s your file:
MIGRANTWORKERS: West Michigan farmers are finding it more difficult to attract migrant workers. A federal visa program for foreign agricultural workers to help fill the labor gap is complicated. A state recruitment program is moving to local Michigan Work! agencies. We talk to the Michigan Farm Bureau, Michigan Talent Investment Agency and an MSU expert. By Stephanie Hernandez McGavin. FOR HOLLAND, GREENVILLE, TRAVERSE CITY, PETOSKEY, LUDINGTON, MANISTEE, THREE RIVERS, STURGIS, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, CADILLAC, BIG RAPIDS & ALL POINTS.
FORESTPRODUCTS: The Snyder administration is pushing to substantially expand the state’s forest products industries, especially manufacturing, as reflected in a recent forest products summit in East Lansing. One undertapped resource is the forests of southern Michigan. We hear from DNR, Michigan Manufacturers Association, Michigan Forest Association and Sierra Club. By Michael Kransz. FOR CRAWFORD COUNTY, GLADWIN, CADILLAC, CHEBOYGAN, MONTMORENCY, ALCONA, TRAVERSE CITY, PETOSKEY, LAKE COUNTY, HERALD-STAR, LUDINGTON, MANISTEE, BLISSFIELD, GREENVILLE, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, HOLLAND, BIG RAPIDS, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS & ALL POINTS.
ENVIRONMENTALJUSTICE: DEQ has proposed deregulating 500 chemicals emitted into the air, an idea strongly opposed by the Michigan Environmental Council. DEQ says the changes will let the agency concentrate on the most serious chemical threats. Environmental activists in Metro Detroit say poor and minority communities are most at risk because of where emissions come from. By Zhao Peng. FOR LANSING CITY PULSE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS & ALL POINTS.
LEADBULLETS: The debate over hunting ammo with lead is continuing amid concern about the lethal effects on waterfowl and other wildlife, including eagles. Some states have created incentive programs to encourage hunters to switch ammo while California has adopted a phase-out. We talk to Michigan United Conservation Clubs, DNR, MUCC and a Northern Michigan University. For news and outdoors pages. By Brooke Kansier. FOR MARQUETTE, LUDINGTON, SAULT STE. MARIE, CHEBOYGAN, CRAWFORD COUNTY, GLADWIN, ALCONA, MONTMORENCY, CADILLAC, MANISTEE, BIG RAPIDS, HOLLAND, TRAVERSE CITY, PETOSKEY, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, HERALD-STAR, LAKE COUNTY & ALL POINTS.
STATEDRONES: Will a sky full of state-operated drones make Michigan residents feel safer? The State Police uses a drone to photograph crash sites and other emergency situations, such as a fire in Ottawa County. MDOT recently finished an 18-month study of using drones for highway safety research and plans another study next year. However, the Corrections Department worries that drones could be used to deliver contraband to inmates. Meanwhile, lawmakers are considering imposing limits on drones. By Amelia Havanec. FOR ALL POINTS.
ARTERIES: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is a leading — and preventable — cause of death in Michigan, a state with a high obesity rate, a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention map shows. Experts from Wayne State, Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and the Department of Health and Human Services discuss. One says, “We don’t have worse genes in Michigan. We’ve just let our diets and fitness go to hell.” By Amelia Havanec. FOR ALL POINTS.
SCHOOLCOUNSELORS: The state’s newly passed teacher performance evaluation strategy leaves out school counselors. We hear from the Grand Rapids-based Michigan School Counselor Association, Michigan Education Association, a Western Michigan University expert, state Department of Education and former White Lake counselor. By Stephanie Hernandez McGavin. FOR LUDINGTON, HOLLAND, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, MANISTEE, LANSING CITY PULSE & ALL POINTS.
HIGHSPEEDTRAINS: MDOT plans to expand the amount of track able to carry trains at 110 mph along the route between Chicago and Detroit. Now, 80 miles in Southwest Michigan can accommodate the higher speeds, with testing expected next year between Dearborn and Kalamazoo. We talk to MDOT and the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers. By Yuehan Liu. FOR STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS & ALL POINTS.
CONSUMERSENERGY: The utility plans to hire more skilled electric line workers to improve its ability to respond to power outages and other emergencies. By Yuehan Liu. FOR STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, BLISSFIELD, LUDINGTON, HOLLAND, MANISTEE, LEELANAU, ALCONA, CHEBOYGAN, TRAVERSE CITY, PETOSKEY, CADILLAC, BIG RAPIDS, GLADWIN, CRAWFORD COUNTY, LANSING CITY PULSE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS & ALL POINTS.
OCEANBOWL: Despite their distance from the Atlantic and Pacific, a high school team from Dexter has been highly successful in the Great Lakes and national Ocean Bowl competitions. Some team members have gone on to science careers, and the school’s program head recently retired after 10 regional victories. Other Michigan teams that have participated include ones from Sault Ste. Marie, Painesdale and Okemos. By Kayla Smith. FOR ALL POINTS.
BBQSTUDY: A Senate-passed resolution criticizes the Environmental Protection Agency for funding a study of ways to reduce air emissions from backyard barbeques. The sponsors, from Escanaba and St. Clair, say the study is evidence of EPA “overreaching” and a waste of public money. By Morgan Linn. FOR MARQUETTE & ALL POINTS.
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