October 7, 2016 CNS Budget

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Oct. 7, 2016
To: CNS Editors
From: David Poulson and Sheila Schimpf
http://news.jrn.msu.edu/capitalnewsservice/
For technical problems, contact CNS technical manager Pechulano Ali, (517) 940-2313,
pechulan@msu.edu.
For other issues contact David Poulson, poulsondavid@gmail.com. (517) 899-1640.
Here is your file:
DRAINS: Global warming is threatening Michigan’s already aging system of drains with severe weather producing heavy rains. Local drain commissioners are trying to figure out how to brace for the deluge. We hear from Allegan and Ingham county drain commissioners and experts at MSU and the Michigan Environmental Council By Ray Wilbur. FOR LANSING CITY PULSE, HOLLAND, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS AND ALL POINTS

SMALLHARBORS: Small coastal communities are laying the groundwork to bring cash to their waterfronts and to further tourism and other economic development. Four communities last year participated in a program that helps to develop five-year  plans for their waterfronts: Ontonagon, Pentwater, Au Gres and New Baltimore. Two more – St. Ignace and Rogers City – will go through the process in October. We also talk to a Lawrence Tech expert. By Karen Hopper Usher. FOR ST. IGNACE, LUDINGTON, HOLLAND, MANISTEE, OCEANA, CHEBOYGAN, MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. MARIE, ALCONA, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS AND ALL POINTS

VOTINGMACHINES: When Michigan voters cast ballots Nov. 7 they’ll be lining up at voting machines that are up to 15 years old in some places. The average age of the state’s machines ranks 46th in the nation. Aging machines can cause inaccurate tallies and long voter lines. Help may be on the way with new funding for old technology, but it won’t be in time for this election. We her from Cheboygan and Ingham county officials and the Secretary of State’s Office. By Ray Wilbur. FOR CHEBOYGAN, LANSING CITY PULSE ALL POINTS

STATEPAYMENTS: County programs that help abused and delinquent children get late state payments, according to a recent audit. Efforts have increased to reduce the time lag but along the way new questions have come up about which expenses are reimbursable. County officials are talking about a new handbook. We talk to Grand Traverse and Muskegon counties officials, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Association of Counties. By Alexander Smith FOR TRAVERSE CITY, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS AND ALL POINTS.

DDA: A dispute has erupted between the state groups representing counties and downtowns over the way tax money is spent to improve downtowns. Michigan Association of County officials say some special millage tax dollars that could be spent on senior citizens, veterans and other causes get diverted into a popular tax strategy for helping downtowns. We also hear from the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce and Michigan Downtown Association. Legislative sponsors are from Levering, Park Township, Vicksburg, Brighton and New Boston.  By Bridget Bush FOR TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, HOLLAND AND ALL POINTS

DARKSTORES: A delay in changing tax math for big box stores could cost local governments millions of dollars, according to supporters of a bill to change the ominously sounding dark store tax exemption. We hear from UP legislators, Marquette and Chippewa county officials, Association of Retailers Association of Counties, Municipal League and Retailers Association. By Karen Hopper Usher. FOR MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. MARIE, CHEBOYGAN, ST. IGnaCE, PETOSKEY, TRAVERSE CITY, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS AND ALL POINTS

BIKEREUSE:  Michigan college campuses such as Grand Valley, Central Michigan and MSU are recycling used bicycles into rental programs. By Alexander Smith. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, LANSING CITY PULSE, GREENVILLE AND ALL POINTS

POLICE: Recruiting Michigan police officers is not a problem in the Upper Peninsula, but statewide local departments are struggling to hang onto officers suffering from low wages and benefits.. We hear from  Northern Michigan University and the Michigan Association of Police.  By Bridget Bush. FOR MARQUETTE, SAULT ST. MARIE, ST. IGNACE, BAY MILLS, CHEBOTGAN AND ALL POINTS

DRONES&INVASIVES: Michigan Tech researchers are tackling the problem of invasive aquatic plants that can grow so thick and tall that they can hide the world’s greatest lakes and impede boaters – and they’re using drones as part of their efforts. Les Cheneaux Islands and Saginaw Bay are among the areas beset by invaders such as phragmites and Eurasian watermilfoil.  By Natasha Blakely. For SAULT STE. MARIE, MARQUETTE, ST. IGANCE, CHEBOYGAN AND ALL POINTS
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MOUNDS: Hidden beneath some unremarkable ground in southwest Michigan lie answers to the state’s ancient past. This and similar earthworks sites tell us how ancient hunters and gatherers interacted with their environment in a time before written language documented how they lived. Unlike the majority of mounds across Michigan, these survived development, agriculture and human curiosity. By Carin Tunney FOR ALL POINTS
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BIGWATER: While Lake Michigan is fighting a potential carp invasion, managers in Israel are dumping them into the Sea of Galilee. That’s just one of the differences in managing two of the world’s largest lakes that emerged during a recent conference between lake managers from Israel and the Great Lakes region. The Sea of Galilee – or Lake Kinneret – and Lake Michigan differ greatly in size, but experts from both areas shared common experiences and found ways of learning from each other at the Michigan State University conference. By Morgan Linn. FOR ALL POINTS.
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