February 17, 2017 CNS Budget

Feb. 17, 2017
To: CNS Editors
From: Perry Parks 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 Perry Parks, perryrobertparks@gmail.com, (517) 388-8627.
Here is your file:
BEACHGRANT: The Department of Environmental Quality is seeking proposals from local governments and nonprofit groups to monitor inland lakes. Winning proposals would share  $200,000 in two-year grants. Several agencies  plan to apply for this grant later this month. Local advocates said the funds could be insufficient to cover all the lakes they want to test. Another goal is to promote more efficient test technology to help localities respond more quickly to health threats. We talk to experts based in Traverse City, Bay City and the Central Michigan Health District. By Chao Yan. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, CHEBOYGAN, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, LEELANAU, GLADWIN, HERALD-REVIEW & ALL POINTS.
HATECRIMEAMENDMENT: A Democratic senator from Warren has introduced an amendment to Michigan’s hate crime law to include sexual orientation and gender representation that is receiving bipartisan support.LGBT advocates praise the legislation. We also talk to a Republican co-sponsor from Grand Ledge, the executive director of an LGBT center in Southwest Michigan, the director of public policy and political action for Equality Michigan and a private practice counselor in Traverse City. By Caitlin Taylor. FOR LANSING CITY PULSE, HOLLAND, THREE RIVERS, STURGIS, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, TRAVERSE CITY & ALL POINTS.
CYCLINGLAWS: Roads could become slightly safer for bicyclists in the upcoming year under bills that would require drivers to give cyclists more breathing space and set specific standards for bicycle safety instruction in driver’s education courses. One provision would require cars to give cyclists a 5foot cushion when passing — a standard already enforced in many states and some Michigan localities. The second bill would require that driver’s education courses dedicate an hour to learning how to share the road with “vulnerable roadway users.” Some communities have their own ordinances, including Grand Rapids, Marquette, Kalamazoo and Traverse City. We speak with the bill’s sponsor from Portage, the Department of Transportation and cycling advocates in Traverse City and Lansing. By Isaac Constans. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, LANSING CITY PULSE, LEELANAU, MARQUETTE & ALL POINTS
LAKETROUT:  Scientists have found a potential new ally in the fight to restore lake trout in Lake Michigan. It’s a self-sustaining strain of the fish found so far only in Elk Lake in Antrim and Grand Traverse counties. We talk to researchers at the DNR and Central Michigan University who co-authored a new study on the fish. By Steven Maier. FOR PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, TRAVERSE CITY, CHEBOYGAN, LUDINGTON, MANISTEE, OCEANA, HOLLAND, LEELANAU & ALL POINTS.
        w/LAKETROUTPHOTO: Elk Lake trout. Credit: Kyle Broadway
MAINSTREETS: Grayling is a member. So are Three Rivers, Blissfield and downtown Lansing. In all, nearly two dozen communities in Michigan are members of the Michigan Main Street initiative. The goal of the program, coordinated by the Michigan Economic Development Corp., is to help Michigan cities breathe new life into their downtowns and central business districts. Many economic development directors say it’s working. By Carl Stoddard. FOR LANSING CITY PULSE, THREE RIVERS, BLISSFIELD, STURGIS, CRAWFORD & ALL POINTS
BUZZDOCTORS: The search is on for veterinarians willing to treat bees in Michigan at a time when diseases threaten to wipe out the bees that are essential for pollinating crops such as apples, cucumbers and carrots. There’s also concern about animal antibiotics in consumer foods. We talk to an MSU expert who is leading the search and to veterinarians in Interlochen and Ann Arbor. For news and agriculture pages. By Ben Muir. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS & ALL POINTS
w/ BUZZDOCTORSPHOTO: Meghan Milbrath, an academic specialist at Michigan State University and a beekeeper. Credit: Ben Muir
SAILINGINTOHISTORY: A new book by the director of Central Michigan University’s Clarke Historical Library explores 20th century Great Lakes bulk carriers and their crews, including the realities of life aboard the ships. By Natasha Blakely. FOR ALCONA, CHEBOYGAN, ST. IGNACE, SAULT STE. MARIE, HOLLAND, MARQUETTE, MANISTEE, LUDINGTON, PETOSKEY, OCEANA, TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, HARBOR SPRINGS & ALL POINTS.
        w/SAILINGINTOHISTORYCOVER: Credit: Michigan State University Press.
WELLWATER: Even though Michigan has the most private wells in the nation, no state regulations determine how often that water should be tested. A quarter of Michigan’s residents rely on well water, according to Michigan’s 21st Century Infrastructure Committee. But the state has set no standard for monitoring the quality of water from private wells, a Department of Environmental Quality supervisor said. Private well water is tested upon installation of the well, but may never be tested again. We also talk to the District 10 Health Department and a Clarksville driller. FOR MANISTEE, OCEANA, GREENVILLE, CRAWFORD COUNTY, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, GLADWIN, LAKE, MONTMORENCY, CADILLAC, BIG RAPIDS. LUDINGTON & ALL POINTS.