Dec. 7, 2018 – Week 14
To: CNS Editors
From: Dave Poulson and Sheila Schimpf
http://news.jrn.msu.edu/capitalnewsservice/
Editors note that this is the last regular file of the fall semester. Next week we will move a bonus package of still-timely stories that moved earlier and that you may have missed.
For technical problems, contact CNS technical manager Tony Cepak at (517) 803-6841; cepak@msu.edu.
For other matters, contact Dave Poulson at (517) 432-5417 or (517) 899-1640 poulsondavid@gmail.com.
Correspondents, their contact information and the CNS publications each especially serves are listed here: http://news.jrn.msu.edu/about-capital-news-service/contact-capital-news-service/
Here is your file:
—
CHRISTMASTREES: A growth in sales of Michigan Christmas trees is driven by millennials who want to buy local, recycle, provide habitat and avoid petroleum products. Families are another factor. Michigan sells more varieties of Christmas trees than any other state and ranks third in sales. We talk to growers and experts at Michigan State University and in Ingham and Van Buren counties. List the counties that grow the most Christmas trees. By Kaley Fech. FOR CADILLAC, HART, MANISTEE, HOLLAND, PETOSKEY, OCEANA, RAPID CITY, GRAYLING, TRAVERSE CITY, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, GREENVILLE AND ALL POINTS.
—
SNAPVETERANS: Low income veterans may lose access to food stamps under proposed changes in the federal Farm Bill. In Michigan, 9 percent of food stamp recipients are veterans. By Jeremy Wahr. FOR LANSING CITY LIMITS AND ALL POINTS.
—
CORRECTIONS: More veterans are working as correctional officers in Michigan prisons thanks to a recent state program that’s creating a pipeline from the military to the Department of Corrections. Of the 13,500 employees in the department, nearly 20 percent are military veterans, including 150 who were hired since the program began last year. By Nick Kipper. FOR IONIA, GREENVILLE, MARQUETTE AND ALL POINTS
—
SCHOOLGRANT: Some 72 school districts including Oscoda Area Schools are receiving $4.5 million in federal funds to train their teachers and administrators. Editors note: to localize you may wish to scan the list of districts receiving funds here: https://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140–484619–,00.html
By Lance Cohen. For PETOSKEY, TRAVERSE CITY, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, ALCONA, MONTMORENCY AND ALL POINTS.
—
PRISONTABLETS: Computer tablets help more Michigan inmates earn high school equivalency degrees while encouraging them to behave better, prison officials say. The Corrections Department has 750 of the devices and hopes to get more as part of an effort to inject into the system new technology that ranges from 3-D truck-driving simulators to anti-drone security measures. By Jeremy Wahr. FOR MARQUETTE, IONIA, GREENVILLE AND ALL POINTS.
—
LAMEDUCK: In the final crunch time for the Legislature, Michigan lawmakers will take up some of the most controversial bills they’ve seen during their terms. It’s lame duck season as some lawmakers target significant legislative changes. By Nick Kipper. FOR ALL POINTS.
—
MAIZEYIELD: Warming climate over the past 37 years has significantly increased maize yield in Michigan and other Corn Belt states, according to a new study. Lenawee County is the state’s leader in corn production. Other top 10 counties include St. Joseph, Ionia, Allegan and Montcalm. Corn production is down in the state, however, because farmers have shifted some of their land to more profitable crops. We talk to a study author and the Michigan Corn Growers Association. By Eric Freedman. FOR BLISSFIELD, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, HOLLAND, IONIA, GREENVILLE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS AND ALL POINTS.