To: CNS Editors
From: Eric Freedman & Sheila Schimpf
http://news.jrn.msu.edu/capitalnewsservice/
For technical problems, contact CNS technical manager Tony Cepak at (517) 803-6841; cepak@msu.edu.
For other matters, contact Eric Freedman at (517) 355-4729 or (517) 256-3873; freedma5@msu.edu.
Editors: This is our 1st file of the spring semester.
Welcome Fowlerville: The Fowlerville News and Views is the newest member of Capital News Service.
Here’s your file:
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS: The Association of Counties is pressing the Legislature to change county commissioner terms from two to four years. A Mecosta County commissioner says the change would improve local government. Sponsors of the bill, which is stalled in committee, include lawmakers from Wolverine, Fowlerville, Brighton Township and Portland. By Maddy O’Callaghan. FOR BIG RAPIDS, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, IONIA, ALCONA, CHEBOYGAN, FOWLERVILLE, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.
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NUTRITION ASSISTANCE: A new Government Accountability Office report, based on research in Michigan and three other states, says federal nutrition guidelines focus on a healthy younger population and not on the needs of many older adults, such as those with common health conditions. GAO staff visited Baldwin, Grandville, Evart, Detroit and Troy. We hear from state officials and food service programs. By Josh Valiquette. FOR LAKE COUNTY, MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS AND ALL POINTS.
w/NUTRITION ASSISTANCE TABLE: 10 counties with the highest proportion of residents 65 or older. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
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PRETRIAL INCARCERATION: Major changes in sentencing laws for traffic and other minor offenses such as driving without a license could reduce county jail populations and costs, says a new statewide task force examining ways to lower the use of pretrial detention. The House speaker, from Levering, and Senate majority leader, from Clarklake, said they’ll review the policy recommendations. We talk to a Meridian Township defense lawyer and a Kent County commissioner. By Kyle Davidson. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.
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COASTAL EROSION: The Army Corps of Engineers is warning of damage and danger from rising Great Lakes water levels and winter storms. Manistee has been hit by millions of dollars of damage to city facilities. The Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy explains the permitting process for property owners hurt by the situation. Legislators from Levering, Zeeland and Muskegon are among those calling for the governor to declare a state of emergency. By Danielle James. FOR MANISTEE, LUDINGTON, BENZIE, HOLLAND, OCEANA, HARBOR SPRINGS, PETOSKEY, LEELANAU, TRAVERSE CITY, ALCONA, MONTMORENCY, CHEBOYGAN, MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. MARIE, ST. IGNACE, BAY MILLS AND ALL POINTS.
w/COASTAL EROSION PHOTO1: Bar Lake Access beach platform deterioration north of Manistee on Oct. 21-22. Credit: Sabrina Jauernic, National Weather Service.
w/COASTAL EROSION PHOTO2: Bar Lake Access beach north of Manistee on Oct. 21-22. Credit: Sabrina Jauernic, National Weather Service.
w/COASTAL EROSION PHOTO3: Seawall deterioration near Bar Lake Access beach on Oct. 21-22. Credit: Sabrina Jauernic, National Weather Service.
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ROAD COMMISSION: Ionia County is the latest of seven counties to dump its road commission in favor of an administrative roads department. Others are Ingham, Jackson, Berrien, Calhoun, Wayne and Macomb. Now Gov. Whitmer is considering legislation sponsored by a Georgetown Township senator to eliminate the deadline for other counties that may want to switch in hopes of financial or administrative savings. We talk to the County Roads Association and roads officials in Ionia and Ingham counties. By Joe Darden. FOR IONIA, GREENVILLE, CORP!, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL, HOLLAND AND ALL POINTS.
w/ROAD COMMISSION GRAPHIC: Logo of the former Ionia County Road Commission. Credit: Ionia County.
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POLYSTYRENE: Environmental groups are pushing government and business to curb the use of polystyrene containers, such as foam containers for takeout food. Concerns include adverse impacts on Great Lakes fish and wildlife that consume the bits of plastic. An Ann Arbor lawmaker is drafting a bill to ban them. We talk to the Michigan Environmental Council, the state chapter of Environment America and Mason-based manufacturer Dart Corp. By Helen Korneffel. FOR CORP! GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, ALCONA, CHEBOYGAN, OCEANA, TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU, HARBOR SPRINGS, PETOSKEY, BENZIE, HOLLAND, LUDINGTON, MANISTEE, SAULT STE, MARIE, BAY MILLS, ST. IGNACE, MARQUETTE AND ALL POINTS.
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GOSHAWK: Falconers from West Michigan and Wisconsin have admitted in federal court they conspired to illegally trade in wildlife and cover up the transport of a female northern goshawk across state lines. They pleaded guilty to violating the Lacey Act, a law that bans trafficking in wildlife, fish and plants that are illegally taken, possessed, transported or sold. They’ll be fined, and the falconer from Fruitport will surrender the bird to a raptor education group or rehabilitation center. Investigators came from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Michigan and Wisconsin DNRs. For news and outdoors pages. By ERIC FREEDMAN. FOR ALL POINTS.
w/ GOSHAWK PHOTO: Northern goshawk. Credit. U.S. Forest Service.
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