Nov. 21, 2014 Budget

Nov. 21, 2014 – Week 11
To: CNS Editors
From: Eric Freedman & Sheila Schimpf
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.
All articles ©2014, Capital News Service, Michigan State University School of Journalism. Nonmembers cannot reproduce CNS articles without written permission.
THANKSGIVING WEEK: We will have an early file on Tuesday, Nov. 25, because of the holiday.
HERE’S YOUR FILE:
GASTAX: As lawmakers debate how to fix the state’s crumbling roads, local voters are more willing to pay higher property taxes to help fund road maintenance. As of the Nov. 6 election, voters in 28 counties have approved road millages. We talk to officials in Grand Traverse, Gladwin and Cheboygan counties and the Country Road Association. Counties that approved millages this year include Ottawa, Arenac, Keweenaw and Kalkaska. By Ian K. Kullgren. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, GLADWIN, CHEBOYGAN, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, HOLLAND, MARQUETTE & ALL POINTS.
W/GASTAXTABLE: Eight counties that approved road millages in 2014. Source: County Road Association of Michigan.
ETHANOL: New research suggests increased ethanol fuel use could be dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Michigan. Scientists found ethanol use is reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the state by nearly 1.4 million metric tons each year, the equivalent of emissions from 294,000 cars. There are nearly 200 gas stations that sell ethanol, including E85 fuel — the third-highest in the county behind Minnesota and Illinois. Growers harvested a record 348,750,000 bushels of corn in 2013. Lenawee, St. Joseph, Montcalm and Ionia counties are among the 13 that harvested more than 9 million bushels in 2012. By Ian K. Kullgren. FOR BLISSFIELD, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, GREENVILLE, HOLLAND & ALL POINTS.
KURDS:: Turkish Michiganians say the Turkish government should act more decisively to help the largely Kurdish residents of the Syrian border town of Kobani in their fight against ISIS. They criticize the slow pace of Turkey’s humanitarian efforts. By Duygu Kanvar. FOR ALL POINTS.
LINGERINGPESTICIDES: Pesticides, mostly from farm runoff and yard use, remain a concern for fish and aquatic insects in many streams and rivers in urban and agricultural areas, a national study warns. However, the study looked for only about half the 400 pesticides used in agriculture, and funding for continued monitoring has shrunk. The U.S. Geological Survey research includes long-term testing on the River Raisin and the Clinton and Black rivers. By Eric Freedman. FOR BLISSFIELD, CADILLAC, GREENVILLE, LUDINGTON, MANISTEE, PETSOKEY, TRAVERSE CITY, CHEBOYGAN, MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. MARIE, ALPENA, CRAWFORD COUNTY, GLADWIN, HOLLAND, BIG RAPIDS & ALL POINTS.
CNS