Apr. 17, 2015 Budget

Capital News Service Budget – April 17, 2015
To: CNS Editors
From: Perry Parks & 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.
HERE’S YOUR FILE:

EQUALPAY: National Equal Pay Day was April 14, and people from around Michigan flocked to the state Capitol to promote a new 12-bill package aimed to reduce the wage gap between men and women. One key bill would require employers to release gender-based pay information to employees who ask. We speak with legislators who had a hand in crafting the bills as well as a president of a group supporting the legislation.  By Josh Thall. FOR LANSING CITY PULSE, STURGIS JOURNAL, THREE RIVERS COMMERCIAL-NEWS, BLISSFIELD ADVANCE, HOLLAND SENTINEL AND ALL POINTS.
pairs with…
WAGEGAPEXPLAINER: Michigan Democrats introduced a 12-bill package on April aimed at shrinking the gender wage gap. We talk with economists and provide analysis on why the wage gap exists, how it’s measured, and what can be done to address this issue. By Collin Krizmanich. FOR LANSING CITY PULSE, TRAVERSE CITY, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, MANISTEE, PETOSKEY & ALL POINTS
w/ WAGEGAPEXPLAINERCHART1 “Career choice interruptions between men and women”
w/ WAGEGAPEXPLAINERCHART2 “History of gender wage gap”
YOUTHCONSERVATIONCOUNCIL: The state’s Youth Conservation Council is accepting applications until April 30 from students interested in the conserving Michigan’s natural resources. This year, the council is making improvements to help members gain leadership skills in conservation. We speak to a student council member from Kalamazoo and the council’s adviser to hear about these changes. By Elizabeth Ferguson. FOR LANSING CITY PULSE, THREE RIVERS, STURGIS, HOLLAND, & ALL POINTS.
DOMESTICVIOLENCEBILLS: Survivors of domestic violence would be given increased protections in the workplace and greater support when they try to leave abusers under bills being considered by the state House and Senate. The employment bills are part of a package aimed at protecting domestic violence and sexual assault victims in several realms, including increasing confidentiality requirements and promoting updated sexual assault policies and training on college campuses. We talk to state representatives as well as victim advocates to hear about the potential impact of this new legislation. By Cheyna Roth. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, LANSING CITY PULSE, MANISTEE & ALL POINTS
WATERUSE: Michigan is surrounded by nearly 20 percent of the world’s above-ground fresh water. While water sustainability, and terms like “shortage” and “drought,” aren’t commonly heard in the Great Lakes states, a three-year-old report says Michigan is failing in aggressive sustainability policies, and little change appears to have been made since. DEQ officials say the state is right to manage its resources differently than states with lower supply. By Brooke Kansier. FOR ALL POINTS