March 18, 2016, budget

Print More

Capital News Service Budget – Week 8
March 18, 2016
To: CNS Editors
From: Dave Poulson and 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
Editors: THIS WEEK’S PHOTOS are coming as attachments.
Here’s your file:
BUTTERFLY: Michigan, which has gone since 1837 without a state insect or butterfly, now has bills pending that could change that. Groups promoting the black swallowtail and the monarch butterflies are pushing legislation that would make the swallowtail the official butterfly and the monarch the official insect. We talk to a sponsor of the swallowtail bill, the Michigan Garden Clubs and a DNR conservation specialist. Sponsors include Traverse City and Meridian Township senators. By Jason Kraft. FOR LANSING, TRAVERSE CITY, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, CHEBOYGAN AND ALL POINTS.
w/BUTTERFLYPHOTO: Black swallowtail butterfly. Credit: Wikipedia.
REVENUE: Townships and cities are gearing up to fight for a return of their share of state revenue dollars cut during the state’s economic downturn. The Michigan Municipal League is unveiling an online tool to illustrate the impact of the state cuts on individual communities. We talk to Manistee and Big Rapids officials and the Michigan Townships Association. By Josh Bender FOR BIG RAPIDS, MANISTEE, LUDINGTON, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS AND ALL POINTS.
LAWYERSATTACKED: A new study finds that 36.2 percent of Michigan lawyers surveyed say they’ve been threatened or physically attacked at least once, including being targeted by hitmen. Their attackers include clients, witnesses, litigants – and even other lawyers, including one from Traverse City who is now in prison for solicitation to murder. Many victims practice criminal or family law, but others handle real estate, business and other types of cases. We hear from prosecutors in Grand Traverse, Cass and Oakland counties, the State Court Administrative Office and the study’s author. By Eric Freedman. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS & ALL POINTS.
w/LAWYERSATTACKEDPHOTO: Ex-Traverse City lawyer Clarence Gomery, in prison for trying to hire a hitman to kill a rival lawyer. Credit: Department of Corrections.
ANIMALWELFAREGRANTS: About $135,000 in funds donated by taxpayers who ticked a box on their state income tax forms will go to 23 registered animal shelters throughout the state.
The Animal Welfare Fund grants range from $175 to $10,000; many will be used for spay and neuter programs, staff education and to cover the cost of housing animals in legal cases. W/list of CNS communities receiving the funds. By Sheila Schimpf. FOR GREENVILLE, SAULT STE. MARIE, GLADWIN, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, MARQUETTE, ST. IGNACE, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.
LAKEERIEBASS: Levels of hazardous flame retardants in most Great Lakes fish are declining, but a new study shows that isn’t the case for Lake Erie smallmouth bass, an important game fish. And the contaminated fish threatens the health of some people who eat them. We also hear from the authors, including an Ann Arbor-based National Wildlife Federation scientist. By Morgan Linn. FOR BLISSFIELD, ALCONA, CHEBOYGAN, TRAVERSE CITY, PETOSKEY, HOLLAND, LUDINGTON, MANISTEE, SAULT STE. MARIE, MARQUETTE & ALL POINTS.
w/LAKEERIEBASSPHOTO: Smallmouth bass: Credit: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
ORCHIDS: Climate change threatens the rare orchid known as white lady’s slipper in Michigan and other Great Lakes states, a new study says. DNR says its terrain is now limited to a narrow band of southern Michigan from Berrien and Kalamazoo counties in the southwest Livingston, Oakland, Washtenaw and Jackson counties in the southeast. By Kevin Duffy. FOR THREE RIVERS, STURGIS, BLISSFIELD & ALL POINTS.
w/ORCHIDSPHOTO: White lady’s orchids. Credit: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
CNS

Comments are closed.