Apr. 20, 2012 CNS Budget

April 20, 2012 – Week 13
To: CNS Editors
From: Eric Freedman, Sheila Schimpf & Dawn Parker
http://news.jrn.msu.edu/capitalnewsservice/
For technical problems, contact Brandon Kirby (kirbybra@msu.edu; 734-718-5292).
All articles ©2012, Capital News Service, Michigan State University School of Journalism. Nonmembers cannot reproduce CNS articles without written permission.
LAST REGULAR FILE AHEAD: Next Friday, April 27, will be the last regular file of the semester. The following Friday will bring our traditional end-of-semester bonus week budget with still-timely stories you may not have had room for when we originally moved them.
CONGRATULATIONS TO CNS CORRESPONDENTS: The MSU Journalism School will recognize several present and former CNS correspondents with scholarships and awards at our annual convocation on April 22.
Dr. William Cote Award for outstanding undergraduate correspondents, Jon Gaskell and Jacob Kanclerz; Edward Augenstein Scholarship for outstanding master’s student correspondent, Jennifer Chen; Richard Milliman Award, Alex Mitchell; A.A. Applegate Scholarship and Robert Popa Scholarship, Megan Durisin; Donald F. & Katherine H. Dahlstrom Scholarship in Environmental Journalism, Patrick Lyons; John Krieg Memorial Scholarship, Jacob Kanclerz; W. Cameron Meyers Scholarship, Xinjuan Deng.
 
HERE’S YOUR FILE:
LONGTERMCARE: AARP Michigan wants expanded use of home- and community-based services to keep seniors and people with disabilities out of costlier nursing homes, but the Health Care Association stresses importance of nursing facilities. One state program is available in Alpena, Crawford, Cheboygan and nearby counties. Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan in Grand Rapids discusses. By Xinjuan Deng. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, GREENVILLE, LUDINGTON, HOLLAND, CHEBOYGAN, ALPENA, GRAYLING, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.
PHYSICALEDUCATION: As the state confronts a childhood obesity epidemic, legislation would increase requirements and funding for K-8 physical and health education. A federal study suggests that No Child Left Behind discourages schools from providing more PE. We hear from Healthy Kids Healthy Michigan, Community Health and Education. Sponsors are from Lansing, Mount Morris Township and Detroit. By Patrick Howard. FOR LANSING, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.
TAXES: Democrats hope to use recent unpopular changes in state tax laws as a major campaign issue to regain a House majority in November. They’re berating Republicans for the new pension tax, reduced Earned Income Tax Credit and what they call other burdens on the poor and middle class. The governor defends the changes. An MSU expert discusses. Critics include Ingham County, Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Flint, Taylor and Redford Township legislators. By Xinjuan Deng. FOR LANSING, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.
FLEXIBLECOLLEGES: Some community colleges are increasing the flexibility of schedules and instructional models to compete with for-profit schools. We hear the Kellogg Community College president, an MSU expert and organizations representing public community colleges and private for-profit schools. By Jon Gaskell. FOR STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, SOUTH BEND & ALL POINTS.
LAKESCAPING: Environmental experts urge owners of inland lakefront property to replace traditional lawns and stone breakwalls with native plants to reduce maintenance, combat invasive species and improve wildlife habitat. Projects are underway or planned in Milford, Chester Township, Cadillac, Portage and Vicksburg. DEQ, MSU Extension in Kalamazoo County and a Kalamazoo landscaper explain. By Jon Gaskell. FOR HOLLAND, ROYAL OAK, CADILLAC, MACOMB, BLISSFIELD, GREENVILLE, BIG RAPIDS, GLADWIN, GRAYLING, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, MARQUETTE, ST. IGNACE, CHEBOYGAN, ALPENA, MANISTEE, LUDINGTON, TRAVERSE CITY, PETOSKEY, HOLLAND, SOUTH BEND & ALL POINTS.
INTERNATIONALENROLLMENT: Some community colleges are seeing an influx of international students, especially from China, South Korea and India. They pay higher tuition and diversify the campuses. We hear from Wayne County, Grand Rapids and Lansing community colleges, where numbers are up, and from Oakland, where numbers are down. By Wei Yu. FOR ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, LANSING & ALL POINTS.
MERCURYEMISSIONS: EPA’s proposed new standards to reduce mercury emissions from electric power plants are good for public health, environmentalists say, but Consumers Energy and DTE say they need more time to comply. Small municipal utilities worry about buying the necessary equipment. We also hear from Rep. Kildee’s office and a U of M expert. By Saodat Asanova-Taylor. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, JACKSON, LAPEER, BROWN CITY, LANSING & ALL POINTS.
TIMELIMITS: Wayne, Oakland and Macomb are among the 10 counties with the most children who lost cash assistance since September. Litigation is underway challenging a Department of Human Services regulation cutting off their benefits after 60 months. We hear from the department, League for Human Services and Center for Civil Justice in Saginaw. By Jennifer Chen. FOR MACOMB, ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, LANSING & ALL POINTS.
w/TIMELIMITSTABLE: The 10 counties with the highest number of children losing cash assistance benefits. Sources: Department of Human Services and Michigan League for Human Services.
EQUALPAY: The pay gap between women and men is widening, new survey results show. Legislators, including senators from Ann Arbor, Warren, Flushing and East Lansing, want employers to disclose more pay information. The Small Business Association says that if employers obey equal pay and civil rights laws, the market should determine pay. By Wei Yu. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, ANN ARBOR, MACOMB, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, LANSING & ALL POINTS.
SMALLBUSINESS: Initiatives from the SBA, MEDC, Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center and MSU Business-Connect help small businesses with access to capital, export promotion and other needs. We hear from a Van Buren County laundry owner, Sen. Stabenow and the Small Business Association. By Xinjuan Deng. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, SOUTH BEND, LANSING & ALL POINTS.
ORGANTRAFFICKING: Illegal world trafficking in human organs is thriving, exploiting poor people in countries like Bangladesh, a MSU researcher says. There are long waiting lists for transplants in the state and nationally. The Secretary of State’s office says the number of registered donors has risen dramatically. By Jennifer Chen. FOR LANSING & ALL POINTS.
w/ORGANTRAFFICKINGPHOTO: Photo by Monir Moniruzzaman. A scar after kidney selling.
SUPERIORBOOKS: Lake Superior has long entranced us. Two new books highlight some of the reasons. One is about people who live and work along its shores, and the other about Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. By Eric Freedman. FOR MARQUETTE, ST. IGNACE, CHEBOYGAN & ALL POINTS
w/SUPERIORBOOKSCOVER1: “Lake Superior Profiles: People on the Big Lake”
w/SUPERIORBOOKSCOVER2: “Geology and Landscape of Michigan’s Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Vicinity”
NATUREDEFICIT: DEQ, Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative and others want more young people outdoors, learning about the environment, improving communities and reducing obesity and attention deficit disorder problems. Experts on “nature deficit disorder” warn that the average American child will have watched as many hours of TV by age 5 as college students spend in class earning a degree. By Sam Inglot. FOR CADILLAC, BIG RAPIDS, MANISTEE, LUDINGTON, GLADWIN, GREENVILLE, MARQUETTE, ST. IGNACE, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, PETOSKEY, ALPENA & ALL POINTS.
 
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