Sept. 21, 2012 CNS Budget

Sept. 21, 2012 – Week 3
To: CNS Editors
From: Eric Freedman & Sheila Schimpf
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HERE’S YOUR FILE:
PITBULLS: Pit bulls still carry a bad rap – undeserved, the Michigan Humane Society in Bingham Farms says – but adoption rates have improved. Some communities have banned or restricted them as pets, including Highland Park, Newaygo, Claybanks Township, Ypsilanti Township and Hazel Park. We also talk to Ingham County Animal Control and a Charlotte-based advocacy group. By Lauren Gibbons. FOR ROYAL OAK, MACOMB, LANSING, LUDINGTON, MANISTEE, ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.
INDIGENTDEFENSE: A House committee has approved creating a commission to set statewide standards for indigent criminal defense, but county officials worry about possible extra costs. Manistee, Cass, Emmet, Ogemaw and Charlevoix counties spend the most per capita; Sanilac, Allegan, Muskegon, Houghton and Lenawee spend the least. We hear from the Rochester Hills sponsor, an Ottawa County official, Michigan Association of Counties and a Detroit lawyer. By Yanjie Wang. FOR HOLLAND, LANSING, MANISTEE, SOUTH BEND, BLISSFIELD, BROWN CITY, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, LUDINGTON MICHIGAN CITIZEN, ROYAL OAK & ALL POINTS.
w/INDIGENTDEFENSEGRAPHIC: Counties that spend the most and least per capita on indigent criminal defense services. Source: Michigan Association of Counties.
PETPRIMATES: A Southgate lawmaker has revived a proposal to outlaw most private ownership of primates, calling them dangerous to public safety. The Michigan Humane Society and Detroit Zoo support the idea. Current owners could keep their primate pets if the measure becomes law. State veterinarian says no monkey attacks have been reported recently. Lauren Gentile. FOR ROYAL OAK, MACOMB, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.
NOHEALTHINSURANCE: Michigan suffered a greater decline in employer-based health insurance than any other state, leaving hospitals, public health agencies and free clinics struggling to compensate. Southeast Michigan has the most uninsured residents, Northern and Northwest Michigan have the greatest proportion of residents dependent on Medicaid. We hear from the Macomb County health director, Michigan League for Human Services, Michigan Health & Hospital Association and a Grand Rapids free clinic. By Celeste Bott. FOR MACOMB, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, ROYAL OAK, LANSING, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, CADILLAC, TRAVERSE CITY, PETOSKEY, CHEBOYGAN, ALPENA, MARQUETTE, CRAWFORD COUNTY, ANN ARBOR, JACKSON, LUDINGTON, MANISTEE, ST. IGNACE & ALL POINTS.
ELECTRONICABSENTEE BALLOTS: A Detroit senator wants to make it possible for members of the military and other Michigan citizens who are out of the country on Election Day to vote electronically, something allowed by 32 states. we hear from Gladwin and Macomb County officials and the Secretary of State. By Anjana Schroeder. FOR GLADWIN, MACOMB, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.
ALTERNATIVEENERGYJOBS: The alternative energy industry now accounts for 4.1 percent of Michigan’s manufacturing jobs, which have increased by 133 percent in the past three years. Proponents and opponents of 25 by 2025 ballot proposal disagree on job impact if it passes. We hear from an Eaton Rapids alternative energy company and industry and environmental groups. By Edith Zhou. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, LUDINGTON, LANSING, TRAVERSE CITY, BLISSFIELD, PETOSKEY, HOLLAND, ALPENA & ALL POINTS.
HATECRIMES: Reported hate crimes rose last year, such as a Bay City incident targeting two men of Indian descent. Most victims were targeted because of their race, religion or sexual orientation, State Police report. We talk to the Civil Rights Department, Equality Michigan and a Wayne State expert. By Silu Guo. FOR MICHIGAN CITIZEN, MACOMB, ROYAL OAK, ANN ARBOR, JACKSON & ALL POINTS.
w/HATECRIMESGRAPHIC: Breakdown of victims on basis of offenders’ motivations. Credit: State Police 2011 Michigan Incident Crime Report
DEADZONES: Scientists are studying how extreme weather associated with climate change may produce more of the algae that create dead zones in the Great Lakes. Research will focus on Muskegon Lake, Saginaw Bay, Grand Traverse Bay and the Grand River. By Matthew Hall. FOR HOLLAND, LUDINGTON, MANISTEE, ALPENA, TRAVERSE CITY, PETOSKEY, CHEBOYGAN, ST. IGNACE, HARBOR SPRINGS, SOUTH BEND, MARQUETTE & ALL POINTS.
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