Oct. 19, 2012 CNS Budget

Oct. 19, 2012 – Week 7
To: CNS Editors
From: Sheila Schimpf & Matt Hund
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IN-DEPTH AHEAD: Next week will be our second in-depth file of the semester.
HERE’S YOUR FILE:
SPECIALTYCROPGRANTS: A dozen agricultural organizations and companies across the state are sharing $1.3 million in federal grants to promote specialty crops. The money will go for research into predicting market needs for fruit and better use of recycled water, among others. We hear from an Erie commodity group, Grand Haven consulting firm, MSU and Farm Bureau about their projects. By Celeste Bott. FOR BLISSFIELD, HOLLAND, SOUTH BEND, LUDINGTON, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, MANISTEE, PETOSKEY, TRAVERSE CITY, LANSING, ALPENA, LAPEER, BROWN CITY, GLADWIN, CRAWFORD COUNTY, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, GREENVILLE, CADILLAC, MACOMB & ALL POINTS.
INFANTMORTALITY: Michigan has one of the nation’s highest infant mortality rates, and efforts are underway to reduce it, the Department of Community Health explains. We talk to a Lansing area crib program that provides safe beds and the Grand Traverse Health Department.  By Lauren Gentile. FOR LANSING, TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.
COMMONCORE: Michigan’s adoption of national core curriculum standards for K-12 classrooms has barely kicked in but several lawmakers, led by one from Oakland County, want to scrap them, arguing local districts rather than the state should determine curriculum. A Wayne State expert says the national standards may benefit the children of migrant workers because their families often move. By Yanjie Wang. FOR ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, HOLLAND & ALL POINTS.
NORTHERNAGRICULTURE: Climate change is spurring an expansion of agriculture from Southern Michigan to the Northern Lower Peninsula and U.P., although the large amounts of state- and federal-owned forestland, coupled with poorer soil quality, are limiting that expansion. We hear from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Farm Bureau. By Edith Zhou. FOR CRAWFORD COUNTY, GLADWIN, ALPENA, CADILLAC, MANISTEE, LUDINGTON, TRAVERSE CITY, MARQUETTE, ST. IGNACE, CHEBOYGAN, PETOSKEY, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS & ALL POINTS.
OUT-OF-STATETOURISTS: Michigan is spending big to lure out-of-state tourists, especially those from Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin and Illinois, but a Grand Valley expert says the Pure Michigan campaign is more cost-effective than those run by other tourist destinations. Travel Michigan, a Grand Valley State University tourism expert, and Holland and Traverse City  tourism officials discuss. By Silu Guo. FOR HOLLAND, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, LANSING, MARQUETTE, ST. IGNACE, HARBOR SPRINGS, PETOSKEY, CHEBOYGAN, TRAVERSE CITY, LUDINGTON, CADILLAC, MANISTEE, ALPENA, CRAWFORD COUNTY & ALL POINTS.
YOUNGFARMERS: New and aspiring farmers face difficulties in acquiring land in the state. The Farm Bureau has a program that provides them with advice and assistance. By Anjana Schroeder. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, HOLLAND, GREENVILLE, BLISSFIELD, LAPEER, BROWN CITY, TRAVERSE CITY, MANISTEE, BIG RAPIDS, SOUTH BEND, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, CRAWFORD COUNTY, GLADWIN, PETOSKEY, CADILLAC, LUDINGTON & ALL POINTS.
CNS