Oct. 5, 2012 CNS Budget

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Oct. 5, 2012 – Week 5
To: CNS Editors
From: Eric Freedman, Sheila Schimpf & Matt Hund
http://news.jrn.msu.edu/capitalnewsservice/
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All articles ©2012, Capital News Service, Michigan State University School of Journalism. Nonmembers cannot reproduce CNS articles without written permission.
COMMUNITY HEALTH AHEAD: Your correspondents will interview James Haveman, the new director of the Department of Community Health, on Monday, Oct. 8. Potential topics include implementation of the Affordable Care Act, health professional shortages in parts of the state, health risks this winter and demand for mental health and substance abuse services.
HERE’S YOUR FILE:
DAIRYFARMS: Many dairy farmers are in “survival mode” because the drought is driving up feed costs, industry groups in Novi and Okemos say. We hear from farmers in Alto and Harrisville and a Farm Bureau representatives for Allegan, Ottawa, Kent, Ionia and Barry counties. Counties with the largest herds include Huron, Clinton and Sanilac. For news and agriculture pages. By Edith Zhou. FOR HOLLAND, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, ALPENA, LANSING, BROWN CITY & ALL POINTS.
TRANSFERS: Innovative partnerships are allowing students to simultaneous earn associate and bachelor’s degrees, often at significant cost savings. We hear about arrangements involving Oakland, Ferris, Central Michigan, Wayne State, Siena Heights, U-D Mercy, Western and other universities with such community colleges as Macomb, Mott, Lansing and St. Clair. By Lauren Gentile. FOR MACOMB, ROYAL OAK, BIG RAPIDS, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, SOUTH BEND, LAPEER, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.
PILTIMPACT: The payment in lieu of taxes (PILT) program is under fire as localities and legislators demand more state government accountability, including larger payments made on time. DNR controls 4.5 million acres, and the state is supposed to pay school districts and municipalities to replace lost property taxes. We hear from Cheboygan and Marquette county officials, Escanaba and Evart senators, Association of Counties, Mackinac Center and Heart of the Lakes Center for Land Conservation Policy. By Celeste Bott. FOR MARQUETTE, ST. IGNACE, CADILLAC, CHEBOYGAN, TRAVERSE CITY, CRAWFORD COUNTY, LUDINGTON, HOLLAND, MANISTEE, GLADWIN, ALPENA, PETOSKEY, BIG RAPIDS, HARBOR SPRINGS & ALL POINTS.
STUDENTSUCCESS: Macomb, Jackson, North Central Michigan, Lake Michigan and Grand Rapids community colleges are among the institutions that are increasing their involvement in each student’s individual education. They use a variety of educational and financial initiatives, including tutoring and extra services for veterans. By Celeste Bott. FOR MACOMB, GRAND RAPIDS BUSNESS, JACKSON, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, SOUTH BEND, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS & ALL POINTS.
OUT-OF-STATERS: Faced with financial pressures, many community colleges are actively recruiting out-of-state and international students because they pay much higher tuition. At Northwestern Michigan College, for example, in-district students pay $84.60 per credit, compared to $12.45 for out-of-staters. Officials at Monroe County and Jackson Community colleges discuss. By Silu Guo. FOR BLISSFIELD, JACKSON, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, SOUTH BEND, LANSING & ALL POINTS.
w/OUT-OF-STATERSTABLE: In-district, out-of-district and out-of-state tuition for all Michigan community colleges. Credit: Michigan Community College Association.
YOUTHVILLLE: A 7-year-old nonprofit youth development center, YouthVille Detroit, works to build skills, from pottery and music production to leadership and service learning. By Anjana Schroeder. FOR MICHIGAN CITIZEN, MACOMB, ROYAL OAK & ALL POINTS.
HIGHTECHWORK: The state’s agriculture industry is short of employees with high-tech skills. We hear from a Montcalm Community College instructor and student, Agri-Business Association, St. Clair County service elevator and Sanilac egg company. By Yanjie Wang. FOR GREENVILLE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, LUDINGTON, MANISTEE, BIG RAPIDS, LAPEER, BROWN CITY, HOLLAND, STURGIS, BLISSFIELD, THREE RIVERS, LANSING, TRAVERSE CITY, ALPENA, CRAWFORD COUNTY, SOUTH BEND & ALL POINTS.
BALLASTBATTLE: A proposal is afoot to loosen Michigan’s strictest-in-the-Great-Lakes regulations on dumping of ship ballast, with support from Escanaba and Mayville senators, shipping industry groups and the Port of Monroe director. The Michigan Environmental Council and an Ann Arbor senator are among the critics. By Lauren Gibbons. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, TRAVERSE CITY, HOLLAND, LUDINGTON, MARQUETTE, ST. IGNACE, MANISTEE, SOUTH BEND, PETOSKEY, ALPENA, ANN ARBOR, HARBOR SPRINGS & ALL POINTS.
ACHIEVEMENTGAP: With 42 percent of Michigan children living in poverty, the achievement gap is widening between them and wealthier students. We talk to a U of M expert, Ann Arbor schools and the Education Trust-Midwest in Royal Oak. By Edith Zhou. FOR MICHIGAN CITIZEN, ROYAL OAK, ANN ARBOR & ALL POINTS.
SUPERMAJORITY: The Oakland County sheriff is beating the drums in favor of a ballot proposal that would require a two-thirds vote by the Legislature or public to raise taxes while opponents predict disaster if the constitutional amendment passes. We also hear from a Western Michigan University political scientist and the National Federation of Independent Business. By Silu Guo. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, GREENVILLE, ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.
BRANDING: Community colleges are preparing a branding plan to promote their shared image and attract more students. Schoolcraft College is skeptical, St. Clair is supportive and North Central Michigan is indifferent to the plan. By Lauren Gentile. FOR PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, LAPEER, BROWN CITY, MACOMB, ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, LANSING & ALL POINTS.
REFUGEWEEK: Michigan’s federal wildlife refuges—Seney, Shiawassee and Detroit River—are preparing for a week of special activities to raise public awareness, including habitat protection and wetlands restoration. By Lauren Gibbons. FOR MARQUETTE, ST. IGNACE, MACOMB, ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, ALPENA, GLADWIN & ALL POINTS.
w/REFUGEWEEKPHOTO: Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. Credit: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
FLOODPLAIN: The Federal Emergency Management Agency has given more time to remap floodplain zones in Gladwin County after complaints of inaccuracies and requests from a Clare senator, U.S. Rep. Benishek and U.S. Sen. Levin. Crawford County says remapping would be too expensive. We also hear from Lovells and Grayling townships officials. By Anjana Schroeder. FOR GLADWIN, CRAWFORD COUNTY & ALL POINTS.
DRILLINGPLANS: A Traverse City-based energy company has scrapped plans to drill for natural gas near the Au Sable River. The proposal provoked opposition from environmental groups that feared ecological damage to the Mason Tract, a state-designated wilderness. By James Dau. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS & ALL POINTS.
DROUGHTFOLIAGE: Will a drought-shortened color season blunt the impact of Great Lakes fall tourism? An MSU forestry professor and a Travel Michigan executive discuss. By Matthew Hall. FOR ALL POINTS.
ASHBORER: The emerald ash borer situation is so bad in Michigan that the U.S. Forest Service has stopped surveying the destructive critters in the state. The threat is still spreading quickly throughout the Great Lakes region, made worse by the draught. An MSU expert and a Forest Service official explain. By Jennifer Kalish: FOR ALL POINTS.
w/ASHBORERPHOTO: Credit: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
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