Jan. 25, 2013 CNS Budget

Jan. 25, 2013 – Week 2
To: CNS Editors
From: Eric Freedman & Sheila Schimpf
http://news.jrn.msu.edu/capitalnewsservice/. For technical problems, contact CNS tech manager Alyssa Firth (alyssafirth@gmail.com); (248) 635-2398
All articles ©2013, Capital News Service, Michigan State University School of Journalism. Nonmembers cannot reproduce CNS articles without written permission.
MEDICAL SOCIETY AHEAD: On Monday, Jan. 28, your correspondents will interview Michigan State Medical Society President John Bizon. Potential topics include the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid reimbursement, public health initiatives and the state’s new medical schools.
SAD NEWS: Donna Cote, wife of former CNS Director and retired Professor Bill Cote, died Jan. 22.  The service will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at Mt. Hope United Methodist Church in Lansing. The family will receive friends at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday, and one hour before the funeral service at the church on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the church.
HERE’S YOUR FILE:
CIGARETTESMUGGLING: A new report claims that almost one-third of cigarettes smoked in Michigan are smuggled into the state to avoid taxes, although the State Police can’t confirm the estimate and the Treasury Department calls the estimate much too high. Midland-based Mackinac Center for Public Policy blames high taxes for a rise in smuggling, especially from Indiana, Virginia and North Carolina. The tax is also lower in neighboring Ohio but higher in Wisconsin. By Edith Zhou. FOR STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, SOUTH BEND, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS,  BLISSFIELD, MACOMB, ROYAL OAK, DEADLINE DETROIT, LANSING, MARQUETTE, BAY MILLS & ALL POINTS.
UNIVERSITYFUNDING: Public universities are working to become smarter with their money as state aid and federal spending decline and as the Legislature pressures them to limit tuition rises. Officials at Ferris State, Northern, and Grand Valley and a Kalamazoo lawmaker discuss the situation. By Justine McGuire. FOR BIG RAPIDS, HOLLAND, LUDINGTON, MANISTEE, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, GREENVILLE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, MARQUETTE, ST. IGNACE, BAY MILLS, CADILLAC & ALL POINTS.
w/UNIVERSITYFUNDINGGRAPHIC: State higher education appropriations for 2002, 2007 and 2012. Credit: Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan and House Fiscal Agency.
RETAILSALES:  Retail sales have yo-yoed in recent months but Michigan stores saw an overall improvement this holiday season. There’s disagreement on why sales dropped in December. A Federal Reserve Bank economist and the Michigan Retailers Association discuss. For news and business pages. By Celeste Bott. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS  & ALL POINTS.
PRISONGUARDS: To save money, the Corrections Department is allowing officers at individual prisons to decide whether to switch from eight-hour to 12-hour shifts. Prisons in Newberry and Muskegon are giving the alternative a trial run, but staff  in Baraga said no. We hear from the department and union. By Kyle Campbell. FOR MARQUETTE, BAY MILLS, GREENVILLE, JACKSON, ST. IGNACE, LAKE COUNTY, HERALD STAR, LUDINGTON, BLISSFIELD, MANISTEE, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, LANSING & ALL POINTS.
OBESEINSURANCE: Overweight workers may pay higher health insurance premiums next year or be pressed into weight loss programs under the Affordable Health Act. We hear from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Community Health Department and a Grand Haven company. The Civil Rights Department has no position on whether that might violate Michigan’s civil rights law. By Cortney Erndt. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, HOLLAND, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, LANSING & ALL POINTS.
UNEXPECTEDDETROIT: Detroit’s “shrinking city” status offers opportunities to creatively use abandoned buildings and empty lots and to experiment with urban farming, art and community development, a U-M architecture professor says about “unreal estate.” More challenges arise, however, such as the upcoming move by the city’s two daily newspapers from their 96-year-old building. The city is expanding a program that lets neighbors buy abandoned lots for $200. By Eric Freedman. FOR MACOMB, ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, DEADLINE DETROIT & ALL POINTS.
W/UNEXPECTEDDETROITCOVER: Credit: University of Michigan Press
CNS