Jan. 22nd, 2016 Budget

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Capital News Service Budget – Week 1
Jan. 22, 2016
To: CNS Editors
From: David Poulson and Sheila Schimpf
http://news.jrn.msu.edu/capitalnewsservice/. For technical problems, contact CNS tech manager Tanya Voloshina (248-943-8979) voloshin@msu.edu.
You can email us at cnsmsu@gmail.com
Here’s your file:
BALLOT: As Michigan prepares for the March elections, local government officials are struggling to comply with the new state law that restricts them from sharing information. Some are pulling back mailings that had been planned or cancelling voter information meetings. Meanwhile, local government groups are pushing to repeal the law and weighing a lawsuit claiming restriction of freedom of speech. Lawmakers from Alto and Redford Township propose changes. Problems were reported in Fremont and Genesee, Oakland and Tuscola counties, among other places. There are around 118 local and 10 statewide ballot initiatives scheduled. The Michigan Association of Counties, Genesee County clerk and Michigan Associaiton of School Boards discuss. By Rohitha Edara. FOR ALL POINTS.
FOIA: The Flint water crisis could give a boost to proposed changes to Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act by adding Michigan’s legislative branch and governor’s office to government bodies to it under a Detroit senator’s proposal. We hear from the Michigan Coalition for Open Government, Michigan Press Association and a Meridian Township senator By Jason Kraft. FOR LANSING CITY PULSE & ALL POINTS.
GUNS: Statewide some retailers see a substantial spike in sales of guns and ammo resulting from recent executive orders handed down by the Obama Administration. We talk to dealers in Sault Ste. Marie, Muskegon, Almont and Traverse City, as well as MUCC and the Michigan Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence. By Josh Bender. FOR SAUL STE. MARIE, MARQUETTE, CHEBOYGAN, TRAVERSE CITY, LUDINGTON, MANISTEE, CADILLAC, BIG RAPIDS, LEELANAU, GREENVILLE, ALCONA, MONTMORENCY, HOLLAND, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS & ALL POINTS.
LEAD: While Flint struggles with lead in its water, other aging Michigan communities also have water lines made of the health-threatening metal. The National Drinking Water Advisory Council said in 2014 that there is no safe level of lead. It’s a costly problem to address. We hear from the Department of Health and Human Services and Public Sector Consultants. By Jasmine Watts. FOR ALL POINTS
NATIONALPARKS: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Pictured Rock National Lakeshore, Isle Royale National Park, Keweenaw National Historical Park and River Raisin National Battlefield Park collectively draw millions of visitors. Now they’re prepping for this year’s celebration of the centennial of the National Park Service. By Eric Freedman. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU, BLISSFIELD, MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. MARIE, BAY MILLS & ALL POINTS.
w/NATIONALPARKSPHOTO1:  Mines Castle at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Credit: Benda St. Martin, National Park Service
w/NATIONALPARKSPHOTO2: Life-Saving Station at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Credit: Eric Freedman
ROUNDGOBY: The round goby is one of the nastiest alien invaders in the Great Lakes — with what DNR calls its “voracious appetite and an aggressive nature which allows them to dominate over native species.” But smallmouth bass find them yummy chow, and that’s also good news for crayfish that used to top the smallmouth bass menu. We look at a new study and talk to a fisheries biologist affiliated with Lake Superior State University. By Eric Freedman. FOR SAULT STE. MARIE, MARQUETTE, CHEBOYGAN, BAY MILLS, ALCONA, LUDINGTON, MANISTEE, TRAVERSE CITY, PETOSKEY, HOLLAND, LEELANAU, HARBOR SPRINGS & ALL POINTS.
w/ROUNDGOBYPHOTO: Credit: Michigan Sea Grant.
WHITE-NOSESYNDROME: Little brown bat populations are unlikely to recover from a widespread fungal disease anytime soon, with major negative impacts on agriculture according to a new study. The fatal disease has been found in both the Upper Peninsula and Northern Lower Peninsula. The Bloomfield Hills-based Organization for Bat Conservation says cave visitors can also do their part to reduce its spread of. We also talk to the U.S. Geological Survey and Wisconsin DNR. By Amanda Proscia.
w/WHITE-NOSESYNDROMEPHOTO:  White-nose syndrome has killed 98 percent of the little brown bat population. Credit: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

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