March 4, 2016 Budget

Capital News Service Budget – Week 7
March 4, 2016
To: CNS Editors
From: Dave Poulson and Andi Brancato
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
SPRING BREAK AHEAD: MSU will be on spring break next week, so there will be no file on March 11. Our next file will be Friday, March 18.
Here’s your file:
MARIJUANA: The legalization of medical marijuana in Michigan has sparked an effort to provide regulation and accountability to the industry. Hillsdale College economist Gary Wolfram estimates that the state could generate $63.8 million in revenue taxes and regulations were implemented. A package of three bills that would provide that regulation has been introduced in the House. By Jasmine Watts. FOR ALL POINTS
JUVENILEOFFENDERS: Currently, 18 -year-olds who are convicted of crimes can be sentenced to prisons that house adults. But a bill pending in the House  would allow for sentencing them to juvenile institutions where treatment is available. The bill is in tandem with a juvenile reform package introduced in 2015. By Jason Kraft. FOR ALL POINTS
COAL: Some Michigan environmental advocates are frustrated with a state delay in continued reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. But state officials say they’re waiting for clarity from the U.S. Supreme Court before going ahead. By Joshua Bender.  FOR ALL POINTS.
FIREFIGHTERS: LANSING – Lawmakers are considering the expansion of the firefighter training allowed to be supported by a fee on fireworks. By Jason Kraft. FOR ALL POINTS
FLINTWATER: FLINT — Media attention on the Flint water crisis has focused on how it happened and who was responsible. But what has it meant to the citizens of Flint who are directly affected? How they live day-to-day – from cooking to caring for pets – has changed dramatically since their water source became tainted. By Amanda Proscia. FOR ALL POINTS
w/FLINTWATERPHOTO1:Angel Garcia pours water supplied by the National Guard into his coffee maker. Image: Amanda Proscia
w/FLINTWATERPHOTO2:Edeline Garcia makes pancakes using water from the National Guard. Image: Amanda Proscia
w/FLINTWATERPHOTO3: Edeline Garcia tosses a week’s worth of empty plastic bottles into the recycling trailer. Image: Amanda Proscia
w/FLINTWATERPHOTO4: Various forms of water on the Garcias’ countertops. Image: Amanda Proscia
DARKSKIES: A new law formally designates dark sky preserves in parks and other state land in the Northern Lower Peninsula and Lenawee County. They are Wilderness State Park in Emmet County, Port Crescent State Park in Huron County, Rockport State Recreation Area in Alpena and Presque Isle counties, Negwegon State Park in Alcona and Alpena counties, Thompson’s Harbor State Park in Presque Isle County. Emmet County’s Headlands is the state’s only designation international dark sky park. The sponsor, from Presque Isle, says the change will help tourism. By Kayla Smith. FOR ALCONA, MONTMORENCY, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, CHEBOYGAN & ALL POINTS.
w/DARKSKIESPHOTO: Dark sky parks offer premium stargazing opportunities.
Image: Beth Anne Eckerle, Headlands International Dark Sky Park, Michigan
LAKESUPERIOR: EAST LANSING – The superintendent of Isle Royale National Park warns about the impacts of climate change and rising water temperatures on the island and on Lake Superior, including effects on wolves, moose, fish species and forests. By Colleen Otte. FOR MARQUETTE, BAY MILLS, SAULT STE. MARIE, ST. IGNACE, CHEBOYGAN & ALL POINTS.
           w/LAKESUPERIORPHOTO: Satellite image of Isle Royale in northwest Lake Superior. Credit: NASA.
COUGARCONTROVERSY: LANSING — Everybody knows there aren’t any cougars in Michigan. These big cats were hunted to extinction in the state in the early 1900s and, despite 34 recent sightings in the U.P., it’s safe to say that the cats aren’t back to stay yet. Right? The DNR and Michigan Wildlife Conservancy don’t see eye-to-eye on the answer. A dead cougar was found in a snare in Dickinson County in February. By Liam Tiernan. FOR MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. MARIE, BAY MILLS, ST. IGNACE, CHEBOYGAN & ALL POINTS.
       
 
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