Budget Nov. 18, 2016

Print More

Nov. 18, 2016
To: CNS Editors
From: David Poulson and Sheila Schimpf
http://news.jrn.msu.edu/capitalnewsservice/
For technical problems, contact CNS technical manager Pechulano Ali, (517) 940 2313,pechulan@msu.edu.
For other issues contact David Poulson, poulsondavid@gmail.com. (517) 899-1640.
Editors note: Stories next week will move Tuesday to accommodate Thanksgiving.
Here is your file:
CHINAINVESTMENT: While the presidential campaign stirred fears of job loss and outsourcing to China, efforts to bring Chinese investment to Michigan are reinvigorating manufacturing plants that have been vacant for years. Since 2011, 23 Chinese companies moved to the state, creating 3,541 jobs and investing $649.5 million in 11 cities. By Ray Wilbur. FOR CADILLAC, GRAND RAPIDS AND ALL POINTS

SMOKERS: The number of births to women who smoke while pregnant skyrocketed 18 percent from 2008 to 2014, according to a recent report by the Michigan League for Public Policy. Rates are particularly high in rural counties and also associated with lower education levels, health experts say. By Bridget Bush. FOR ALL POINTS
w/CHART1 – Rate of births by mothers who smoke during pregnancy by county.
w/MAP1 – Rate of births by mothers who smoke during pregnancy by county.

FOODBANK: Food banks face a feast or famine when providing Thanksgiving service this year. While some urban areas can throw open the doors of their warehouse directly to the public or partner with NBA legends, others in rural areas can’t even afford turkeys.We talk to groups in West Michigan, Traverse City, the U.P. and Metro Detorit. By Karen Usher Hopper. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU, GRAND RAPIDS, PETOSKEY, MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. MARIE, CHEBOYGAN, HARBOR SPRINGS AND ALL POINTS

AUTONOMOUSVEHICLES: Michigan drivers could be traveling among self-driving cars by early next year. Recent legislation expected to be signed by Gov. Rick Snyder allows researchers to test drive autonomous vehicles on public roads, broadening their ability to perfect the vehicles. Autonomous vehicles operate without a driver. According to studies done by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, they could increase productivity due to less time spent traveling, lower crash severity, improve  road safety and reduction of emissions. By Caitlin DeLuca. FOR GRAND RAPIDS AND ALL POINTS

FISHADVISORIES: Great Lakes fish consumption advisories could be inadequate and exposing consumers to higher levels of toxic chemicals than anticipated. A new study says that the current approach to creating advisories doesn’t take into account what happens when more than one chemical is present in a fish. This means they are “probably deficient in protecting the health of human consumers,” the study says. By Morgan Linn. FOR ALL POINTS
w/FISHADVISORIESPHOTO1:Fishing advisories could be exposing people to unsafe levels of contaminants. Image: Pixabay
w/FISHADVISORIESPHOTO2: Trout have elevated levels of PCBs because they are fatty. Image: USFWS Midwest
w/FISHADVISORIESPHOTO3: Walleye are top predators, meaning they have elevated levels of mercury. Image: Gavin Peterson on Wikipedia

TREES: Foresters in Michigan and throughout the Great Lakes region are destroying mighty oaks and other trees to regrow hardwood forests. That may seem counterproductive, but forestry officials say oaks need special attention to maintain a diverse and healthy forest system. The  DNR recently launched a multi-year effort to reforest between 2,000 and 2,500 acres in Kalkaska County. Other projects are in Montcalm, Ionia and Barry counties. We speak to DNR wildlife and forestry experts, U.S. Department of Agriculture and a university forest researcher. By Carin Tunney. FOR GRAND RAPIDS, GREENVILLE AND ALL POINTS.
w/TREESPHOTO1: Credit: Carin Tunney.

Comments are closed.