CNS Budget – March 23, 2018

March 23, 2018 – Week 9
To: CNS Editors
From: Sheila Schimpf & Perry Parks
http://news.jrn.msu.edu/capitalnewsservice/
For technical problems, contact CNS technical manager Tony Cepak at (517) 803-6841; cepak@msu.edu.
For other matters, contact CNS Director Eric Freedman at (517) 355-4729 or (517) 256-3873; freedma5@msu.edu.
 
REMINDER: MICHIGAN JOURNALISM HALL OF FAME: The Hall of Fame will induct four members on Sunday, April 15: Susan Ager, formerly of the Detroit Free Press; John McElroy of “Autoline This Week” and WWJ Radio; Jerome Vaughn of WDET; and Jim Wojcik of the Central Michigan University Department of Journalism. For details and registration for the dinner at MSU’s Kellogg Center, go to http://j-school.jrn.msu.edu/halloffame/. For questions, contact Kareen Lubas at lubaskar@msu.edu.
Here’s your file:
 
COLLEGEASSAULT: Some state university campuses, including Western, Central, Grand Valley and Eastern, have revised their Title IX procedures and programs to address problems with unreported and underreported sexual assaults and a “rape culture” on campuses. Campus officials explain what they’ve done to better protect students and comply with federal law. By Casey Hull. FOR GREENVILLE, HOLLAND, IONIA, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, LANSING CITY PULSE, BLISSFIELD, AND ALL POINTS.
 
CLIMATEPOTHOLES: What connects climate change and lots of precipitation with Michigan’s proliferating potholes? Last year set a precipitation record. There’s a clear long-term trend towards milder winters long-term in Michigan while the number of freeze-thaw cycles has been down. that’s that has been unmistakable for the last three to four decades. The state climatologist, MDOT and a climate and space sciences specialist at the University of Michigan explain. By Riley Murdock. FOR ALL POINTS.
 
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COUNTYROADS: Because of the large amount of rainfall and return to freezing temperatures in the past month, many county road departments are spending much of their budget that would usually be reserved for longer-lasting repairs to roads and bridges during the summer. We hear from the road commissions in Emmet County, St. Joseph County and Clare County and the County Road Association of Michigan. By Casey Hull. FOR HARBOR SPRINGS, PETOSKEY, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, CLARE AND ALL POINTS.
 
UNSAFEBRIDGES: The collapse of a new pedestrian bridge in Florida and a recent critical report about the condition of Michigan’s bridges have increased public attention to bridge safety. Local and state reconstruction projects are underway, including one in Mecosta County, but there’s not enough money to do all the necessary bridge maintenance and repairs. We talk to MDOT, a civil engineering professor at Western Michigan University and the Michigan chapter of  the American Society of Civil Engineers. By Agnes Bao. FOR BIG RAPIDS, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL AND ALL POINTS.
 
ROADMAINTENANCE: As the state’s roads and bridges continue to deteriorate, what’s happening with MDOT and counties contracting out with private companies for road maintenance services? We talk to MDOT, a legislator from Mancelona, the union representing MDOT road workers and road commissions in Montcalm, Allegan and Barry counties. By Crystal Chen. FOR GREENVILLE, HOLLAND, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, TRAVERSE CITY, PETOSKEY AND ALL POINTS.
 
CYBERSECURITY: In the aftermath of an Auditor General’s report finding that a fifth of selected state workers clicked on phishing scam links, there’s now more attention on possible similar cybersecurity weaknesses at local government agencies across the state. We talk to a Grand Valley expert, the Auditor General’s office and officials in Lake and Gladwin counties. By Maxwell Evans. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, GREENVILLE, IONIA, LAKE COUNTY, GLADWIN, LUDINGTON, CADILLAC, MANISTEE AND ALL POINTS.
 
LATEXGLOVES: A Traverse City lawmaker wants to require restaurants whose workers use latex gloves to post warning signs for their customers. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development says an increasing number of consumers appear to be latex-sensitive. We also talk to the Michigan Association for Local Public Health. By Gloria Nzeka. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS AND ALL POINTS.
 
WEAPONS: Legislators from Sturgis, Wayland and Charlotte say a law banning some weapons — blackjacks, “slungshots,” billies, metal knuckles, “sand clubs” and “sand bags” — is outdated and should be eliminated as part of an overhaul of the state’s criminal justice laws. Many people are unsure of what some of those weapons are. The Ludington police chief says he worries about public safety. A Muskegon police captain says he has mixed feelings because of the right to bear arms and the need to protect police officers and the public. By Bailey Laske. FOR STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, LUDINGTON, HOLLAND, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.
 
RECIDIVISM: The state’s recidivism rate — the proportion of ex-cons who return to prison for new crimes — has dropped to its lowest-ever level, the Corrections Department says. We hear from Change for Life, a Detroit nonprofit that works with prisoners and Jackson College. Western Michigan University also teaches courses to inmates. By Bailey Laske. FOR IONIA, MARQUETTE, GREENVILLE, SAULT STE. MARIE, OCEANA, HOLLAND, BAY MILLS AND ALL POINTS.
 
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