CNS budget, March. 20, 2020 – Week 9
To: CNS Editors
From: Eric Freedman & Sheila Schimpf
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 Eric Freedman at (517) 355-4729 or (517) 256-3873; freedma5@msu.edu.
HALL OF FAME POSTPONED: The April Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame induction ceremony has been postponed because of the coronavirus crisis. The hope is to honor the 2020 inductees later, but no decision has been made on when the event will be rescheduled.
JOURNALISM SCHOOL AWARDS CEREMONY CANCELLED: The J-School has cancelled its annual ceremony for outstanding students. We will, however, let you know about the awards won by our 2019-2020 CNS correspondents.
HERE’S YOUR FILE:
EVART DEPOT: Evart is pushing for a historic site designation for the abandoned Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad depot as part of a move to restore it for use as city hall. We hear from the public works department director and a consultant from Rockford on the restoration project. By Danielle James. FOR BIG RAPIDS, CADILLAC AND ALL POINTS.
w/EVART DEPOT PHOTO: West end of the Evart Depot. Credit: Historic District Study.
w/EVART DEPOT MAP: Proposed Evart Depot Historic District. Credit: Historic District Study.
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PARKS & CORONAVIRUS: DNR has closed visitor centers and other indoor facilities because of the coronavirus, and activities like weddings, races and other trail events drawing more than 50 people are n cancelled or postponed. But state parks and recreational areas remain open for camping and outdoor recreation — for now. We talk to the DNR Parks & Recreation Division, state Department of Health & Human Services and an MSU water expert. By Eryn Ho. FOR ALL POINTS.
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DRIVING WHILE HIGH: Law enforcement agencies are wrestling with finding a better way to identify drivers high on pot now that recreational marijuana is legal. Sheriffs’ officials in Mecosta and Lake counties talk about what their departments are doing. The Escanaba Public Safety Department is part of a State Police pilot program. By Maddy O’Callaghan. FOR LAKE COUNTY, BIG RAPIDS, LANSING CITY PULSE, LUDINGTON, MANISTEE, MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. MARIE AND ALL POINTS.
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CHARTERSCHOOLS: A Citizens Research Council report calls for more state oversight of how charter schools are authorized. Grand Valley State and Central Michigan universities are the state’s two largest authorizers. We talk to the Michigan Council of Charter School Authorizers, an MSU education expert, and the MEA president. By Joshua Valiquette. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.
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CONTAMINATED RIVER: A new study finds a risk that anglers on the Pine River may become sickened by the bacteria E. coli from agricultural runoff. Researchers are from Alma College and the University of Toronto. We hear from the Mid-Michigan District Health Department, a member of the Montcalm County Board of commissioners and the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. By Kyle Davidson. FOR GREENVILLE, IONIA, BIG RAPIDS, MICHIGAN FARM NEWS AND ALL POINTS.
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SELF-SERVING: Proposed legislation would change the way bars and restaurants use self-service dispensers for beer and wine. They’re already in use, including at restaurants in Marquette and East Lansing. We hear from the Michigan Brewers Guild, Michigan Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association and lawmakers from Watervliet and Saginaw Township. By Katrianna Ray. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, CORP!, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, LANSING CITY PULSE, MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. MARIE AND ALL POINTS.
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INDUSTRIAL HEMP: A Brockway Township senator has introduced legislation he says would boost Michigan’s industrial hemp industry and meet federal requirements. A Clayton Township hemp farmer, the Farm Bureau and the state Agriculture and Natural Resources Department discuss. By Evan Jones. FOR CORP! LANSING CITY PULSE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, MICHIGAN FARM NEWS AND ALL POINTS.
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HISTORIC AIRPORT: The push to secure state historic site designation for the Clinton F. Woolsey Memorial Airport in Northport is advancing. The former dairy farm is named for a famed local aviator who died in a plane crash and who numbered Charles Lindbergh among his students. The airport manager, Michigan History Center director and head of the Historical Society of Michigan explain. By Joe Dandron. FOR LEELANAU, TRAVERSE CITY AND ALL POINTS.
w/HISTORIC AIRPORT PHOTO 1: Historic view of the Clinton F. Woolsey Memorial Airport. Courtesy of Tom Wetherbee.
w/HISTORIC AIRPORT PHOTO 2: Former Woolsey farm creamery that became the airport terminal. Courtesy of Tom Wetherbee.
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TRAINS & BIKES: Amtrak, MDOT and cycling groups are working to increase the ease and capacity of carrying bikes on several passenger routes through the state: Chicago-Grand Rapids, Chicago-Lansing-Port Huron and Chicago-Detroit-Pontiac. One goal is to increase use of public transit. By Kaylie Connors. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, HILLSDALE, COLDWATER, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.
w/TRAINS & BIKES PHOTO: Stowing bikes on an Amtrak train. Credit: Michigan Department of Transportation.
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MENOMINEE RIVER: The Menominee Indian Tribe in Wisconsin says the Menominee River bordering the U.P. should be recognized as having natural rights, just like people do. It’s part of the opposition to the controversial proposed Back Forty mining project. We hear from a tribal environmental justice expert, mining company Aquila Resources and a University of Detroit Mercy law expert. By Amelia Cole. FOR BAY MILLS, MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. MARIE AND ALL POINTS.
w/MENOMINEE RIVER PHOTO: The river runs through the Menominee River State Recreation Area. Credit: Michigan Economic Development Corp.
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HURON MUSSELS: Huron is now the clearest of the Great Lakes, and that’s good news for scuba divers enjoying the 100+ shipwrecks in the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Give credit to the invasive quagga mussels that filter plankton and to reduced levels of phosphorus We talk to a diver from Alpena and experts from Thunder Bay, Michigan Tech and NOAA. By Kurt Williams. FOR ALCONA, MONTMORENCY, MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. MARIE, CHEBOYGAN, ST. IGNACE, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, TRAVERSE CITY, HOLLAND, MANISTEE, LUDINGTON, OCEANA, BENZIE AND ALL POINTS.
w/HURON MUSSELS PHOTO: Quagga mussels cover the wreck Kyle Spangler in 180 feet of water in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Joseph Hoyt, NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
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BYE-BYE UP?: A new study recounts the 1970s anti-environmental movement that fueled calls for the Upper Peninsula to secede from Michigan and form a 51st state called Superior. The leader of the movement was Rep. Dominic Jacobetti of Negaunee, who blamed tougher environmental laws for the sharp decline of mining, logging and farming in the U.P. We talk to the researcher, who is a CMU alum, and the director of the U.P. Heritage Center at Northern Michigan University. By Eric Freedman. FOR MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. MARIE, BAY MILLS, CHEBOYGAN, ST. IGNACE AND ALL POINTS.
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