March 5, 2021 CNS Budget — Week 6
To: CNS Editors
From: Eric Freedman & Judy Putnam
http://news.jrn.msu.edu/capitalnewsservice/
For technical problems, contact CNS technical manager Eryn Ho at (616) 485-9295; hoeryn@msu.edu.
For other matters, contact Eric Freedman at (517) 256-3873; freedma5@msu.edu.
WELCOME MONROE NEWS AND BEDFORD NOW: We’re pleased to welcome our newest CNS member newspapers.
MICHIGAN JOURNALISM HALL OF FAME: Seven journalists will be inducted this spring:
- Longtime Detroit radio and TV broadcaster Al Allen
- MSU sports editor-in-residence Joanne Gerstner, whose Michigan credits include stints at the Detroit News, Flint Journal and Lansing State Journal
- Journalist Tom Henderson, whose career included stints at the Detroit Free Press, Observer & Eccentric Newspapers, Michigan Runnermagazine, Monthly Detroit, Detroit News, Corporate Detroit magazine and Crain’s Detroit Business
- Jean Jennings, the former editor-in-chief at Automobile magazine
- Edward Lapham, a retired reporter and editor at Automotive News
- Marjorie Sorge, a labor and auto writer at Automotive News and the Detroit News and editor at Automotive Industries and Ward’s Auto World
- Music journalist Susan Whitall, formerly of the Detroit News and past editor-in-chief of Michigan-based Creem magazine.
Here’s your file:
WOMEN LEGISLATORS: Nationally, a record number of women serve in state legislatures, including 36.5% of Michigan representatives and senators. This year is the first time women make up a majority of the House Democaric caucus. Women nationally account for a growing proportion of legislative leaders, although Michigan has never had a female House speaker or Senate majority leader. We talk to lawmakers from Farmington, Pontiac and Detroit and the Michigan Political Leadership Program run by MSU. By Sophia Lada. FOR DETROIT, LANSING CITY PULSE, AND ALL POINTS.
w/WOMEN LEGISLATORS PHOTO: The Capitol in Lansing. Credit: Sophia Lada.
w/WOMEN LEGISLATORS GRAPHIC: Women in Legislature vs. Women in Michigan population. Credit: Sophia Lada.
w/WOMEN LEGISLATORS MAP: Percentage of women in each state legislature: Data from Rutgers University Center for American Women in Politics. Credit: Sophia Lada.
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LINGUISTICA: A translation services company used by state agencies including the departments of Corrections, Health and Human Services and Environment, Great Lakes and Energy pays Mexico-based interpreters as little as $4 an hour, far less than it charges the state. There is no allegation that the agreement violates Michigan or federal law. We hear from three ex-employees and the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. By Brandon Chew. FOR LANSING CITY PULSE, DETROIT, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, CORP! AND ALL POINTS.
w/LINGUISTICA PAY STUB: Former Linguistica International interpreter Orlando provided his last pay stub showing a pay rate of $4 per hour. Credit: Courtesy photo.
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JAIL MENTAL HEALTH: Sheriffs say they’re not equipped to house inmates who plead not guilty by reason of insanity or are awaiting competency evaluations, saying the state should handle them instead. The Michigan Sheriffs’ Association, Detroit and Grand Rapids criminal defense lawyers, the Missaukee County sheriff, the Benzie County Jail administrator and an advocacy group discuss. By Chloe Trofatter. FOR BIG RAPIDS, BENZIE COUNTY, BIG RAPIDS, DETROIT AND ALL POINTS.
ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE: How well-prepared is Michigan’s energy infrastructure for potential damage by extreme weather events caused by climate change? Ex-Gov. Granholm, now the U.S. Energy secretary, says a Biden administration priority is strengthening the nation’s energy infrastructure. We interview the head of the Public Service Commission, a Michigan Tech engineering professor and the deputy director of the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. Brandon Chew. FOR MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. MARIE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, CORP! AND ALL POINTS.
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DENTAL THERAPY: Dental therapists are soon coming to the state to provide oral health care in areas, such as rural areas and Northern Michigan, where low-income residents, especially children, have limited access to traditional dentists. We hear from the Michigan Primary Care Association and Pew Charitable Trusts. By Kristia Postema. FOR MARQUETTE, BAY MILLS, ST. IGNACE, SAULT STE. MARIE, ALCONA, MONTMORENCY, CRAWFORD COUNTY, CLARE COUNTY, BENZIE, OCEANA, LAKE COUNTY, TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU, BIG RAPIDS, CHEBOYGAN, MANISTEE, LUDINGTON, OCEANA, HERALD-REVIEW AND ALL POINTS.
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BOOKSTORES COVID: Independent bookstores are soldiering on during the pandemic, and some are benefiting from the closure of local public libraries. We hear from the owners of independent bookshops in Ludington and Brighten. By Kirsten Rintelmann. FOR LUDINGTON, MANISTEE, FOWLERVILLE, LAKE COUNTY, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, CORP! LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.
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AIRPORTS: The pandemic has hurt small airports in Northern Michigan with dropped routes, fewer passengers and less revenue, although CARES Act grants have helped ease the pain. Airport operators say they’re hopeful for a turnaround this summer when COVID-19 vaccinations will be more widely available. We hear from Cherry Capital, Chippewa County, MBS, Manistee County Blacker and Sawyer International airport operators. By Sam Blatchford. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, MANISTEE, LUDINGTON, SAULT STE. MARIE, MARQUETTE, ST. IGNACE, BAY MILLS, CHEBOYGAN, CADILLAC, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, AND ALL POINTS.
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TROTLINES: A Lowell representative wants to let anglers use trotlines and juglines to catch fish, primarily catfish. Michigan United Conservation Clubs and Michigan Trout Unlimited have concerns. We also talked to a Lansing bait shop owner. For news and outdoors pages. By Chloe Trofatter. FOR ALL POINTS.
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ROAD PATROLS: The decrease in speeding tickets means less money to support sheriffs’ secondary road patrols. That’s because they aren’t getting as much revenue from $10 surcharges on speeding tickets. We hear from the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association and sheriffs’ officials in Crawford and Livingston counties. By Elaine Mallon. FOR CRAWFORD COUNTY, FOWLERVILLE AND ALL POINTS.
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STANDARDIZED TESTS: A growing number of Michigan private and public colleges and universities are making the ACT and SAT optional rather than mandatory for applicants. Critics of such tests contend they don’t correlate with a student’s academic ability to successfully complete the degree. We hear from Michigan Independent Colleges & Universities, Michigan Association of State Universities and a Central Michigan University admissions officer. By Kristia Potsema. FOR HOLLAND, GREENVILLE, BIG RAPIDS, HILLSDALE, BIG RAPIDS, DETROIT, LANSING CITY PULSE, BLISSFIELD, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. MARIE AND ALL POINTS.
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MEDICARE FOR ALL: Some lawmakers are proposing changes in health insurance that fall far short of a “Medicare for All”-type health insurance program of the type Bernie Sanders campaigned for. We talk to an ex-Democratic candidate for governor and Wayne State and MSU health economists. Sponsors’ hometowns include Adrian, Farwell, Dearborn, Portland, Wolverine, Commerce Township, Brighton Township, Coopersville, Lake City, Traverse City and Casco Township. By Sheldon Krause. FOR CLARE COUNTY, IONIA, BLISSFIELD, HOLLAND, DETROIT, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, CORP! BIG RAPIDS, LANSING CITY PULSE, TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU AND ALL POINTS.
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COYOTES: Coyotes are present across the state, including urban areas such as Detroit and its suburbs. And during the current breeding season, the public is urged to be careful about coyote-human interactions as the canines become more territorial. One of those urging caution is an MSU wildlife management professor. By Marshall Lee Weimer. FOR ALL POINTS
w/COYOTES PHOTO: Eastern coyote: Credit: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
CNS