CNS budget, April 2, 2021

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April 2, 2021 CNS Budget — Week 10

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.

Here’s  your file: 

SOLAR: Some lawmakers want to lift the cap on the amount of solar energy Michigan utility companies must buy back from their customers. Solar power currently provides only 0.3% of the state’s electricity. The Sierra Club says the change would create more solar industry jobs, reduce electricity prices and benefit the environment. We also speak to a cosponsor from Traverse City and an Ann Arbor woman with solar panels on her roof. Other sponsors include representatives from Hancock, Grand Rapids, Harbor Springs, Gaylord and Cadillac. By Kristia Postema. FOR MARQUETTE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, CORP! MONTMORENCY, CADILLAC, DETROIT, CHEBOYGAN, TRAVERSE CITY AND ALL POINTS.

UP CHARGING STATIONS: A new report from the UP Energy Task Force urges state support to expand charging stations for electric vehicles, a goal endorsed by the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy and the state Office of Future Mobility and Electrification. It fits with the Biden administration’s new infrastructure proposal that includes creation of a national network of charging stations. By Elaine Mallon. FOR MARQUETTE, BAY MILLS, SAULT STE. MARIE, ST. IGNACE, CHEBOYGAN AND ALL POINTS.

w/U.P. CHARGING STATIONS PHOTO: A new report urges more Upper Peninsula electric vehicle charging stations, such as this one in Norway, Dickinson County. Credit: Alyssa Jawor, WLUC-TV. Used with permission.

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ENDANGERED SPECIES: The DNR’s Wildlife Division and the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy in Bath are pushing efforts to conserve and protect the state’s threatened and endangered species. In a success story, the Kirtland’s warbler, which breeds in the Huron-Manistee National Forests, was removed from the list in 2019. Meanwhile, scientists are trying to learn more about the least shrew. By Kirsten Rintelmann. FOR MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, CADILLAC, CRAWFORD COUNTY, MANISTEE, LAKE COUNTY, BIG RAPIDS, LUDINGTON, ALCONA AND ALL POINTS.

w/ENDANGERED SPECIES PHOTO1: The least shrew is on Michigan’s list of threatened and endangered species. Credit: University of Michigan

w/ENDANGERED SPECIES PHOTO 2: The Kirtland’s warbler came off the list of endangered species in 2019. Credit: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

MODEL UN: Central Michigan University will host its annual Model United Nations for high school students April 9-11 — virtually rather than in person because of the pandemic. MSU and U-M recently did the same. Participants debate world issues and crises, real, historic and imaginary, from Jurassic Park and Dungeons and Dragons to international arms and the Holy Roman Empire. A Dearborn teacher says the online format made the conference more accessible and affordable for her students. By Sheldon Krause. FOR DETROIT, LANSING CITY LIMITS & ALL POINTS. 

OPTOMETRY TELEHEALTH: There’s controversy over a bill to authorize telehealth renewal exams for contact lens wearers. Supporters like the Mackinac Center for Public Policy say it would be good because it would increase access to optometric care. Critics, such as the Michigan Optometric Association and an Owosso optometrist say it could make it harder to diagnose eye and other diseases. The lead sponsor is from Polkton Township, and cosponsors include lawmakers from Gaylord, Lake City, Marion Township, Wyoming, Springport, Casco Township, Niles, Utica, Monroe, Shelby Township and Portland. By Kristia Postema. FOR HOLLAND, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, IONIA, CADILLAC, MONROE, DETROIT, LANSING CITY PULSE, MONTMORENCY, TRAVERSE CITY, FOWLERVILLE AND ALL POINTS.

FEDERAL SPENDING: Michigan ranks in the middle of states based on their reliance on federal money, a new analysis shows. That includes a lot of federal dollars in pandemic-related relief. We talk to a Northern Michigan University political scientist, the Department of Technology, Management & Budget and the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, in Midland. By Sheldon Krause. FOR MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. MARIE, CORP! GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS AND ALL POINTS.

UNHOLY: The content and timing of a new film released on Good Friday is upsetting some people of faith in Michigan. The trailer for “Unholy” shows a statue of the Virgin Mary bleeding from her eyes, the main character of the movie performing a miracle by healing a paraplegic and a crucifix burning on the altar of a Roman Catholic church. The director says the film is respectful of religion. Two Catholic priests from East Lansing and the director of MSU’s Muslim Studies Program comment. For news and religion/faith sections. By Elaine Mallon. FOR ALL POINTS.

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BASEBALL: Michigan’s minor league baseball teams are coming to bat for a season with pandemic-related restrictions, including a seating capacity cap and cashless food concessions. We hear about the West Michigan Whitecaps, in Comstock Park, and the Lansing Lugnuts. For new sand sports sections. By Samuel Blatchford. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, GREENVILLE, HOLLAND LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.

LAKE HURON WRECKAGE: A World War II fighter piloted by a Tuskegee Airman and lost over Lake Huron in a training accident will be recovered and displayed at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. It’s one of about 200 military aircraft that disappeared into the Great Lakes during the war. An underwater archeologist explains how the wreckage was found. The archeological director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes discusses the recovery of a sailing vessel that sank in Lake Erie in 1829. By Yue Jiang. FOR ALCONA, CHEBOYGAN, SAULT STE. MARIE, MONROE, MARQUETTE, OCEANA, BENZIE, LEELANAU, CHEBOYGAN, TRAVERSE CITY, PETOSKEY, HOLLAND, LUDINGTON, MANISTEE, HARBOR SPRINGS, STE. IGNACE AND ALL POINTS.

w/LAKE HURON WRECKAGE PHOTO1: Lt. Frank Moody, the pilot who died when his plane sank in Lake Huron in 1944. Source: Wayne Lusardi

w/LAKE HURON WRECKAGE PHOTO 2: A World War II P-39Q Airacobra is the type of plane lost in Lake Huron in a 1944 accident. Source: Wayne Lusardi

w/LAKE HURON WRECKAGE PHOTO 3: A scuba diver explores the wreckage of the lost P-39Q Airacobra at the bottom of Lake Huron. Credit: Erik Denson

RED-FLESHED APPLES: A new Michigan Craft Beverage Council grant is funding research to develop a red-fleshed apple to make cider, juice and extracts, diversifying the state’s apple crop. We talk to the MSU scientist leading the project, Short’s Brewing of Elk Rapids and Bellaire, and the head of the Michigan Cider Association, from Hudsonville. Top apple-producing counties include Kent, Oceana, Ottawa, Leelanau, Traverse City and Mason. By Kyle Davdison. FOR GREENVILLE, IONIA, TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU, LUDINGTON, CHEBOYGAN, PETOSKEY, OCEANA, HOLLAND, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, HOLLAND AND ALL POINTS.

   w/RED-FLESHED APPLES TABLE: Ten counties with the most acres of apple orchard. Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service.

    w/RED-FLESHED APPLES PHOTO: Michigan State University professor Steve van Nocker is producing a disease-resistant, red-fleshed line of apples. Credit: Steve van Nocker.

RAPIDS RESTORATION: A $9.4 million project that’s restoring the Little Falls Rapids on the St. Marys River is improving fish habitat, including spawning areas. A Lake Superior State University researcher and experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Great Lakes Commission explain. By Taylor Haelterman. FOR SAULT STE. MARIE, ST. IGNACE, MARQUETTE, BAY MILLS, CHEBOYGAN AND ALL POINTS.

    w/RAPIDS RESTORATION PHOTO1: Students from nearby Lake Superior State University fish off the side of the newly built bridge into the Little Rapids. Credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

w/RAPIDS RESTORATION PHOTO 2: The newly built bridge over the St. Marys River is the only road that connects to the island. Credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

SHIPWRECK SONGS: “The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down of the big lake they called Gitche Gumee. The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead,” including the 29-member crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald. A new study says folks songs memorializing victims of Great Lakes shipwrecks such as the Edmund Fitzgerald, the Eastland, the Lady Elgin and the Rouse Simmons (a/k/a “the Christmas ship”) build public awareness and help preserve historic wrecks. A maritime cultural resources researcher, from Leslie, and a singer-songwriter specializing in the Great Lakes tell us why. By Eric Freedman. FOR MARQUETTE, BAY MILLS, SAULT STE. MARIE, ST. IGNACE, ALCONA, LUDINGTON, MANISTEE, OCEANA, BENZIE, MONROE, LEELANAU, HARBOR SPRINGS, TRAVERSE CITY, PETOSKEY, CHEBOYGAN AND ALL POINTS.

w/SHIPWRECK SONGS PHOTO EDMUND FITZGERALD: The Edmund Fitzgerald, carrying a load of iron ore, went down in Lake Superior in 1975 and became the most famous Great Lakes shipwreck thanks to a song by Gordon Lightfoot. Credit: Wikipedia

w/SHIPWRECK SONGS PHOTO LADY ELGIN: The Lady Elgin, on route from Chicago to Milwaukee, sank after a collision in 1860, taking at least 380 lives. Credit: Wikipedia

w/SHIPWRECK SONGS PHOTO EASTLAND: The capsized Eastland in the Chicago River cost 844 lives in 1915. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

w/SHIPWRECK SONGS PHOTO ROUSE SIMMONS: The Rouse Simmons, loaded with Christmas trees, sank in 1912 in Lake Michigan. Credit: National Archives

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