CNS budget, Sept. 24, 2021

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9/24/21 CNS Budget — Week 3

To: CNS Editors

From: David Poulson and 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 Dave Poulson at (517) 899-1640; poulson@msu.edu.

Here is your file:

EPILEPSY EDUCATION: School officials are trained to use fire extinguishers for disasters they’ll never see, but they haven’t a clue how to respond to the needs of some 13,600 Michigan children with epilepsy. Advocates are pushing to require teachers and administrators to learn to administer life-saving medication and to avoid expensive and unneeded trips to the hospital for children who have the illness. A Lake Ann legislator is sponsoring. By Emerson Wigand. FOR BENZIE COUNTY, MANISTEE, LAKE COUNTY, LUDINGTON, WHTV, LEELANAU, LANSING CITY PULSE and ALL POINTS

INTEGRATED HEALTH: Michigan lawmakers are considering integrating mental and physical health care to make it more affordable, accessible and dependable for the state’s poorest citizens.

The proposal builds on Medicaid programs and has been the subject of two recent state Senate hearings. Advocates want to reduce the stigma of receiving mental health treatment and increase follow-up treatments. But critics worry that allowing private health insurers to provide services will channel some of Michigan’s $3 billion Medicaid mental health budget into the pockets of for-profit businesses. By Cameryn Cass. We talk to a Clarklake lawmaker, an administrator of a Muskegon County mental health program, the former directors of the department of community health and of the state mental health department and a state health plan association executive. FOR LUDINGTON, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, MANISTEE, LANSING CITY PULSE, CORP!. WKTV AND ALL POINTS.

LIQUOR LICENSE: Eastern Michigan University and Oakland University could get new summer baseball leagues, but only if legislation passes that allows the schools to get liquor licenses. Mothers Against Drunk Driving expressed concern about adding alcohol to the university campuses but supporters say it could make good use of underutilized facilities, generate revenue and add entertainment. We talk to Oakland University director of athletics, a state association of universities and MADD. By Danielle James. FOR DETROIT, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, TRAVERSE CITY and ALL POINTS. 

FLU VACCINATION: Health officials expect this flu season to be worse than last year, when COVID precautions helped tamp down the spread of influenza. September and October are the best times to get your shot to stay ahead of the flu but the shots can be helpful even toward the end of the flu season, next spring and summer. We talk to an immunization specialist with the state, the head of the Barry-Eaton Health Department and an MSU doctor. By Vladislava Sukhanvoskaya. For LANSING CITY PULSE and ALL POINTS.

COVID DAYS: School districts have returned to pre-pandemic rules that only allow for six missed days, usually used as snow days. With COVID-19 outbreaks, school officials are hoping to use digital learning to keep up with attendance requirements, but that raises other concerns about children’s access and adequate staffing for online learning. Eastpointe, Baldwin, Reed City and Pickford districts have already closed.We interview a school official in Eastpointe as well as the Michigan Association of School Boards, Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals and the Department of Education. By Kyle Davidson. For DETROIT, SAULT STE. MARIE, LAKE COUNTY STAR, LANSING CITY PULSE, BIG RAPIDS, CADILLAC and ALL POINTS. 

PARK ACCESS: Trails that can accommodate strollers, wheelchairs with tank treads and baby changing stations in mens’ bathrooms are part of a push to accommodate a surge of new visitors at state parks.The parks system has taken an interest in serving new parents, people with physical disabilities and people who live in urban areas, including creation of a state park in Flint. Department of Natural Resources officials said. We interview two DNR officials and talk about the Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit. For news and outdoors pages. By Nicholas Simon. For DETROIT, LANSING CITY PULSE and ALL POINTS. 

W/PARK ACCESS PHOTO1: A visitor uses a track chair to access the beach. Unimproved areas are otherwise inaccessible to those in wheelchairs. Credit: Michigan Department of Natural Resources

W/PARK ACCESS PHOTO2: Picture 1: Park workers use a helicopter to install a new pedestrian bridge at Tahquamenon Falls State Park. Credit: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

DOUBLE UP FOOD PROGRAM: A program that gives low-income Michiganders fresh fruit and vegetables and a path to healthier nutrition recently got a $2 million boost from state lawmakers. That’s up from the $900,000 program that gives participants a dollar-for-dollar match on fresh fruits and vegetables. Families receive twice the quantity of produce for half the price. References to Detroit, Kewadin and Central Lake. By Barbara Bellinger. FOR MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, PETOSKEY, TRAVERSE CITY, HARBOR SPRINGS, DETROIT,  CORP!, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS AND ALL POINTS.

SLEEPING BEAR: 2020 was a record year for visitors at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, with more than 1 million visitors in July and August alone. This year hasn’t kept up, but the deputy superintendent says the 2021 level is pretty consistent with pre-COVID pandemic numbers. By Max Copeland. FOR LEELANAU, TRAVERSE CITY, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS AND ALL POINTS.

w/SLEEPING BEAR PHOTO 1: A scenic wetland view along Peterson Road. Credit: National Park Service

w/SLEEPING BEAR Photo 2: Visitors enjoy Pyramid Point overlook. Credit: National Park Service

FOX RIVER HEMINGWAY: Ernest Hemingway made the Fox River — with its name disguised in the novel Two-Hearted River — a popular fishing destination, and although Hemingway is closely associated with the U.P., in truth he made only one visit there. Visitors can explore the U.P.’s Hemingway Country by hiking the Steeb Pathway in Lake Superior State Forest and dropping by the historic museum in Seney. By Jim DeFresne. FOR MARQUETTE, BAY MILLS, SAULT STE. MARIE, ST. IGNACE, CHEBOYGAN, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS AND ALL POINTS.

w/FOX HEMINGWAY MAP: Map of Steeb Pathway in Lake Superior State Forest.

w/FOX HEMINGWAYWAY PHOTO 1: Seney’s Museum & Historic Railroad Depot. Credit: Jim DuFresne, MichiganTrailMaps.com

w/FOX HEMINGWAY PHOTO 2: Journalist-turned-novelist-and-short-story-writer Ernest Hemingway. Credit: WikiMedia Commons 

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