10/8/21 CNS Budget — Week 5
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 this week’s file:
WORKSPACE: Some of the remote work brought on by the pandemic is having a long-term impact reshaping Michigan downtowns and traditional office spaces. Libraries and coffee shops will continue to be alternative workspaces, experts say. Already, collaborative spaces in Michigan libraries are seeing higher traffic, sparking a library revival. We talk to state economic developers, downtown experts and the head of the Michigan Library Association. By Cameryn Cass. FOR CORPS!, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL AND BUSINESS SECTIONS AT ALL POINTS
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PATIENT CARE: A staffing crisis at Michigan hospitals has renewed efforts to protect nurses from unmanageable patient loads and too many hours of consecutive work. The union representing nurses says caring for too many patients has caused nurses to leave their jobs. Pending legislation would regulate how many patients a nurse can care for and the number of consecutive hours that they can work. We talk to the Michigan Hospital Association and a Kalamazoo nurse who heads the Michigan Nurses Association. By Nicholas Simon. FOR CORP! MAGAZINE, THREE RIVERS and ALL POINTS.
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CHILDCARE BUILDINGS: Long child care wait lists, especially for infant care, could be eased under legislation that would rethink the type of buildings where day care businesses could be located. In Traverse City, one new center that could help meet demand had been hampered by a prohibition on licensing facilities in spaces shared with “hazardous operations,” that include a restaurant that serves alcohol. We talk to Traverse City day care owners, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, a Traverse City developer and a business advocacy group. By Emerson Wigand. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL, CORP! MAGAZINE and BUSINESS SECTIONS AT ALL POINTS.
PERFECT PAIR: A new project is connecting Michigan senior citizens living in assisted care facilities with university students who have shared interests. Emily Lerner and Rachel Alessio, while at the University of Michigan, started the Perfect Pair as a virtual project when the pandemic peaked in May 2020. It aims to reduce seniors’ loneliness and renew interest in life. We talk to an MSU doctor, former UM students who started the match project and an Ann Arbor senior/student pair. Northville, Farmington Hills and MSU references. By Vladislava Sukhanovskaya. For DETROIT, WKAR, LANSING CITY PULSE and ALL POINTS.
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LOAN FORGIVENESS: Student loans could be tied to student lunches for teachers in some Michigan school districts desperately seeking to attract them. Proposed state legislation would establish a student loan forgiveness program for people teaching in schools where at least half of the students meet the income eligibility criteria for the free or reduced lunch program. Incentivizing teachers in lower income school districts could help combat educator shortages, says the Michigan Education Association. By Danielle James.
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CRISIS LINES: As the federal government works to roll out a 9-8-8 suicide hotline, one lawmaker is looking to share that same number with Michigan crisis line services. Companion legislation also sponsored by Rep. Mary Whiteford, R-Casco Township, would gather crisis line support from a monthly 55-cent charge to the cell phone bills of all Michigan residents. By Kyle Davidson. FOR HOLLAND, LANSING AND ALL POINTS
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ENDANGERED RATTLER: A species unique to the Great Lakes region once had a bounty on its head, but now experts are trying to save it. Known as the only venomous snake in Michigan — and one of two rattlesnakes in the Great Lakes Region — the eastern massasauga rattlesnake has been listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act since 2016. Less than half of the massasauga’s historical population exists, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We talk to MSU Extension, DNR and U.S. Fish and Wildlife snake experts. For news and outdoors sections. By Hannah Brock. FOR MICHIGAN FARM NEWS and ALL POINTS.
w/RATTLER PHOTO: An eastern massasauga rattlesnake lying in brush. Credit: Shaughn Galloway via U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
GREAT LAKES ARTISTS: Great Lakes artists are turning trash from beaches and empty lots into treasure — artistic treasure, that is. Their work also raises environmental awareness. Artists from Ludington, Marquette and Detroit discuss their work and their motivation. For news and features sections. By Emilie Appleyard. FOR MARQUETTE, LUDINGTON, BAY MILLS, MANISTEE, SAULT STE. MARIE, ALCONA, DETROIT, ST. IGNACE, HOLLAND, CHEBOYGAN, TRAVERSE CITY, OCEANA COUNTY, BENZIE COUNTY, LEELANAU, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, LANSING CITY PULSE and ALL POINTS.
w/GREAT LAKES ARTISTS MATSEN: “Eco Opportunity.” Credit: Dave Masten
w/GREAT LAKES ARTISTS LARKIN: Mandala made of plastic gathered on Lake Superior’s beaches. Credit: Stella Larkin.
w/GREAT LAKES ARTISTS HEERES: Heeres exhibit being shown at Michigan State University‘s Broad Art Museum. Credit: PD Rearick.
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CNS