11/24/21 CNS Budget — Week 12
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:
PERIOD PRODUCTS: Ann Arbor may be the first city in the U.S. to mandate free feminine hygiene products in public restrooms. Meanwhile the state has exempted the items from sales tax. Both attempts to increase the accessibility of the products are aimed at improving the health of low-income residents. But whether other cities follow Ann Arbor’s lead is uncertain. We talk to health advocacy groups and state and local officials. For news and health pages. By Danielle James. FOR DETROIT, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, CORP! ALL POINTS.
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BUY LOCAL: Michigan economic officials and retailers are renewing their embrace of local shopping, saying it is more than just an answer to a COVID and supply line headaches. Local suppliers are struggling with high shipping costs, but they say it also means they have increased demand from local sellers of their products. We talk to a Cheboygan scroll maker, Bronners Christmas Store in Frankenmuth, a nativity scene maker in Sturgis and state economic officials. For news and business sections. By Nicholas Simon FOR STURGIS, CHEBOYGAN, CORP!, THREE RIVERS, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS and ALL POINTS.
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AMAZON FRAUD: As consumers prepare to place their holiday Amazon orders, Michigan lawmakers are considering protections to keep fraudulent online sellers from stealing Christmas.
Online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay would have to post information about high-volume third-party sellers, if legislation recently introduced in the House passes. We talk to the Michigan Retailers Association, Amazon and lawmakers from Owosso, Marshall and Farmington Hills. For news and business pages. For news and business sections. By Kyle Davidson FOR CORP!, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS and ALL POINTS.
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FIRE FOAM: Michigan has disposed of more than 50,000 gallons of potentially harmful firefighting foam since 2019. Firefighters and environmental advocates say that isn’t enough. The foam targeted for removal contains PFAS, a substance that some firefighters say should be replaced with an alternative. But while some firefighting units have quit using PFAS foam for training, others still have it stockpiled. Richmond, Wixom, Dow Chemical and Oscoda references. By Emerson Wigand. FOR ALCONA, MONTMORENCY, DETROIT and ALL POINTS.
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U.P. BROADBAND: Could federal rescue funds rescue Upper Peninsula broadband? Poor access has long plagued economic developers, students and health care providers in the region. But local officials are exploring how to pool their federal rescue funds to boost their access to broadband service. By Kyle Davidson. FOR SAULT STE. MARIE, ST. IGNACE, MARQUETTE, BAY MILLS, CHEBOYGAN AND ALL POINTS.
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RARE DISEASE COUNCIL: A group of parents and health providers are urging the state to establish a special board on rare diseases. About a million Michigan residents may have a rare disease, one that afflicts fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S. There are more than 7,000 such diseases, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders. We talk to a Lincoln Park lawmaker and two Detroit area moms of children with rare conditions. By Vladislava Sukhanovskaya. FOR DETROIT and ALL POINTS.
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HOMELESS SHELTER SEASON: People without a roof over their heads get more than a warm place to sleep at many Michigan shelters.They can also find a path to physical and mental health and permanent housing. We talk to shelter officials in Big Rapids, Holland, Grand Rapids, Detroit and Washtenaw County. By Barbara Bellinger. FOR BIG RAPIDS, HOLLAND, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, DETROIT, LANSING CITY PULSE and ALL POINTS.
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DYSLEXIA EDUCATION: Michigan schools are failing kids with dyslexia, critics say. Legislation pending in the state Senate would require screenings for all students from kindergarten to third grade. We talk to the Lansing-based Michigan Dyslexia Institute and hear from a Detroit football player with dyslexia. By Nicholas Simon. FOR LANSING CITY PULSE, DETROIT and ALL POINTS.
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REAL CHRISTMAS TREES: It looks like a good season ahead for Christmas tree growers in Michigan and two other Great Lakes states due to higher demand. That expectation is sparked in part by the pandemic and wildfires in Oregon, the country’s largest producer. We hear from the Howell-based Christmas Tree Promotion Board, Durand-based Michigan Christmas Tree Association and a Manchester grower. By Sammy Schuck. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, CORP! DETROIT, FOWLERVILLE, LANSING CITY PULSE and ALL POINTS.
w/REAL CHRISTMAS TREE PHOTO: The demand for live Christmas trees from Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin is up. Credit: College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Michigan State University
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UNIQUE CAMPING: Hammock-camping? Goat yoga? From DeWitt to Ionia, Port Austin and across Michigan, public and private campgrounds are implementing unusual programs and camping opportunities to attract people into nature. We hear from the owner of a Lansing-area blueberry farm with camping, DNR and an online marketplace that connects private landowners to camping opportunities. By Cameryn Cass. FOR CHEBOYGAN, IONIA, GREENVILLE, LANSING CITY PULSE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS and ALL POINTS.
w/ UNIQUE CAMPING PHOTO: Hammock-only site in Port Crescent State Park in Port Austin is part of an effort to reach new types of campers. Credit: Department of Natural Resources
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