Week 10 – 3/31/23
CNS Budget
To: CNS Editors
From: Eric Freedman and Judy Putnam
http://news.jrn.msu.edu/capitalnewsservice/
Welcome to the tenth CNS file of the spring 2023 semester.
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.
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NEW CNS LOGO: Credit: Asher Freedman
Here’s your file:
FISH SURVEYS: If you’re a fish in a Michigan stream, prepare to be shocked – literally. DNR’s latest survey of 172 inland lakes and 99 streams will help the department track fisheries populations, evaluate stocking efforts to increase angler opportunities and address angler concerns. References to parks and streams in Allegan, Montcalm and Manistee counties. For news and outdoors sections. By Morgan Womack. FOR GREENVILLE, HOLLAND, MANISTEE, IONIA, LUDINGTON, CADILLAC, LAKE COUNTY, WKTV AND ALL POINTS.
w/FISH SURVEYS CREW: DNR fisheries workers survey a stream. Credit: Department of Natural Resources.
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COMMUNITY RECYCLING: Local leaders generally feel positive about the benefits of recycling, a new U-M study says, but environmental organizations say they should be pushed to encourage more recycling. We hear from Zero Waste Detroit, Michigan Environmental Council and Michigan Recycling Coalition. References to Detroit, Traverse City, Ludington, Grand Rapids, Holland, Lansing and Oakland County. By Morgan Womack. FOR CORP!, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, PLANET DETROIT, LUDINGTON, TRAVERSE CITY, DETROIT, CORP! LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.
w/COMMUNITY RECYCLING MAP: Percentage of local officials who agree that recycling efforts boost the economy. Credit: Center for Local, State and Urban Policy, University of Michigan.
w//CLIMATE SOLUTIONS LOGO: Credit: Asher Freedman
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COLLEGE ENROLLMENTS: Enrollment is declining at public and private higher education institutions in the state, a trend that creates financial problems for them as the number of high school students declines. The governor has proposed more state aid to public universities. Small private Finlandia University in the U.P. is closing. We talk to Grand Valley, Lawrence Tech and the associations representing public and private colleges and universities. By Maggie George. FOR IRON MOUNTAIN, MARQUETTE, DETROIT, MIDLAND, DETROIT, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, WKTV, ADRIAN, HILLSDALE, HOLLAND, BIG RAPIDS, SAULT STE. MARIE, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.
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RIGHT TO WORK: Repeal of Michigan’s decade-old right-to-work law means more revenue for union activities such as contract negotiations, representation in job discipline disputes, organizing health and safety programs and employee assistance programs. We hear why from the AFL-CIO and an MSU labor relations professor. For news and business sections. By Dan Netter. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, CORP!, DETROIT AND ALL POINTS.
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WATER FOUNTAINS: Legislation awaiting a Senate vote would require schools and child care centers to install filtered water fill-up stations and regularly test drinking water for lead, which can cause developmental and intellectual impairments. We hear from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. Sponsors include legislators from Metro Detroit, Six Lakes, Monroe, Hudsonville and Bay City. By Sophia Brandt. FOR DETROIT, GREENVILLE, ADRIAN, MONROE, BLISSFIELD, HOLLAND, PLANET DETROIT, LAKE COUNTY, BIG RAPIDS, MIDLAND AND ALL POINTS.
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EDUCATED STATES: When it comes to best-educated and worst-educated states, Michigan ranks 27th, slightly below the middle of the pack, a new analysis shows. It was higher than Ohio and Indiana but below Wisconsin and Illinois. High education rates can make the state more competitive for jobs and businesses, the Small Business Association of Michigan tells us. We also hear from the Michigan Education Justice Coalition in Detroit. By Jaden Beard. FOR CORP! GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, DETROIT AND ALL POINTS.
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SCHOOL VOUCHERS: Grand Rapids’s Betsy DeVos is no longer U.S. Secretary of Education, the GOP no longer controls the Legislature and conservative-led efforts to get the state to issue vouchers to pay for children to attend nonpublic schools are stymied. Critics say taxpayer-funded vouchers would damage public education, especially in rural areas. School choice advocates still hope for alternatives, such as tax credits for donors to state scholarships for private school pupils. We talk to the Michigan Education Association, the Michigan Association for Non-Public Schools and the Great Lakes Education Project. By Jack Timothy Harrison. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.
w/RURAL SCHOOL VOUCHERS HERBART: Paula Herbart, president of the Michigan Education Association. Credit: MEA
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AGRITOURISM LABOR: With an upcoming shortage of tourism personnel expected this year, the safety and health of some agritourism workers may be at higher risk than usual, a new study cautions. Meanwhile, agritourism businesses are struggling to hire staff for the upcoming prime season. We talk to the researcher, the vice president of Pure Michigan and a winery in Traverse City and Suttons Bay. By Dan Netter. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, CORP! TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU, PETOSKEY, HOLLAND, CLARE, LEELANAU, GLADWIN, CADILLAC, HARBOR SPRINGS, ALPENA, MONROE, CRAWFORD COUNTY, OCEANA, ALCONA, BENZIE, GREENVILLE, GLADWIN, BIG RAPIDS, LUDINGTON, MANISTEE, CRAWFORD COUNTY, MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. MARIE, ST. IGNACE, CHEBOYGAN, BIG RAPIDS AND ALL POINTS.
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ROAD FUNDING: To pay for road and bridge maintenance and projects, there’s some interest in taxing motor vehicles by the number of miles they’re driven rather than by the traditional fuel tax. A few states are experimenting with such an approach, but there are lots of legislative, political, economic and logistical challenges to such a huge change. We talk to the MDOT director, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland and the top Republican on the House Transportation Committee, from Six Lakes. By Andrew Roth. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, MIDLAND, GREENVILLE, WKTV, IONIA AND ALL POINTS.
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BUS: A new alliance between Indian Trails in Owosso, Michigan’s largest private bus company, and budget national carrier Megabus restores Megabus service in the state with connections across the U.S. and Canada. Indian Trails destinations include St. Ignace, Detroit, Traverse City, St. Ignace, Cheboygan, Petoskey, Alpena, Iron Mountain, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Big Rapids. By Samuel Blatchford: FOR GRAND RAPIDS, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, TRAVERSE CITY, ST. IGNACE, BIG RAPIDS, ALPENA, IRON MOUNTAIN, DETROIT, PLANET DETROIT, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.
w/BUS PHOTO: A Megabus bus. Credit: courtesy photo
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TREE LOVERS BOOK: Trees take root in the life of Maureen Dunphy, a writing coach from Royal Oak and author of the new collection of essays, “Divining, A Memoir in Trees” The author explains the origins of the book and her way of looking at trees through memories.References to Hartwick Pines State Park, Pinkney and MSU. By Vadislava Sukhanovskaya. FOR PLANET DETROIT, DETROIT, CRAWFORD COUNTY AND ALL POINTS.
w/TREE LOVERS BOOK COVER: Credit: Wayne State University Press
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KUDZU: Beware! Kudzu – that fast-growing invasive vine we associate with smothering abandoned buildings and suffocating forests in the South – is moving into the Great Lakes region thanks to climate change. It’s been found in several places in Michigan as far north as Benzie County and has been reported in Cass, Berrien, Allegan and Clare counties. We talk to a DNR invasive species expert, a study co-author and a Southwestern Michigan “strike team coordinator.” By Eric Freedman. FOR BENZIE COUNTY, CLARE, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, HOLLAND, MANISTEE, LUDINGTON, OCEANA, MICHIGAN FARM NEWS AND ALL POINTS.
w/KUDZU TAKEOVER: Kudzu covering an open forest landscape. Credit: Cornell University Extension
w/KUDZU LEAVES: Kudzu has compound leaves of three leaflets. Usually each compound leaf has two leaflets with two lobes each and one with three lobes. Photo courtesy of SW x SW Corner Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area
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