Spartan Newsroom (https://news.jrn.msu.edu/author/jjames/)
SCHOOL CALENDAR: While some educators, students and parents favor school spread more evenly throughout the year, but the so-called balanced school calendar has not taken off in Michigan. We interview the Holt superintendent who heads a national organization, the head of the Michigan Education Association, a Holt parent and the superintendent of Akron-Fairgrove schools. By Janelle James. FOR LANSING AND ALL POINTS.
MAJOR REGRET: Nearly half of humanities grads nationwide report they wished they chose a different major, and in Michigan some universities report declining enrollment in humanities majors such as English, philosophy, language and history. One reason is the promotion of ‘hard science’ fields. There is still reason to major in the humanities, college officials argue. We talk to a MSU dean, a recent grad, and a Northern Michigan University professor. By Janelle James. FOR MARQUETTE, LANSING AND ALL POINTS.
RECREATIONAL GRANTS: A difficult process for local units of government to apply for recreation grants could be discouraging applicants. Hundreds of applications have been started but only one submitted for the program. The state has received $65 million in federal grants from the American Rescue Plan Act to help communities create public recreation opportunities and renovate existing recreational activities. By Janelle James. FOR DETROIT, PLANET DETROIT AND ALL POINTS
SCHOOL SAFETY: State safety grants will help digitally map schools and enhance video systems to detect guns. The high tech opportunities are among the measures to be funded by $168 million this year for programs to prevent school violence. The digital maps can help police navigate a school threatened by a shooter and can be sent directly to them while they are enroute to the scene. Also, schools could also use the money to program already existing cameras to detect if someone is carrying a firearm. By Janelle James. FOR ALL POINTS
LANGUAGE ACCESS – Advocates are pushing for ballots to be in several languages and for more translation services at state agencies and other initiatives to expand language access in Michigan. The state budget includes $700,000 to make it easier for non-English speakers to access state services and an additional $260,000 to hire coordinators to oversee the expansion.
Expanding language access would allow immigrants or people whose first language isn’t English to be able to interact with state agencies in the language that they are most comfortable.
Advocates recommend hiring more trained state translators and interpreters who are proficient in multiple languages, and training for staff at state agencies on how to interact with people with limited English proficiency. By Janelle James. FOR ALL POINTS
SAT – Michigan is one of only a few states that still require students to take the writing portion of the SAT college entrance test. School officials say it is no longer needed because colleges often have their own writing test and do not require the SAT one for entrance. The Michigan Department of Education says student achievement in writing should be measured. By Janelle James. FOR ALL POINTS
FARM ACCIDENTS: As farmers wrap up the harvest season, traffic accidents involving farm vehicles are up over last year, officials said. As of Oct. 28, there were 168 accidents involving farm vehicles, according to Michigan State Police reports. By the same time in 2021, there had been about 150 of these accidents. November sees the most accidents of any month. Last year, Ottawa and Ingham counties each had nine, the highest of any county. So far this year Branch County has had 20 farm vehicle traffic accidents, the most this year. By Janelle James. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL, CORP!, CITY PULSE, HOLLAND, MICHIGAN FARM NEWS AND BUSINESS AND NEWS PAGES OF ALL POINTS.
MICHIGAN WINTERSNTER: Northern Michigan communities are gearing up for more days of rain and snow this winter after climate scientists predict a wetter-than-average season. Some parts of northern Michigan could face severe weather. We talk to the Upper Peninsula Travel expert, Leelanau, Kent, Grand Traverse road commissions, the Midwest Regional Climate Center in Indiana and a climatologist from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Ann Arbor. Alpena and Saultint Marie mentioned.
NONPROFIT INCUBATOR: A coalition of environmental groups has created an incubator for new nonprofit organizations that help the environment. Among them are the Black Owners of Solar Services, a Detroit-based environmental news service and a group fighting a pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac. We talk to the Michigan Environmental Council, Consumers Energy, Planet Detroit editor, and a board member of BOSS. By Janelle James. FOR PLANET DETROIT, CORP! MAGAZINE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL AND ALL POINTS.
RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS: Of the 45 health departments across the state, only one is moving toward a color-coded grading system for restaurants, similar to one used across the nation, officials say. A Detroit City Council member recently introduced the ordinance after several incidents involving rodents in restaurants across the city. It would require businesses to notify customers of the status of their inspections by posting color-coded signs on the door. We talk to the director of the Michigan Association for Local Public Health, a Detroit City Council member, and the health directors in Washtenaw and Macomb counties. By Janelle James. FOR DETROIT, LANSING and ALL POINTS.