Women of East Lansing were recognized and honored on March 21 for their contributions to the community. City Council approved a resolution recognizing March as Women’s History Month at their regular council meeting.
Business & Economy
Limited access to health care contributes to higher rural death rates
|
RURAL MORTALITY: The gap in death rates between urban and less healthy rural areas has widened, USDA figures show. Rural hospitals are reducing services and communities are having trouble recruiting and retaining health care providers. We hear from the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department and the Michigan Association for Local Public Health. By Anish Topowala. FOR MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, SAULT STE. MARIE, IRON MOUNTAIN, MARQUETTE, BAY MILLS, CHEBOYGAN AND ALL POINTS.
Business & Economy
State pushes to expand free pre-K programs
|
FREE PRE-K: The governor is pushing to expand free pre-K programs for 4-year-olds. We hear from the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential, the Wayne Regional Education Service Agency and a Wyoming legislator who is enthusiastic about its potential benefits. By Sophia Ceru. FOR GREENVILLE, WKTV, DETROIT AND ALL POINTS.
Business & Economy
Measures, new birth center, take aim at disparities in maternal health care
|
IMPLICIT MATERNAL BIAS: New Senate legislation may allow Michigan to join 41 other states in licensing and reimbursing birth centers for their services. The proposal comes as a Detroit organization plans to open a Black-led birth center later this year. Sponsors are from Detroit, Lansing, Taylor and Redford Township. We hear from BirthDetroit, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Michigan Health & Hospital Association. By Sophia Ceru. FOR DETROIT, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.
Diversity Issues
New names slated for birds, including Kirtland’s warbler
|
BIRD NAMES: Michigan’s endangered Kirtland’s warbler is about to be de-Kirtlandized as the American Ornithological Society moves to remove the names of people, some with racist connections, from the names of 70 birds, 21 of them in Michigan, including the Cooper’s hawk, Wilson’s snipe, Bonaparte’s gull and Harris’s sparrow. Bird lovers disagree on that action. By Clara Lincolnhol. FOR CADILLAC, MIDLAND, CLARE, BIG RAPIDS, GLADWIN, LUDINGTON AND ALL POINTS.
Business & Economy
U.P.’s tight-knit Schoolcraft County a tourist hot spot with unique issues
|
SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTY PROFILE: When you ask residents of the UP’s Schoolcraft County to talk about their home, they usually first mention the scenic environment and how close they are to Lake Michigan. But the rural qualities they value present difficulties for the community that other, larger counties, something that affects the area’s concerns, solutions and political landscape. By Jack Armstrong, Wajeeha Kamal, Maya Moore and Sheatlyn Paulis. FOR MARQUETTE, BAY MILLS, IRON MOUNTAIN, ST. IGNACE, SAULT STE. MARIE, CHEBOYGAN AND ALL POINTS.
Diversity Issues
GAAY Sports cultivates community through athletics
|
April 6 marked the final day for GAAY, which stands for GLBTQIA+, Athletes, Allies and You. The non-profit hosts many sports, including dodgeball, kickball and bowling across Lansing, Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor. For Lansing’s final dodgeball game of the season, it didn’t take long for the group of almost 60 players to mingle, make new friendsn and let the anxiety of gym class fade away.
Diversity Issues
East Lansing City Council passes resolution to honor Ramadan in solidarity with Muslim community
|
On March 5, East Lansing City Council passed its fourth resolution to honor the month of Ramadan in solidarity with the Muslim community. This resolution was issued before the beginning of the Islamic holy month and the annual mayors’ Ramadan unity dinner fundraising event.
Business & Economy
Undocumented new mothers need health care coverage for 12 months, advocates say
|
POSTPARTUM: There’s a push to extend Medicaid coverage for undocumented immigrants from two months to 12 months after giving birth. The change in policy for the Maternity Outpatient Medical Services program would cost $6 to $10 million a year, says the Michigan League for Public Policy. The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, with offices in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Ypsilanti and Detroit, and an NYU expert explain. By Theo Scheer. FOR DETROIT, WKTV, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.
Business & Economy
Grants help integrate newcomers into Michigan communities
|
NEWCOMERS: State grants will help nonprofits serve immigrants, refugees and asylum-seekers integrate into their communities. The money comes from the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and the federal government. Farmworker Legal Services in Grand Rapids will use its grant to expand its education and oversight activities to the Upper Peninsula. Les Clays, also based in Grand Rapids, will provide “second step” support for immigrants coming from Africa to West Michigan. Other grants recipients include support for Burmese immigrants in Calhoun County and, Islamic Americans in Detroit, partnerships between Catholic churches and local immigrants in Northern Michigan, and Latin American immigrants in Allegan, Kent, Ottawa, and Van Buren counties. By Alex Walters. FOR MARQUETTE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, SAULT STE. MARIE, IRON MOUNTAIN, WKTV, MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, DETROIT, LANSING CITY PULSE, HOLLAND AND ALL POINTS.
Business & Economy
Lack of access to driver’s licenses for some immigrants hurts Michigan’s economy, advocates say
|
IMMIGRANT LICENSES: Legislation to allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses and state ID cards has been stalled in committees for a year. Sponsors include lawmakers from Hamtramck and Taylor. Advocates like the Michigan League for Public Policy and Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, which has offices in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Ypsilanti and Detroit, say that would be a major benefit to Michigan’s economy. The Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police opposes the proposal on the grounds of public safety. By Owen McCarthy. FOR DETROIT, LANSING CITY PULSE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS AND ALL POINTS.