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SCHOOL DAYS: Your correspondents will meet Monday with Tom Watkins, state superintendent of public instruction. The session is expected to touch on public school funding, charter schools and possible effects of proposed legislation.

Articles for week of Friday, April 2, 2004

• MEDICAIDDENTAL-- Because of state budget cuts last fall, dental expenses for adult Medicaid recipients are no longer covered, leaving many needy and homeless people without care in dental emergencies. One woman in a Lansing shelter was in such severe pain that a church employee intervened to get her to a clinic. But many others still need help. By Linda Stephan. FOR LANSING, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

• MEDICAIDDENTALWEST-- Because of state budget cuts last fall, dental expenses for adult Medicaid recipients are no longer covered, leaving many needy and homeless people without care in dental emergencies. The Agency for Aging for St. Joseph and Branch counties says that’s a problem for the elderly people it serves. By Linda Stephan. FOR SOUTH BEND, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS & ALL POINTS.

• MACKINACISLAND --Under a House proposal, anyone who illegally operates a motorized vehicle on Mackinac Island will face more than a $10 ticket. A violator would face a fine of $500 and up to 93 days in jail. Sponsors are lawmakers from Sault Ste. Marie, Monroe and elsewhere in southeast Michigan. By Eric Freedman. FOR PETOSKEY, LUDINGTON, CADILLAC, MARQUETTE, MONROE, ALPENA, GRAYLING & ALL POINTS.

• CHILDOMBUDSMAN --A House bill would give child welfare agencies a stronger set of eyes to monitor the care of children in potentially abusive situations. It would give a new, committee-nominated ombudsman full access to agency information and records. The move was sparked by the death of a 2-year-old Port Huron Township girl. Critics say the proposal could violate federal confidentiality regulations. By Ann-Marie Murphy. For LAPEER, ROMEO, MACOMB, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, LANSING & ALL POINTS.

• HISTORYMICHIGAN -- Four new historic markers are to be unveiled this spring, bringing the state’s total to more than 1,400. Applicants for the signs hope they will draw tourists. By Jamie Gumbrecht. FOR ALL POINTS.

• HISTORYWEST -- Holland, Tustin and Muskegon are the sites for three historic markers to be unveiled this spring, bringing the state’s total to more than 1,400. By Jamie Gumbrecht. FOR HOLLAND, CADILLAC, LUDINGTON & MANISTEE.

• HISTORYSOUTHWEST -- A Berrien County inn is the site of an historic marker to be unveiled this spring, bringing the state’s total to more than 1,400. By Jamie Gumbrecht. FOR SOUTH BEND, THREE RIVERS & STURGIS.

• PUBLICNOTICES -- Some lawmakers want to replace or supplement newspapers as the traditional place for publication of public notices by allowing school district and township notices to be posted on the Internet. The Michigan Press Association opposes a total switch, but has agreed to a compromise that would allow for both. By Ann-Marie Murphy. FOR MICHIGAN CITIZEN, GRAND RAPIDS, TRAVERSE CITY, LANSING & ALL POINTS.

• SLEEPYDRIVING -- Legislators want to punish sleepy drivers who cause fatal accidents. The proposal calls for two years in jail and a $2,000 fine if the driver hasn’t slept in 24 hours before the accident. Sponsors come from Warren, St. Charles and Kalamazoo. By Kevin Hardy. FOR C&G, MIDLAND, MACOMB, SOUTH BEND, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, LANSING & ALL POINTS.

• JUDGES --A district judge serving Mecosta and Osceola counties will finally get some help handling cases if Gov. Granholm signs a bill approved by the Legislature to create a second judgeship. By Stephanie Korneffel. FOR CADILLAC & ALL POINTS.

• METHKIDS --Police are taking steps to make sure children of adults arrested in meth lab busts get adequate care and treatment for their exposure to meth production byproducts. An undercover Cadillac police officer and State Police drug team members in southwest Michigan talk about the problem. By Gitte Laasby. FOR CADILLAC, SOUTH BEND, HOLLAND, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS & ALL POINTS.

• CREDITUNIONS --A new law allows credit unions to expand and offer some services formerly limited to banks, effective June 1. But they will also face some new controls. By Arjun Kashyap. FOR MANISTEE, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, GRAND RAPIDS, TRAVERSE CITY, MACOMB, PETOSKEY, LANSING & ALL POINTS.

• SEWERSIDE --A new bill would create a regional board to govern water rates in Southeast Michigan. It’s similar to one vetoed last year by Gov. Granholm. By Mike Weber. FOR ROMEO, MACOMB, C&G, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, LAPEER. MONROE & ALL POINTS.
  
  
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