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To: CNS Editors

From: Eric Freedman & Vic Rauch

CORRECTIONS AHEAD: Your correspondents will interview Corrections Director Patricia Caruso on Monday, April 3. Possible topics include prison capacity and overcrowding, security and escapes, problems with young offenders and parole supervision.

• APRILWINE -- The state’s growing number of vineyards are gearing up for spring with promotions and new releases, such as  a three-day Southwest Michigan gala in April and a Leelanau Peninsula-Traverse City event in  May.  The industry adds $75 million to the state’s economy, and wineries attract 600,000 visitors a year. The governor has cooperated by adopting the industry’s request to change Michigan’s official wine month from October – during busy harvest season – to April.  By Jennifer Linn. FOR LEELANAU, NW MICHIGAN BUSINESS, SOUTH BEND, HOLLAND, THREE RIVERS,  STURGIS, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, UP NORTH & ALL POINTS.
  • With WINEPHOTO -- Photo from a Michigan vineyard. Credit: Michigan Grape & Wine Industry Council.

• ONLINESCAMS -- If you get an e-mail asking for personal and financial information or offering a deal that sounds too good to be true, it’s probably an Internet scam or attempt to steal your identity, Attorney Gen. Mike Cox and the Michigan Sheriffs Association say. His office is using a federal grant to train local police and prosecutors to prevent and investigate Internet fraud. Meanwhile, Detroit-based Comerica Bank is warning its customers not to disclose personal information by e-mail, including ATM PIN and Social Security numbers. By Derek Wallbank. FOR MICHIGAN CITIZEN, LANSING & ALL POINTS.
  • With MIKECOX -- Photo of Attorney Gen. Mike Cox. Credit: Eric Freedman, Capital News Service.
  • With ONLINESCAMSSIDEBAR -- Advice for avoiding online scams.

• ENERGYEFFICIENCY -- A public interest group and an Ann Arbor lawmaker say Michigan needs to adopt energy efficiency standards for 15 common appliances, including DVD players and furnaces. Advocates say it would reduce Michigan’s dependency on foreign energy sources. By Sandra Kao. FOR ALL POINTS.

• OLDDAMS -- Many of the state’s 2,500-plus dams need to be repaired or removed – including ones in the UP, Traverse City and Manistee and Mecosta counties, the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy says, but there’s not enough money for most such projects. Meanwhile, obsolete dams are impairing fish passage and water quality and some, like one on the Dead River, are failing and others, like the Chesaning and Frankenmuth dams need modifications. By Erica Richards. FOR NW MICHIGAN BUSINESS, LUDINGTON, CADILLAC, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, UP NORTH, MIDLAND, LAPEER, CLARE, GRAYLING & ALL POINTS.

• HIGHEREDUCATION -- College students like former welfare recipient Bruce Serven of MSU are asking the Legislature to beef up state aid to public universities, but the Richland lawmaker who chairs the House High Education Committee says prisons and Medicaid cost so much that there’s little left to close the university funding gap. We also hear from Central Michigan University and the executive director of the Presidents Council of State Universities. Meanwhile, the Senate Appropriations Committee has voted for a 1.8 percent hike for most public universities, with bigger bumps for Central, Saginaw Valley, Oakland and Grand Valley. By Matt Schuler.  FOR LANSING, GREENVILLE, CLARE, GRAYLING, MIDLAND, HOLLAND, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.