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To: CNS Editors

From: Eric Freedman & Vic Rauch

FINAL FILE TODAY: This is your final file until September. It’s been a pleasure working with you again this year, and we look forward to continuing our mutually fruitful relationship in the fall. Meanwhile, please keep CNS in mind as a source of interns and employees when you have staff opportunities.

BONUS WEEK AHEAD: On Friday, May 5, we will file a selection of still-timely stories that you may not have had space for earlier in the semester.

HERE’S YOUR FILE:

Articles for week of Friday, April 28, 2006

• MILITARYKIDS -- When the Michigan Army National Guard sends Justin Warchuck’s father to a combat zone, the Marysville teen finds himself the only one among his eighth-grade classmates in that tense situation. Now “Operation Military Kids” is working to raise schools’ awareness of the problems and pressures students like Justin face. By Jennifer Linn. FOR MACOMB, LAPEER, GRAYLING, ALPENA & ALL POINTS.

• FILMINCENTIVES -- Lights! Action! Camera! – Tax breaks? The Michigan Film Office says the state may lose out on hosting some big movie productions unless the Legislature passes proposals that would make the state essentially a “tax-free zone” for filmmakers. The package, awaiting Senate committee action, would let film crews shoot without a fee in state parks and facilities. Sponsors include lawmakers from Zeeland, Saginaw Township, Farwell, Allendale, North Branch, Lawton and Grand Ledge. By Erica Richards. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, TRAVERSE CITY BUSINESS, HOLLAND, MIDLAND, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, CLARE, LAPEER, LANSING, SOUTH BEND & ALL POINTS.

• CROSSBOWHUNTING -- Hunting groups are split on a proposal that would allow people 65 and older to hunt deer with crossbows during archery season. Backers, including a 70-year-old Lansing hunter and an Oakland County hunting group, and legislators from Grand Ledge and Escanaba, say that would give older hunters, who may have physical problems that limit their ability to use traditional archery gear, the same option as disabled hunters. But there are critics such as the Sterling Heights president of the Michigan Bow Hunters Association, oppose the change. For news or sports/outdoor pages. By Sandra Kao. FOR OAKLAND, MACOMB, LUDINGTON, LANSING, HOLLAND, UP NORTH, MARQUETTE, HOLLAND, CADILLAC, CLARE, GRAYLING, ALPENA, BAD AXE, PETOSKEY & ALL POINTS.

• OLDERDRIVERS -- Should drivers over 50 get an auto insurance discount if they take an accident prevention course? Yes, says a Battle Creek lawmaker and the AARP. Even experienced drivers would benefit from updating their safety skills and awareness, they contend. By Jennifer Linn. FOR SOUTH BEND, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, LANSING, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

• OUTDOORAWARD -- Taking a lesson from John F. Kennedy’s “presidential fitness award” playbook, some lawmakers want Michigan to establish an award program to encourage more residents, especially women and young people, to take up outdoors activities. The proposal, enthusiastically backed by groups such as MUCC and the Washtenaw Sportsman’s Club, would be financially self-supporting with funding from businesses like Jay’s Sporting Goods in Clare and Cabela’s in Dundee, according to sponsors, including senators from Saugatuck Township, Traverse City, Sturgis, Kentwood, Holland, Lake Leelanau and DeWitt. Granholm is aboard, too. For news and sports/outdoors sections. By Derek Wallbank. FOR HOLLAND, CLARE, CADILLAC,  GREENVILLE, GRAYLING, UP NORTH, LEELANAU, MONROE, LANSING, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, SOUTH BEND, PETOSKEY, MARQUETTE,  LUDINGTON, MIDLAND & ALL POINTS.

• CLEANFACILITIES -- The Detroit Edison power plant in Harbor Beach has applied to DEQ for “clean corporate citizen” status based on its environmental record. The designation would give the electricity-generating facility, which serves the Thumb, more freedom when it comes to state permits and regulations. If DEQ approves the application in May, the facility will join 101 other facilities, including ones in Holland, Benton Harbor, Alpena and Monroe. By Erica Richards. FOR BAD AXE, LAPEER, ALPENA, MONROE, SOUTH BEND & ALL POINTS.

• DRUNKDRIVINGLAW -- Citing the case of a drunken driver who killed a woman in Antrim County and was arrested again for DUI after finishing a prison term, a Bellaire lawmaker says repeat offenders should get stiffer punishments. Currently, drivers whose record stays clean for 10 years will be treated as first offenders if they’re later arrested, and the bill would eliminate that time limit. Co-sponsors include lawmakers from Allendale, Farwell and North Branch. By Jennifer Linn. FOR PETOSKEY, UP NORTH, CLARE, MIDLAND,  HOLLAND & ALL POINTS.

• GREENSCHOOLS -- Lawmakers from Horton, Grosse Pointe Farms and Hamburg want Michigan to launch a “green schools” program to recognize environmentally active schools. Under the proposal, the state wouldn’t provide any additional money or other incentives to qualifying schools, but legislative backers and the Michigan Environmental Council stress that participating schools could save money through energy efficiency, recycling and other initiatives. By Matthew Schuler. FOR LANSING, MACOMB & ALL POINTS.