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Messages to the Editors

Sept. 22, 2006 – Week 3

To: CNS Editors

From: Eric Freedman & Vic Rauch

AGRICULTURE DIRECTOR AHEAD:  Your correspondents will interview state Ag Director Mitch Irwin on Monday, Sept. 25. Potential topics and issues include promotion of ag exports, environmental challenges facing farmers, environmental stewardship, preservation of agricultural land from development, initiatives in marketing and/or increasing productivity in particular commodities (animals and plant crops), protecting the state against invasive species and rural economic development.

HERE’S YOUR FILE:

• ALCOHOLTESTING: Parents whose under-18 children are on probation would be able to request regular alcohol or drug screening under a DeWitt senator’s proposal. A Grand Rapids psychologist specializing in addiction problems favors the idea. So far this year, Greenville police have arrested more than 40 people under 21 on minor-in-possession charges. By Andrea Byl. FOR GREENVILLE, LANSING, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

• AGRICULTUREGRANTS: A Traverse City company that produces skin lotions, a bean-and-grain cooperative in Pigeon and an Allegan County farm are among the 40 likely winners of $5 million in state grants to the agriculture industry. Cerise Nutraceuticals uses cherry concentrate in its products and is working with Central Michigan University researchers to develop treatments for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Cooperative Elevator Co. wants to package Michigan black beans for retail sales in Mexico. We also hear from a Leelanau County Extension agent. The goal of the grants, the Agriculture Department director says, is to boost expansion and innovation. Geerlings Hillside Farms in Hamilton Township would build a hog-manure-to-energy digester. By Brian McVicar. FOR TRAVERSE CITY BUSINESS, BAD AXE, HOLLAND, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS,  LEELANAU, PETOSKEY & ALL POINTS.

• SOILEROSION: A Bad Axe lawmaker is concerned about the fact that Lake Huron water levels are dropping, and a Petoskey-based environmental group is working to reduce shoreline erosion. The U.S. and Canadian governments are funding a multimillion study of  why Great Lakes levels are dropping. By John Bronz. FOR BAD AXE, PETOSKEY, LUDINGTON, HOLLAND, SOUTH BEND, ALPENA, UP NORTH, MARQUETTE, LEELANAU, MONROE & ALL POINTS.

• FORESTRY: Commercial forestland owners would face slightly higher taxes—initially up from $1.10 to $1.20 an acre next year—under a measure waiting for the governor’s signature. A Grayling forester said the hike wouldn’t be “backbreaking” and would help equalize land values and avert development. By Chris Jackett. FOR GRAYLING, CADILLAC, CLARE, LUDINGTON, UP NORTH, MARQUETTE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, TRAVERSE CITY BUSINESS, ALPENA, BAD AXE & ALL POINTS.

• STOPPED: Sheriffs in 24 counties are tattling on irresponsible young drivers, and parents are pleased. Sheriffs Telling Our Parents & Promoting Educated Drivers (STOPPED) is intended to keep parents informed when their children are pulled over for traffic violations, even if no ticket is issued counties. St. Clair County participates, but the Lapeer and Macomb sheriffs haven’t signed on—although an Eastpointe couple would like know if their 16-year-old daughter gets stopped. The Macomb sheriff says it’s not right squeal on adult children. By Alison Bergsieker. FOR MACOMB, LAPEER, OAKLAND & ALL POINTS.
  • w/NOORDHOEKPHOTO: Robert Noordhoek, special adviser to the Michigan Sheriffs Association. Credit Sarah McLeod, Capital News Service.

• ITEMPRICING: A stockroom worker at a Lansing Target says he and his co-workers spend 30 to 50 hours a week putting price stickers on individual items, and the Michigan Retailers Association says that makes no economic sense in an age of electronic scanners. The association wants the Legislature to repeal the item-pricing mandate, the only one in the country. The House speaker, from Novi, is pushing repeal. Meanwhile, Attorney Gen. Mike Cox says audits found violations by 11 Walgreen stores, including two around Lansing. By Alison Bergsieker. FOR LANSING, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, OAKLAND, TRAVERSE CITY BUSINESS, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.
  • w/HALLANPHOTO: President James Hallan of the Michigan Retailers Association. Credit Sarah McLeod, Capital News Service.
  • w/RULEPHOTO: Eric Rule, director of governmental affairs, Michigan Retailers Association. Credit Sarah McLeod, Capital News Service
  • w/HALLAN&RULEPHOTO: Michigan Retailers Association President James Hallan (left) and governmental affairs director Eric Rule (right). Credit Sarah McLeod, Capital News Service

• PRICING: The Michigan Retailers Association is renewing its drive to repeal the state’s 30-year-old item pricing law. The attorney general recently cited 11 Walgreen stores, including ones in Sturgis and Macomb Township, for alleged violations. By Nicole Hale. FOR MACOMB, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, SOUTH BEND, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.
  • w/RULEPHOTO: Eric Rule, director of governmental affairs, Michigan Retailers Association. Credit Sarah McLeod, Capital News Service.

• GLOBALWARMING: A new report has environmentalists and public policy experts looking at the impacts of global warming in the state. We hear from Environment Michigan, which issued the report, a Macomb Community College professor, and the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, which sees not need for governmental intervention. By Kevin Lehman. FOR ROMEO, MACOMB, MIDLAND, OAKLAND & ALL POINTS.

• GLOBALWARMINGMONROE: Environmentalists and public policy experts disagree on the impacts of global warming on Michigan. We hear from an environmental organizer who works in Monroe County, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, which says government should stay out of the issue, and Environment Michigan, which issued a report on the situation. By Kevin Lehman. FOR MONROE & ALL POINTS.

• ROCHESTERPOLICE: A proposal to disband the Rochester Police Department and pay the Oakland County sheriff to patrol the city reflects a trend elsewhere in the state where municipalities give up local control of law enforcement to save money. The idea has the police union worried. By Alex Doty. FOR OAKLAND & ALL POINTS.

• DRUNKENDRIVING: Lawmakers from Traverse City and Bellaire are pushing to tighten drunken driving laws. They want to end the policy under which convictions drop off a driver’s record after 10 years  Their measure would make a third offense a felony, carrying up to 20 years in prison,  even if the prior violations occurred more than a decade before. The so-called “Heidi’s Law” would be named for a 16-year-old Bellaire girl killed by a drunken driver. Supporters include MADD and legislators from Three Rivers, Farwell, Howell, Allendale, Texas Township and North Branch. By Jeffrey Joe-Aguirre. FOR PETOSKEY, CADILLAC, UP NORTH, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, SOUTH BEND, LANSING, LAPEER, CLARE & ALL POINTS.