This Week's File

NOTE: CNS articles are for the exclusive use of CNS member news organizations. Any other use is prohibited under federal copyright laws.

To download the text of a story, follow the link for that article and highlight the text. Copy the text (under the Edit menu of your browser) and paste it into your text editing program.

Jan. 19, 2007 - Week 1

To: CNS Editors

From: Eric Freedman & Vic Rauch

SEMESTER COVERAGE LAUNCHED: This is your first weekly file for 2007. We're pleased by the caliber of our correspondents this semester, both returnees and new correspondents, and we'll e-mail you an updated staff roster with contact information separately. As always, our correspondents appreciate story ideas from you. We also expect to continue expanding our photo offerings this semester.

WELCOME, RECORD-EAGLE. We welcome the Traverse City Record-Eagle as our newest CNS member paper.

SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION AHEAD: Next Monday your correspondents will interview top officials of the Small Business Association of Michigan. Likely topics include possible tax and fee increases to help balance the budget, the impact of pro-labor legislative proposals on small businesses and efforts by the state to bolster economic development. 

HERE'S YOUR FILE:

COUNTYLEGISLATION: Several recently passed laws have major implications for hard-pressed county governments, including authority to expand their road commissions, spend money generated by selling tax-foreclosed real estate and collect higher fees for expedited marriage licenses. We interview the legislative director of the Michigan Association of Counties, St. Joseph County clerk, an aide to a Holland senator and a Saginaw senator who is a former county commissioner. By Justin Kroll. FOR STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, SOUTH BEND, HOLLAND & ALL POINTS.

     w/HICKSONPHOTO: Tom Hickson, director of legislative affairs for the Michigan Association of Counties. Credit: Sarah McLeod, Capital News Service.

SAFEDELIVERY: A law intended to discourage women from abandoning their unwanted newborns has had only partial success, and infants are still being found on doorsteps. Last year, five newborns were surrendered at hospitals, police and fire stations under the Safe Delivery law, but six others were found abandoned including one who had already died. We hear from the Morning Star Adoption Center in Southfield, the state Human Services Department and an Oakland County courts adoption official. By Chris Jackett. FOR OAKLAND, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

LEELANAUROADCOMMISSION: A new state law allows counties to expand their road commissions from three to five members, but the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners hasn't discussed that option and the Leelanau County Road Commission says the current setup works fine. By Erik Adams. FOR LEELANAU, TRAVERSE CITY & ALL POINTS. 

POSSIBLECUTS: The latest dire budget proposals threaten state aid to public education, aid that districts were counting on. The superintendent of Clare Public Schools warns of a possible loss of $50 to $224 per pupil, and the Michigan Education Association vows to lobby for adequate school aid. By Brooke Meier. FOR CLARE & ALL POINTS.

WINTERTOURISM: Finally, winter weather has hit northern Michigan, and businesses hit by lower tourism revenue have high hopes. Nub's Nob ski area in Harbor Springs has all its slopes and trails open for the first time, a month behind last year's schedule. Organizers of local festivals like Houghton Lake's Tip-Up Town fear tourists won't be aware that events are still going on as planned. We also talk with Travel Michigan and the Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau. By Michael Carney. FOR PETOSKEY, TRAVERSE CITY, CADILLAC, UP PUBLICATIONS, GRAYLING, CLARE, MARQUETTE & ALL POINTS.

TAXCREDIT: The state's efforts to boost the number of residents claiming the federal earned income tax credit are paying office, the Department of Human Services says.  A Kent County nonprofit coalition is assisting area low-income residents file for the tax credits. A grand Valley social work professor says higher refunds pump money into the economy. The average credit in Michigan rose from $850 for 2004 to $1,057 for 2006 , leaving more money in the pockets of low-income workers. By Brian McVicar. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, GREENVILLE, HOLLAND, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

CRIMEBUDGETDEFICIT: Prisoners are guilty of more than their original crimes, according to newly released state budget numbers. The rising cost of incarcerating a growing number of them is a major reason for Michigan's deepening red ink ocean. By Alexander Scott. FOR MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

ROADFUNDING: Amid deteriorating road conditions and shrinking revenue, a new coalition is pushing for a three-year, three-cent-per-year gas tax hike to help close the gap in funding for road projects. Northern Michigan counties are especially hard hit, according to an Evert lawmaker and the County Road Association. By Nick Pelton. FOR CADILLAC, CLARE, GRAYLING, LUDINGTON, UP NORTH, PETOSKEY, TRAVERSE CITY, ALPENA, BAD AXE, MARQUETTE, LEELANAU & ALL POINTS.

SCHOOLCUTS: Michigan public schools including those in Lapeer County may shoulder a big shape of the burden of the state's $800 million budget gap, and a legislative analyst says districts could lose as much as $224 per pupil in state aid this year. An Algonac senator says he wants alternatives to raising taxes, such as pension reforms and reducing health care costs. By Hannah Northey.  FOR LAPEER & ALL POINTS.

CNS

Download a Microsoft Word version of this budget here.