This Week's File

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Sept. 14, 2007 – Week 2

To: CNS Editors

From: Eric Freedman & Vic Rauch

MICHIGAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION AHEAD: Your correspondents will interview MEA President Iris Salters on Monday, Sept. 17. Likely topics include school funding, the impact of the No Child Left Behind law, charter schools, education legislation and state-mandate curriculum and graduation requirements.

HERE’S YOUR FILE:

CULTURALTOURISM: To boost regional promotion of tourism, the Department of History, Arts & Libraries is working with local groups to develop cultural trails on the Leelanau Peninsula, in the central Upper Peninsula and along the Lake Michigan coast. Representatives of the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association, Lake Superior Community Partnership and Saugatuck-Douglas Convention and Visitors Bureau talk about the strategy and its goals. The aim is to tie together such attractions as wineries, mines, artisans and arts venues to create tourism destinations. By Jeff Riley Jr. FOR LEELANAU, TRAVERSE CITY, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, LUDINGTON, HOLLAND, SOUTH BEND, MARQUETTE & ALL POINTS.

ARMEDTEACHERS: A Grandville senator says public school teachers should have the right to bear arms in class as a matter of safety—a proposal that the Monroe schools superintendent labels “the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard of.” North Branch, Escanaba and Rockford senators are aboard, too. However, the Michigan Education Association says it’s both a dangerous idea and politically unfeasible. By Gregory Herbert. FOR MONROE,

 GREENVILLE, LAPEER, MARQUETTE, HOLLAND, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

WORKERSCOMPENSATION: A Grand Ledge lawmaker says the state should prohibit undocumented immigrants injured at work from collecting workers’ compensation benefits, citing an illegal alien who collected benefits for eight years from a Southfield-based company. His idea draws fire from Grand Rapids-based Michigan Migrant Legal Services Inc. and a Detroit representative. The Department of Labor and Economic Growth, which runs the workers’ compensation program, has no position yet. For news and business desks. By Melanie Trusty. FOR LANSING, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, GREENVILLE & ALL POINTS.

PAYCUTS: State employees shouldn’t get their scheduled Oct, 1 pay hike negotiated by their unions, a Richland lawmaker says. But the United Auto Workers, which represents thousands of state employees, says a contract is a contract. The governor’s office said the administration will push for cost savings in negotiations over future contracts. By David Salisbury. FOR LANSING, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, & ALL POINTS.

TOWNSHIPS: A legislative proposal to abolish most township boards as a possible cost-cutting measure has the Michigan Townships Association up in arms. The Clare County sheriff says counties lack the money and personnel to assume the townships’ responsibilities. By Hayley Outslay. FOR CLARE & ALL POINTS.

CALLPOLICE. People who witness emergencies but don’t call 911 could face up to six months in jail and a $500 fine under legislation proposed by a Salem Township lawmaker. The bill was sparked by the drug overdose death of a 27–year-old man whose friend failed to call for help. The victim’s grandfather, who lives in Ypsilanti Township, pushed for the legislation. A co-sponsor from Hart spent 10 years as an EMT. By Crystal L. Burks. FOR MICHIGAN CITIZEN, LUDINGTON, CADILLAC, LANSING, OAKLAND & ALL POINTS.

READING: Officially, September is Michigan Reads to Children Month, but librarians in the Traverse City, Boyne and Ludington areas say their mission is to promote early-age reading skills and opportunities 12 months a year. The director of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries says that’s the state’s goal, too. By Tim Alberta. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU, PETOSKEY, LUDINGTON, UP NORTH & ALL POINTS.

VOTERID: The state Civil Rights Department is unhappy about the enforcement of regulations that require voters to present a photo ID at the polls, saying there should be a public hearing on the requirement. A Burton lawmaker wants the requirement changed.

By Crystal L. Burks. FOR MICHIGAN CITIZEN, OAKLAND & ALL POINTS.

TICKETTAX: The host of Michigan sports talk radio’s top-rated “The Huge Show” isn’t afraid to be FATT—Fans Against the Ticket Tax, that is—although there is no formal proposal to tax patrons of such events.. He’s among the vocal opponents of a rumored 6-percent sales tax on sports and entertainment tickets, along with such critics as a Birmingham lawmaker, professional teams like the Tigers and Pistons, and Meadowbrook Music Festival. For news and sports desks. By Andrew F. Mutavdzija. FOR OAKLAND, MACOMB, LANSING, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

REUTHERFORD: Should UAW President Walter Reuther or ex-President Gerald Ford become one of Michigan’s two statues in the U.S. Capitol, bumping the largely forgotten 19th-century Detroit mayor and U.S. Sen. Zachariah Chandler? A Mount Clemens representative leads the pro-Reuther charge, saying it’s time to memorialize a labor leader in the prestigious National Statutory Hall collection, while a Grand Rapids senator pushes Ford, the only president from Michigan. Legislators who’ve taken sides include ones from Holland, Norton Shores, DeWitt, Dearborn Heights, Burton, Fawn River Township,   Mt. Morris Township, Saugatuck, Battle Creek and Traverse City. By Eric Freedman. FOR MACOMB, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, OAKLAND, GREENVILLE, HOLLAND, LUDINGTON, SOUTH BEND, LANSING, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS & ALL POINTS.

  w/ REUTHERFORDINFOBOX: Fact box about Reuther, Ford and Chandler.

  w/ CHANDLERPHOTO: Photo of the statue of ex-Sen. Zachariah Chandler in the U.S. Capitol. Credit: Office of the Architect of the Capitol.

CNS

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