This Week's File

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Oct. 12, 2007—Week 6

To: CNS Editors

From: Eric Freedman & Vic Rauch

STATE UNIVERSITIES AHEAD: Michigan’s public universities are under heavy financial and, sometimes, political and regulatory pressures. On Monday, Oct. 15, your correspondents will discuss the state of public higher education with Michael Boulus, executive director of the Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan.Possible topics include economic challenges including state appropriations, rising costs, capital/infrastructure needs, endowments; efforts by some legislators to interfere with university policies; campus safety; innovative projects; and the universities’ role in state economic development.

HERE’S YOUR WEEKLY FILE:

NEWDEALART: The State Historic Preservation Office plans a book on Works Progress Administration art across Michigan to honor next year’s 75th anniversary of New Deal programs. It will include sculptures, murals and paintings in public buildings from Clare to East Lansing to Ann Arbor, with scenes that include red-clad loggers in the northern woods, Paul Bunyan and Babe the blue ox, and . By Hayley Outslay. FOR CLARE, LANSING,  OAKLAND, MARQUETTE, GREENVILLE, MACOMB & ALL POINTS.

w/NEWDEALARTINFOBOX: Infobox listing some other WPA art in Greenville, Detroit, Marquette, Grosse Pointe and Lansing. Source: National New Deal Preservation Association.

FOODASSISTANCE: The number of households receiving food assistance has doubled since 2000 because of the state’s worsened economic climate, the Michigan League for Human Services and a Detroit food bank say. The Department of Human Services attributes the spike in participation to active outreach and a change from food stamps to the plastic Bridge Card. By Melanie Trusty. FOR MICHIGAN CITIZEN, OAKLAND, MACOMB, MONROE & ALL POINTS.

w/FOODASSISTANCEINFOBOX: Statistics showing increase in food assistance cases in Wayne, Oakland, Monroe and Macomb counties. Source: Michigan League for Human Services.

CONSOLIDATION: The supervisor of Elk Rapids Township bitterly dislikes a legislative proposal to transfer responsibilities for tax collections, elections and assessments from townships to counties. Critics of the idea argue that townships are more efficient and better connected to local residents. A Southfield representative is pushing the idea as a way to save tax dollars. A top Granholm adviser says townships are overreacting but says that the governor hasn’t taken a formal position on the bill. By Tim Alberta. FOR UP NORTH, PETOSKEY, OAKLAND & ALL POINTS.

PREDATORYLENDING: The sub-prime mortgage crisis isn't solely an urban problem, experts say, and homeowners in small and rural communities across Michigan are also being hurt by predatory lending practices and foreclosures. We hear from a Farwell lawmaker, a Wayne State law professor and state regulators who want tighter controls over the mortgage brokerage industry. By Hayley Outslay. FOR CLARE, GLADWIN, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, LANSING & ALL POINTS.

HOWTOFARM: A young Lapeer County horse farmer recounts her efforts to get into agriculture at a time of rising land, equipment and operational costs. The Michigan Farm Bureau is running programs to attract new blood into one of the state’s top economic drivers. We also talk to an Imlay City farmer and a Lapeer County Education-Technology Center ag-science instructor.  For news & agriculture desks. By Andrew F. Mutavdzija. FOR LAPEER, OAKLAND & ALL POINTS.

TEACHERSTANDARDS: A Western Michigan University education dean is pushing a proposal to create a three-tiered licensing structure for the state’s teachers, a move that would track national standards and, she said, help colleges better train future teachers. It would be up to the state Education Department to implement the change. We also talk to the Michigan Federation of Teachers and Michigan Education Association about the concept. By David Salisbury. FOR HOLLAND, GREENVILLE, LUDINGTON, LANSING, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS. 

INTERNETSHOPPING: A Saline picture frame company has confronted the realities of the Internet shopping age and tackled those realities with a successful Web site. It’s an example of how some Michigan retailers are adapting to a new market model that’s putting increasing pressure on traditional brick-and-mortar merchants. A Western Michigan University marketing professor says more retailers would be smart to expand to online markets. For news & business desks. By Gregory Herbert. FOR MONROE, HOLLAND, GREENVILLE, THREE RIVERS, SOUTH BEND, STURGIS & ALL POINTS.

ILLEGALIMMIGRATION: Legislators from Clinton Township and Plainwell want to cut off state revenue sharing funds to Detroit and any other municipality that declares itself a “sanctuary” or refuge for illegal immigrants. She argues that local governments that defy federal immigration law should be punished in the pocketbook. An ex-legislator who drafted a similar law in Arkansas says Michigan should act. By Crystal L. Burks. FOR OAKLAND, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, LANSING & ALL POINTS.

NCLBFUNDING: Michigan school districts are being left behind by the federal No Child Left Behind law because  Washington is sending the state a lot less money than promised. We talk to superintendents in Buchanan and Suttons Bay and the MEA about their problems with the federal law. A U.S. representative from Holland says states would get the option of opting out of the federal program. By Jeff R. Riley Jr. FOR SOUTH BEND, TRAVERSE CITY, HOLLAND, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS,  LANSING, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, & ALL POINTS.

SCHOOLFUNDINGEQUITY: A Democratic plan would help close the funding gap between wealthy and poor school districts, including rural schools in Northern Michigan, backers say. They include representatives from Alpena and Rudyard. The district with the highest per-capita state aid is in Mackinaw County. By Crystal L. Burks. FOR ALPENA, MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

STUDENTAID: Middle-class students like Jennifer Evans of Elsie have been hard hit by limits on federal need-based financial aid, despite rising costs of college. She dropped out of Michigan State for financial reasons and is working full-time to save enough money to complete her degree. By David Salisbury. FOR LANSING, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

ABORTION: The state debate over controversial partial-birth abortions has reopened, with lawmakers from Fawn River Township and Flushing, saying. Michigan needs its own ban that mirrors a federal prohibition against the rarely used procedure. The Legislature may pass it, only to confront a possible Granholm veto. We also talk to Right-to-Life and Planned Parenthood officials. By Tim Alberta. FOR STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, HOLLAND, SOUTH BEND & ALL POINTS.

CNS

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