This Week's File

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Dec. 14, 2007 – Bonus week
To: CNS Editors
From: Eric Freedman

BONUS WEEK BUDGET: If you haven’t run these still-timely stories yet, here is a selection that you may have lacked space for earlier in the semester. Our first regular file of 2008 will be Friday, Jan. 18.

HERE’S YOUR FILE:

REENTRYTREATMENT: A convicted robber and drug user from Detroit has stayed clean for two years since his release from prison, a success story touted by proponents of Michigan’s prisoner reentry program. We talk to experts from Detroit Central City Community Health, Wayne State University and the Corrections Department about reducing recidivism among parolees with mental health and substance abuse problems. By Melanie Trusty. FOR ALL POINTS

SEXOFFENDERS: If you think Michigan’s sex offender registry is a comprehensive list of convicted assailants, you’re wrong because offenders convicted before 1995 aren’t required to register. A Commerce Township lawmaker wants to change that, but the Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency says the proposal wouldn’t be effective policy. The state Corrections director said child sexual assault is an emotional issue despite a low recidivism rate, and that attacks by strangers are rare. By Gregory Herbert. FOR ALL POINTS

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. By Hayley Outslay. FOR 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 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 ALL POINTS

WIRELESSLYCONNECTED: Michigan's public and private campuses are moving toward complete wireless Internet access. Officials at Oakland and Western Michigan universities explain their strategies. Wireless access is already available throughout the Adrian College, Northern Michigan University, Michigan Tech and University of Michigan-Flint campuses. We also give the status of wireless access at Michigan State, Eastern, Central and U-M. By Crystal L. Burks. FOR ALL POINTS

INTERNATIONALSTUDENTS: The journey from India to Michigan was lengthy and sometimes baffling for Kaustav Mukherjee—but he wouldn’t have it any other way. The graduate student from India is one of more than 20,000 international students at Michigan’s 15 public universities this fall. Two campuses, University of Michigan and Michigan State, rank among the nation’s top 25 in international student enrollment, with Wayne State not far behind. By Tim Alberta. FOR ALL POINTS

WINEGRAPEINCREASE: Michigan’s wine grape acreage is expanding, U.S. Agriculture Department statistics show. Industry experts, including ones from Berrien Springs and Traverse City wineries, and the state Grape and Wine Council say farmers are benefiting from—and contributing to—the growing popularity of Michigan wines, wine tourism and the state’s approximately 50 wineries. By Jeff Riley Jr. FOR ALL POINTS

SHIPWRECKS: Technology and the dropping water level of the upper Great Lakes are combining to uncover Michigan’s maritime secrets. Pilots are spotting previously hidden wrecks along the Lake Superior shore, for example, and sophisticated high-tech equipment will make possible a scan next summer of the bottom of Grand Traverse Bay. We talk to experts about recent and potential discoveries in lakes Huron, Michigan and Superior, both inside and beyond the state’s 11 underwater preserves. By Eric Freedman. FOR ALL POINTS

CNS

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