This Week's File

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Feb. 22, 2008 – Week 6

To: CNS Editors
From: Eric Freedman & Sheila Schimpf

HUMAN SERVICES INTERVIEW AHEAD: The new director of the troubled Department of Human Services, Ismael Ahmed, will meet your correspondents on Monday. Likely interview topics include problems facing the state’s foster care system, the impact of high unemployment on the demand for social services and inadequate access to Medicaid.

WELCOME MICHIGAN-SPORTSMAN.COM: The Web site www.michigan-sportsman.com, based in DeWitt, is the newest member of CNS. Steve Helinski is the editor and publisher.

ADVISORY TO EDITORS: With rare exception, Capital News Service uses sources in stories only if they are fully identified. However, this week’s story about teen abuse of prescription drugs uses fictitious first names and no last names for two teens who were interviewed and are now in rehab. We have verified their identities but are protecting their anonymity. The story explains that, but you may wish to add an editor’s note. 

HERE’S YOUR FILE:

HORSERACING: The sport of kings is quickly losing ground due to the state’s faltering economy and stiff competition from other forms of legalized gambling. Tribal casinos and private casinos in Detroit take much of the blame, state officials and horse owners say. We hear from a Clare horse owner who takes his standardbreds and thoroughbreds around the country to race and from the state Racing Commissioner’s office. By Tim Wardle. FOR CLARE, GLADWIN, MICHIGANSPORTSMAN, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

SUPERDELEGATES: To most voters, superdelegates may seem the stuff of political lore, relics of a time when political nominations were hammered out by party bosses in smoky union halls—not in the voting booth. But if the Clinton-Obama rivalry makes it to the convention without either candidate the clear favorite, Michigan’s 28 superdelegates—if they’re seated—and their 800 counterparts could determine the party’s nominee. We hear from some of Michigan’s, including Rep. Sander Levin of Southfield and Virgie Rollins of Detroit, and from election experts at Oakland and Grand Valley universities. By Whitney Lloyd. FOR OAKLAND, LANSING, HOLLAND, LUDINGTON, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

WATERFRONTGRANTS: Cleanups of the polluted Black Lagoon along the Detroit River and of the Ludington waterfront are past beneficiaries of Department of Environmental Quality funding under the Clean Michigan Initiative. Other prior recipients include Traverse City, Detroit and Lansing. Now DEQ plans to award another $750,000 to revitalize waterfronts of Michigan communities that haven’t benefited in the past, so a Trenton official says his city will look elsewhere for further waterfront improvement funds. FOR LUDINGTON, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, MONROE, LANSING, TRAVERSE CITY, PETOSKEY, MARQUETTE, SOUTH BEND, HOLLAND, ALPENA, BAD AXE, MACOMB & ALL POINTS. 

FUELOPTIONS. Service station owners should be free to sell alternative fuels, such as E85 and soy diesel, says a Hillsdale County lawmaker. He wants to outlaw contracts with wholesale distributors that would diminish, ban or discourage the sale of alternative fuels. Associated Food and Petroleum Dealers says its members will sell E85, soy diesel and similar products if there’s driver demand. A Department of Environmental Quality expert says consumers should have as wide a choice of fuels as possible. By Diane Ivey. FOR THREE RIVERS, STURGIS, SOUTH BEND, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS & ALL POINTS.

LOBBYING: It seems the only industry prospering in Michigan is the lobbying industry, a government watchdog group says. Money spent lobbying legislators and state officials jumped to $32 million in 2007, a 6 percent increase over the prior year. New to the top 10 spenders is MyWireless.com, which lobbied unsuccessfully against extending the 911 surcharge to cell phones and other wireless communication devices. The top 100 included major tobacco, auto and pharmaceutical companies, as well as public universities led by Wayne State. The Michigan Campaign Finance Network attributes the spending surge largely to term limits and the desire of lobbyists to “educate” waves of new lawmakers. By Tim Wardle. FOR LANSING, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

            w/LOBBYINGINFOBOX: Top ten spenders in 2007. Source: Michigan Campaign Finance Network.

BALLOTINITIATIVES: Crafting ballot initiatives is a father-son activity for Saginaw lawyers Allan and Gregory Schmid, the forces behind two of about 10 prospective ballot initiatives this election year. “I’m getting a little old,” says the elder Schmid, who’s been pioneering ballot initiatives since the 1970s. Their proposals would transform the Legislature from fulltime to part-time and require voter approval of tax hikes. Two marijuana initiatives may confront voters as well—one to legalize medical use of marijuana and the other to allow adults to use it on private property. Groups in Kalamazoo, Eaton Rapids and Ferndale are spearheading some drives. Other possible ballot issues include universal health care, stem cell research and children’s education trusts. By Clay Taylor. FOR LANSING, SOUTH BEND, OAKLAND, ROYAL OAK & ALL POINTS.

GANGS: Gang members ought to get tougher sentences to curb increasing gang violence in Michigan cities, some lawmakers say, including a Saginaw senator who says, “My city is being destroyed by gangs and violence.” A Court of Appeals judge and ex-prosecutor agrees. But a Detroit lawyer from the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan says the proposals are too broad and will send many misguided youths to prison. The Battle Creek police chief doesn’t oppose the idea but warns against relying too heavily on prison for dealing with gangs. By Rob Dale. FOR OAKLAND, MACOMB, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

REALESTATE: A quick scan of the news offers a bleak portrait of Michigan’s housing market: menacing locks on the doors of foreclosed houses, plummeting home values, empty neighborhoods dotted with “for sale” signs. But not everywhere in the state feels the crunch. Realtors say the residential market remains strong in parts of the state, including Traverse City, Southwest Michigan and the Keweenaw Peninsula—the lure of Grand Traverse Bay and hiring by Benton Harbor-based Whirlpool and Houghton-based Michigan Tech help explain why real estate is a local, not national phenomenon. Sales remain fairly steady in Iron Mountain too. By Andrew McGlashen. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, SOUTH BEND, MARQUETTE, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, LEELANAU, PETOSKEY, CADILLAC, LUDINGTON, HOLLAND & ALL POINTS.

ELDERABUSE: Senior citizens are vulnerable to fraud, not only by strangers and telemarketers but especially from trusted relatives and friends who may rip off their bank accounts and steal their assets, experts in Wayne County and St. Joseph County say. As part of the solution, legislation working its way through the House would make it mandatory for employees of banks and other financial institutions to report suspected elder abuse to police. We also hear from Michigan AARP. By Diane Ivey. FOR THREE RIVERS, STURGIS, SOUTH BEND, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, MACOMB, ROMEO, ROYAL OAK, OAKLAND,  GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS & ALL POINTS.

POLICEMEMORIAL: The widow of an Ingham County sheriff’s deputy who died on the job is leading the push to build a $3.5 million memorial to Michigan law enforcement officers who’ve died in the line of duty. A House-passed bill would let taxpayers donate part of next year’s state income tax refunds to a fund that would pay for the memorial. An Onondaga lawmaker is the lead sponsor, and supporters range the political spectrum from a Macomb County Republican to a Marquette Democrat. The Novi Republican who chairs the Senate Finance Committee is sympathetic but said the committee has other priorities, including unemployment. By Whitney Lloyd. FOR LANSING, MACOMB, OAKLAND, ROYAL OAK, MARQUETTE & ALL POINTS.

            w/POLICEMEMORIALPHOTO: Architectural sketch of proposed memorial to police offices who died in the line of duty. Credit: Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Monument Fund.

PRESCRIPTIONABUSE: Seventeen-year-old Joe first shot up with prescription morphine in the storage room of the pizzeria where he worked. He’s now in a rehab program in Charlevoix and talks about easy access to prescription meds. Joe and 19-year-old Josie are examples of how prescription drug abuse is spreading in northern Michigan. A Bellaire legislator, Charlevoix County law enforcement officials and the executive director of Recovery High talk about the extent of the problem and the need for action. By Harry Gillen. FOR PETOSKEY, UP NORTH, TRAVERSE CITY & ALL POINTS.

MACOMB EXECUTIVE: Voters in Macomb County will decide May 6 whether to switch control of their government from a 26-member board of commissioners to a strong county executive. A Macomb Community College political scientist and the county clerk caution that the proposal won’t pass if proponents of the change can’t convince voters that it’s a sound economic and financial decision. County commissioners from Richmond and Clinton Township take opposing positions. By Rob Dale. FOR ROMEO & ALL POINTS.

COUNTYROADFUNDING: A Grand Traverse County road commissioner says a new statewide task force looking into ways to fund road projects is a good step but warns that counties lack enough money to keep roads in good shape. We talk to a Detroit business executive on the task force, as well as representatives of MDOT and the County Road Association. By Harry Gillen. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS & ALL POINTS.

FARMEQUIPMENT: Some lawmakers want to give property and sales tax exemptions to farmers who buy equipment that harvests biomass, like waste wood or corncobs. The proposal would also cover machinery that simultaneously harvests leftover biomass and grains or other crops, although the Allegan Farm Bureau president and a national trade association say no such dual-tasking machinery is yet on the market. For news, agriculture and business desks. The Sierra Club urges caution. Lead sponsors are from Saugatuck Township, Algonac and DeWitt. It’s part of a proliferation of green energy proposals. By Andrew McGlashen. For HOLLAND, SOUTH BEND, LAPEER GREENVILLE, LUDINGTON, LANSING, CADILLAC,  GRAYLING & ALL POINTS.

FOODBANKCREDIT: A Saugatuck Township senator wants the state to give an income tax credit for food donations to food banks and homeless shelters, saying such services are under increasing demand due to Michigan’s high joblessness rate. A Grand Rapids-based food bank group that serves charities in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula talks about the need. By Matt Flint. FOR HOLLAND, GREENVILLE, LUDINGTON, HOLALND, CADILLAC, MARQUETTE, LANSING, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

CNS

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