This Week's File

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Feb. 29, 2008 – Week 7

To: CNS Editors
From: Eric Freedman & Sheila Schimpf

NO FILE MARCH 7. There will be no CNS file on Friday, March 7, because of MSU’s spring break.

STATE POLICE DIRECTOR AHEAD: On Monday, March 10, your correspondents will interview Col. Peter Munoz, director of the State Police. Likely interview topics include changing trends in crime across Michigan, the department’s new technological tools, homeland security challenges and combating Internet crime.

CORRECTION: WELCOME SPORTSMENOFMICHIGAN.com: The Web site www.sportsmenofmichigan.com, based in DeWitt and founded by Dave Curtis, is the newest member of CNS.

MICHIGAN JOURNALISM HALL OF FAME: The annual induction ceremony is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, at the Kellogg Center on the MSU campus. The inductees are: the late Roberta (Bobbie) Applegate of the Associated Press and Miami Herald; Keith Crain, chair of Crain Communications; Richard Mayer, formerly of Ward’s Automotive; Norman Sinclair of the Detroit News; and Timothy Skubick, a syndicated political columnist and host of public television’s “Off the Record.” For reservations and other information, contact Linda Hartwig at the School of Journalism, 517-355-1520.

HERE’S YOUR FILE:

COLLEGEFORFOSTERKIDS: Anna Dexter-Cheeks was reared in foster homes in Detroit, Southfield, Allen Park, Dearborn and Garden City. Now the mother of a 4-year-old is a student at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, but will transfer in the fall. To Western, thanks to the Foster Youth and Higher Education Initiative that provides full scholarships to former foster children. The University of Michigan and MSU have other assistance for foster students, but the Department of Human Services says the demand for support far outweighs available resources. By Whitney Lloyd. FOR MICHIGAN CITIZEN, LANSING, SOUTH BEND, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, OAKLAND, ROYAL OAK & ALL POINTS.

JETSKISAFETY: A tragic “jet ski” accident in Rochester Hills killed a teen operator, and after meeting with her mother, an Oakland County legislator says Michigan should raise the minimum age to operate a jet ski or personal watercraft from 14 to 16. The national association of jet ski manufacturers supports the idea. As written, the bill would also apply to motorboats, but the author plans to eliminate that provision—at least for now. Co-sponsors include representatives from Clinton Township, West Branch, North Branch, Warren and Grand Ledge. For news and outdoors pages. By Brooke Meier. FOR OAKLAND, MACOMB, ROMEO, LUDINGTON, HOLLAND, LAPEER, SOUTH BEND, CADILLAC, CLARE, SPORTSMEN, BALDWIN, ALPENA, BAD AXE, MARQUETTE, TRAVERSE CITY, PETOSKEY, UP NORTH, ROYAL OAK, LANSING & ALL POINTS.

TOYSTORY: Worried about the safety of a model car or a Barbie? If so, any toy can now be tested free for lead content under a new Department of Community Health program. It’s in response to recent highly publicized incidents of contaminated toys imported from China. The department already has a record of collaboration with Detroit on lead testing due to the prevalence of lead-based paints in city’s older buildings. Free testing events are planned for Detroit and Marquette on March 8. By Tim Wardle. FOR MICHIGAN CITIZEN, MARQUETTE, MACOMB, ROMEO, OAKLAND, ROYAL OAK & ALL POINTS.

SENIORFOOD: More than 550,000 families in the state receive food assistance, but tens of thousands of eligible senior citizens aren’t, including an estimated 5,000-10,000 in Southwest Michigan alone. Many are unaware they qualify for the federally funded program. The Department of Human Services and social service agencies are working to encourage them to apply and making it easier for them to do so. By Diane Ivey. FOR STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, SOUTH BEND, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

FOSTERPARENTS: The state is suffering a painful shortage of foster parents, the Department of Human Services says. A second major problem facing foster children is aging out—the loss of state support once they turn 18, or 19 if still in high school. The Jackson-based Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange is sponsoring a photo exhibition of children that’s traveling to Grand Rapids, Traverse City, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Southfield and Detroit, among other cities. By Clay Taylor. FOR OAKLAND, ROYAL OAK, LANSING, SOUTH BEND, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

RECREATIONPLAN: Boost the numbers of hunters and anglers in Michigan. Push “green technology” for state parks. Those two new initiatives are part the newly finalized Department of Natural Resources five-year outdoor recreation plan. The plan is necessary for the state to qualify for federal aid for outdoor recreation projects and land acquisition. Some state parks, including Port Crescent, already use solar power and other green technologies. By Andrew McGlashen. FOR MARQUETTE, LAPEER, LUDINGTON, CADILLAC, ALPENA, BAD AXE, GREENVILLE, GLADWIN, GRAYLING, CADILLAC, SPORTSMEN, HOLLAND, SOUTH BEND & ALL POINTS.

FOODBANKSYSTEMS: Food bank donations are up 30-35 percent in West Michigan, and a Traverse City food pantry has seen a 10-percent increase, but there is high demand, including a need for personal care products that can’t be purchased with food assistance funds. Grand Valley State University is working with a Kent County emergency needs task force to examine whether the state’s food bank network needs a delivery service system. By Harry Gillen. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU, HOLLAND, LUDINGTON, GREENVILLE, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, SOUTH BEND, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

HIREMICHIGAN: A Macomb County lawmaker’s proposal to give preference in state tax credits and contracts to employers that hire only Michigan residents has support among House Democrats but is generating opposition from business groups. It would also penalize companies with state tax credits and contracts that employ undocumented immigrants. By Rob Dale. FOR MACOMB, ROMEO, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS & ALL POINTS.

CNS

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