This Week's File

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April 17, 2008 – Week 13

To: CNS Editors
From: Eric Freedman, Sheila Schimpf & Vic Rauch

SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION AHEAD: On Monday, April 21, your correspondents will interview Mike Flanagan, the state superintendent of public instruction. Possible interview topics include student performance and No Child Left Behind, curriculum changes, school security, the supply of teachers, school district fiscal pressures, home schooling and education-related legislation.

HERE’S YOUR FILE:

COMPANIESTOWATCH:  There’s a good chance you’ve never heard of baabaaZuzu, but some business groups say it’s a name you ought to know. The Lake Leelanau-based woolen clothing manufacturer is among this year’s Michigan 50 Companies to Watch by business organizations and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. It reclaims wool from used clothing and turns it into women’s outerwear. The owner credits a unique product line and a more aggressive marketing campaign. The owner of Foods for Thought in Honor explains his company’s winning strategies. Other winners from North and West Michigan are in Wakefield, Muskegon Heights, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Traverse City and Portage. For news and business desks. By Andrew McGlashen. FOR LEELANAU, TRAVERSE CITY, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, LUDINGTON, MARQUETTE & ALL POINTS.

FOODPRICES: The rising cost of food is putting the pinch on everything from the local pizzeria to the local ice cream parlor, say experts from the state’s agri-business, corn growers, dairy, grocery and restaurant industries. An Ortonville dairy farmer talks about the struggle to control costs. Meanwhile, corn growers are expanding production, but most goes to feed livestock or make ethanol, not to food. Dairy herds are getting larger too, but fuel, feed and fertilizer expenses are rising fast. By Timothy Wardle. FOR OAKLAND, ROYAL OAK, GRAND RAPIDS, GREENVILLE, HOLLAND, SOUTH BEND, LUDINGTON, LAPEER, LANSING & ALL POINTS.

MIGRANTEDUCATION: Juana Rivera, a third-generation migrant farmworker who divides her family's year between Walkerville and Texas, spends her evenings at Michigan migrant camps, urging hesitant parents to enroll their children in an early education program. Meanwhile, Viviana Ramirez, who grew up picking fruit in Watervliet, is a student at Michigan State, thanks to a scholarship from the College Assistance Migrant Program. We also talk with migrant education experts at the Education and Human Services departments. By Whitney Lloyd. FOR HOLLAND, SOUTH BEND, LANSING, LUDINGTON, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, LAPEER, GREENVILLE, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS & ALL POINTS.

NEWCURRICULUM: The new Michigan Merit Curriculum kicked in only last fall, and already critics are targeting it as too burdensome for local school districts and unresponsive to students' variable interests and abilities. Supporters still insist it will help students, starting with this year's freshmen, better prepare for college and a changing economy. We hear from educators in Kalkaska and West Branch-Rose City, as well as a West Branch legislator who wants to allow different standards for college-bound and not-bound-for-college high schoolers. By Andrew McGlashen. FOR UP NORTH, CLARE, GLADWIN, TRAVERSE CITY & ALL POINTS.

MUSEUMTAXCREDIT: The Michigan Historical Center in Lansing, the state’s premier but cash-strapped historical museum, hopes to lure more donations with a slight wording change in the tax law. Senators from Saugatuck, Sturgis, Kalamazoo and Kentwood say the change would make it clear that contributors are entitled to an income tax credit of up to $100 per individual and up to $200 per couple. Museums across the state are struggling financially, the Michigan Museums Association notes. By Brooke Meier. FOR LANSING, HOLLAND, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, SOUTH BEND, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS & ALL POINTS.

NORTHEASTECONOMY: The economy of the northeast part of the state is hurting badly, local experts say. Alpena lost 100 jobs last year when Thunder Bay Manufacturing closed, but the city manager says the company that bought the foundry plans to invest $15 million and create 150 jobs. A threatened nurses' strike could also hammer Alpena's local economy. Meanwhile, Gladwin has no multimillion dollar savior on the horizon after its biggest employer, Dura Automotive Systems, moves most of its operations to Mexico. But in Beaverton, the thermoforming industry is providing a boost. By Clay Taylor. FOR GLADWIN, ALPENA & ALL POINTS.

TOURISMADS: Michigan’s tourism promotion ads have succeeded in drawing lots of visitors who spend lots of money, while winning prestigious national awards. A new campaign targets potential visitors from Ohio, Ontario, Indiana, Wisconsin and Illinois. Even so, Michigan State University experts predict a decline in tourism this year due to fuel costs and economic problems. By Clay Taylor. FOR HOLLAND, SOUTH BEND, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, MONROE, LUDINGTON, ALPENA, PETOSKEY, MARQUETTE, UP NORTH, CADILLAC, GRAYLING, SPORTSMEN, CLARE, GLADWIN, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS & ALL POINTS.

LOBBYISTS: Should the state slow down the revolving door that lets legislators turn into lobbyists immediately after leaving office? Yes, say a Northville representative, backed by good-government groups that argue a yearlong waiting period would help eliminate the appearance of conflict of interest and bolster the ethical profile of senators and representatives. By Matt Flint. FOR LANSING & ALL POINTS.

VOTINGFORECAST: Michigan may vote for a GOP presidential candidate in November for the first time since 1988, the House minority leader, an Oakland County Republican says. Democratic and Republican party officials in Grand Traverse County, as expected, have opposite takes on which party will carry the state. An East Lansing political consultant explains the state’s Democratic foundation. By Harry Gillen. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, OAKLAND, ROYAL OAK, LANSING & ALL POINTS.

PRIVATIZECORRECTIONS: A Senate-passed bill could lead to the privatization of some Department of Corrections functions and cost 200 state workers their jobs, a union says. A DeWitt senator defends the idea, saying it would be an option that could save money. The Mackinac Center in Midland likes privatization but said it’s necessary to study whether the move would actually be a money-saver. Michigan closed its only privately run prison facility, in Lake County, in 2005. By Rob Dale. FOR MICHIGAN CITIZEN, GREENVILLE, LANSING, CADILLAC, LUDINGTON, LAPEER, MARQUETTE & ALL POINTS.

MICHIGANMAPLE: Maple syrup producers are savoring a sweet season. Shepherd is gearing up for its annual maple syrup festival, and a Traverse City producer says demand is up—but so are costs. The president of the Michigan Maple Syrup Association, from Rose City, calls it a record year. By Diane Ivey. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, GRAYLING, CLARE, GLADWIN & ALL POINTS.

EX-FELONS: Lawmakers are moving on a proposal to ease the burden of those living with a criminal past. It would let some ex-cons petition to have a felony conviction expunged—erased—from their records if they keep their noses clean other than minor offenses such as shoplifting or driving without a license. Advocates say that will help them secure jobs and occupational licenses. An Oakland County judge supports the proposal, and the prosecutor’s office says it handles hundreds of expungement requests each year. Sponsors include representatives from Saginaw, Warren, Detroit and Kalamazoo. By Rob Dale. FOR MICHIGAN CITIZEN, OAKLAND, ROYAL OAK, MACOMB, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, SOUTH BEND & ALL POINTS.

COALPLANTS: A proposal for five new coal-fire power plants has environmental lobbyists on fire. The Department of Environmental Quality is reviewing air-quality permit applications for two of those plants near Midland and Rogers City. Proponents say the new plants will help Michigan meet its growing demand for electricity and create hundreds of jobs, but the Sierra Club and other critics say the state should focus instead on alternative energy. The others would be near Marquette, Manistee and Alma. By Harry Gillen. FOR CADILLAC, ALPENA, LANSING, MARQUETTE, LUDINGTON & ALL POINTS.

YOUNGFARMERS: How does the future look for young farmers in Michigan? Rosy,  despite high fertilizer and fuel costs and other challenges, say young farmers like Eric Stephenson of Three Rivers, and  others from Cedar and Waldron. The state Agriculture Department director and the executive director of East Lansing-based advocacy group Michigan Food and Farming Systems provide an overview. For news and agriculture desks. By Diane Ivey. FOR THREE RIVERS, STURGIS, SOUTH BEND, TRAVERSE CITY, UP NORTH, LANSING, GREENVILLE, LUDINGTON, HOLLAND & ALL POINTS.

CHARTERBOATSEAST: Charter Capt. Ron Dubsky sounds deeply worried, and skyrocketing fuel prices are to blame. His business on Lake Erie has sank 80 percent in two years, and for the first time he's tacking on a fuel surcharge this season. The Romulus-based Michigan Charter Boat Association reports it lost 15 percent of its membership in the past year. An Alpena charter captain shares his gloom, although one from Harrison Township says things are going well for his business. By Eric Freedman. FOR MONROE, ALPENA, MACOMB, MICHIGANSPORTSMEN, OAKLAND, ROYAL OAK, ROMEO, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

CHARTERBOATSWEST&NORTH: Anglers with money are still booking charters, Capt. Glen Buehner of Ludington, says, and other charter operators in Traverse City and Marquette says the season looks pretty good despite high fuel prices and a staggering state economy. In general, charter captains on Lakes Superior and Michigan don’t share the pessimism of many of their counterparts on Lakes Erie and Huron. Eric Freedman. FOR LUDINGTON, TRAVERSE CITY, PETOSKEY,  UP NORTH, LEELANAU, MARQUETTE, LUDINGTON, SOUTH BEND, HOLLAND, MICHIGANSPORTSMEN & ALL POINTS.

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