This Week's File

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Sept. 19, 2008—Week 3

To: CNS Editors

From: Vic Rauch, Chris Andrews & Matt Hund

cns.jrn.msu.edu

HUMAN SERVICES AHEAD: On Monday, Sept. 22, your correspondents will interview Ismael Ahmed, the director of the beleaguered Department of Human Services. Topics are likely to include weaknesses in oversight of foster care, adoption and other children’s/protective services; health care for Michigan’s underinsured; demands for food assistance and other services in light of the continuing high unemployment rate; and juvenile justice system

HERE’S YOUR FILE:

SEXOFFENDERS: Law enforcement officials say they don’t know the whereabouts of a significant number of sex offenders, including a convicted rapist from Lapeer County, who’ve failed to report their whereabouts to the state sex offender registry.  Financial constraints have kept police from hunting for absconders. And the public is left in the dark, too, because photos of some offenders are not on the registry Web site.  By Ryan Secord. FOR LAPEER, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

MEDICALMARIJUANA: Voters will decide Nov. 4 whether the state should allow the use of marijuana for the treatment of the effects of specific ailments. If Proposal 1 were to pass, the potential would still exist for federal agents to enforce U.S. prohibitions. By Charles Roltsch: FOR LANSING & ALL POINTS.

STEMCELL: A study of the potential benefits of stem cell research for Michigan residents is spurring debate over a Nov. 4 ballot initiative to repeal the state’s ban on publicly funded embryonic stem cell research. While proponents and opponents feud, a class led by a research specialist at Michigan State has raised questions over the study’s methodology. By John Hudson. FOR LANSING, OAKLAND, MACOMB, ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS & ALL POINTS.

WORKINGWOMEN: First of all, working women want a raise. They’d also like the opportunity to hold a second job if they had the time.  These are among the findings in an online survey conducted by the AFL-CIO. We hear also from an Oakland County senator. By Alison Costello. FOR OAKLAND, ROYAL OAK, LANSING, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

GASPRICEGOUGING: The attorney general’s office has sent letters to the owners of 16 gas stations in the wake of a big jump in prices after Hurricane Ike. Efforts are under way in the Legislature to step up investigatory powers when price-gouging is alleged. A northern Michigan congressmen has proposed making gouging a federal crime. By Nico Rubello. FOR CADILLAC & ALL POINTS.

BIPARTISANSHIP: A Republican lawmaker from Manistee says some of his best friends are Democrats. Is there as much collegiality and bipartisanship in the Legislature as the press portrays and the public believes? And what efforts are underway to promote a spirit of compromise rather than combat? By Brittany Kinstle. FOR LUDINGTON, OAKLAND, ROYAL OAK, LANSING, HOLLAND, TRAVERSE CITY, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS & ALL POINTS.

NORTHEASTTOURISM:  Uncertainty about the weather and worries about high gas prices make predictions speculative, yet the tourism industry in northeastern Michigan is optimistic that the area will draw more visitors this fall than last year. Attractions include a lighthouse festival, an apple farm and “haunted houses.” We talk to officials at the Alpena Convention & Visitors Bureau and Travel Michigan. By Courtney Bowerman. FOR ALPENA, CLARE, GLADWIN, SPORTSMEN & ALL POINTS.

BOVINETB:  The battle to stop the spread of bovine TB appears to be working, according to the Michigan Farm Bureau and Department of Natural Resources officials. Core areas of past infections in the northeast Lower Peninsula remain under surveillance because the risk is still there. By Diane Ivey. FOR ALPENA, GRAYLING, CADILLAC, LUDINGTON, CLARE, MARQUETTE, GREENVILLE, GLADWIN, LANSING, SPORTSMEN & ALL POINTS.

CNS

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