This Week's File

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Sept. 26, 2008—Week 4

To: CNS Editors

From: Eric Freedman & Vic Rauch

cns.jrn.msu.edu

HERE’S YOUR FILE:

FOSTERCARE: Settlement of a landmark children’s rights lawsuit is expected to bring significant changes to Michigan’s foster care system, including a reduction in caseload for overburdened social workers who handle foster children, advocates and the director of the Department of Human Services say. In Northeast Michigan, the burden on caseworkers is lighter, a Alpena-based agency says, but there are difficulties in finding permanent homes for teenagers in foster care. The agency serves 10 counties, including Crawford, Alpena, Alcona, Presque Isle and Montmorency. By Courtney Bowerman. FOR ALPENA, GRAYLING, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

NUNSPRESERVE: A $421,000 pledge by the Monroe County Board of Commissioners clears the way to seek a $2.2 million grant to create a 127-acre preserve on land now owned by an order of nuns. Without a deal involving county and state money, as well as $350,000 raised by a local grassroots organization, Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary may have sold the land for development. Proceeds are expected to support care for the order’s aging sisters. By Alison Costello. FOR MONROE & ALL POINTS.

BEARSEASON: The 2008 black bear season has closed in the Lower Peninsula, but the Upper Peninsula remains open for bear hunters until Oct. 26. We hear from Leelanau and Sault Ste. Marie hunters, as well as a Gaylord-based DNR officer and the president of an East Jordan-based bear hunters group. Most of this year’s violations have been for baiting violations, but other hunters have been cited for not wearing orange clothing, hunting without a license and having too many dogs in a pack, DNR says. For news and outdoors desks. By Charles Roltsch. FOR MARQUETTE,  LEELANAU, CADILLAC, GRAYLING, PETOSKEY, TRAVERSE CITY, GREENVILLE, CLARE, GLADWIN, ALPENA, MICHIGAN SPORTSMEN, LUDINGTON, HOLLAND, UP NORTH  & ALL POINTS.

COBOEXPANSION: Pressure is on in the Legislature and state agencies to help fund an expansion of Cobo Hall. The Detroit Auto Dealers Association and others say the expansion is essential to keep the prestigious North American International Auto Show in Detroit. We also hear from key senators from Traverse City and Detroit, as well as the Treasury Department. By Brittany Kinstle. FOR OAKLAND, ROYAL OAK, MACOMB,  ROMEO, MONROE, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, TRAVERSE CITY & ALL POINTS.

TOURISMADVERTISING: Michigan’s tourism promotion effort will expand beyond the Midwest to a national campaign, a move that the tourism industry and officials hope will provide a shot in the state’s economic arm. We hear from a Cadillac resort operator, a Traverse City lawmaker and state and Traverse City travel experts. By Nico Rubello. FOR CADILLAC, TRAVERSE CITY, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, LANSING, GRAYLING, PETOSKEY, LUDINGTON, UP NORTH, HOLLAND, SOUTH BEND, CLARE, GLADWIN, MARQUETTE, ALPENA & ALL POINTS.

MORECRAP: From your toilet to your gas tank? Not directly, but a new human-waste-to-energy plant planned for Flint could create a Michigan pipeline that lowers the cost of energy. The governor and a senator from Flushing say the project, to be built by a Swedish company in collaboration with Kettering University, will also create jobs. By Ryan Secord. FOR LAPEER, OAKLAND & ALL POINTS.

LOOKINGAHEAD: Two lawmakers from St. Joseph County say the Legislature should resolve key issues in the lame-duck period between Election Day and the end of the year, including eliminating the Michigan Business Tax surcharge. One of them, from Three Rivers, won’t be back in January due to term limits. Meanwhile, a county mental health official is calling for quick action to ensure more health care funding, and Glen Oaks Community College is pushing for approval to offer bachelor’s degrees in nursing. By John Hudson. FOR THREE RIVERS, STURGIS, SOUTH BEND & ALL POINTS.

GREENREMODELING: The Michigan Association of Homebuilders is pushing for a state tax credit for homeowners and building owners who remodel to make their buildings more energy-efficient. The Michigan Environmental Council says tax credits aren’t enough, and it wants an overhaul of state building codes to require energy-efficiency and energy conservation.  By Diane Ivey. FOR LANSING, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS & ALL POINTS. 

CNS

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