This Week's File

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Oct. 3, 2008—Week 5

To: CNS Editors

From: Eric Freedman & Vic Rauch

cns.jrn.msu.edu

IN-DEPTHS AHEAD: We will file our first round on in-depth stories on Friday, Oct. 10.

HERE’S YOUR FILE:

STREAMPROJECTS: A new reef in the Detroit River near Fighting Island will protect the eggs of the scarce Great Lakes sturgeon in a stream improvement project coordinated by the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy in Bath, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Environment Canada. Other recent projects have been finished near Petoskey and in Kent County.  A Trout Unlimited representative from Zeeland describes his work on Tyler Creek. We also talk to experts in Hickory Corners and Mason. By Charles Roltsch: FOR MONROE, PETOSKEY, UP NORTH, LUDINGTON, GREENVILLE, HOLLAND, LANSING, SPORTSMEN & ALL POINTS.

SCHOOLPRIVATIZATION: The deputy superintendent of the Southfield schools bemoans his district’s need to contract out cafeterias, busing and custodial services to private firms, a trend that the Midland-based Mackinac Center says is expanding in tough economic times. The Michigan Education Association, however, says privatization weakens relationships between schools and their communities, and it helped avert such moves in the Pontiac, Okemos, Fruitport, Lowell and Waverly districts. Among other districts privatizing are Burr Oak, Monroe-Jefferson, Clinton Township-Clintondale and Imlay City. Legislators from Grand Ledge, Bay City, Grosse Pointe Farms, Troy, Laingsburg and Rochester Hills are among those wanting the state to govern the practice. By John Hudson. FOR OAKLAND, ROYAL OAK, LANSING, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, MACOMB, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, GREENVILLE, LAPEER, STURGIS, THREE TIVERS, SOUTH BEND & ALL POINTS.

GREATLAKESWINDPOWER: A new report says offshore wind turbines on the Great Lakes could generate enough electricity to power the entire Upper Midwest—but don’t hold your breath. Experts say it’s unlikely to happen. More onshore construction is likely, such as Michigan’s first commercial shoreline wind farm in Elkton in the Thumb. We also talk to DTE. By Alison Costello. FOR LUDINGTON, TRAVERSE CITY, HOLLAND, PETOSKEY, MARQUETTE, ALPENA, MONROE, UP NORTH, LEELANAU, SOUTH BEND, LANSING & ALL POINTS.

SURCHARGEELIMINATION: Senate Republicans and the Democratic House and governor are at odds over whether to speed up elimination of the state’s 22 percent business tax surcharge. Grand Rapids-area and Roseville Senate Appropriations Committee members explain their rival positions, while the Traverse City Chamber of Commerce says its members favor a quicker end to the surcharge. The governor wants to know how the lost revenue would be replaced. By Nico Rubello. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, MACOMB, TRAVERSE CITY & ALL POINTS.

GAAMPREVISION: Efforts are underway to give farm markets shelter under the state’s Right to Farm Act. A task force wants revised Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices to protect an increasingly important part of Michigan’s agriculture economy from nuisance suits and local regulations. Michigan State will help write the specific provisions. We hear from state officials and experts at the Oakland and Michigan Farm Bureau. By Brittany Kinstle. FOR OAKLAND, ROYAL OAK, HOLLAND, SOUTH BEND, LUDINGTON, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, MACOMB, ROMEO, LANSING, GREENVILLE & ALL POINTS.

COUGARS: The Department of Natural Resources and a wildlife group are at war over the question of whether cougars live in the state. Yes, insists the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy in Bath, citing sightings, especially in Southwest Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, plus a recent attack reported in Jackson. No, DNR counters, claiming insufficient evidence. A Marquette-based wildlife biologist notes that no cougars have been caught in the thousands of traps set for wolves and coyotes. Michigan United Conservation Clubs says that “until you actually have a cougar alive or dead, it will remain a mystery.” By Courtney Bowerman FOR MARQUETTE, SOUTH BEND, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, LANSING, SPORTSMEN & ALL POINTS.

FEEDEXCHANGE:  Apple, carrot and sugar beet farmers are taking a beating because of the ban on deer baiting. They include a carrot grower from Grant who has spread his surplus on the fields to rot and a sugar beet grower in Lennon who plans to reduce his plantings next year. The Farm Bureau set up the online Michigan Feed Exchange to help them find alternative markets, such as cattle feed, for their unmarketable commodities. But the Michigan Potato and Carrot Industry Commission predicts the service will benefit few growers, and the excess will be dumped on the ground to decompose. Montcalm, Lapeer, Newaygo and Oceana counties are the state’s biggest carrot producers. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, HOLLAND, GREENVILLE, LAPEER, LUDINGTON, LANSING, SPORTSMEN, TRAVERSE CITY & ALL POINTS.

FRUITHARVEST: It’s a tough year for the state’s cherry and table grape growers, with spring frosts to blame for lower production, the National Agricultural Statistics Service says. A Decatur table grape grower worries about further damage from fall frosts, and the Michigan Cherry Committee says its growers have no crop insurance to buffet their losses. However, the 2008 apple crop is expected to be up by 7 percent, and a Southwest Michigan legislator says peaches and blueberries are doing well in her area. By Ryan Secord. FOR SOUTH BEND, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, HOLLAND, GREENVILLE .& ALL POINTS.

CNS

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