This Week's File

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Nov. 21, 2008—Week 12

To: CNS Editors

From: Eric Freedman, Vic Rauch & Matt Hund

cns.jrn.msu.edu

THANKSGIVING WEEK: CNS will file on Tuesday, Nov. 25.

CONGRATULATIONS: CNS alum Derek Wallbank Jr. (now with Congressional Quarterly) and retired CNS editor for the Lansing State Journal Chris Andrews (and now an occasional CNS copy editor) have won an Excellence in Statehouse Reporting (“Cappie”) Award from CapitolBeat for coverage of the state’s employee compensation system.

HERE’S YOUR FILE:

DRILLINGLAND: As Michigan produces a record amount of oil and natural gas from state-owned land, an environmental group advocates tighter policies to protect against contamination from drilling. Environmentalists want DNR, DEQ and the Legislature to permanently protect more land from drilling, as DNR with 2,000 acres of Escanaba State Forest, and to take stronger protective measures. Top producers are Manistee, Calhoun, Otsego, Montmorency and Kalkaska counties. The story also talks about the Mason Tract, West Michigan dunes, Tahquamenon Falls and Wexford County. We also hear from an East Lansing legislator. By Brittany Kinstle. FOR LUDINGTON, MARQUETTE, ALPENA, SOUTH BEND, GRAYLING, TRAVERSE CITY, CADILLAC, PETOSKEY, UP NORTH, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, LANSING, SPORTSMEN & ALL POINTS.

POLICESHORTAGES: Lowell Police Chief James Valentine knows the negative impact of losing a single officer, and statewide Michigan has lost more than 1,700 law enforcement positions since Sept. 11, 2001, including major drops in Pontiac, Grand Rapids and Saginaw. Some municipalities are paying county sheriffs to provide coverage, as Centreville does in St. Joseph County. The Sheriffs’ Association and Association of Chiefs of Police talk about the problem. By Diane Ivey. FOR GREENVILLE, SOUTH BEND, THREE RIVERS, STURGIS, OAKLAND, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

EXECUTIVEORDER: In light of the governor’s promise to cut state spending, Michigan’s public universities and community colleges are nervously waiting to learn whether that means smaller appropriations for higher education. “Absolutely, we’re worried about it,” the Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan says. We hear also from Northwestern Michigan College, Oakland University and Macomb  Community College. By Nico Rubello. FOR LANSING, TRAVERSE CITY, OAKLAND,  MACOMB, ROMEO, ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

TURKEY: You may be munching on Michigan turkeys on Thanksgiving. The state ranks 15th in the nation in production, industry officials in Grand Rapids and Ada say.  Meanwhile, MSU researchers are exploring cost-effective ways to raise stronger and healthier birds. Allegan, Ottawa, Kent and Barry counties lead the state in production. By Charles Roltsch. FOR HOLLAND, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, GREENVILLE, LANSING & ALL POINTS.

MICHIGANFORECLOSURES: The Genesee County sheriff has refused to evict tenants whose landlords have been foreclosed on. A Flushing senator’s proposed two-year moratorium on foreclosures is languishing in committee but will be resurrected in 2009. And a Plainwell company that helps clients avert foreclosures is wary of government action unless it’s implemented properly. We also hear about the state Housing Development Authority efforts to protect delinquent mortgage holders.  By Charles Roltsch. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, OAKLAND,  SOUTH BEND, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

ROADRAGE: Oakland County and Macomb County road commissions warn of dire consequences unless state aid increases. An industry group wants another $1.5 billion, mostly coming from a change in fuel taxes and a 50-precent increase in vehicle registration fees. A Romeo representative opposes a tax hike for roads, but a Huntington Woods senator would vote for it. By John Hudson. FOR MACOMB, ROMEO, OAKLAND, ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

FLUSEASON: Community health departments are bracing for more flu and gastro-intestinal cases this winter. We talk to officials for the districts that cover Alpena, Montmorency, Presque Isle, Gladwin, Clare, Cheboygan, Arenac, Isabella, Osceola and Roscommon counties, as well as the state Community Health Department. Meanwhile, Hope College is still trying to identify the source of  its recent norovirus outbreak. By Courtney Bowerman. FOR ALPENA, CLARE, GLADWIN, UP NORTH, HOLLAND, PETOSKEY, GRAYLING & ALL POINTS.

LUNGCANCERAWARENESS: A 22-year-old Lansing man is among those trying to kick smoking, at least for a day, during the annual Great American Smokeout. But tobacco use remains a major problem, the Department of Community Health says, and a Genesee County health expert expresses concern about exposure to secondhand smoke. By Brittany Kinstle. FOR LANSING, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

HOLIDAYSPENDING: Pinched by a tough economy, retailers are putting up holiday decorations and holding holiday sales early in a bid to increase consumer turnout. We hear from the Michigan Retailers Association, an Alpena Community College professor, merchants in Alpena and Clare, and a Farmington Hills credit adviser. By Courtney Bowerman. FOR ALPENA, CLARE, OAKLAND & ALL POINTS.

VIDEOFORDEAF: The Secretary of State has adopted video translation technology to provide free sign language interpretation services to customers at 10 branch offices, starting in Flint and adding Pontiac, Clinton Township, Grand Rapids, Traverse City, Farmington, Saginaw, Benton Harbor, Detroit and Muskegon, with the hope of expanding it statewide. A user from Flint explains how the system is making things easier for him.  By Diane Ivey. FOR OAKLAND, ROYAL OAK, TRAVERSE CITY, SOUTH BEND, MACOMB, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

NEWBILLS: Legislators are scrambling to futilely introduce doomed-to-die bills in the waning days of their tenure, the vast majority of which will wither in obscurity until the lame-duck session ends. Among the many last-minute proposals are specialty license plates for motorcycles, from a Rochester Hills lawmaker, and a Roseville senator’s proposal to for tougher sentences for sports fans who assault referees. Representatives from Romeo and Warren talk about the practice, as does a political analyst. By John Hudson. FOR ROMEO, MACOMB, OAKLAND, & ALL POINTS.

CNS

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