This Week's File

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April 10, 2009 -- Week 11

To: CNS Editors

From: Eric Freedman and Sheila Schimpf

http://cns.jrn.msu.edu

IN-DEPTH AHEAD: Next week will bring our third round of in-depth stories.

HERE'S YOUR FILE:

RACINGRULES: The state Racing Commissioner is cracking the whip on steroid use and excessive whipping at horse races. Expect more drug tests and stricter enforcement against whipping abuses at Michigan’s five tracks in Hazel Park, New Boston, Mount Pleasant, Swartz Creek and Northville. For news and sports desks By Thomas J. Morrisey. FOR MACOMB, LAPEER, OAKLAND, ROYAL OAK, CLARE, GLADWIN, LANSING, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, & ALL POINTS.

HUNTINGBEARS: To resolve conflicts among bear hunters, the Natural Resources Commission has adopted new regulations, including a five-day restriction on hunting dog training, a 10-percent drop in the number of licenses and restrictions on bait sites. DNR says one goal is to stabilize the bear population in the western Upper Peninsula, increase it slightly in eastern U.P. and reduce it slightly in the northern Lower Peninsula. A Marquette hunter says the changes will benefit the sport. For news, outdoors and sports desks. By Gabriel Goodwin. FOR MARQUETTE, TRAVERSE CITY, ALPENA, PETOSKEY, UP NORTH, CADILLAC, GRAYLING, GLADWIN, LUDINGTON, GREENVILLE & ALL POINTS.

FIREFIGHTERCANCER: The House has voted to extend workers’ compensation benefits to fulltime firefighters with occupational respiratory, skin, brain, kidney, blood and lymphatic cancers. The lead sponsor is from Richmond. The House Labor Committee chair, from Marquette, said it’s an important move. Agreeing are the president of the firefighters’ union local in Cadillac and the Sturgis fire chief. A Cascade representative explains his opposition. The dispute pits union groups against business and local government groups. By Tim Weatherhead. FOR MARQUETTE, CADILLAC, MACOMB, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, SOUTH BEND, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

MEAPREPLACEMENT:  Lawmakers from Roseville and Richmond are pushing to replace the Michigan Educational Assessment Program test with cheaper national assessment tests. A Catholic school in Grosse Pointe Farms already uses one such popular test, the Iowa test. The state Education Department says such a change would violate the federal No Child Left Behind law, although the sponsors say they’re willing to have Michigan seek a federal waiver to use a national test. By Danielle Emerson. FOR MACOMB, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

READINGSCORES: While fourth-grade reading scores have risen by double-digits in Florida, Maryland and Delaware, Michigan scores have barely nudged upward in the past 15 years. Some experts credit the federal No Child Left Behind law for improved performance, but critics such as the National Education Association and its Michigan affiliate say the mandated focus on math and reading comes at the expense of other areas, such as social studies, art and physical education. A Northern Michigan University education professor prepares future teachers to work with children for whom English isn’t the first language. By Alison Costello. FOR MARQUETTE, LANSING, MICHIGAN CITIZEN & ALL POINTS.

DRAFTWINES: Right now, a Traverse City winery is the only spot in the state regularly serving draft wine—yup, wine—but some industry experts say others may follow suit. Draft wine is already popular in Europe and some trendy U.S. wine bars, to the surprise of the Michigan Restaurant Association. Winery owners in Baroda and Kalamazoo predict more draft wine will flow in the years ahead. By Joe Vaillancourt. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, PETOSKEY, SOUTH BEND, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, HOLLAND & ALL POINTS.

MOTORCYCLES: Maybe it’s the tough economy and high gas prices, maybe it’s an attempt by aging baby boomers to feel young again, but motorcycle registrations are up in the state. Sales remain strong, a Fremont Harley-Davidson dealer said. Alas, so are fatal accidents, some involving older but “new” riders, according to Secretary of State, Office of Highway Safety Planning and a Lansing-based trooper. Motorcycle deaths have been inching up while other vehicle-related deaths have been plummeting, however.  By Jack Johnston. FOR LUDINGTON, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS & ALL POINTS.

PERJURY: Liar, liar, pants on fire? Or liar, liar, pants in prison? Some lawmakers favor the second option and want tough penalties for witnesses who lie to or mislead legislative panels. “You don’t think anybody ever lies in Lansing?” says one lead sponsor, from Tipton. The Judiciary Committee chair, from East Lansing, says current law is inadequate and the other main sponsor, from Flint, says penalties are needed because legislators are stewards of the public interest. Co-sponsors include representatives from DeWitt, Sterling Heights, West Branch, Farwell, Evart, Pontiac, Hancock and Detroit.  By Eric Freedman. FOR BLISSFIELD, LANSING, OAKLAND, MACOMB, CLARE, GLADWIN, CADILLAC, PETOSKEY, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, MARQUETTE & ALL POINTS.

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