News

By Mark Bashore, WKAR News

LANSING, MI – As Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero shoots for re-election, many voters consider whether his record on jobs and development is worthy of their vote. Many say the administration's economic agenda is just what the city needs. Others, including challenger Carol Wood, say the Mayor's attention-grabbing style shows there's less there than meets the eye.

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

Lansing, MI – Governor Granholm says if the Legislature won't fund her budget priorities, she will use line-item vetoes to free more money for local governments, nursing homes, and college scholarships. She is trying to put pressure on lawmakers to agree to new revenue as a new budget deadline draws near. The Legislature is debating budget proposals this week. At the same time, people affected by the political gridlock in Lansing are growing frustrated with the uncertainty.

By AP

ALLEN PARK, MI – Lions coach Jim Schwartz says he will not take an upcoming bye into consideration when deciding if quarterback Matthew Stafford and receiver Calvin Johnson will play
at Green Bay.

Schwartz said Monday "we're trying to win" when asked if he might rest Stafford and Johnson against the Packers because Detroit is off the following week.

Stafford did not play in Sunday's loss against Pittsburgh after injuring his right knee the previous week.

By WKAR

East Lansing, MI – Entering her third season as head coach of the Michigan State woman's basketball program Suzy Merchant looks to build off a twenty-two win season a year ago which included a trip to the sweet sixteen.

The Michigan State lady Spartans return 9 players who started at least one game last season, their top six scorers return from a a squad that was an eyelash away from advancing to the elite eight last March.

By AP

LANSING, MI – Gov. Jennifer Granholm has signed legislation requiring that farm animals confined in small cages have enough room to turn around and fully extend their limbs.

The bill signed Monday makes Michigan the second state to ban commonly used cages for egg-laying chickens, the fifth to ban common crates for veal calves and the seventh to ban certain stalls for pregnant pigs.

The cages for hens and stalls for pregnant pigs will go away in about 10 years. The veal crates will be banned in three years.

By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – The state is reporting that since February about 20,000 jobs have been created or retained as a result of federal stimulus money.

The numbers come from a quarterly report the state files with the federal government. Michigan has received nearly $3.7 billion under the Recovery Act.

Leslie Fritz is with the state agency overseeing the stimulus money. She says Michigan's experience is similar to what has happened in other states.

By Scott Pohl, WKAR News

East Lansing, MI – The Wharton Center for Performing Arts at Michigan State University held an open house Sunday to take the wraps off a major improvement project.

There's 24,000 square feet of new space, and another nine thousand square feet of space was renovated.

Wharton Center executive director Mike Brand says the project has taken about three years from its inception to its completion. He says new amenities will be the most notable to patrons.

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – Governor Granholm says she will use her line item veto power to free up money in the state budget to restore proposed cuts to Medicaid, local governments, and college scholarships.

AUDIO:
Governor Granholm says payments to doctors and nursing homes that take Medicaid patients, local police and fire services, and the Michigan Promise scholarship are too crucial to endure the big cuts in budgets approved by the Legislature.

By Rob South, WKAR News

Lansing, MI – The Director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network says a political fund set up by Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero could lead to accusations that the city has a "pay to play" system of awarding contracts. The City Administrative Account has collected about $200,000 since it was created when Bernero took office in 2006.

AUDIO:

By AP

HAZEL PARK, MI – Crews are to begin replacing an overpass destroyed nearly three months ago in a fiery tanker crash on Interstate 75 near Detroit.

Michigan Department of Transportation spokesman Rob Morosi tells The Detroit News workers are to get started this morning.

The $11.8 million project will close one lane of the two north- and southbound service drives and cause intermittent single-lane closures on both directions of I-75.

The state will be reimbursed for 90 percent of the costs through the federal Emergency Relief Fund.

By AP

DETROIT – The Michigan Department of Transportation is seeking public comment on an environmental assessment done as part of an effort to upgrade the Detroit-to-Chicago rail line for high-speed service.

The environmental assessment details proposed upgrades to tracks, trains and amenities.

Among the changes, a new station would be built in Troy to replace a station in Birmingham; a new station would be built in Dearborn combining two existing stations; and the Battle Creek station would be overhauled.

By AP

EAST LANSING, MI – A new air quality lab on wheels will be making the rounds of southeastern Michigan to study the effects of small pollution particles that can kill or sicken people and
livestock.

Michigan State University veterinary professor Jack Harkema directs the work of the 53-foot, $400,000 converted semitrailer called AirCARE2.

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – Governor Granholm is expected to resume signing and vetoing parts of budget bills this week. At the same time, she and the Legislature still have to decide how they will pay for spending plans.

By AP

EAST LANSING, MI – Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio says running back Glenn Winston needs season-ending knee surgery.

Dantonio made the announcement Sunday, a day after the Spartans won 24-14 at Illinois.

Winston's right knee buckled and he had to be helped off the field and carted to the locker room at halftime after running for 69 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.

Winston had 60 carries this season for 204 yards rushing, ranking second on the team, and two scores.

By AP

DETROIT – Ben Roethlisberger had a season-high three touchdowns passes and the Pittsburgh Steelers held on to beat the Detroit Lions 28-20 Sunday, winning two straight for the first time this season.

The Steelers (3-2) went ahead on Rashard Mendenhall's TD run midway through the first quarter and took a 15-point lead in the third on Roethlisberger's 47-yard pass to rookie Mike Wallace.

By AP

AUBURN HILLS, MI – Ben Gordon scored 22 points and Rodney Stuckey added 20 as the new-look Detroit Pistons remained undefeated in the preseason with a 100-91 victory over the Atlanta
Hawks on Sunday night.

The Pistons are now 3-0 even though Charlie Villanueva (hamstring) has yet to play. Richard Hamilton and Will Bynum combined for 26 more points, helping Detroit overcome just eight points from its starting frontcourt.

Marvin Williams led the Hawks (1-1) with 19 points, while Othello Hunter had 14 and rookie Jeff Teague scored 12.

By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – The chairs of state House and Senate Education Committees are working to reach consensus on reform plans. A key difference right now is the urgency of getting something done quickly.

The Senate Education Committee began discussing the House education reform plan last week.

Democratic House Education Committee Chairman Tim Melton said, "I'm thrilled that they're finally moving the ball down the court."

By AP

Champiagn Ill. – CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) Keith Nichol threw for 179 yards in his first start to lead Michigan State to a 24-14 win over Illinois on Saturday.Larry Caper rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown for Michigan State (3-3, 2-1). Glenn Winston ran for 69 yards and a score in the first half before leaving with a knee injury.

Nichol, a sophomore, started in place of Drew Cousins, who entered the game late. Nichol was 13-for-25 with an interception.

By AP

LANSING, MI – State officials say an outbreak of salmonella linked to alfalfa sprouts has sickened 12 people in Michigan, with two cases requiring hospitalization.

The Michigan Departments of Agriculture and Community Health issued a public-health alert Friday warning residents to avoid eating raw alfalfa sprouts until the outbreak's origin can be determined.

By AP

LANSING, MI – Home heating costs this winter are expected to be lower than last year for many Michigan households because of a drop in natural gas prices and the probability of a
warmer winter.

The Michigan Public Service Commission issued its winter energy
appraisal Friday.

It says residential natural gas prices are expected to average
12%-16% lower than last year, although some of those savings won't be realized if several utilities raise their rates.