News

By AP

TRAVERSE CITY, MI – Environmental groups want Midwestern governors to push harder for an economy based on clean energy.

The groups are releasing a letter Tuesday to governors representing states that agreed in 2007 to cooperate on reducing carbon pollution.

It asks them to seek legislation requiring utilities to produce at least 25 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2025.

Additionally, it calls for the region to improve conservation of electricity and natural gas.

By AP

DETROIT – The head of a union representing professors at a suburban Detroit university says "good progress" is being made toward resolving a faculty walkout.

The president of the Oakland University chapter of the American Association of University Professors said Monday talks with school administrators made progress over the weekend.

But Joel Russell cautioned that "being close" to a deal doesn't mean a new contract is imminent.

Russell spoke to The Associated Press while marching in Detroit's annual Labor Day parade.

By Gretchen Millich, WKAR News

LANSING, MI – Ingham County Commissioners will hold a public hearing this week on the budget for the health department and other county services.

Commissioner Todd Tennis chairs the human services committee. He says federal stimulus money, along with funding from the state and private foundations, will allow the health department to get through 2010 relatively intact.

But Tennis says in 2011, revenues from property taxes are expected to drop dramatically, while costs continue to rise.

By Kevin Lavery, WKAR News

Lansing, MI – Volunteers in Lansing are forming a new labor advocacy organization that aims to help workers protect themselves from abusive practices on the job.

AUDIO;

Members of the Lansing Workers Center say one of their top priorities is to prevent wage theft -- instances when an employer illegally withholds a worker's pay or benefits. They say they're willing to negotiate with companies, but add they'll also use embarrassment tactics and litigation if necessary.

By AP

LANSING, MI – Librarians opposed to Gov. Jennifer Granholm's plan to dismantle the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries will rally Thursday near the state Capitol in Lansing on the eve of a deadline to kill the measure.

They tell The Grand Rapids Press that dispersing the department's functions among a half-dozen other state agencies makes questionable financial sense while dealing a heavy blow to invaluable public resources.

Grand Rapids Public Library Director Marcia Warner says the moves would create lots of new expenses.

By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – The chairmen of the state Senate and House education committees will meet with the school board this week in Lansing. They are expected to pitch their ideas for major statewide education reform.

The meeting won't produce any decisions or votes on reform, but it will kick off a process to find middle ground on the House and Senate plans.

House Education committee chairman Tim Melton says, "It's just to lay out our visions and see where they stand on some of this stuff."

By AP

AUBURN HILLS, MI – Kara Braxton scored 17 points and fellow reserve Shavonte Zellous added 16 to help the Detroit Shock win their third straight game, beating the Chicago Sky 84-75 Sunday
night.

The win moved the Shock (16-15) over .500 for the first time this season, and put them 1 1/2 games ahead of Chicago, Washington and Connecticut for the third playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Shyra Ely and Candice Dupree finished with 18 each for Chicago, which fell to 15-17.

By AP

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Brandon Inge hit a grand slam in the ninth inning and the Detroit Tigers picked apart Tampa Bay's bullpen and beat the Rays 5-3 Sunday for a three-game sweep.

After Rays starter Wade Davis pitched seven sharp innings in his major league debut, Detroit rallied against four relievers in the ninth. Inge capped the comeback, connecting with one out against Russ Springer (0-3) for his fifth career slam.

Edwin Jackson (12-6) allowed three runs and six hits in eight innings. Brandon Lyon pitched the ninth for his third save.

By WKAR

East Lansing, MI – In front of the second largest opening game crowd in Spartan Stadium history, Michigan State opened up their season in grand fashion with a 44-3 victory over Montana State.

Starting quarterback Kirk Cousins was very productive going 10-17 for 183 yards and 3 touchdowns. Back up for this game Kieth Nichol made his presence felt as well going 9-18 for 135 yards and 2 touchdowns.

By AP

DETROIT, MI – Longtime Detroit Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell says he has inoperable cancer but is in good spirits and appreciates the good wishes he's received from hundreds of fans.

The 91-year-old Baseball Hall of Famer spent 42 of his 55 years as a broadcaster calling Tigers games.

Harwell told The Associated Press on Friday he began feeling bad earlier this summer. After a number of tests, doctors days ago advised him against surgery. He has a tumor near a bile duct.

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – A report released Friday says there is a long-term trend of lower unemployment among African-Americans in Michigan. But it says there is a growing disparity in the earnings of black workers compared to white workers.

The Michigan League for Human Services examined employment and wage data going back to 1979. It found inflation-adjusted wages have declined overall. But the decline was 6% for white workers, while it was almost 25% for black workers.

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – Friday began a four-day weekend for 13,400 state workers. It is the sixth and final unpaid furlough day they've been forced to take this summer to save the state $22 million.

State troopers, prison guards, public health workers, and unemployment claims operators are exempt from the furloughs.

By AP

LANSING, MI – The top Democrat in the Michigan Legislature continues to take heat from labor unions over his proposal to consolidate public employee health benefit plans across the state.

House Speaker Andy Dillon says the health care plan could save taxpayers about $900 million a year once fully implemented, mostly by cutting administrative costs and increasing buying power through pooling. But unions representing public employees consider the proposal an assault on collective bargaining and say it could lead to reduced benefits for workers.

By Rob South, WKAR News

DELTA TWP, MICHIGAN – United States House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer was in Lansing today to talk with labor and union leaders about the national healthcare proposals. The Maryland Democrat toured General Motor's Delta Assembly plant before sitting down with plant officials to discuss what healthcare changes would benefit GM and its workers.

Hoyer says the national healthcare proposals being debated in Washington would make American companies more globally competitive.

By AP

UNDATED – Longtime broadcaster Ernie Harwell, who spent 42 of his 55 years as a broadcaster calling Detroit Tigers games, has been diagnosed with an incurable cancer, several media outlets reported Thursday.

The 91-year-old Harwell, who was in the Tigers' broadcast booth from 1960 until he retired in 2002, remains upbeat after an inoperable tumor was found in the area of the bile duct.

By WKAR

LANSING, MI – The West Michigan Whitecaps beat the Lansing Lugnuts 5-3 last night at Oldsmobile Park. The Lugnuts play their final home game of the 2009 season tonight at 7:05 p. m.

By AP

ORCHARD PARK, NY – Lions rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford closed the pre-season much like he opened it: by showing plenty of promise but little finish.

The same goes for the Buffalo Bills offense, which could certainly use a healthy Terrell Owens to help it find the end zone following a 17-6 loss to Detroit in each team's pre-season finale Thursday night.

By AP

DETROIT – Placido Polanco hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning to give the Detroit Tigers a 4-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday.

The Tigers completed a three-game sweep and increased their lead in the AL Central to five games over the idle Twins.

Ryan Raburn led off the Detroit 10th with a double. Rafael Perez (4-3) then intentionally walked Miguel Cabrera and issued an unintentional free pass to Magglio Ordonez. Polanco followed with a fly ball to center and Raburn scored standing up.

By WKAR

East Lansing, MI – Welcome to the first installment of Predictions of Earle. Sports Talk AM 870 host Earle Robinson previews the upcoming football season for Michigan State as well as their opening game against Montana State. Earle will also give his fearless predictions on who will finish where in the Big Ten Conference.

By Kevin Lavery, WKAR News

Lansing, MI – The Michigan Grocers Association is encouraging its members to take advantage of a state tax credit program that offers an incentive to locate or expand their businesses in underserved communities.

Michigan's grocery tax credit program has been on the books for more than a year, but it's taken time to compile information on where the tax can be best applied.