News

By AP

LONDON – Shakespeare's Globe, the London theater that stages the Bard's plays in an Elizabethan setting, is taking its show on the road in the U.S.

The company says it will perform the comedy "Love's Labour's Lost" in eight American university cities starting in October.

The Globe is a recreation of the open-air theater where many of Shakespeare's plays were first performed. Many patrons stand in the open air as "groundlings" like their Elizabethan predecessors,and actors are encouraged to interact with the audience.

By AP

DETROIT, MI (AP) – Paul Konerko hit a two-run homer in Chicago's four-run first, Gordon Beckham added a solo home run the next inning and the White Sox coasted to a 5-1 win Sunday night over the Detroit Tigers and avoided a sweep.

Clayton Richard (4-3) allowed only a run on five hits over eight innings to help the White Sox salvage a four-game series that started with them tied atop the AL Central with Detroit. The Tigers lead Chicago by two games and the Minnesota Twins by four.

By Rob Bennett, WKAR

East Lansing, MI – Michigan State Junior Linebacker Greg Jones has been named BIG TEN Preseason Defensive Player of the Year by the media during the annual BIG TEN meetings.

By Gretchen Millich, WKAR News

LANSING, MI – The state Department of Transportation starts road repairs today at the interchange of US-127 and Trowbridge Road.

Beginning today, M-DOT will repair concrete on the ramp from Trowbridge Road to northbound US-127. The ramp will be open to traffic for the first half of the week -but will be closed from Thursday until Saturday, August 1st.

While the ramp is closed, M-DOT will post directions for a detour using the interchange at I-496 and Pennsylvania Avenue to get back to northbound 127.

By WKAR

BELOIT, WI – The Lansing Lugnuts defeated the Beloit Snappers 3-1, on Sunday afternoon at Pohlman Field. Lansing clinched only their second series victory of the second half with the win, setting up the opportunity for a second sweep of the season. The Lugnuts' only series sweep of 2009 occurred in May at Wisconsin. The Lugnuts go for the sweep on Monday at 1:00 p.m.

By AP

LANSING, MI – Members of Michigan's congressional delegation have met with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to discuss road funding options.

Michigan risks losing federal matching money for road construction starting in 2011 because the state may not have enough cash of its own to spend on the projects. That puts more than 130 projects worth more than $700 million in jeopardy from 2011 through 2013.

By AP

DEARBORN, MI – A family spokesman says a 56-year-old man found living in a Detroit-area house with more than 110 live dogs, mostly Chihuahuas, and about 150 dead dogs had severe mental issues.

Lawyer James G. Schmier says Kenneth Lang Jr. had no health insurance and had a mental impairment that stemmed from rubella as a child. He says Lang lived alone in the Dearborn home for years after his parents retired to Florida.

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

EAST LANSING, MI – Governor Granholm uses her weekly radio address to call on the state Senate to boost the number of tax credits her administration can use to attract businesses and jobs.

AUDIO:
The governor says business recruitment efforts could stall without more Michigan Economic Growth Authority -- or MEGA -- tax credits. The MEGA board has nearly reached its limit, and won't be able to award new business tax credits until next year.

By Mark Bashore, WKAR News

EAST LANSING, MI – Trucks spent Friday noisily removing implements and exhibits from the site of the MSU Ag Expo. The annual 3-day agriculture event wrapped Thursday in East Lansing.

Organizers say good weather helped boost attendance by 20% over last year. Laura Probyn is a spokesperson for the event.

"Also, our donations for scholarships to the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources were significantly increased this year as well. We were up almost $1,000 over 2008," she said.

By Kevin Lavery, WKAR News

St. Johns, MI – Supporters of a well-known mid-Michigan attraction are coming to its aid. As the Crosby Mint Farm faces foreclosure, a small group is protesting the lender that controls the deed.

AUDIO:

Jim and Linette Crosby have until August 14 to repay the $300,000 they owe East Lansing-based GreenStone Farm Credit Services. The Crosbys say they're frustrated with GreenStone's refusal to renegotiate, despite the siblings' willingness to work with them.

By AP

DETROIT – Jarrod Washburn pitched seven scoreless innings, and the Seattle Mariners beat the Detroit Tigers 2-1 on Thursday.

Washburn (8-6) allowed two hits and two walks as Seattle won for the eighth time in 10 games. He is 5-1 with a 1.81 ERA in his last seven starts.

Three relievers finished, with David Aardsma pitching a perfect ninth for his 24th save in 26 tries.

By AP

AUBURN HILLS, MI – The Detroit Shock are headed to the White House for a ceremony to honor the defending WNBA champions.

President Barack Obama will host the team Monday at a ceremony on the South Portico of the White House. The team will present a gift to the president.

The Shock (5-9 so far this season) won the 2008 WNBA championship. Last year's victory was their third league title in six years.

By AP

GRAND BLANC, MI – Tiger Woods has decided to play in the Buick Open as he prepares for the final major of the year.

Woods announced Thursday that he would return to the Buick Open, which he has won twice. His long-time endorsement deal with Buick ended early last year, and there were questions whether Woods would play.

Woods did not play the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines earlier this year because he had not returned from knee surgery.

By WKAR

PEORIA, IL – The Peoria Chiefs blanked the Lansing Lugnuts 5-0 last night at O'Brien Field. Having split the first two games of the series, the Lugnuts and Chiefs play the rubber match in their three-game series on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

By AP

LANSING, MI – It's the third of the state's six scheduled unpaid furlough days for most employees. State government will run much like it does on a public holiday.

Among those services that should continue without interruption are Michigan State Police road patrols, prisons, state psychiatric hospitals and emergency human services programs. Unemployment office call centers and problem resolution offices will be open.

Secretary of State and general state offices will be closed.

By AP

LANSING, MI – Unemployment rates rose in all 17 of Michigan's major labor markets in June.

The loss of manufacturing jobs and of seasonal employment in education drove up the unemployment rates announced by the state Thursday. Michigan gained seasonal tourism jobs.

All of Michigan's regional markets had unemployment rates of more than 10% last month, ranging from a low of 10.6% in Ann Arbor to a high of 17.4% in Flint.

Two rural counties, Baraga and Oscoda, each had jobless rates of
more than 20%.

By AP

LANSING, MI – LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Gov. Jennifer Granholm appears to be leaving several options open for resolving Michigan's state budget problems.

Granholm told reporters shortly after meetings with legislative leaders Thursday that trimming the size of various tax exemptions or "loopholes" could be included in a budget-balancing plan. She said reducing a surcharge on the Michigan Business Tax could be considered as part of a deal.

By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – A state senator says the Michigan Economic Development Corporation gives out too many tax credits to businesses without enough oversight.

State Senator Nancy Cassis says the MEDC gave out a year's worth of tax credits in six months. Cassis says she wants more details on how successful the businesses that get the tax credits are at creating jobs.

Cassis says small businesses already in the state don't see the same benefits as some companies that get tax credits to come to Michigan.

By Gretchen Millich

Lansing, MI – Student government leaders from Michigan State University and the University of Michigan stood together Thursday at the state Capitol. They vowed to fight to save the Michigan Promise Scholarship program.

The students say they will spend the rest of the summer lobbying the state legislature. They're concerned about proposed budget cuts that could wipe out Michigan Promise Scholarships and reduce funding for colleges and universities.

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – Governor Granholm met Thursday with legislative leaders to try and resolve disagreements over the next state budget. The governor says one of her priorities is making sure the Michigan Promise college scholarship is not eliminated. It goes to all students who complete two years of college or job training after high school.