By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – Business groups met in Lansing Tuesday to call for structural reforms from the Legislature and Governor Granholm. They say their list of 20 reforms would help eliminate future embarrassment from state budget failures.

Jim Holcombe is with the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.

"We simply cannot keep going down the path we've set ourselves upon where each year we path together a budget, we cobble something together, and put off the tough choices for another two years," he said.

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – Governor Granholm's released her plan for balancing the state budget for the new fiscal year that begins October 1. Her proposal to lawmakers includes a one-penny tax on bottled water, extending the sales tax to sports and entertainment tickets, and increasing the state tax on cigarettes to $2.25 cents a pack. She also wants to end some business tax breaks.

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

Michigan Public Radio Network – The state Department of Community Health is offering a free one-day supply of potassium iodide pills for people who live near a nuclear power plant. The pills can help reduce the effects of radiation in the event of a nuclear accident.

Janet Olzewski is the director of the department of community health. She says getting the pills to people who face possible exposure to radiation is now part of the state's plans for dealing with a nuclear emergency.

By Mark Bashore, WKAR News

LANSING, MI – Immunization and common sense would help Michigan avoid serious outbreaks of two types of flu this coming season. That was the message from two state agencies Tuesday at a Lansing news conference.

By AP

LANSING, MI – Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Cox says he wants to reduce taxes by $2 billion and cut spending in part by changing public employee benefits and renegotiating vendor contracts.

The Michigan attorney general told reporters Tuesday that revitalizing Michigan will involve "a lot of shared sacrifice."

By AP

EAST LANSING, MI – Gov. Jennifer Granholm has released a plan to cut spending by more than $550 million while raising that much in additional revenue to fill a shortfall in the general fund.

The governor put out written details Tuesday on how she would close a $1.8 billion general fund in the budget year that starts Oct. 1.

Her plan includes trimming some business tax breaks, including the film credits.

By AP

ROCHESTER, MI – Classes at Oakland University remain canceled, but a statement on the suburban Detroit university's Web site said officials will be asking an Oakland County circuit court judge to order striking professors back to work.

WWJ-AM and WJBK-TV say talks between the professors' union and school officials broke off without an agreement early Tuesday morning.

About 18,000 students attend the public four-year school in Rochester.

By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – The director of the state House Fiscal Agency says a statewide health care pool won't solve Michigan's budget problems.

Mitch Beam says if the Legislature passes House Speaker Andy Dillon's plan to pool the health care of all state workers and teachers, the savings will not be reflected in the 2010 budget. And he says it's impossible to know what the actual savings would eventually be without legislation drawn up with specific details.

By WKAR

East Lansing, MI – As Michigan State (1-0) prepares to take on in state rival Central Michigan (0-1), Spartan head coach Mark Dantonio believes it benefits the state of Michigan to have in-state schools face one another for many different reasons.

Central Michigan comes in to this game after a tough loss to Arizona 19-6 while Michigan State enters this match up with a 44-3 victory over Montana State.

By Mark Bashore, WKAR News

LANSING, MI – Lansing public school teachers and students return to class today (Tuesday), only days after attaining an important federal learning standard for the first time.

State Education officials announced last week the district and almost all of its individual schools hit "Adequate Yearly Progress" targets. Don Weatherspoon is a former state education official who's worked closely with Lansing schools. He says to maintain AYP, Lansing teachers need to communicate clearly with their students.