By Rick Pluta, MPRN

LANSING, MI – There will be half as many Department of Natural Resources deer check stations in the field during the upcoming firearm hunting season. DNR officials say they don't have the money to hire the additional people to staff the stations this year.

AUDIO: The DNR is getting less money from the Legislature and from hunting and fishing licenses. Reducing check stations and temporary hiring is expected to save about half a million dollars.

By AP

DETROIT, MI – Southbound lanes of a section of Interstate 75 near Detroit have reopened to traffic for the first time since a fiery crash.

The southbound lanes reopened Sunday afternoon, nearly four days after the crash.

Michigan Department of Transportation spokesman Rob Morosi says the northbound lanes might reopen Monday or Tuesday.

A tanker carrying 13,000 gallons of fuel crashed and exploded Wednesday on a bridge over the freeway, causing the span to collapse.

By AP

LUDINGTON, MI – Great Lakes water levels are rebounding after a decade-long slump.

A couple of years ago, Lake Superior set a record low while Lakes Michigan and Huron nearly did likewise. But they've all recovered to near their long-term average levels, while Lakes Erie and Ontario are above theirs.

Scientists say the biggest reason for the rising waters is cooler weather and greater precipitation the past couple of years.

By AP

KALAMAZOO, MI – Michigan teenagers who have jobs might see a pay raise this week.

Michigan's subminimum wage, a wage paid to employees younger than 18, will jump from $6.55 to $7.25 when the federal minimum wage rises to that rate on Friday.

Administrator Jack Finn of Michigan's Wage & Hour Division says the federal wage increase will not affect Michigan's minimum wage of $7.40 per hour.

By Mark Bashore, WKAR News

EAST LANSING, MI – A challenge for mid-Michigan's livestock producers is controlling erosion and runoff into streams and waterways. Presenters at this week's MSU Ag Expo will share methods that address the issue. Matt Hahn is a pasture and dairy specialist who works at the MSU Biological Station. He says cattle crossings can limit erosion:

By AP

SACRAMENTO, CA – Taj McWilliams had 21 points, 12 rebounds, and a clutch basket in the fourth quarter to help the Detroit Shock beat the Sacramento Monarchs 69-65 on Sunday night.

Deanna Nolan and Shavonte Zellous each added 11 points for the Shock (5-8), who have won three of their last four games.

By WKAR

LANSING, MI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers beat the Lansing Lugnuts on Sunday afternoon at Oldsmobile Park. It was the first loss of the season for the Lugnuts against the Timber Rattlers after four consecutive wins to open the season series. There were five different lead changes in the game, the last seeing Lansing blow a 7-5 lead in the 8th inning. The Lugnuts and Rattlers play the finale of their three-game series tonight at 7:05 p. m.

By AP

NEW YORK – Joba Chamberlain won for the first time in almost a month and the New York Yankees got home runs from Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez in a 2-1 victory over the Detroit
Tigers on Sunday, completing a three-game sweep of the AL Central leaders.

The Yankees celebrated Old-Timers' Day with an excellent pitching performance by one of their youngsters. Chamberlain rebounded from two ineffective starts and New York edged punchless Detroit 2-1 for the second consecutive day.

By Rick Pluta

Lansing, MI – In her weekly radio address, Governor Granholm vows to protect the Michigan Promise scholarship from the budget axe. The governor is engaged in budget talks with the Legislature's Democratic and Republican leaders.

By Kevin Lavery, WKAR News

LANSING, MI – LANSING, MI (WKAR) - The Michigan Civil Rights Commission is starting a statewide tour of several rural communities to hear the concerns of migrant and seasonal farm workers.

AUDIO: