Current State

From Chinese prisoners to peasants in Bangladesh to prisoners of war  in the Balkans, victims of organ trafficking span the globe. Some are enticed by promises of cash payments for their kidneys and other organs, others are forced against their will.  Few of them ever receive proper medical care or the money they were promised.

Credit Emanuele Berry / WKAR-MSURandy Scott, the head of Michigan State University Libraries Comic Art Collection, says he remembers a time when there was an anti-comic book movement.Edit | Remove

Today on Current State: Macomb county first in country with fraud database; new book on Detroit Lions;  Kathryn Gray on Michigan's transportation overhaul; and Earl Nelson Singers come to Lansing.

A memorable edition of 60 minutes from 2011 reported that banks across the nation had used forged signatures to process foreclosure documents.  After that, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette launched an investigation and found that more than 1,000 unauthorized and improperly executed documents were filed with county registers of deeds throughout the state. Those documents were prepared by a company named DocX, which was identified in the 60 Minutes program.

Oakland Press sports writer Paula Pasche speaks about her book 100 Things Lions Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die with WKAR's Peter Whorf. The book celebrates the Detroit Lions' history while explaining players, coaches, and major events throughout the team's evolution. 

Voices across Michigan---from Governor Rick Snyder to thousands of ordinary citizens---are calling for improvements to the state’s transportation infrastructure.  

One Lansing-based policy organization---Transportation for Michigan---is promoting that discussion.

Trans4m, ​as it's called, constitutes a coalition of diverse groups focusing on funding and on projects that often involve non-motorized transportation.  

A notable Lansing-area choir is observing its 50th anniversary this year. The Earl Nelson Singers are celebrating half a century of spirituals with a concert in downtown Lansing on Monday. WKAR’s Melissa Benmark checked in with the director of the group and her husband, who’s a member, for some of their musical memories.

Democratic State Representative Tim Greimel is serving his first full term in the Michigan House. It’s also his first as the leader of his party’s caucus.  

Representative Greimel speaks with Current State host Mark Bashore about the Snyder administration's education project, his party’s struggle for influence in the GOP-majority legislature and likely Democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate and Governor.

Latin IS America is a a celebration of the intersections between Latin American and U.S. culture. The festival started on April 15 and will close on April 27.

This Thursday, the event will feature the MSU Wind Symphony at Wharton Center. WKAR’s Peter Whorf previews the concert with MSU Director of Bands Kevin Sedatole.   

For months, residents of Lansing's Walnut neighborhood and Niowave have a argued over how to improve the appearance of the particle accelerator company's pole barn. Bob Trezise, the executive director of  the Lansing Economic Area Partnership, updates the situation.  

For this week’s Neighbors in Action segment we feature the Greater Lansing African American Health Institute, or GLAAHI. Based out of Lansing’s Letts Community Center, the GLAAHI offers a variety of programs, including smoking cessation groups, food donations and assistance with health care needs. Current State's host Mark Bashore talks with Eldon Liggons, the executive director of the institute, and Dr. Don Williams, the board chairman and an MSU emeritus professor of psychiatry.

Today on Current State: Councilwoman Jessica Yorko on city budget; the drawbacks of dredging; dispute over Ingham county recordkeeping; and Angela Wittrock with Lansing business news.

A minor turf war over public records is taking shape in Ingham County.

While the dispute is being downplayed by its two participants---Clerk Barb Byrum and Chief Circuit Court Judge Janelle Lawless---some observers suggest it’s symptomatic of a larger, ongoing problem:  poor public access to documents.

Current State host Mark Bashore visited with both Barb Byrum and Judge Janelle Lawless to learn more.

The Lansing City Council continued discussions of Mayor Virg Bernero’s proposed 2014 budget yesterday.  This time, the council focused on Bernero’s  spending plan for the city’s fire department.   

This year record low water levels have spurred the Michigan government to spend over $20 million on dredging. Many hope dredging will enable recreational and commercial boating to continue, preventing revenue loss.

MLive's Lansing beat reporter Angela Wittrock joins us every week for a rundown of the latest news about the local economy, business and development. 

Today on Current State: oil spill clean-up on Kalamazoo River continues; “Chasing Ice” documentary; new solar-powered electric charging stations in Lansing; and the Supreme Court hears case on gene patenting.

This week, MSU Department of Geography will host filmmaker Jeff Orlowski for a screening of his documentary “Chasing Ice.” The movie documents the work of National Geographic photographer James Balog. Through both film and time-lapse photography, Balog  chronicled the melting of glacial ice.  Current State’s Scott Pohl speaks with Jeff Orlowski, the director of "Chasing Ice."