Current State

Today on Current State: Michigan Treasury reacts to tax collection criticism; preview of Latin IS America festival; and MSU and Lansing come together to cover Monteverdi's "Vespers of 1610." 

  Last Sunday’s Lansing State Journal tore into the state Department of Treasury over its alleged inability to collect delinquent tax revenue.  

This Sunday, the Lansing Symphony Orchestra joins MSU’s University Chorale for a performance of one of the first great “mega works” of classical music, Monteverdi’s “Vespers of 1610.” The performance is in downtown Lansing at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

WKAR’s Melissa Benmark spoke with David Rayl of the MSU College of Music about the concert. He’ll be conducting the orchestra and chorus Sunday.

An artistic exploration of  Latin American and U.S. cultures will take place on MSU's campus as part of the first Latin IS America Festival. Coordinated through the MSU College of Music, events will take place from April 15 to 27 at various campus locations and include concerts, films, art exhibits, plays, and more.

Today on Current State: Michigan's first-ever Veterans Affairs Agency; Neighbors in Action features the Open Door Ministry in Lansing; and the first annual Spartan Sports Journalism Classic event.

Today on Current State: Michigan's first-ever Veterans Affairs Agency; Neighbors in Action features the Open Door Ministry in Lansing; and the first annual Spartan Sports Journalism Classic event.

Data show that Michigan’s nearly 700,000 veterans are not connecting with important services that state and federal agencies offer involving employment, health and education.

To correct the situation, Governor Rick Snyder last month approved $3 million to launch Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. Current State's Mark Bashore speaks with its first director, U.S. Army veteran Jeff Barnes.

For this week’s Neighbors in Action segment we feature the Open Door Ministry, a non-profit day drop-in center where homeless individuals can rest, eat and do laundry.

Dennis Ranville, co-director of Open Door Ministry, talks about the people his organization serves and poverty in downtown Lansing. And Ira Savage, a current volunteer and formerly homeless client at Open Door, joins the conversation.

MSU’s College of Communication Arts & Sciences hosts its inaugural Spartan Sports Journalism Classic on Thursday.

Today on Current State: MSU plant biologist's expertise plays major role in criminal investigation;  lead poisoning down in  Detroit, but so is funding for lead cleanup; and iPad periodical developed by MSU journalism students. 

A Michigan State University plant biology professor is playing a unique role in piecing together a tragic West Michigan crime.  Dr. Frank Telewski is part of an effort to locate a Ludington infant who was abducted and likely killed by her father in 2011.  

Telewski and other professionals have analyzed bits of plant material from the suspect’s shoes in an attempt to find the location of four-month-old’s remains. Using the findings, investigators plan to narrow the search this summer.  

A story from Environmental Health News reports that lead poisoning in children in Detroit has decreased 70 percent since 2004. However, the number of children with exposure to excessive lead levels in Detroit still exceeds the national average, and funding for cleanup is dwindling.

Brian Bienkowski is a senior editor and staff writer at Environmental Health News. He discusses the decrease of lead poisoning and the motor city's environmental future.

MSU Journalism students have produced an online-only magazine called Glyph. As publications like Newsweek move to eliminate print editions, these students are learning what it takes to succeed in online journalism.

A senior-level class has published this new magazine for the iPad. Two editions of Glyph are available at no charge in Apple’s app store.

Today on Current State: musician Chuck Leavell on sustainable communities;  the executive producer of “The Waiting Room” documentary, takes us inside an American public hospital; and Lansing business news with MLive's Angela Wittrock.

The U.S population is expected to increase by 90 million in the next 30 years. According to the book  "Growing a Better America: Smart, Strong, Sustainable,"  now is the time for the Untied State’s to plan for that growth.  The books author,  Chuck Leveall,  is a conservationist, confounder of the Mother Nature Network,  tree farm owner and rock-n- roll star. He’s toured with Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, George Harrison and many others. Leavell  discusses his thoughts on growth models, conservation and music.

The documentary “The Waiting Room” takes viewers inside a public hospital in Oakland, California. The powerful film captures the struggles of both health care workers and patients in a system that is broken and stretched to its limits. It also shows how public hospitals can become more than just places to receive medical care.

MLive's Lansing beat reporter Angela Wittrock joins us every Monday for a rundown of the latest news about the local economy, business and development. Today, she and Current State’s host Mark Bashore talk about published claims that the Michigan Department of Treasury is failing in its efforts to collect billions of dollars in delinquent tax revenue.

Today on Current State: Michigan property values; collegiate fencing championships;  a review of the new book “The Detroit Electric Scheme”; MSU student-parents; and Islam and the West.

A new analysis of state data by Bridge Magazine shows Michigan property values fell a total of $36 billion between 2011 and 2012.  Believe it or not, observers find that number encouraging in some ways.

Bridge reporter Ted Roelofs and City of Lansing Assessor Antonia Kraus break down the numbers.

Adjusting to the demands of college life can be difficult for any student. For many student-mothers, however, balancing the responsibilities of school, a job and being a parent can be overwhelming.

Sara Embaye graduated last year while raising her daughter. She shares her story, and is joined by Lori Strom, coordinator of MSU's Family Resource Center, which provides support to student-parents. This Saturday, the Center is hosting a carnival and resource fair for families at the Breslin Center.