NewsRoom

More than a dozen Democratic Michigan House members have introduced legislation to repeal the state's "stand your ground" self-defense law after the fatal shooting of Florida teen Trayvon Martin.

The Lansing Symphony Orchestra played its final concert of the season last week at MSU’s Wharton Center.  Music director Timothy Muffitt took a few minutes to speak with WKAR’s Melissa Benmark about the lineup for next season. One of the concerts they talked about was built around the story of composer Antonin Dvorak’s visit to America.

A number of professional sports in America trace their roots to the school playground.  Basketball, baseball, football and even hockey.  But can you make a career out of skipping rope?  As it turns out...yes.

Adrienn Banhegyi began her jump rope career growing up in Hungary.  She won three world titles before auditioning for the acclaimed touring company, “Cirque du Soleil.”  She’ll perform with the company next week in East Lansing, when Cirque du Soleil presents its show “Quidam."

WKAR’s Kevin Lavery asked Banhegyi to explain the show’s storyline.

It’s up to the Michigan Court of Appeals now to determine whether voters will get to approve or reject the state’s emergency manager law.

The Michigan Senate has passed legislation that would end pensions for newly hired public school employees and switch them into a 401 (k)-style retirement plan.
 
The Republican-led Senate on Thursday passed the measure that includes many changes to the state's public school employees' retirement system. The bill now goes to the House.
 
A key provision would end the pension plan for teachers hired after July 1, 2013.
 

The Lansing City Council has a budget wrap-up meeting today, leading up to next Monday’s vote to finalize a budget for the coming fiscal year.

Hovering over the meeting is the recent news that Lansing’s two pension funds need an additional $3 million to meet their commitments to retirees.

WKAR’s Scott Pohl reports that while mayor Virg Benero is pushing to deal with the pension system now, one union leader doesn’t see the need for hasty action.

Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero says he is temporarily dropping a plan to consolidate city police operations in a single location.

Michigan’s unemployment rate fell to 8.3% in April – a drop of two-tenths of a percentage point.

State Representative Roy Schmidt took his seat Wednesday on the Republican side of the state House chamber for the first time since he stunned Democrats by switching parties without warning.