Radio Made in Michigan

A federal judge in Detroit postponed his ruling on gay marriage in Michigan to wait for the Supreme Court’s decision, which will likely come out in June.  Penny Gardner, president of the Lansing Association for Human Rights, offers her reaction.

Since 2010, Michigan and most other states have been moving toward what are called "Common Core" state standards.  It’s a movement that aims to create consistent learning goals for school kids across the United States.  

Detroit Free Press sportswriter Joe Rexrode joins us every Monday and Friday to discuss what's happening in the sports world -- from Michigan State to local prep athletics to the pro leagues. Today, he breaks down MSU's win over Wisconsin and the Spartans' prospects heading into the Big Ten tournament next week. 

Every budding author dreams of seeing their name in print.  The book publishing world can be a tough nut to crack, however, as many a rejected writer has found for countless decades.  But the explosion of social media and other forms of electronic communication is opening more avenues for writers to self-publish their work.

New York’s Carnegie Hall has launched a new initiative to bring an orchestra of young American musicians to the world stage. The newly-formed National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America finished its audition process this month to form an ensemble of 120-strong. The group will meet in New York in June to rehearse selected repertoire.

The Michigan State hockey team finished in last place this season. Their 12th place finish puts them in the position to play 6th-seeded Alaska in Fairbanks in the first round of the CCHA tournament. There are lots of challenges facing the Spartans, including traveling to Alaska for the second time in two weeks.

Scott Moore, the radio voice of MSU hockey on the Spartan Sports Network, previews the series with the Nanooks.

Today on Current State: The iconic SS Badger's future; gender imbalance in medical research; summer road construction East Lansing; the Safe Patient Care Act; and a preview of the Wharton Center's remaining lineup.

The iconic Michigan steamship, the SS Badger, may lose its permit to dump  spent coal into Lake Michigan.  The Ludington company that owns and operates the Badger, Lake Michigan Carferry, expects to hear soon from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency about its request to continue the practice.  

Hugh McDiarmid, communications director  for the Michigan Environmental Council, discusses the impact of the SS Badger on the environment.

A recent study published in the journal Health Affairs this week shows a decline in life expectancy for American women.  Scientists still aren’t sure of the causes, and the need for more data is further complicated by the long history of gender imbalance in medical research.

A major road construction project is getting underway in East Lansing.  The Michigan Department of Transportation says there will be improvements on Grand River Avenue from Coolidge Road to Park Lake Road, and on Michigan Avenue from the west city limits to Grand River.

There will be road resurfacing, sidewalk and ramp improvements, non-motorized pathways, and traffic signal upgrades. Todd Sneathen, the city of East Lansing’s Director of Public Works, discusses the upcoming road work.