Morning eNews

Michigan Nurses Demand Mandatory Staffing Ratios

Kevin Lavery — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 21:53:05 +0000

The Michigan Nurses Association is supporting legislation that would require minimum nurse to patient staffing ratios. Nurses say the measure will save lives and help avoid costly mistakes.

The Safe Patient Care Act would require a one-to-one nurse to patient ratio in critical care and surgical units, one to three for non-trauma units and one to four in pediatrics. Supporters say hospitals often purposely fail to meet adequate staffing levels to save money, instead imposing mandatory overtime on their nurses.

Gov. Snyder Declares Financial Emergency in Detroit

Jake Neher — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 20:54:29 +0000

Governor Rick Snyder is a step closer to appointing an emergency financial manager for Detroit. He announced today that he agrees with a financial review team’s finding that the city faces a financial emergency.

The Detroit City Council now has 10 days to get a financial plan in place and ask the governor to change his mind.

Snyder expects to appoint someone soon after that.

Friday Fish Fry: A Lenten Tradition

Scott Pohl — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 05:00:01 +0000

During the season of Lent, selling fish is big business. It seems that every restaurant with a sign out front promotes fish meals on Fridays, when many Roman Catholics avoid eating meat.

LSO Plays Music Of New World

Melissa Benmark — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 05:00:01 +0000

The Lansing Symphony Orchestra’s MasterWorks 5 concert is Saturday night at Wharton Center. Music of Barber and Dvorak is on the program, as well as a piece called “Ancestral Waters” by Brian Gaber. WKAR’s Melissa Benmark checked in with LSO conductor Timothy Muffitt for a preview of the concert.

Renee Fleming Sings At MSU's Wharton Center

Scott Pohl — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 05:00:01 +0000

Concerts, Grammys, performing all over the world...opera star Renee Fleming has done it all.

MSU Press: Book Details Tense Relationship Between U.S. Military, Tribes

Kevin Lavery — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 05:00:01 +0000

Forty years ago, 200 members of the American Indian Movement took over the town of Wounded Knee, South Dakota. The group was protesting the federal government’s failure to honor various treaties with native tribes. The location was symbolic. In 1890, as many as 300 Lakota Indians were killed at Wounded Knee by the U.S. Army. The standoff lasted 73 days, and claimed three lives.

Under The Radar: Raphael Reviews "Savage Continent"

Melissa Benmark — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 05:00:01 +0000

Book reviewer Lev Raphael has been reading a book about the aftermath of World War II in Europe. It's called Savage Continent by Keith Lowe. He talked about it with WKAR's Melissa Benmark.

Motown Museum Exhibition Features Girl Groups

Scott Pohl — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 05:00:01 +0000

At the iconic Motown Museum in Detroit, a new exhibit honors the "girl groups" of the 1960's. It's called "Girl Groups: The Grit, The Glamour, The Glory".

Included are records, photos and memorabilia from all of the groups you remember…and one you probably never heard of.

The exhibition remembers The Supremes, The Marvelettes, the Vandellas, and a proficient group of background singers known as The Andantes.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo Coming To Wharton Center

Melissa Benmark — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 05:00:01 +0000

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is coming to Wharton Center Wednesday to perform their signature South African Zulu-style choral music. They began singing in competitions in the 1970s, and rose to world-wide fame when they appeared on Paul Simon’s album “Graceland” in 1986. They’ve recorded over 50 albums, and their latest tour has a stop in East Lansing. WKAR’s Melissa Benmark spoke to one of the longest-singing members, Albert Mazibuko, about the music his group performs.

Video Crew Documents MSU’s Global Footprint

Kevin Lavery — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:57:37 +0000

A team of video storytellers from Michigan State University is wrapping up a two-month journey around the world. The crew is documenting the work of MSU researchers in countries such as China, Brazil and Malawi as they tackle challenges ranging from malnutrition and disease to human organ trafficking. The project is called Spartans Will.360.

WKAR’s Kevin Lavery caught up with team leader Jim Peck by phone in Dhaka, Bangladesh a few days ago to learn more.

Travel Trend For Parents To Be: Babymoons

Scott Pohl — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 05:00:01 +0000

Many couples take a trip after their wedding. That trip, of course, is called a honeymoon. But have you ever heard of a trip called a babymoon?

Lansing Hosts First in Series of Energy Forums

Kevin Lavery — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 19:15:21 +0000

The Michigan Public Service Commission is holding a series of public forums around the state to gather input on Michigan’s future energy policy. Lansing was the first stop on that tour.

The public service commission regulates the state’s utilities. It wants to hear the public’s suggestions and concerns about the direction of Michigan’s energy policy. The commission says its main focus areas are renewables, energy efficiency and electric power choice.

Lansing City, Township Open to Talks on Waverly Site

Kevin Lavery — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:23:22 +0000

The Lansing City Council has approved putting the former Waverly golf course up for sale. The focus now moves to how the city and Lansing Township will work together on any future redevelopment.

Museum Exhibit Showcases the Fascination of 3D

Kevin Lavery — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 03:41:32 +0000

Long before movies were invented, people living in the 19^th century were fascinated with a simple device that brought photographs to life. The stereoscope allowed two images to be viewed as one three-dimensional portrait. Photos from that era depicted nearly every aspect of life, from the familiar to the exotic.

Environmentalists Demand Action on MSU Coal Ash

Kevin Lavery — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 21:27:35 +0000

Environmental advocates are calling on Michigan State University to properly dispose of large deposits of coal ash buried for years beneath the campus.

The group Clean Energy Now says tons of residual toxic ash produced by MSU’s coal-fired power plant were found during a 2007 excavation. Some ash was sent to a landfill, but the group asserts more than 90,000 cubic yards of ash were improperly relocated on university property.

Clean Energy Now’s Nick Clark says buried coal ash poses an immediate public health hazard.

MSU Presents Play About Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Scott Pohl — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 05:00:01 +0000

The Michigan State University Department of Theatre will stage eight performances of a new play called "U.P." starting tonight.

The Henry Ford Observes Rosa Parks Centennial

Scott Pohl — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 05:00:01 +0000

Today marks the centennial of the birth of civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks.

Shatner Brings His World To Wharton

Melissa Benmark — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:44:12 +0000

William Shatner brings his one-man show to MSU's Wharton Center on January 24th. It's called "Shatner's World: We Just Live In It." WKAR's Melissa Benmark speaks with William Shatner via phone from California, about the show, what he's done in his 60-year career, and what projects he still hopes to do.

Bernero Says Lansing is Strong but Promises More Cuts

Kevin Lavery — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:24:35 +0000

Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero will deliver his eighth State of the City address Monday night.

Bernero will speak at the historic Grand Trunk Western Railroad train depot, a century-old landmark that’s undergoing a major refurbishment by the Lansing Board of Water and Light. The mayor will tout the progress of the co-generation power plant that’s rising to life nearby in Lansing’s REO Town neighborhood, as well as other successes.

Senator Wants To Allow Concealed Guns In MI Schools

Rick Pluta — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:49:16 +0000

A Republican state lawmaker says he’ll soon make another attempt soon to relax restrictions on concealed guns in schools. That’s after Governor Rick Snyder vetoed a measure last year that would have allowed teachers, parents and visitors to carry concealed weapons in schools.