Secretary Of State Terri Lynn Land's Inaugural Address.
Jan. 1, 2003 | WKAR
- Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land's inaugural address.
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Governor Granholm Inaugurated At Ceremony In Lansing
Jan. 2, 2003 | MPR
- There's a set of new faces in the state's top jobs. Governor Jennifer Granholm, Lieutenant Governor John Cherry, Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land and Attorney General Mike Cox all took office at inauguration ceremonies in Lansing.
Granholm's ascent to the Governor's office ends 12 years of political dominance at the Capitol by Governor John Engler and Republicans. As Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta reports, Granholm tried to set an upbeat spirit at inaugural ceremonies that kicked off a tough a year for her fledgling administration.
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Governor Jennifer Granholm Delivers Her Inaugural Address.
Jan. 1, 2003 | WKAR
- Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm delivers her inaugural address.
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Lt. Governor John Cherry Delivers His Inaugural Address.
Jan. 1, 2003 | WKAR
- Michigan Lt. Governor John Cherry delivers his inaugural address.
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Attorney General Mike Cox Delivers His Inaugural Address.
Jan. 1, 2003 | WKAR
- Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox delivers his inaugural address.
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Engler Loses Bid To Expand Number Of Charter Schools
Jan. 1, 2003 | MPR
- The state Senate failed to deliver a charter school expansion bill to Governor Engler. The measure would have authorized 15 new charter academies to open in the city of Detroit.
As Michigan Public Radio's Sarah Hulett reports, the debate on charter schools capped the Legislature's action for the year.
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Beyond The Boys And Girls Club On Lansing's South Side.
Jan. 6, 2003 | WKAR
- Every year in Lansing, thousands of kids stay out of trouble by spending time at the Boys and Girls club after school. But after they've outgrown the club, teenagers have a harder time finding after-school programs. This is especially true on Lansing's south side. But a new group of city, school and police officials is hoping to change that. As Erin Toner reports, it all started with the efforts of one man.
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Legislators Sworn In On A Hopeful Note
Jan. 9, 2003 | MPR
- The Michigan Legislature began its 92nd session on January 9th in ceremonies at the state Capitol. With pomp and ceremony, lawmakers were sworn into office -- many of them for their first terms. The hope was widely expressed that the problems facing Michigan will unite politicians, despite their differences on how to solve them.
Michigan Public Radio's Sarah Hulett reports.
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United Way President Talks About Embezzlement
Jan. 10, 2003 | WKAR
- Bob Berning, President of Capital Area United Way, discusses with Scott Pohl how the organization is dealing with the embezzlement of nearly a million dollars.
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Governor Says Deeper Deficit May Mean Reduced State Payments To Schools.
Jan. 16, 2003 | MPR
- Governor Granholm has announced that a $280,000,000 budget deficit will force the state to reduce payments to many school districts this year unless she and the Legislature come up with a substitute plan. As Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta reports, the Governor is desperately searching for options in a bleak budget environment that offers few alternatives.
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Isle Royale Closed To Visitors, But Wildlife Research Continues
Jan. 20, 2003 | WKAR
- Isle Royale National Park on Lake Superior is closed in the winter. The only people allowed in the park right now are Rolf Peterson and his assistants. For 33 years, Peterson has been studying the wolves that live on the island and their predator-prey interaction with moose. As WKAR's Gretchen Millich reports, some of our most basic knowledge about wild animals was discovered through Peterson's research.
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Capital Area United Way Says Amount Of Stolen Funds Has Doubled.
Jan. 22, 2003 | WKAR
- The case of alleged embezzlement at the Capital Area United Way has gone from bad to worse. United Way board members have now heard that a former employee is suspected of stealing nearly $2,000,000 from the organization over the past seven years. Erin Toner reports.
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Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta Reports On This Past Weekend's Republican State Convention.
Jan. 27, 2003 | MPR
- Michigan’s Republican Party held its winter convention in Grand Rapids this past weekend. Despite some spirited arguments between religious conservatives and delegates who take a more secular view of the Republican Party’s future, the event was largely harmonious. Betsy DeVos was the consensus choice to lead the party past the era when Governor John Engler dominated G.O.P. politics.
As Michigan Public Radio’s Rick Pluta reports, DeVos brings a familiar face – and a lot of money -- to the job of preparing Michigan Republicans for the next election.
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Why Is Michigan Such An Attractive Place To Dump
Out-of-state Trash? WKAR's Gretchen Millich Explains.
Jan. 27, 2003 | WKAR
- Michigan is one of the largest dumping grounds in the country for trash from other states and Canada. In West Michigan, some landfills accept solid waste from Illinois and Indiana. In the Upper Peninsula, landfills receive trash from Wisconsin. And in southeast Michigan, trash is imported from Canada.
State legislators say a 1992 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court forces Michigan to accept the imported garbage. They're urging Congress to give Michigan the authority to regulate solid waste from outside it's borders.
But environmental groups claim there's alot the legislature can do to help solve the problem. We have this report from WKAR's Gretchen Millich.
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Lansing Mayor Delivers Final Address.
Jan. 28, 2003 | WKAR
- Lansing Mayor David Hollister has delivered his final State of the City Address. Hollister will be the head of a new state economic development agency. Erin Toner reports on the address.
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President Bush Visits Grand Rapids To Promote His Policies.
Jan. 30, 2003 | MPR
- President Bush has completed his first presidential visit to the city of Grand Rapids. The trip was made to rally support for the policies he proposed in his State of the Union address. Medicare reform was the topic of the day, but as Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta reports, the President's remarks touched upon much more.
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Prison Hepatitis Epidemic May Cross Over To General Public.
Feb. 3, 2003 | MPR
- There are signs that a burgeoning epidemic inside prisons is crossing over into the general public. According to statistics, many ex-prisoners who re-enter the population are infected with hepatitis C. And some public health advocates are warning that the problem of hepatitis C infection could mirror the HIV crisis of the 1980's, unless prisoner testing programs are improved. Michigan Public Radio's Sarah Hulett reports.
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Governor Granholm Prepares For Her First State Of The State Address.
Feb. 5, 2003 | MPR
- Governor Granholm is ready to deliver her first State of the State address. The Governor is facing a challenging first year in office. A sluggish economy, rising unemployment, and a growing budget deficit will
temper her aspirations. Yet Granholm says she can craft a government she
calls "lean but not mean." People will be watching the speech to see
if she can fulfill that promise, as Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta
reports.
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Governor Granholm Delivers Her First State Of The State Address.
Feb. 6, 2003 | MPR
- In her first State of the State address, Governor Granholm unveiled a plan for Michigan that relies heavily on the private sector to accomplish its goals. It also outlined a task for her spouse, Dan Mulhern. And it set some educational goals that won't cost the state any money as it grapples with a massive budget deficit. Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta reports.
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Governor Proposes Investment "leveraging" In Address
Feb. 6, 2003 | MPR
- In her State of the State address, Governor Granholm said she will use state pension funds to encourage investment firms to put money into developing three key industries in Michigan. But as Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta reports, experts are split on whether the plan is a good idea.
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Governor Granholm Looks For Tax Loopholes.
Feb. 7, 2003 | MPR
- Governor Granholm says her administration is performing a top-to-bottom review of the state's tax structure. Treasury officials are looking for loopholes to close in order to raise badly needed revenues. Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta reports.
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Everett High School Kids Perform In Rare Mariachi Band.
Feb. 11, 2003 | WKAR
- Most high schoolers who play musical instruments are in either band or orchestra. They usually play concert marches or classical overtures. But a group of students at Everett High School in Lansing is travelling all over the city performing concerts of a different kind. They're playing music you probably wouldn't expect to hear out of a high school ensemble -- especially one in the Midwest. Erin Toner has more.
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On Thursday, A Panel Of Michigan State University Faculty Members Participated In A Discussion On The Possibility Of War In Iraq At The MSU Union.
Feb. 14, 2003 | WKAR
- On Thursday, a panel of Michigan State University faculty members participated in a discussion on the possibility of war in Iraq at the MSU Union. The event was sponsored by president Peter McPherson and the Associated Students of MSU. Particpants included: James Madison College professor Mohammed Ayoob, James Madison College dean Sherman Garnett, sociology professor Lawrence Busch, anthropology professor Beth Kangas, and political science professor Barry Stein. The discussion was moderated by Stephen Esquith, chair of MSU's Department of Philosophy.
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Ingham Health Plan Serves As A Model.
Feb. 14, 2003 | WKAR
- Four years years ago, public health officials in Ingham County decided not to wait for the state or federal government to help people with no health insurance. Instead, they started the Ingham Health Plan, to provide the uninsured with basic medical services such as doctor visits, lab tests and common prescription drugs. The plan has worked so well in Ingham County that now other counties in Michigan are starting similar programs, with mixed success. Gretchen Millich reports.
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Kresge Art Museum Hosts Russian Art Exhibit.
Feb. 18, 2003 | WKAR
- The Kresge Art Museum at Michigan State University is hosting an exhibit called "The Brotherhood of Free Culture: Recent Art from St. Petersburg, Russia" through March 16th. Scott Pohl spoke with Museum Director Susan Bandes about the exhibit.
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Peace Demonstrators Come To Lansing.
Feb. 17, 2003 | MPR
- Michigan demonstrators were among those joining in peace marches this past weekend. The largest demonstration in the state brought about three thousand people from across Michigan to march in the freezing cold on the state Capitol in Lansing. Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta was there.
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Local Humane Society Fights Pet Overpopulation With Spay And Neuter Event.
Feb. 24, 2003 | WKAR
- Every year in this country, about 6 million homeless dogs and cats are euthanized. The problem, most agree, is pet overpopulation. And the most effective way to reduce overpopulation is to spay or neuter pets. The Capitol Area Humane Society is working with Lansing-area veterinarians to make it easier and less expensive for pet owners to have their animals spayed or neutered. WKAR's Gretchen Millich talked with Humane Society Spokesperson Stephanie Simmerman.
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UP School District Considers 4-day Week.
Feb. 25, 2003 | MPR
- The Republic-Michigamee School District in the western Upper Peninsula would like to become the state's first school district to try out a four-day week. School officials say that could save the district 20 to 25 percent of its annual budget of around 2 million dollars. They say there could also be other benefits. Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta had this talk with the Republic-Michigamee schools superintendent.
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Michiganians May Feel First Effects Of State Budget Cutting In Their City Budgets.
Mar. 6, 2003 | MPR
- Governor Granholm and Budget Director Mary Lannoye are presenting a budget plan to state lawmakers that will include over one billion dollars in reductions. Taxpayers could see the impact of budget cuts in their K-12 schools, or in rising community college and public university tuitions, but for many people in Michigan, budget rollbacks could be felt first in reductions forced upon local governments as the result of reductions in revenue sharing. Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta reports.
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Governor Granholm Unveils 2004 Budget Plan.
Mar. 7, 2003 | MPR
- Governor Granholm has presented her plan for balancing Michigan's budget in the coming fiscal year. It deals large cuts to popular programs, but doesn't raise taxes. As Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta reports, the Governor hopes to win bipartisan support for an approach she says preaches fiscal austerity.
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Adult Education Expected To Be Hard-hit By Budget Cuts.
Mar. 5, 2003 | MPR
- Governor Granholm is ready to lay out her budget for the fiscal year that begins in October. This year, lawmakers and the Governor have about 2 billion dollars less to work with, compared to what was available last year. The state's school aid budget has also been hit hard by the economic downturn. As Michigan Public Radio's Sarah Hulett reports, adult education is considered to be one of the most vulnerable targets in the K-12 budget.
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Michigan Sees Water Shortages In Some Areas.
Mar. 10, 2003 | MPR
- In Michigan, the idea of not having enough water is remote to most people. But that's beginning to change. Environmentalists are sounding the alarm that water tables are being threatened in some areas. And they're calling on policy makers to rein in the farms and industries that are putting the biggest drain on those resources.
Michigan Public Radio's Sarah Hulett reports.
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Emerald Ash Borer Threatens Trees.
Mar. 11, 2003 | WKAR
- Ash has become an extremely popular tree to plant along streets in the United States. It's being used in many cases as a replacement for the American Elm. Stately Elm trees lined streets for more than a century in many towns. But that changed since the 1930s when Dutch Elm Disease wiped out millions of Elms throughout the country. Now the Elm's replacement, the Ash, is facing a similar fate from a new tree killer - the Emerald Ash Borer. Erin Toner reports.
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Museum Opens Exhibit On High School Basketball.
Mar. 12, 2003 | WKAR
- The Michigan Historical Museum in Lansing has opened a new exhibit called "Hometown Hoops: High School Basketball in Michigan". Scott Pohl spoke with the Museum's Community Relations Director, Chris Dancisak, about the exhibit.
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State Employees Asked For Pay Concessions.
Mar. 13, 2003 | MPR
- Governor Granholm has just opened negotiations with state employee unions. She's looking for wage concessions that will help her save about $16,000,000, which would be used to help balance the budget. But state employees say they're not willing to discuss giving up compensation and benefits unless they see a similar sacrifice from the Legislature, which collected a 39 percent pay increase in its last session. Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta reports.
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Governor Promotes Reading To Children Under Five.
Mar. 17, 2003 | WKAR
- In her State of the State address, Governor Jennifer Granholm announced Project Great Start, a plan to increase learning for young children from birth to age five. At the very least, Granholm wants to make sure that every child under 5 is read to for a half-hour a day. As Gretchen Millich reports, Granholm's proposal is based on research that shows that nurturing young children can have a profound effect on their development.
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New Book Looks At Vintage Mackinac Postcards.
Mar. 18, 2003 | WKAR
- Postcards from the Mackinac area are the focus of a new book by the curator of collections for Mackinac State Historic Parks, Steven Brisson. It's called "Wish You Were Here: an Album of Vintage Mackinac Postcards". Scott Pohl spoke with Brisson and asked him....why postcards?
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East Lansing Film Festival Begins.
Mar. 19, 2003 | WKAR
- The sixth annual East Lansing Film Festival gets underway on March 19th. Scott Pohl spoke with the festival's director, Susan Woods, about one of the highlights this year...a tribute to actor Bruce Campbell. Festival events are held at the Hannah Community Center in East Lansing and at Wells Hall on the Michigan State University campus.
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Governor Granholm Talks About Michigan Response To Impending War With Iraq.
Mar. 19, 2003 | MPR
- Governor Granholm was joined by public safety and health officials at a news conference, where they discussed Michigan's emergency management plans as the nation heads toward war with Iraq. The Governor says Michigan is prepared to deal with any security threat, although there's no evidence of specific menace to the state. Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta reports.
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MSU Not Urging Students Abroad To Return Home Because Of War.
Mar. 31, 2003 | WKAR
- About 400 Michigan State University students are currently studying in other countries. You might think some of them would be trying to come home because of tensions caused by the war in Iraq, but that isn't so, according to Inge Stegnitz, assistant director of the M-S-U Office of Study Abroad. Stegnitz told Scott Pohl that the university is not urging them to return to the U-S at this time.
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City Of East Lansing Faces Budget Cuts.
Apr. 1, 2003 | WKAR
- East Lansing's City Manager presents his $53,000,000 budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year to the city council tonight (4-01-03). As Erin Toner reports, cuts in state funding and higher health care costs are forcing the city to look at layoffs and fee increases to help balance the budget.
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Lansing Man Specializes In Playing Old Wire Recordings.
Apr. 3, 2003 | WKAR
- The way we record and preserve people's voices has evolved quickly over the past century. Before recordable compact discs and MP-3 players, there was the audio cassette, reel-to-reel machine, and so on. One recording medium that didn't gain much of a footing was the wire recording. Wire recorders were sold through the mid-50s.
And while there are still plenty of old wire recordings out there, wire players are not so easy to find. That's why one Lansing man has made opening these doors to the past his business. Erin Toner has more.
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Environmental Writer Talks About Infamous Pollution Incident In Her Home Town.
Apr. 7, 2003 | WKAR
- Doctor Devra Lee Davis, author of the National Book Award bronze medal winning "When Smoke Ran Like Water: Tales of Environmental Deception and the Battle Against Pollution," is visiting mid-Michigan. Scott Pohl spoke with her about the book and her career as a writer and epidemeologist. She says nobody in her hometown talked about the pollution there.
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Governor Granholm Marks 100th Day In Office.
Apr. 9, 2003 | MPR
- Governor Granholm is marking her 100th day in office. During that time, she's remained very popular despite a poor economy, budget troubles and a sharp contrast with her predecessor's style of getting things done. Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta has more.
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Governor Granholm Talks At Length About Her First 100 Days.
Apr. 9, 2003 | MPR
- Governor Granholm is marking her first 100 days in office. She recorded a 30-minute interview with Michgian Public Radio's Rick Pluta on that subject. The interview took place in her office, across the street from the state Capitol.
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Local Writer Talks About First Book.
Apr. 11, 2003 | WKAR
- Simon and Schuster has published the first book by Lansing writer Andrea King Collier. Scott Pohl spoke with her about "Still With Me: A Daughter's Journey of Love and Loss".
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Governor Critical Of Republicans For Budget Changes.
Apr. 11, 2003 | MPR
- Governor Granholm has gone on the attack against Republicans in the Legislature for adding too much spending to her proposed state budget. She made the comments after a meeting with Democratic legislators. Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta reports.
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MSU Dorm Features Spanish-speaking Floor.
Apr. 16, 2003 | WKAR
- In February, Michigan State University trustees voted to split the department of Romance and Classical Languages. The division created a new department devoted exclusively to the Spanish and Portuguese languages. University officials say there's a high demand for the new program. That demand has also resulted in the creation of an entirely Spanish-speaking floor in one of the dorms on the M-S-U campus.
WKAR's Michele Castleman has more.
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Election Workers Look At New Technology.
Apr. 18, 2003 | MPR
- In Lansing, elections officials from across the state attended a "voting fair." It showcased the technology the state will be using soon to comply with a new national voting rights law. Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta has more.
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McPherson To Assist In Reconstruction Of Iraq.
Apr. 18, 2003 | WKAR
- MSU Vice President for University Relations Terry Denbow talks with WKAR's Scott Pohl about the likely appointment of MSU President Peter McPherson to help with the financial rebuilding of Iraq.
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New Book Looks At Michigan Police Officers Who Have Died In The Line Of Duty.
May. 5, 2003 | WKAR
- Former Detroit police chief Isaiah McKinnon has written a new book covering the history of on-duty deaths of police officers in Michigan. Turner Publishing is releasing "Fallen Heroes of Michigan: A Tribute to the Michigan Officers Who Gave Their Lives in the Line of Duty." Scott Pohl asked McKinnon about the inspiration for the book.
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East Lansing Art Festival Returns
May. 16, 2003 | WKAR
- The 40th East Lansing Art Festival is set for Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and 18. Scott Pohl spoke with festival board member Tim Knight.
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Legendary Coach Brings Message To Local Job Fair.
May. 15, 2003 | WKAR
- Herman Boone, the high school football coach memorialized in the film "Remember the Titans", came to Lansing to appear at a Michigan State University sponsored job fair at Lansing Eastern High School. Scott Pohl spoke with him about his message.
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MSU Mechanical Engineering Student Is Also A Successful Musician.
May. 23, 2003 | WKAR
- A Michigan State University student has released a compact disc, but Justin Young is not a music major. Young is a mechanical engineering student who will get his degree in December. He's just 22 years old, but he's been playing at Detroit casinos for several years. His disc is called "Rendezvous." Scott Pohl talked with him about the project.
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Matthew Ferguson Has A Post-mortem On Adams Outdoor Advertising Vs. East Lansing. The Case Was Settled Last Week After 16 Years In Court.
May. 27, 2003 | WKAR
- An epic legal battle between the City of East Lansing and one of the area’s largest billboard companies is over. Adams’ Outdoor Advertising’s challenge to East Lansing’s ban on billboards has been before the courts for 16 years, and has roots going back nearly three decades. Last week, Adams and East Lansing officials announced terms of a settlement in the case. Matthew Ferguson has this post-mortem for Adams versus East Lansing.
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State Cutbacks May Impact Teeth Of Michigan Children
May. 29, 2003 | MPR
- In Granholm's 2004 budget plan, a program being reduced is preventive dental care for low-income adults. The impact could also fall on youngsters.
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Scott Pohl Talks With LeeAnn Stites, Executive Director Of The Principal Shopping District In Downtown Lansing, About The Return Of "Sculpture In The Streets."
May. 30, 2003 | WKAR
- People who visited downtown Lansing last summer will remember "Sculpture in the Streets." 15 lifelike sculptures were placed at various locations.
Sculpture in the Streets returns this summer, starting today.
Scott Pohl talks with LeeAnn Stites, Executive Director of the Principal Shopping District in Downtown Lansing.
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Governor Announces Re-evaluation Of Cities.
Jun. 2, 2003 | MPR
- On Mackinac Island, Governor Granholm announced that Michigan will take a new look at ways to rebuild its cities. The announcement was made at a conference of the state's business and political leaders, where questions about development were the center of many conversations. As Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta reports, these discussions took place in an environment where development is very limited.
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DSO Gives Free Concerts Around The State
Jun. 3, 2003 | WKAR
- The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is launching a ten-city "Goodwill" tour of Michigan. Nine of the ten concerts are free of charge. The tour includes the Wharton Center for the Performing Arts at Michigan State University on June 5th. While tickets are required, they ARE free. Scott Pohl spoke recently with DSO President and Executive Director Emil Kang about the reasons for undertaking such a tour.
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Expansion Of Michigan Bottle Bill Proposed
Jun. 5, 2003 | MPR
- For the first time in years, state lawmakers are considering an expansion of Michigan's bottle return law. Supporters say more people are drinking bottled teas, juices, and water. They say those containers are showing up in parks and along roadways because they're not returnable. But the merchants who have to deal with the empty bottles and cans say their stores shouldn't be the depositories for dirty, sticky, and unsanitary cans and bottles. Michigan Public Radio's Sarah Hulett reports
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New Michigan-based Novel A "genre Bender"
Jun. 6, 2003 | WKAR
- Novelist Katherine Shephard is visiting Michigan to promote her book "Fraternity of Silence," from Seven Crown Press. Much of the action in the novel takes place in Michigan. Scott Pohl spoke with her this week about the book, which she calls a "genre bender".
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MSU Interim President Talks About Tuition Increase.
Jun. 11, 2003 | WKAR
- In response to state budget pressures, The Michigan State University Board of Trustees has approved a much larger than normal tuition increase for the coming academic year. Scott Pohl spoke with MSU Provost and Interim President Lou Anna Simon about the increase.
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Mental Health Parity Debated
Jun. 12, 2003 | WKAR
- Michigan could soon join 35 other states that require what's called "mental health parity" in insurance coverage. Bills before the state Senate would require Blue Cross and private health insurers to offer benefits for mental illness equal to their coverage for other medical treatments. Supporters say the advantages of offering mental health coverage outweigh the additional costs. But business groups say a mental health parity law would force many employers to drop their employees' health coverage. Gretchen Millich reports.
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New Bandshell Opens At Lake Lansing Park
Jun. 20, 2003 | WKAR
- There is a newly-opened bandshell at Lake Lansing Park South. Scott Pohl spoke with Ed Gillespie of Granger Construction Company about the project to build the bandshell. He chairs the Lake Lansing Community Bandshell Committee and is president of the Friends of Ingham County Parks. He says he came up with the idea for a bandshell, along with Ross Ford of Haslett.
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Conference On One-room Schools
Jun. 23, 2003 | WKAR
- People with an interest in one-room schools will gather in Livonia later this week for a conference on the beloved schools of days gone by. A few of the tiny schools are still functioning in Michigan. Scott Pohl recently spoke with Sue Daniel, secretary of the Michigan One-Room Schoolhouse Association and a 25-year volunteer at Livonia's Greenmead Historical Park, where the conference will be held starting Thursday.
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Movie Review: Lastest Best Of The Best Announced
Jun. 27, 2003 | WKAR
- Scott Pohl spoke with Robin Swartz of the Lansing State Journal about the paper's latest edition of "The Best of the Best".
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E.L. Considers Ban On New Rental Homes In The City
Jun. 30, 2003 | WKAR
- A controversial proposal in East Lansing would prohibit people from turning homes they own into rental properties. City officials say East Lansing has enough rentals. They say losing any more single-family homes would hurt the quality of life in neighborhoods. The possible rental ban is raising a lot of questions. The main ones are about property rights.
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Few Decisions In Governor Granholm’s First Six Months In Office Have Been As Controversial As Shelving 34 New Road Projects.
Jul. 2, 2003 | MPR
- Few decisions in Governor Granholm’s first six months in office have been as controversial as shelving 34 new road projects. She says it’s a necessary choice because the state has to find ways to save money. She says the state should concentrate on fixing existing roads and bridges instead.
But critics are saying the state’s “Preserve First” program will contribute to congestion in Michigan’s fastest-growing communities, and short-change their taxpayers.
We have more from Michigan Public Radio’s Rick Pluta.
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Commuter's Diary
Jul. 2, 2003 | MPR
- Michigan Public Radio's Sarah Hulett produced this commuter's diary.
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Election 2003: Melissa Sue Robinson Interviewed About Lansing Mayoral Candidacy.
Jul. 7, 2003 | WKAR
- Matt Ferguson begins a series of six interviews with each of the people running to be Mayor of Lansing. He starts with Melissa Sue Robinson. Robinson is a maintenance administrator for SBC-Ameritech and a transsexual. The fact that Robinson used to be a man has drawn considerable attention from local and state media. But, during the conversation, Robinson told Feguson there is more to her candidacy than her gender.
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Election 2003: Leon Black Is The Second In Our Series Of Interviews Of Lansing Mayoral Candidates.
Jul. 8, 2003 | WKAR
- Leon Black is one of six candidates in Lansing’s August 5 Mayoral primary election. Black is a former realtor and a computer specialist. Matt Ferguson spoke with him recently here at the WKAR studios.
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Election 2003: Gerald Rowley Outlines Reasons He Wants To Be Mayor Of Lansing.
Jul. 9, 2003 | WKAR
- Gerald Rowley is a former mechanic for the Michigan National Guard and a union drywall finisher. He's also one of six candidates in Lansing's August 5 Mayoral primary. The two winners of that contest will compete in the November 4 general election to fill out the remaining two years of former Lansing Mayor David Hollister's term. Matt Ferguson spoke with Rowley about his campaign.
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Election 2003: Mary Ann Prince Makes Another Run For Lansing Mayor.
Jul. 10, 2003 | WKAR
- Lansing Mayoral candidate Mary Ann Prince is a former employee of the state Department of Education and the State Department of Community Health. Prince made an unsuccessful bid for Mayor before, in 1993. Recently, she spoke with WKAR's Matt Ferguson at a South Lansing restaurant.
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Election 2003: State Sentator Virg Bernero Runs For Lansing Mayor
Jul. 11, 2003 | WKAR
- From our series of interviews with the six candidates for Mayor of Lansing, conducted before the August 5, 2003 primary. State Senator Virg Bernero. Matt Ferguson spoke with Bernero at the first term Senator's campaign office on Michigan Avenue.
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Michigan Attorney General Talks About His First Six Months In Office
Jul. 11, 2003 | WKAR
- In January, Mike Cox became the first Republican to be Michigan Attorney General in over 40 years. He replaced Democrat Jennifer Granholm, who had been promoted to Governor in last November's election. Political analyst Bill Ballenger spoke with Cox about child support enforcement, his investigation into the Detroit Mayor's office, and his refelctions on how he is fitting into the job of Attorney General.
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Election 2003: Benavides Emphasizes Experience In Mayoral Race
Jul. 14, 2003 | WKAR
- From our series of interviews with the six candidates for Mayor of Lansing, conducted before the August 5, 2003 primary. City Council President Tony Benavides became Mayor earlier this year when David Hollister left office to join the Granholm adminsitration. Matt Ferguson spoke with Benavides at his office in City Hall.
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MSU Animal Diagnostic Lab Near Completion
Jul. 15, 2003 | WKAR
- A new animal diagnostic laboratory being built in the Great Lakes region will help farmers and veterinarians get quicker answers about what's making their animals sick. The lab will also be one of only a handful in the Midwest certified to work with potentially lethal biological agents and infectious diseases. Erin Toner reports.
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Governor And Legislature Reach Budget Agreement
Jul. 16, 2003 | MPR
- Governor Granholm and the Legislature's Republican leaders have forged past partisan differences to come up with an agreement on Michigan's next budget. The Governor and lawmakers say the spending plan deals with a two billion dollar budget deficit, and does it without raising taxes. Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta reports.
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Gretchen Millich Reports On How Some Cuban Refugees Try To Cope With Life In Michigan.
Jul. 21, 2003 | WKAR
- Every year, thousands of Cuban refugees immigrate to the United States. Many settle in Michigan, where they must adjust to a completely different environment. Not only is it much colder in Michigan, but many Cubans find it hard to connect with people in the midwest. Gretchen Millich reports on one Cuban refugee in Lansing who has recreated a little bit of home.
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Rick Pluta Reports On The New Ballot Drive To Ban Affirmative Action In Michigan's Public Institutions.
Jul. 24, 2003 | MPR
- At the state Capitol Wednesday, a California activist and a group of Republican legislators re-ignited the debate over affirmative action in Michigan. Protestors were there to greet them as they launched a drive to outlaw affirmative action at public institutions, including state universities.
Michigan Public Radio’s Rick Pluta was there.
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Scott Pohl Talks With Author Elizabeth Berg.
Jul. 25, 2003 | WKAR
- Author Elizabeth Berg has hit the New York Times Best-Seller List four times, most notably with "Open House," an Oprah Winfrey Book Club Choice later made into a TV movie.
Her new novel is called "Say When," from Atria Books, and she'll be signing copies Friday at Way Station Books in downtown Lansing.
Berg talks with WKAR's Scott Pohl.
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Retail Tourism Gains Footing In Michigan.
Aug. 1, 2003 | MPR
- Tourism in Michigan is a multi- billion dollar industry. Families come to the state to visit historical sites, cultural institutions and - of course - the lakes. But a relatively new part of the landscape is drawing people in for a single purpose: to shop. Michigan Public Radio's Sarah Hulett reports.
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Great Lakes Folk Festival Future Uncertain
Aug. 7, 2003 | WKAR
- For the fifth summer in a row, the sounds of folk music will be heard in downtown East Lansing. The Great Lakes Folk Festival features three days of concerts, dance parties, food, crafts and demonstrations. But this could be the last year for this event. Organizers say budget cuts to arts organizations and universities are threatening the future of the festival. We have a report from Gretchen Millich.
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Great Lakes Folk Festival Begins
Aug. 8, 2003 | WKAR
- Scott Pohl speaks with Great Lakes Folk Festival organizer Marsha MacDowel on the first day of the event.
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Geologists Map Michigan's Underground Natural Resources.
Aug. 11, 2003 | WKAR
- Pull out a map and you'll find the Great Lakes area holds resources that no other place can claim. The region is rich in lakes and forests and scenic views. But a road map just covers the surface. We know much less about what's under the earth. Now, a team of geologists from the Great Lakes states is working to map the resources under the ground. Erin Toner reports.
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Local Event Offers Rides In B-17 Bomber
Aug. 15, 2003 | WKAR
- 90.5's Scott Pohl speaks with World War Two B-17 pilots Russ Hilding and Bartlett Smith, along with Earnest Lutz, who flew B-26's, about the B-17.
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Land Use Council Releasese Report
Aug. 18, 2003 | MPR
- For six months, former Governor William Milliken and former Attorney General Frank Kelley have led the deliberations of the 26-member Michigan Land Use Leadership Council. The commission is expected to release its final report August 18th on how the state should deal with urban sprawl. Its recommendations could affect the future of growth and development in the state for decades to come. We have more from Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta.
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Governor Talks About Saving Manufacturing Jobs At Governor's Conference.
Aug. 19, 2003 | WKAR
- As Governor Granholm wraps up her trip to the annual National Governor's Conference in Indianapolis, the condition of the nation's electrical grid has been a big topic of conversation. But in an interview with Matt Ferguson, the Governor said she's also trying to spark a discusssion on how to save manufacturing jobs in the U-S.
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Wharton Center Begins Selling Single-event Tickets For Coming Season.
Aug. 22, 2003 | WKAR
- After announcing its 2003-2004 schedule earlier this year and selling various series ticket packages since April, the Wharton Center for the Performing Arts at Michigan State University on July 23 begins selling tickets to individual programs. Scott Pohl spoke with Bob Hoffman of the Wharton Center about the first day of sales.
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United Way Begins First Campaign After Embezzlement Scandal
Aug. 25, 2003 | WKAR
- After nearly reaching its $7 million fundraising goal a year ago, the Capital Area United Way this week is kicking off its next campaign, in the wake of the embezzlement of $2 million by a former staffer. President Bob Berning resigned shortly after the discovery of the missing money. Berning was replaced July first by Michael Brown. It's his job to restore the image of the Capital Area United Way. The organization launchs this year's campaign without stating a fundraising goal. Brown says the hope is to meet or exceed last year's total. In a recent interview, he didn't seem concerned about not having a goal for this campaign.
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Matt Ferguson Talks With Michigan State University Provost And Interim President Lou Anna Simon About Her Time Running M-S-U And About The Challenges That Face President Peter McPherson When He Returns Next Month.
Aug. 27, 2003 | WKAR
- In just about a month, Michigan State University president Peter McPherson will return from a five month leave of absence. McPherson has been in Iraq, trying to restore order to the country’s financial system. Running the university in McPherson’s place is Lou Anna Simon. She’s taken on the role of interim president in addition to her usual job as M.S.U. provost. On Tuesday, Matt Ferguson talked with Simon at her provost’s office in the M.S.U. administration building.
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Governor Returns To Benton Harbor To Assure Residents
Aug. 27, 2003 | MPR
- Governor Granholm spent most of the day on August 26th in Benton Harbor, the southwestern Michigan city that was torn by two nights of rioting in June. The riots were sparked by the death of a motorcyclist who was fleeing police. But people who live in Benton Harbor generally agree that it was a deeper frustration that fueled the violence. That frustration is rooted in poverty and high unemployment. Governor Granholm says she was in Benton Harbor to make sure the city's residents don't think the state has forgotten them. Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta followed the Governor and has this report.
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Former State Health Director Runs Health System In Iraq.
Sep. 2, 2003 | MPR
- Jim Haveman is now returning to Iraq, where he's serving as the nation's top health official under the U-S occupation. The former director of the Michigan Department of Community Health returned home for a few days for his mother's funeral. He travels under heavy security in Iraq, where highly-placed U-S officials are a target. He was accompanied by a bodyguard to East Lansing, where he sat down for this interview with Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta.
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College Savings Programs Trying To Spread The Word.
Sep. 3, 2003 | WKAR
- September is College Savings Month. The Michigan Education Trust and Michigan Education Savings Program are holding a series of events to spread the word that parents should look into saving money for the future education expenses of their children. Scott Pohl spoke recently with Bruce Sheinhaus, Director of the Michigan Education Savings Program, or MESP. He says state higher education budget cuts and resulting tuition increases that meet and even exceed double digits should increase interest in putting money away for the future.
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Local Actor Appearing In Final Lead Role.
Sep. 4, 2003 | WKAR
- Len Kluge has been a fixture of the local theatre scene for a couple of decades as an actor and director. He's a founder of Spotlight Theatre in Grand Ledge and has had a hand in dozens of productions over the years. This weekend, Kluge will make his final appearance in a lead role locally, in "Clarence Darrow: A One Man Play." Kluge told Scott Pohl that he considers himself an outsider whose personality has resulted in some animosity with local theatre groups. That became tiresome after 20 years, plus, he adds jokingly, that Lansing audiences have seen enough of him. He chose "Darrow" for his final lead performance because of his long-time interest in Clarence Darrow, dating back to his freshman year at Central Michigan University.
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One Book, One Community: One Book, One Community Project Resumes In East Lansing And At MSU.
Sep. 5, 2003 | WKAR
- Events throughout the month focus on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. WKAR's Scott Pohl spoke with Judith Taran and Kristan Tetens about the event.
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Representative Rogers Reacts To Bush Speech.
Sep. 8, 2003 | WKAR
- The man who represents the Lansing area in the U.S. House of Representatives says President Bush was on target during his speech to the nation Sunday night. Republican Mike Rogers says the speech shows Bush has the determination to win the war on terror. WKAR's Matt Ferguson talked with Congressman Rogers shortly after the address.
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Mitch Albom Talks With Scott Pohl About His Latest Book
Sep. 9, 2003 | WKAR
- You might have read Mitch Albom's columns in the Detroit Free Press or heard him on WJR Radio. It's also possible you've read his book "Tuesdays with Morrie," his account of getting re-acquainted with a favorite college professor after learning that Morrie Schwartz was dying. Mitch Albom's newest book is a work of fiction which Hyperion Press will publish later this month. Scott Pohl talked to him about it. It's called "The Five People You Meet in Heaven".
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Wednesday At 8, WKAR-TV Will Air A Three Men And A Tenor Concert Taped In Detroit Earlier This Year. Scott Pohl Talked With The Group's Mark Stiles.
Sep. 10, 2003 | WKAR
- Wednesday at 8, WKAR-TV will air a Three Men and a Tenor concert taped in Detroit earlier this year. Scott Pohl talked with the group's Mark Stiles.
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New Book Highlights Food Brought To America By Refugees.
Sep. 15, 2003 | WKAR
- With few exceptions, the food Americans eat has roots in some other place. Immigrants to America have brought with them tacos, stir-frys, falafel, ravioli. A new cookbook by a trio of friends in Lansing highlights some of the latest additions to the American menu and the people that brought them here. It's called A Taste of Freedom: A Culinary Journey with America's Refugees. Matt Ferguson has more.
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Boutique Medicine A Sign Of Trouble?
Sep. 17, 2003 | WKAR
- In today's health care system, many patients complain about waiting weeks to see their doctor. When they do get an appointment, the physician spends only a few minutes with them. Doctors argue their hands are tied. They say because of lower insurance reimbursements, they must see as many patients as they can to meet expenses. Now a handful of doctors in Michigan are offering what's called "boutique care". For a fee, they make house calls and spend generous amounts of time with their patients. As Gretchen Millich reports, critics say "boutique medicine" is a symptom of a troubled health care system.
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Representatives From MSU Attend Meeting On Student Riots In New Hampshire.
Sep. 18, 2003 | WKAR
- Four thousand people did over $12,000 in damage last spring in Durham, New Hampshire, after the University of New Hampshire hockey team lost the college hockey championship game. The University is holding a "Student Summit" this weekend, bringing students and administrators from other schools together to talk about preventing future student riots. Michigan State University is sending a delegation, including Janet Lillie, an assistant Dean of Communication Arts and Sciences and student Lindsey Prudhomme. Lillie has worked on riot-related issues in East Lansing for two years; Prudhomme was arrested in last spring's riot and talked about her experiences to incoming freshmen during orientation this summer. Lillie says part of the problem is the annual turnover in the student population.
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Michigan at Work: Michigan At Work Series Begins With A Look At An Undertaker.
Sep. 22, 2003 | MPR
- In this first installment of the Michigan at Work series, produced by Michigan Public Radio's Sarah Hulett, we spend a day with a young man who's part of a profession in which ritual and tact are as important as a dark, pressed suit. And, one day, you may come under his very attentive care. Meet James Childs, undertaker.
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Michigan at Work: In Part Three Of Michigan Public Radio's Michigan At Work Series, We Hear From A Truck Stop Waitress.
Oct. 6, 2003 | WKAR
- West of Lansing sits a truck stop that draws road-weary and hungry truckers. They're from California and Quebec and everywhere in between. They come to shower and get a hot meal on their cross-country treks. And many of the truckers who come into Don's Windmill Truck Stop also come to talk and flirt with the waitresses who work there. In this third installment of Michigan Public Radio's Michigan at Work series, we spend a shift with one of the women who keep the coffee filled and the conversation lively.
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Michigan at Work: Farmer Bob Zeeb Talks About His Farm For Part Two Of Michigan At Work.
Sep. 29, 2003 | MPR
- Just north of Lansing, Bob Zeeb farms the same soil that his father and grandfather did. But apartment buildings and chain stores are creeping closer to his farm. Zeeb is hoping to preserve his family's land for his children and grandchildren to enjoy. In this second installment of Michigan Public Radio's Michigan at Work series, produced by Sarah Hulett, Bob Zeeb takes us on a tour of his farm.
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Michigan at Work: Fisherman Talks About His Vocation For The Final Episode Of Michigan At Work.
Oct. 13, 2003 | WKAR
- In an era of highly commercialized fishing operations, Bill Carlson still practices the craft in much the same way his father and grandfather did. The Carlsons have been fishing in Lake Michigan since the 1800s.
In this final installment of Michigan Public Radio's Michigan at Work series, we spend some time on the docks in northern Michigan with a fourth-generation fisherman.
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Medical Interests In Michigan Ask For Reform Of Medicaid
Sep. 24, 2003 | MPR
- Doctors and hospitals have called on Governor Granholm and the Legislature to embark on a comprehensive overhaul of Michigan's Medicaid system. They say more money needs to go toward health care for the poor and the chronically under-funded Medicaid program. Otherwise, they say, more hospitals could be driven into bankruptcy, disrupting health care for everyone. As Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta reports, their pleas come as the state is facing a fiscal crisis of its own.
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Lansing Symphony Names New Executive Director.
Sep. 24, 2003 | WKAR
- The Greater Lansing Symphony Orchestra begins a new season with a couple of major anniversaries and the arrival of a new Executive Director. Ernie Toplis arrives as the Symphony celebrates its 75th season. Music Director and Conductor Gustav Meier is leading the Orchestra for a 25th season. Toplis says he was looking to return to the midwest from Colorado, with an orchestra the size of Lansing's, when the Executive Director's job became available.
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Timber Industry And Environmentalists Battle Over Cutting Down Trees In State Forests.
Sep. 25, 2003 | WKAR
- Environmentalists in Michigan are hoping to stop a move in the state legislature to allow the timber industry to step up - maybe even double - the number of trees they cut down in state forests. Loggers say the state's forests could support the increase and it would be an economic boost for northern Michigan. But environmental groups argue that an escalation of logging could be dangerous for the future of the forests. Gretchen Millich prepared this report.
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MSU President Peter McPherson Returns From Iraq.
Sep. 26, 2003 | WKAR
- Michigan State University President Peter McPherson is back in the United States after working to revamp Iraq's financial system since April. The university's Board of Trustees granted him an unpaid leave of absence to go to Iraq. Provost Lou Anna Simon has served as Interim President during his absence. McPherson spoke with Scott Pohl from Washington, DC.
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Detroit Teachers Oppose Charter School Expansion.
Sep. 26, 2003 | MPR
- At the state Capitol on September 25th, about three thousand Detroit teachers rallied against a plan that would've doubled the number of charter schools in Michigan. The teachers let the Legislature and Governor Granholm know they're opposed to opening any more charter schools anywhere in the state, but especially in the city of Detroit. A deal to do that appears to have melted down, souring an already rocky relationship between the Democratic Governor and the Legislature's Republican leadership. We have reports from Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta and Sarah Hulett.
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Author Looks For Reason Behind Decline Of U.S. Automakers.
Oct. 7, 2003 | WKAR
- Domestic automakers have made a series of mis-steps in recent years, opening the door to foreign companies like Toyota to make inroads in the marketplace. New York Times reporter and Michigan State University alumnus Micheline "Mickey" Maynard is the author of "The End of Detroit: How the Big Three Lost Their Grip on the American Car Market". She says after the September 11th terrorist attacks, people responded in record numbers to zero-percent financing offered by the carmakers, but imports eventually GAINED market share. She wanted to find out why that was.
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Lansing Town Hall Lecture Series Set To Begin.
Oct. 9, 2003 | WKAR
- On October 13th, the Lansing Town Hall Celebrity Lecture Series begins its 50th season. The organization typically brings four lecturers in to speak to a lunchtime crowd, usually on a Monday. Larry Hagman, the notorious J.R. Ewing from the hit series "Dallas," kicks things off. Scott Pohl spoke with Dawn Gribben, who has attended the lectures with friends for many years and who now serves as President of the series. When she first started going to the lectures, it was after having spent time on a waiting list. While still popular, there isn't a waiting list any more.
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Election 2003: Lansing Voters Consider School Bonding Proposal.
Oct. 10, 2003 | WKAR
- In November 2003, voters in the Lansing School District will decide if they're willing to pay more taxes to support school improvements. The district has a 75-million-dollar school bond request on the November 4th election ballot. If approved, about a third of the money would pay for a brand-new Pattengill Middle School on the city's East side. Erin Toner has this report.
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Actor And Comedian Tommy Davison Visits Lansing.
Oct. 10, 2003 | WKAR
- Comedian, actor, writer, singer, just a few of the talents of Tommy Davidson. Davidson will visit Lansing to speak to students at Riddle Middle Magnet School for the Visual and Performing Arts in Lansing and perform at the Dollar Night Club on Sunday. Davidson was in the original cast of "In Living Color" on television and was a regular on Earvin Magic Johnson's "The Magic Hour" talk show. He's been in movies that include "Booty Call" and "Bamboozled" and in standup comedy specials on cable's Showtime channel. Scott Pohl talked with Tommy Davidson about speaking to schoolkids.
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Literary Award Winner Talks About Novel In Lansing.
Oct. 14, 2003 | WKAR
- The winner of the University of Michigan Press Michigan Literary Fiction Award will be visiting Lansing to talk about her winning novel. The Award goes to an author for the publication of his or her second novel, with the intention of giving deserving writers a second chance. Sheila O'Connor was honored for her book, "Where No Gods Came". O'Connor will take part in an "Educators Evening" at the Lansing Mall Barnes and Noble. Her first book, "Tokens of Grace", came out 13 years ago. Scott Pohl recently asked Sheila O'Connor to explain that lengthy gap.
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State Task Force Looks For Ways To Reduce Recidivism.
Oct. 13, 2003 | MPR
- For every ten people who enter Michigan's prison system, four of them wind up back behind bars within a few years of their release. Now a state task force is beginning to look at ways to help more people stay out of prison. Members of the task force say part of the solution lies in better planning for release and breaking down some of the obstacles that stand in the way of prisoners' transition to life on the outside. Michigan Public Radio's Sarah Hulett reports.
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Election 2003: Lansing Mayoral Candidates Debate At League Of Women Voters-LCC Forum.
Oct. 16, 2003 | WKAR
- Mayoral Candidates Virg Bernero and Tony Benavides debated the issues facing the city of Lansing at a forum sponsored by Lansing Community College and the League of Women Voters on October 15th. This is the entire debate.
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MSU Authors Explore Nature By The Roadside.
Oct. 17, 2003 | WKAR
- In the rush to get from home to a northern Michigan destination, many people don't take the time to enjoy the spaces in between. A new book tries to address that, with information about the state's geology, biology and archaeology. It's called "The Michigan Roadside Naturalist". The authors are J. Alan Holman, Curator Emeritus of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Michigan State University Museum and Emeritus Professor of Geology and Zoology and Margaret B. Holman, a Research Associate at the MSU Museum and Department of Anthropology. They prefer to go by Peg and Al. Scott Pohl asked them recently what a "roadside naturalist" is.
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Author Writes About Challenges Of Raising An Autistic Child.
Oct. 20, 2003 | WKAR
- The challenges and rewards of raising a child with autism are explored in a new book by East Lansing doctor Mary Sharp. Scott Pohl spoke with her recently about "An Unexpected Joy: the Gift of Parenting a Challenging Child", from Pinon Press. Sharp says writing the book helped her come to terms with the experience of raising her now 14 year-old son Nic. She's hoping the book will help other families in the same situation.
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OTR 1500th Episode: Matt Ferguson Talks With "Off The Record" Host Tim Skubick About His Approach To Covering The State Capitol. (Part 1 Of 3)
Oct. 22, 2003 | WKAR
- This week, we’re celebrating a milestone here at WKAR. The critically acclaimed state government talk show “Off The Record” is about to tape its 1500th episode.
Today, we begin a three-part interview series with the host of “Off the Record,” Tim Skubick. Skubick has hosted OTR since its inception and has covered the state Capitol for over 30 years. In today’s segment, Matt Ferguson talks with Skubick about his approach to the job.
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OTR 1500th Episode: Matt Ferguson Talks With "Off The Record" Host Tim Skubick About How The Program Got Started And What Motivates Him To Cover Politics (part 2 Of 3).
Oct. 23, 2003 | WKAR
- This week, we’re featuring a series of interviews with Tim Skubick, veteran state Capitol correspondent and the host of WKAR-TV’s “Off the Record” program. On Friday, the weekly political roundtable will air its 1500th episode. Skubick is also the author of a forthcoming book called “Off the Record.” In today’s interview segment, Skubick tells Matt Ferguson how the TV program “Off the Record” got started over 30 years ago.
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OTR 1500th Episode: Matt Ferguson Talks With "Off The Record" Host Tim Skubick About Why He Stayed In Lansing And How His On-air Personality Measures Up To Reality (part 3 Of 3).
Oct. 24, 2003 | WKAR
- This week on WKAR-TV, the critically acclaimed state political roundtable “Off the Record” will air its 1500th episode. Since WKAR-TV began producing “Off the Record” in 1972, it has been hosted by Senior State Capitol Correspondent Tim Skubick. This week, we’ve been playing a series of interviews between Matt Ferguson and Skubick about the show's origins and how Skubick approaches his work at the state Capitol. Here now is the final installment of that series.
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Grand Rapids Fights Urban Sprawl By Revitalizing Downtown And Working With Surrounding Governments.
Oct. 27, 2003 | WKAR
- Many large and midsize cities in the Great Lakes region are fighting a losing battle when it comes to revitalizing the city center and preventing unfettered development in the surrounding suburbs. There is one place, however, where a progressive mayor has turned a once-deserted downtown into a lively place, full of urban amenities and street life. At the same time, he's teamed up with nearby villages and townships to slow down the widening circle of unplanned development around the city. Gretchen Millich reports.
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Green Power Programs Not As Popular As Utilities Had Hoped.
Oct. 28, 2003 | WKAR
- Many public power companies across the country have begun so-called green power programs. They offer customers energy produced from something other than coal, such as wind or water -- if customers agree to pay higher rates. But as Erin Toner reports, many utilities are having a tough time getting people interested in green power.
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Election 2003: Lansing Mayoral Candidate Tony Benavides Gets Support From Hispanics Outside Lansing.
Oct. 29, 2003 | WKAR
- Next Tuesday, Lansing voters will choose between acting mayor Tony Benavides and state Senator Virgil Bernero to complete the remaining two years of David Hollister's term. The city's Hispanic community helped Benavides win the primary by an overwhelming margin. Now, Hispanics from well beyond the city limits are stepping forward to help Benavides with his campaign in the general election. We have a report from Gretchen Millich.
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Election 2003: Lansing Mayoral Candidate Virgil Bernero Works For Support Of Business Community.
Oct. 30, 2003 | WKAR
- In Lansing, voters will soon choose between two candidates for mayor: acting mayor Tony Benavides and state Senator Virgil Bernero. Many people in the business community are backing Bernero to lead city government. As we hear in this report from Gretchen Millich, they believe Bernero is the best choice to continue in the tradition of former mayor Dave Hollister.
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NPR's Susan Stamberg Visits Lansing.
Oct. 31, 2003 | WKAR
- The Michigan Library Association Conference in Lansing features a talk by National Public Radio special correspondent Susan Stamberg. Scott Pohl spoke with her this week about her work and her talk. They began their conversation by recalling her last visit to the area, an appearance with NPR colleagues Robert Siegel and Alan Cheuse at the Wharton Center at Michigan State University, shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001.
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Award-winning New-age Musician Appears In Concert At MSU Planetarium.
Nov. 3, 2003 | WKAR
- On Thursday evening, November 6th, Thom Jayne and the Free Radicals will perform in a benefit concert for WKAR Radio at the Abrams Planatarium on the Michigan State University campus. There will be a star show during the concert. Jayne won a John Lennon Songwriter Award for "Moroccan Blues," a track from his CD "The Forgotten Conquest". Scott Pohl recently spoke with Thom Jayne about the award, the concert and his didgeridoos.
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Moroccan Blues
Nov. 3, 2003 | WKAR
- Here is Thom Jayne and the Free Radicals performing Moroccan Blues.
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Governor Unveils Plans For Controlling Sprawl.
Nov. 4, 2003 | MPR
- Governor Granholm presented her plans for curbing urban sprawl in Michigan and encouraging better land use planning to a conference in Grand Rapids on November 3rd. The Governor says cities and suburbs need to set aside their differences to come up with plans that will benefit entire regions. More from Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta.
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Election 2003: Virg Bernero Upbeat After Defeat In Lansing Mayor's Race.
Nov. 5, 2003 | WKAR
- In Lansing, voters narrowly picked incumbent Lansing Mayor Tony Benavides over his challenger in the mayor's race, state Senator Virg Bernero. The small margin between the candidates - 250 votes - underscores the end of what has been one of the most bitter and tightly-contested campaigns in recent Lansing history. Senator Bernero, who will keep his seat in the Legislature, had an upbeat final message for his supporters at the Temple Club in Old Town.
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Election 2003: Tony Benavides Celebrates Win In Lansing Mayor's Race.
Nov. 5, 2003 | WKAR
- The winner of November 4th's election, incumbent Lansing Mayor Tony Benavides, celebrated at his headquarters on Michigan Avenue. Benavides got an exhuberant response from his supporters as the final returns came in. Matt Ferguson spoke with the Mayor shortly after he declared victory.
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MSU Experiments With Communal Bicycles.
Nov. 6, 2003 | WKAR
- Michigan is traditionally a motor state. The state boasts the nation's first traffic signal, the first mile of concrete pavement and the first five-lane highway. And few mention Michigan business or government without mentioning the big three automakers in Detroit. But a program at Michigan State University seeks to get people out of their cars, and peddling across campus on ugly yellow bikes. Michgan Public Radio's Corbin Sullivan reports.
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Public Radio Freelance Reporter Visits East Lansing.
Nov. 11, 2003 | WKAR
- You've probably heard reporter Katie Davis on public radio programs like "All Things Considered" and "This American Life." She visited East Lansing for a series of events, including a free talk on the "Neighborhood Stories" she covers from the area surrounding her home. Scott Pohl asked Katie Davis about leaving NPR to file reports as an freelance correspondent.
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Meadows Re-elected East Lansing Mayor.
Nov. 12, 2003 | WKAR
- The East Lansing City Council unanimously elected Mark Meadows to serve a fourth term as mayor. Following the council's vote, Erin Toner spoke with Mayor Meadows about his leadership style, his accomplishments and what challenges the city will face over the next few years.
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Authors Of A New Pictorial History Of Lansing Talk About Their Book.
Nov. 19, 2003 | WKAR
- James MacLean and Craig A. Whitford co-wrote Lansing: City on the Grand, 1836-1939 from Arcadia Press. MacLean is the Reference Librarian at the Capital Area District Library and Whitford is President of the Historical Society of Greater Lansing. Whitford told Scott Pohl he would describe the book as a photographic history of Lansing, from the pioneer days to the eve of World War Two.
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Spartifacts.com Provides Information For MSU Sports Fans
Nov. 20, 2003 | WKAR
- As the Michigan State University football team wraps up the regular season by hosting Penn State at Spartan Stadium, the hockey season is in full swing and the basketball season is getting underway. Interest in collegiate sports is now year-round. One person who knows the ins and outs of college athletics is Mike Pearson, an MSU graduate who's worked in sports information at Michigan State as well as at the University of Illinois. A few years ago, Pearson joined Sports Publishing where he's running a new website for Spartan fans. He says he started Spartifacts.com because he wanted to renew his ties to athletics at MSU.
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Writer Describes Folk Music Underground
Nov. 21, 2003 | WKAR
- A November 21st Ten Pound Fiddle concert of Irish music by a group called Bohola will feature a special guest host. Boston Globe writer Scott Alarik is the author of Deep Community: Adventures in the Folk Music Underground. Scott Pohl spoke with him the book.
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Local Actor Prepares To Give Final Performance In Lansing
Nov. 24, 2003 | WKAR
- Brian Friel's Philadelphia, Here I Come opens November 26th at the Boarshead Theater in Lansing. Long-time Lansing actor John Peakes will be featured in the production, along with his son and daughter-in-law, with Peake's wife Judith directing. When the play's run is over on December 21st, John and Judy will be moving on to a new life in Philadelphia. Scott Pohl talked with John Peakes and his son Ian.
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MSU Recruiting Trend Study Shows Mixed Outlook For Graduates
Nov. 21, 2003 | WKAR
- Michigan State University's 33rd annual recruiting trends survey of employers has mixed news for this year's college graduates. Four hundred fifty employers responded to this year's survey. The strongest labor markets for this year's graduates include administrative services, retail, finance, health, and hospitality. The labor market is relatively weak for manufacturing, transportation, professional services, and information services. Scott Pohl talked about the survey with Phil Gardner, director of MSU's Collegiate Employment Research Institute...
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State Museum Worried About Storage Facilities.
Nov. 25, 2003 | WKAR
- Fossils, jewelry and the tools of work and war teach us about who we are and where we've come from. In Michigan, thousands of people have donated historical objects to the state museum. But only about 10 percent of those objects are actually on display. Much of the rest are stored in what museum officials have called deplorable conditions. Erin Toner reports.
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MSU President McPherson And U Of M President Coleman Talk About The State Of Higher Education In Michigan And The Current State Budget Crisis. This Is A One-hour Call-in Program Produced By Michigan Radio And Aired By Michigan Radio And WKAR AM And FM On November 25.
Nov. 26, 2003 | WKAR
- Michigan State University President Peter McPherson and University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman focus on the state of higher education in Michigan, the current state budget crisis and its impact on higher education. The hour-long call-in program was produced by Michigan Radio and hosted by Todd Mundt. It aired Tuesday, 11/25/03 on Michigan Radio and WKAR AM and FM.
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Detroit Man Pursues Goal Of Lighting Capitol Dome In Red, White And Blue.
Nov. 26, 2003 | WKAR
- Andrew Anthos has returned to the Michigan Capitol after an absence of several months. For the past 15 years, he's been known as the man who wants to light the Capitol Dome in red, white, and blue every night.
When the urge strikes him, he gets on the bus in Detroit to make the two-hour trip to Lansing. He stations himself outside the Capitol, bearing a sign and a small American flag that he waves at pedestrians and passing drivers.
He's lobbied governors, lawmakers and bureaucrats, only to be told there's no money. Now, he says, he'd settle for one night a year.
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MSU Professors Write Book On Michigan Forests.
Dec. 1, 2003 | WKAR
- Two Michigan State University professors have written a book detailing the history of Michigan's forests. The University of Michigan Press has published The Forests of Michigan by Donald Dickmann and Larry Leefers. Scott Pohl spoke with them recently about the state's biggest forest fires.
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Huge Lansing Sculpture Lies In Pieces.
Dec. 5, 2003 | WKAR
- In 1980, the state of Michigan installed a monumental sculpture on a plaza overlooked by the state Capitol in Lansing. "This Equals That” was commissioned from internationally known artist Michael Heizer. At the time, the massive artwork was compared to sculptures by Alexander Calder in Grand Rapids and Pablo Picasso in Chicago. It was expected that art lovers would travel to Lansing to see “This Equals That”. Last year, “This Equals That” was dismantled. It now lies in pieces in a field south of Lansing. As Michigan Public Radio's Gretchen Millich reports, it's unlikely the sculpture will ever be restored.
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Live-where-you-work Movement Is Key Part Of Cool Cities Initiative.
Dec. 9, 2003 | MPR
- This week, Governor Granholm will convene a "cool cities" conference to try and come up with ways to bring people back to Michigan's urban areas. Some businesses have the same goal and they're starting with their own employees. Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta has more on the "live-where-you-work" movement.
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Governor Pushes For Return To Urban Areas.
Dec. 10, 2003 | MPR
- Governor Granholm will convene her "Cool Cities" conference in Lansing this week. She's hoping to build a movement of people returning to Michigan's urban centers to live and to work. Right now, affordable housing is one of the main reasons people move to cities. But prosperity can send young couples off to the suburbs in search of lower taxes, better schools and safer streets. We have more from Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta.
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Couple Chooses To Raise A Family In Detroit, Despite Some Drawbacks.
Dec. 11, 2003 | MPR
- Attracting young professionals is a challenge for cities like Detroit, Flint and Saginaw. Keeping them there once they decide to start families is even more difficult. But some couples are choosing cities over suburbs, despite high taxes, poorer schools and fewer shopping options. James and Lori Singleton are one such couple. They moved into their northwest Detroit neighborhood about a year and a half ago. In this installment of Michigan Public Radio's look at the state's efforts to build stronger cities, Sarah Hulett talks with the Singletons to find out why they decided to start a family in Detroit.
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MSU Horticulture Gardens Stage Annual Holiday Event.
Dec. 12, 2003 | WKAR
- Every year, the Horticulture Demonstration Gardens at Michigan State University celebrate the holiday season with an open house, highlighted by the construction of a Christmas tree out of poinsettia plants. Scott Pohl spoke with Doug Badgero of the gardens about the December 12th open house.
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MSU President Says Capture Of Saddam Is Good News For Iraqi People.
Dec. 15, 2003 | WKAR
- Michigan State University President Peter McPherson is the former Financial Coordinator for the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance in Iraq. He spoke with WKAR's Matt Ferguson about the capture of Saddam Hussein.
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Boarshead Actors Perform An Excerpt From Their Radio Play "A Christmas Carol".
Dec. 15, 2003 | WKAR
- Geoffrey Sherman and Diana Van Fossen of Lansing's Boarshead Theater perform an exerpt from their 1930's radio adaptation of "A Christmas Carol," and talk about radio, theater and the arts. The theater production runs through December 21.
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Listening Ear Recovers From Flood.
Dec. 18, 2003 | WKAR
- A water main break on Saturday, December 13, flooded the offices of the Listening Ear in East Lansing, forcing the organization to scramble in order to continue its work. The Listening Ear was temporarily closed for the first time in its 35-year history. The Listening Ear offers free counseling and referral services around the clock, so closing down for even a brief time wasn't something they wanted to do. Scott Pohl talked to Joe Glass, Center Coordinator at the Listening Ear, about what happened and what's happening now to keep things running.
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Lansing City Council President Hopes To Continue In Leadership Post.
Dec. 22, 2003 | WKAR
- Carol Wood has wrapped up her first year as president of the Lansing City Council. The at-large councilmember is hoping to retain the top spot on the council as she starts her second four-year term. Wood says she's the right person to advance the council's agenda in 2004. And her ambitions don't end there. Erin Toner reports
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New Greater Lansing Convention-Visitor Bureau Leader Talks About Goals.
Dec. 26, 2003 | WKAR
- The new CEO of the Greater Lansing Convention-Visitor Bureau says he wants to consider the effectiveness of the bureau's Old Town visitors center. Lee Hladki came out of retirement to serve as the bureau's acting CEO earlier this year, and was recently named permanant director after a nationwide search. Some downtown Lansing businesses have asked for a downtown annex of the bureau.
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