News

By AP

HOLLAND, MI – Michigan dairy farmers are still producing milk despite a worldwide glut that has sent prices plummeting.

Producers face higher costs but less demand for milk, partly because of a dried-up export market.

Dairy expert Ira Krupp of the Michigan State University Extension program says the recent prices that producers are getting for their milk have been far below what they need to remain profitable.

Krupp tells The Holland Sentinel that he expects prices to remain down for at least several more months.

By Rob South, WKAR News

LANSING, MI – Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero proposed Monday using Federal Recovery bonds to build a new parking ramp for the Accident Fund Insurance Company.

The Accident Fund is renovating the Ottawa Street Power Station for its new headquarters. It was announced earlier this month the company couldn't secure the money needed to build a ramp as part of the $182 million project.

Bernero's plan would require the city to partner with Ingham County to get the estimated $31 million needed to build the ramp.

By Kevin Lavery, WKAR News

Lansing, MI – Ingham County health officials are encouraging local businesses to develop or review their plans for staying open if there's a local outbreak of the H1N1 flu virus this fall.

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Health officials say employers should first look at which workers may be most at risk for the virus. That includes pregnant women and people with underlying medical conditions. Companies may opt to move those employees to less public areas or have them work from home.

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – The Legislature returns to the state Capitol Tuesday. Lawmakers and Governor Granholm have until the stroke of midnight Wednesday to wrap up work on the budget.

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House Speaker Andy Dillon says he's confident that disagreements can be settled in the final budgets remaining. They cover Medicaid, human services, higher education, and roads and transportation.

By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – At the state Capitol, the House and the Senate canceled plans to meet into the weekend to try and strike a budget deal. The Legislature will also take off Monday because of the Jewish Yom Kippur religious holiday. But legislative leaders say they're confident they can wrap work on the budget as soon as Tuesday.

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By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network

MACKINAC ISLAND, MI – Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney was the keynote speaker at a Republican strategy conference on Mackinac Island over the weekend.

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Romney, who ran for the Republican nomination for president last year, spent most of his speech criticizing President Obama and his record so far in Washington. But he also expressed concern for Michigan as it weathers a budget crisis.

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – The Legislature is not meeting Monday out of respect for the Jewish Yom Kippur religious observance. But legislative leaders say they're confident they can wrap up work on the state budget for the Wednesday night deadline.

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There were no quorums in the House or the Senate for rare Sunday sessions.

By AP

FENTON, MI – State officials suspect the deaths of more than 100 deer in southeast Michigan may have been caused by the same disease that killed animals in 2006 and 2008.

The Detroit Free Press reports the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is awaiting results of tests to determine if the deer were suffering from epizootic hemorrhagic disease, or EHD, which is spread by gnats and midges.

By AP

LANSING, MI – Michigan has lost more than 4,000 police officers and firefighters this decade.

Hundreds more could be lost if the state follows through on its current budget plan for the fiscal year scheduled to start Thursday.

Cuts to tax revenue sharing payments that cities, townships, villages and some counties use to help pay for police, fire and other services appear inevitable as state lawmakers work to erase a projected $2.8 billion budget shortfall.

By AP

LANSING, MI – A conference committee in the Michigan Legislature has voted to cut state aid to local libraries by 40 percent.

The vote Sunday afternoon sets the stage for votes in the House and Senate when they return to work Tuesday. Lawmakers have until the end of the day Wednesday to erase a $2.8 billion shortfall or there may be a partial shutdown of state government.

By AP

LANSING, MI – A legislative conference committee has voted to cut prison spending in the Michigan budget year scheduled to start in four days.

The 5% cut would be met in part by completing a previously announced plan to close prisons and prison camps. Gov. Jennifer Granholm's administration has been paroling more inmates to save money.

The Legislature could start passing the Corrections Department budget when it returns to work Tuesday. Lawmakers have until the end of Wednesday to erase a $2.8 billion deficit.

By AP

DETROIT – Pavel Datsyuk and Jason Williams each had a goal and an assist, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a 4-1 pre-season win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday in a matchup of the last two Stanley Cup champions.

Johan Franzen and Ville Leino also scored and Brian Rafalski assisted on all four goals for Detroit, which scored times on the power play. Jimmy Howard made 25 saves.

Pascal Dupuis scored for Pittsburgh (1-4-1) and Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 20 shots.

By AP

CHICAGO – Carlos Quentin hit a three-run homer in his second straight game, rookie Daniel Hudson earned his first major league victory and the Chicago White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 8-4 Sunday for their third win in 11 games.

Hudson (1-1) outpitched All-Star Edwin Jackson (13-8) over six solid innings, and Quentin broke it open with a drive to right that capped a four-run eighth and made it 8-2.

By AP

DETROIT – The Detroit Lions ended their 19-game losing streak by holding off the Washington Redskins 19-14 Sunday.

Matthew Stafford threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Bryant Johnson in the first quarter and the two connected to draw a key penalty to set up a TD in the fourth quarter.

The Lions (1-2) had not won since Dec. 23, 2007 and their skid matched the second longest in NFL history.

By Laura Weber

Lansing, MI – Some Republican lawmakers in Lansing will skip this weekend's GOP strategy conference on Mackinac Island. Both the House and Senate scheduled tentative sessions for this weekend as they close in on the final days before the budget deadline. The Legislature must pass a budget plan by Wednesday.

By Rick Pluta

Lansing, MI – The Legislature is expected to work into the weekend to try and wrap up the state budget. At the same time, lawmakers are making emergency plans in case they can't reach a deal before the October first.

State Senate Republicans muscled through a 30-day interim budget that includes the big cuts they want to part of a final budget deal that does not raise taxes.

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – Lawmakers return to the state Capitol for a rare Friday session to try and break a budget deadlock. The Legislature met all day Thursday, but made little progress.

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By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

Lansing, MI – The state Senate has approved an interim budget in case an agreement is not reached five days from now. The Senate version of a one-month temporary budget reflects a 25 percent rollback in spending levels.

WE'LL HAVE MORE on the state budget process later today. Check this website and listen to All Things Considered with Gretchen Millich, starting at 4 p.m.

By AP

LANSING, MI – Michigan's GOP gubernatorial candidates will be able to spend whatever they want on their primary campaigns.

Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder told state officials this month he's given his campaign at least $340,000.

The donation lifted the $2 million spending cap his opponents faced if they accepted public matching funds before the August 2010 primary.

Campaign spokesman Jake Suski won't say how much Snyder has given, but says the donation "shows his intention to win and reinvent Michigan."