News

By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – The state Senate started voting on budgets Thursday night. But beyond that, not much forward progress was seen in budget negotiations at the state Capitol.

AUDIO:

Political differences and party lines were drawn as House and Senate conference committees dealing with Medicaid and local government revenue sharing made little or no movement toward an agreement.

House Speaker Andy Dillon.

By AP

DETROIT – DETROIT (AP) - A leading environmental group is praising the U.S. Senate's approval of $400 million for cleaning up and restoring the Great Lakes.

The Senate passed the measure Thursday night as part of a $32 billion spending measure for the Interior Department for the budget year that starts next week.

It passed on a 77-21 vote, with Michigan Democrats Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow voting yes.

In June, the House approved $475 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

By AP

LANSING, MI – A new poll indicates about 6 of every 10 Michigan voters want lawmakers to use a combination of spending cuts and tax increases to balance the state's budget.

The survey released Thursday by EPIC-MRA of Lansing says a cuts-only approach was favored by about a quarter of respondents, while 5 percent said increases alone should be used.

By AP

EAST LANSING, MI – A Michigan State University graduate who died as a Chinese prisoner during the Korean War is being awarded the Purple Heart medal in a campus ceremony next week.

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers will preside over the ceremony at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Demonstration Hall. Army 1st Lt. Baldwin R. Carr was captured on April 25, 1951, and died in captivity. His family never received his body.

Rogers' office says Gordon Carr will accept the medal on his brother's behalf.

By AP

DETROIT – The Detroit Lions failed to sell all their tickets for Sunday's game against the Redskins, meaning there will be a TV blackout in some local markets.

Team spokesman Bill Keenist said Thursday the game will be blacked out in the Detroit, Lansing, Saginaw-Flint and Toledo, Ohio, markets.

More than 10,000-plus tickets were available on Wednesday.

Last week, the Lions were able to sell 1,700 tickets for the home game against Minnesota. No such luck this time.

By AP

CLEVELAND – Justin Verlander pitched the Detroit Tigers closer to a division title and pushed the Cleveland Indians within one loss of matching a franchise record for futility with a 6-5 win on Thursday night.

Verlander struck out 11 in seven innings and Carlos Guillen had three hits and an RBI as the Tigers handed Cleveland its 11th straight loss.

With the win, Detroit moved three games ahead of the idle Minnesota Twins in the AL's Central Division. The Tigers open a three-game series at the Chicago White Sox on Friday night.

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – There was little progress made on breaking the budget deadlock Thursday at the state Capitol as lawmakers prepare to meet into the night.

AUDIO:
The session is expected to drag into Friday and maybe into the weekend as legislative leaders try to round up votes for big, painful budget cuts.

By AP

JACKSON, MI – The South Carolina congressman who shouted at President Barack Obama during his health care speech to Congress will take part in a Jackson fundraiser for Michigan congressional candidate Tim Walberg.

Walberg's campaign Web site says he and Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson will discuss health care reform at the Oct. 2 event.

Tickets cost $20. Supporters paying $150 get two tickets and can pose for a photo with Wilson.

By AP

LANSING, MI – Gov. Jennifer Granholm acknowledges Michigan's next government budget will include some cuts to K-12 education but says she's fighting to protect against deep
reductions.

Granholm visited with a few members of her administration and Democratic lawmakers on the House floor Thursday. Legislators are racing to avoid a possible partial government shutdown by an Oct. 1 deadline.

By AP

LANSING, MI – Uneasy legislative negotiators say a proposed cut in state payments to local governments is too deep.

Thursday's conference committee meeting has been delayed as House and Senate lawmakers struggle to approve a $163 million cut in revenue-sharing payments to cities, townships and villages.

The estimated 15% cut was agreed to by the Legislature's top Democrat and Republican.

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

Lansing, MI – A state House panel has taken a small step toward restoring the Michigan Promise college scholarship.

AUDIO:

The House Appropriations Committee adopted a budget bill to fund the scholarship close to its current level. But the effort remains largely symbolic until a revenue source is identified to generate $120 million.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman George Cushingberry says the bill won't move any further until that happens.

By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – State lawmakers are expected to continue budget negotiations through the night and into Friday morning.

Legislators are waiting to vote on budget bills from House and Senate conference committees. Major discrepancies on where to cut and how deep are slowing the process.

Democratic state Representative Fred Durhal sits on the General Government budget committee. He says the Senate proposal for cutting to local government revenue sharing goes too far.

By AP

LANSING, MI – Michigan Republicans are heading to Mackinac Island to look over the 2010 crop of gubernatorial candidates as well as two possible 2012 presidential candidates.

Current Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will give keynote speeches Saturday. Romney also ran for president last year.

Five of the six gubernatorial candidates will meet for a 90-minute radio debate Saturday morning hosted by the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance. Tim Rujan of Bay Port wasn't invited.

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

Lansing, MI – The state House Appropriations Committee has taken a step toward rescuing the Michigan Promise college scholarship from the budget axe. There are now dueling bills on the House floor. One would fund the scholarship. At the same time, a higher education budget bill zeroes out money for the Promise. The effort to keep the scholarship is still waiting on a revenue source that would generate $120 million.

By Rob South, WKAR News

LANSING, MI – A union which represents about a quarter of the City of Lansing's workforce picketed in front of Mayor Virg Bernero's Campaign headquarters Wednesday. Teamsters Local 580 has been without a contract for three years.

About a dozen Teamsters showed up for the rally carrying signs claiming Bernero is "anti-family" for not settling the union's contract. Other city unions have agreed to eliminate medical coverage for family members of retirees. The deals only apply to new-hires and not current city employees.

By AP

AUBURN HILLS, MI –

Shavonte Zellous scored 23 points and Deanna Nolan added 22 as the Detroit Shock easily cruised to a 72-56 victory over the Indiana Fever on Wednesday night in Game 1
of the Eastern Conference finals.

The Shock, seeking their fourth straight trip to the WNBA finals, have knocked out the Fever in each of the last three post-seasons. Game 2 is Friday night at Indiana.

Katie Douglas led Indiana with 16 points.

By AP

CLEVELAND – Carlos Guillen hit two of Detroit's three home runs to help Rick Porcello and the Tigers defeat Cleveland 11-3 on Wednesday night, the Indians' season-high 10th straight loss.

Porcello (14-9) allowed one run and six hits over five innings as the Tigers won their third straight. Detroit entered play 2 1/2 games ahead of Minnesota in the AL Central. The Twins open a four-game series in Detroit on Monday.

By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – It appears Michigan's community colleges may survive the budget debate at the state Capitol without any budget cuts.

The House and Senate budget committee dealing with funding for community colleges unanimously approved a budget bill that maintains current spending.

Democratic Representative Fred Miller chaired the committee.

By Scott Pohl, WKAR News

MASON, MI – Ingham County Register of Deeds Curtis Hertel Junior has announced the launch of a new system designed to help residents prevent property fraud.

Subscribing to the system is free. Those who register will get a phone call or an email any time a property document is filed in their name.

Hertel says victims could find a cloud on their title when they try to sell their home, or be billed for a mortgage they hadn't applied for. He says the easiest way to commit property fraud has been to forge a quit-claim deed.

By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – A spending plan approved by a state legislative panel would cut funding to K-12 schools by $218 for every student.

Representative Terry Brown chaired the K-12 House and Senate conference committee. He says declining revenues from sales and property taxes are taking a toll on public education.