News

By WKAR

LANSING, MI – The Lansing Lugnuts beat the Great Lakes Loons 5-3 last night at Oldsmobile Park. The Lugnuts are off tonight before beginning a four-game road-trip in Fort Wayne at 7:05 p. m. on Thursday night.

By AP

AUBURN HILLS, MI – Lauren Jackson scored 36 points to lead the Seattle Storm over the Detroit Shock, 79-75 on Tuesday night.

Deanna Nolan finished with 29 for Detroit.

Seattle dominated the first half, taking a 38-21 lead behind 17 points from Jackson. The Storm outshot Detroit 49 percent to 27 percent.

The Shock, though, started the third quarter with a 13-0 run to get back into the game.

By AP

DETROIT – Miguel Cabrera hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the eighth inning and Rick Porcello had a career-high eight strikeouts, lifting the Detroit Tigers to a 5-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.

Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu took out starter Felix Hernandez after he struck out nine and gave up only a run through seven innings and Detroit took advantage.

Alex Avila hit the second pitch from Mark Lowe (1-6) over the fence to pull the Tigers within one and pinch-hitter Ramon Santiago followed with a single.

By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – Actors, producers, directors and other supporters of Michigan's film tax credit gathered at the steps of the state Capitol Tuesday morning.

Capping or eliminating the tax credit is an option floating around Lansing as lawmakers struggle to cut spending and balance the state budget.

Democratic state Senator Gilda Jacobs joined the rally and held up a sign distributed to crowd.

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – Governor Granholm says talks have broken off on sending California prison inmates to Michigan. The governor says she's still talking with other states about taking their inmates.

By Mark Bashore, WKAR News

EAST LANSING, MI – A Lansing-area alternative energy manufacturer is expanding. The Michigan Economic Growth Authority has approved a $5.2 million tax credit for the Draths Corporation.

The Okemos-based firm makes components for plastic and nylon products using renewable fuels. It says it will use the incentive to combine with its administrative offices---currently in Minnesota---in a new, central location in Delhi Township. Dr. John Frost is Draths' Chief Science Officer:

By Rob South, WKAR News

LANSING, MI – The City of Lansing now has an ordinance on the books that supporters say will encourage the development of more bike and walking paths in the city. The City Council passed the Complete Streets ordinance last night.

By AP

HAZEL PARK, MI – A man cited by police for speeding in a crash that caused a tanker explosion that destroyed an overpass on Interstate 75 north of Detroit has paid his ticket.

The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press report 27-year-old Saied Haidarian Shahri of Clawson paid the $150 fine on Monday at 43rd District Court in Hazel Park.

By AP

LANSING, MI – The Michigan Legislature returns to work this week after meeting very little over the past month and a half.

The Senate is expected to be in session Tuesday, while the House plans to convene Wednesday.

Most lawmakers have had little to do in July and August while legislative leaders and Gov. Jennifer Granholm continue to discuss the state budget behind closed doors.

By AP

DETROIT – Detroit baseball broadcasting legend Ernie Harwell is back at his Detroit-area home and resting comfortably following a stint in the hospital.

Gary Spicer, Harwell's attorney and friend, tells The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press the 91-year-old Harwell was hospitalized for most of last week with an obstructed bile duct. Spicer said the obstruction was dislodged, Harwell was released Friday, and he was resting at his home in Novi.

By Rob South, WKAR News

EAST LANSING, MI – Lansing City Councilmember Carol Wood picked up several Mayoral endorsements from various political and community leaders on Tuesday. Ingham County Chair Debbie Deleon, former state Representative Mike Murphy and former Mayor Tony Benavides are all offering their support.

Joe Graves was the chief of staff for Mayor David Hollister. Graves is endorsing Wood and says she can bring honesty, integrity and civility back to city hall:

By WKAR

LANSING, MI – The Great Lakes Loons held off the Lansing Lugnuts 7-5 last night at Oldsmobile Park. The game was delayed 78 minutes at the start by rain. The Loons lost an early 2-0 lead to a Lugnuts three-run third inning rally, took the lead back with a three-run fourth, only to watch Lansing tie the score at 5-5 in the fifth. In the top of the eighth inning, the visitors seized the lead for good. The two teams play the finale of their four-game series tonight.

By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – The state Senate Judiciary Committee took testimony Tuesday on whether the Standish maximum security prison should house Guantanamo Bay prisoners. Among those who testified were two Republican gubernatorial candidates who have different opinions.

By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network

EAST LANSING, MI – A new study shows state employees are making less this year than they were last year, but paying twice as much for their health benefits.

AUDIO:
Economist Charles Ballard says the most surprising figure he found while conducting the study was the 11,000 state jobs lost since 2001. He says it's possible the workforce was too bloated at some point, but the state has now cut too deep and must stop working against the remaining employees.

By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – One of the state's largest electric utilities is no longer releasing customers to buy power from its competitors. State law allows the major utilities to hang onto their remaining customers once 10 percent have moved to an alternative supplier.

By AP

EAST LANSING, MI – A South Korean-born artist who works in New York city is creating a "mixed-media site-specific installation" this week at Michigan State University.

Haeri Yoo starts work Monday on her art work at the Kresge Art Museum and is scheduled to continue through Sunday.

The university says Yoo's work for the Kresge Museum will explore "humor, sexuality, gestural figuration and psychological tension."

By AP

LANSING, MI – Likely budget cuts have state officials asking Michigan residents which of the state's 145 state forest campgrounds should close.

The Department of Natural Resources already has had to close 12 of the rustic campgrounds because of a lack of money. DNR official Lynne Boyd says she expects more cuts are coming in the budget year that starts Oct. 1, so more state forest campgrounds will have to close or be given to others to manage.

By AP

SEATTLE – Like a towering fir tree that survives after the primeval forest around it has vanished, the Seattle Opera's production of Wagner's "Ring" cycle now stands alone as the only traditional depiction of the epic music drama on an American stage.

And tall and proud it stands, indeed.

By Mark Bashore, WKAR News

LANSING, MI – Mid-Michigan children who are behind on immunizations have a chance to play catch-up this week.

The Ingham County Health Department is holding a back-to-school health fair today through Friday at its South Cedar location in Lansing. The event's focus is on helping schoolchildren who are behind on immunizations.

By WKAR

LANSING, MI – The Lansing Lugnuts blanked the Great Lakes Loons 4-0 before a Sunday afternoon crowd at Oldsmobile Park. The two teams play the third game in their four-game series at 7:05 tonight.