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."

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.