By AP

LANSING, MI – Facing an Oct. 1 deadline to get a budget in place, Democratic House Speaker Andy Dillon is talking about adopting all $1.2 billion in cuts that Senate Republicans passed in June.

In return, the Republican Senate majority might agree after Oct. 1 to put money back into the budget for some programs important to Democrats, who want to to keep a college scholarship program and money for early childhood development and local police and firefighters.

By AP

DETROIT – Gerald Laird and Brandon Inge each had two RBIs, helping the Detroit Tigers snap a season-worst five-game skid with a 7-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.

Rick Porcello won a matchup with fellow rookie Ricky Romero. Porcello (13-8) gave up two runs on four hits in six innings to improve to 3-0 in his last four starts.

Romero (12-8) also went six innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits.

By AP

NEW ORLEANS – Drew Brees looked even better than last year, which was bad news for a Detroit Lions team trying to win for the first time since 2007.

Brees tied a Saints record with six touchdown passes and threw for 358 yards as the Saints beat the Lions 45-27 Sunday to extend Detroit's regular-season losing streak to 18.

Two of Brees' touchdown passes went to Jeremy Shockey, who hadn't scored since being traded from the New York Giants to New Orleans last season.

By AP

DETROIT – Detroit Mayor Dave Bing says the economically troubled city will focus on core public safety services while outsourcing or privatizing others.

Bing described his plan in an interview published Sunday in the Detroit Free Press.

Detroit faces a $300 million budget deficit and its revenue could be $80 million short as the city tries to pay bills this fiscal year.

Bing said he must shrink the city's 13,000-member work force by 10 percent, lower labor costs and cut services to keep the city afloat financially.

By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – A state lawmaker says Michigan's constitution should be amended so high school graduates can go to in-state universities and colleges for free.

By Gretchen Millich

Lansing, MI – Michigan State University President Lou Anna Simon says a proposed multi-use facility for the building that now houses the state library and historical center would benefit downtown Lansing.

MSU is proposing a new state museum called the Center for Innovation and Reinvention. President Lou Anna Simon says the facility would combine the Historical Center collections with exhibits from the MSU Museum and also serve as a new headquarters for the Impression 5 Science Center.

By WKAR

East Lansing, MI – Central Michigan football coach Butch Jones discusses the heart of his team after the Chippewas thrilling 29-27 victory over Michigan State.

By WKAR

East Lansing, MI – Central Michigan makes good on a second chance 42 yard field goal with just 3 seconds remaining clinched a 29-27 victory at Spartan Stadium.

By Mark Bashore, WKAR News

GRAND LEDGE, MI – A national Medicare advocate says federal health care reform would strengthen the program. Max Richtman is an executive with the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. He says there's a misperception that reform would reduce benefits for seniors:

"Actually it's just the opposite," he says. "Without health care reform, seniors on Medicare are going to suffer. They're gonna pay more for their deductibles, premiums, co-payments they're gonna get less care "

By AP

LANSING, MI – Viewers statewide will have ringside seats as lawmakers struggle to reach a budget deal and avoid an Oct. 1 government shutdown.

Michigan Government Television said Friday it will begin providing around-the-clock coverage Monday that will continue until 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9. The cable station usually is on from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays.