By WKAR

East Lansing, MI – As Michigan State (1-0) prepares to take on in state rival Central Michigan (0-1), Spartan head coach Mark Dantonio believes it benefits the state of Michigan to have in-state schools face one another for many different reasons.

Central Michigan comes in to this game after a tough loss to Arizona 19-6 while Michigan State enters this match up with a 44-3 victory over Montana State.

By Mark Bashore, WKAR News

LANSING, MI – Lansing public school teachers and students return to class today (Tuesday), only days after attaining an important federal learning standard for the first time.

State Education officials announced last week the district and almost all of its individual schools hit "Adequate Yearly Progress" targets. Don Weatherspoon is a former state education official who's worked closely with Lansing schools. He says to maintain AYP, Lansing teachers need to communicate clearly with their students.

By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – The state Senate is expected to vote this week to extend tax credits for a plan to turn a shuttered Ford plant in Wixom into a green technology center.

The Republican-controlled Senate agrees with the Democratic House that the deal is a good use of tax credits. But the House turned down a Senate bill last week that called for more transparency with the Michigan Economic Development Corportation.

By AP

ALLEN PARK, MI – Matt Stafford has won the Detroit Lions' starting quarterback job.

Lions coach Jim Schwartz told his team Monday morning that the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft would start Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. Stafford had been battling veteran Daunte Culpepper for the position, and Schwartz stressed it had
been a case of Stafford winning the job instead of Culpepper losing it.

The Lions are coming off the first 0-16 season in NFL history.

By WKAR

SOUTH BEND, IN – The South Bend Silver Hawks used two-run rallies in the fourth and fifth innings to defeat the Lansing Lugnuts 4-3 yesterday afternoon at The Cove, finishing off the 2009 regular season. Lansing finished the campaign with a franchise record for losses, topping the previous mark of 75 defeats set in 2001.

By AP

UNDATED – The Detroit Tigers are looking to extend their six-game winning streak and their lead in the AL Central with three games in Kansas City. Standout rookie Rick Porcello will take the ball in today's opener against the woeful Royals, who will start Bruce Chen.

By AP

TRAVERSE CITY, MI – Environmental groups want Midwestern governors to push harder for an economy based on clean energy.

The groups are releasing a letter Tuesday to governors representing states that agreed in 2007 to cooperate on reducing carbon pollution.

It asks them to seek legislation requiring utilities to produce at least 25 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2025.

Additionally, it calls for the region to improve conservation of electricity and natural gas.

By AP

DETROIT – The head of a union representing professors at a suburban Detroit university says "good progress" is being made toward resolving a faculty walkout.

The president of the Oakland University chapter of the American Association of University Professors said Monday talks with school administrators made progress over the weekend.

But Joel Russell cautioned that "being close" to a deal doesn't mean a new contract is imminent.

Russell spoke to The Associated Press while marching in Detroit's annual Labor Day parade.

By Gretchen Millich, WKAR News

LANSING, MI – Ingham County Commissioners will hold a public hearing this week on the budget for the health department and other county services.

Commissioner Todd Tennis chairs the human services committee. He says federal stimulus money, along with funding from the state and private foundations, will allow the health department to get through 2010 relatively intact.

But Tennis says in 2011, revenues from property taxes are expected to drop dramatically, while costs continue to rise.

By Kevin Lavery, WKAR News

Lansing, MI – Volunteers in Lansing are forming a new labor advocacy organization that aims to help workers protect themselves from abusive practices on the job.

AUDIO;

Members of the Lansing Workers Center say one of their top priorities is to prevent wage theft -- instances when an employer illegally withholds a worker's pay or benefits. They say they're willing to negotiate with companies, but add they'll also use embarrassment tactics and litigation if necessary.