By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network

LANSING, MI – The state Legislature is expected to work into Thursday night to move budget discussions forward before the House and Senate break for two weeks.

Legislative leaders set a goal of July to reach consensus on budget discussions. That won't happen. The House and Senate are working to meet in conference committees during the break, which begins next week. Budget disputes include cuts to K-12 schools, Medicaid and financial aid, as well as the elimination of Michigan Promise college scholarships.

By WKAR/AP

UNDATED – The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect until 10 p.m. tonight for the entire WKAR listening area. Large hail, dangerous lightning, and damaging thunderstorm winds are possible. Stay tuned to 90.5 WKAR for further updates and possible warnings.

Counties include: CALHOUN, CLINTON, EATON, GRATIOT, INGHAM, JACKSON.

By AP

DETROIT, MI – A person briefed on the decision says General Motors will build its new subcompact car at a factory in Orion Township, Mich.

The person says the automaker is scheduled to announce the move Friday. The person did not want to be identified because the plan has not been made public.

GM spokeswoman Sherrie Childers Arb declined to comment.

The Orion plant was competing with factories in Spring Hill, Tenn., and Janesville, Wis., for the tiny car.

By Kevin Lavery, WKAR News

Lansing, MI – Auto industry analysts in Michigan are predicting stronger vehicle sales for the month of June. But that news may be tempered by how consumers respond to General Motors' bankruptcy restructuring.

AUDIO: Sean McAlinden is the chief economist with the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor. He says between January and May, General Motors reduced its inventory by more than half clearing the way for a burst of production this summer.

By AP

DETROIT – DETROIT (AP) - The four-day Detroit Windsor International Film Festival takes place this week.

The festival begins Thursday and features events in Detroit and across the Detroit River in Windsor, Ontario. Highlights include a Friday showing of "Dear Mr. Fidrych," a coming-of-age story set in Detroit in 1976.

The film features a performance by Mark Fidrych, the former All-Star pitcher who died in an accident in April in Northborough, Mass.

By AP

IONIA, MI – Hundreds of people whose cars were stranded at the Ionia County fairgrounds after last weekend's storms caused flooding will have to wait until at least Monday to get back their vehicles.

Dozens of angry motorists showed up at the Ionia City Council chambers Wednesday to hear City Manager Jason Eppler explain next week's retrieval plan.

By AP

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land says she won't run for governor in 2010 and is backing Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard for the job.

Land, a Republican from the Grand Rapids area, has been secretary of state since 2003. She can't run again in 2010 because of term limits.

Earlier in the year, she filed paperwork setting up an exploratory committee for governor.

Land said Thursday that Bouchard, a former state senator, has the legislative experience necessary to serve as governor at this time.

By AP

NEW YORK – A bankruptcy judge says GM can have access to its full $33.3 billion in bankruptcy financing.

Judge Robert Gerber gave final approval to the financing on Thursday. He had given preliminary approval to GM using $15 billion of the total at a hearing earlier this month.

The billions in financing, which is largely being supplied by the U.S. government, is intended to keep Detroit-based GM going until it can sell its assets to a new company and emerge from Chapter 11.

By AP

AUBURN HILLS, MI – Detroit Shock forward Plenette Pierson is expected to be out for the rest of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery.

The team said the 6-foot-2 forward underwent successful surgery to repair right shoulder instability.

Pierson went down with a shoulder injury in the first quarter of the WNBA opener against the Los Angeles Sparks on June 6.

The 27-year-old Texas Tech graduate won the WNBA's Sixth Woman of the Year award in 2007. She has averaged 8.7 points and 1.2 assists in 196 career games since 2003.

By AP

DETROIT – Joe Dumars expects to be busy over the next couple weeks, armed with four picks in the NBA draft and about $20 million in salary-cap space to reshape the Detroit Pistons.

The Pistons president of basketball operations said he plans to take a frontcourt player in the first round. Detroit has the No. 15 pick.

Detroit worked out more than 50 prospects to prepare for tonight's draft and might choose Louisville's Earl Clark, James Johnson of Wake Forest, Ohio State's B.J. Mullens or Austin Daye of Gonzaga.