Today on Current State: Rally urges more state dollars for early childhood education; a new documentary about ice and the Great Lakes region; MSU student film looks at hard-hit Marine battalion; and residents and businesses collaborate in Lansing's Genesee neighborhood. 

A few thousand supporters of early childhood education are gathering at the State Capitol today.  

Participants in the annual "Star Power" rally will encourage state lawmakers to approve a proposed $130 million increase to the state budget for families-in-need who want to participate in Michigan’s Great Start Readiness Program. Currently, the program can afford assistance for only about half of those eligible statewide.

The Great Lakes formed thousands of years ago  when a glacier moved across the region and melted. The film "Project:Ice" depicts the important role ice continues to play in the Great Lakes Basin. 

Bill Kleinert, the documentary’s executive producer and director, discusses the importance of ice to the Great Lakes region. 

In 2010, the Third Battalion, Fifth Marine regiment deployed to Sangin, Afghanistan.  Nicknamed the “Darkhorse Battalion,” the Three-Five was sent to patrol a region of the country known as a Taliban refuge and a center for the opium trade.  During the deployment, the battalion achieved a somber record.  That single unit suffered the highest casualty rate of any in the Marine Corps.  

Two planned projects In Lansing’s Genesee neighborhood have triggered a forward-looking discussion among residents and business people there.   Earlier this year, the Michigan Association of Broadcasters and the non-profit Zero Day announced plans for new offices and facilities on Butler Street, which runs less than a half mile near the Capitol.

Today marks day number two of Current Sports. We kick off today's show with MSU Alumn and Senior Vice President and General Manager of four Atlanta based sports networks, Jeff Genthner. Al also discusses the Tigers, Brady Hoke, and the NBA playoffs. Lastly, Al has a conversation with Matt and Alex about what it takes to have Sports Journalism as a career. 

The Buena Vista school district in Saginaw County will not resume classes. That’s one of the decisions made Monday at a meeting of state and local education officials.

Lawmakers in the state Senate say they hope to pass an overhaul of Michigan’s public defense system in the coming weeks.

Today marks the launch of Current Sports with Al Martin. Al Martin is taking over for longtime host Earle Robinson. To honor Earle, Al invited Earle to be his very first guest and discuss his life as a broadcaster and his life as a retiree. Other conversations include the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, Tiger Woods and the NBA Playoffs. We hear from listeners as well and even Al's dad.