Current State

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 on Current State: One Capitol Region coalition pushes for more LGBT protections and Current Sports host Al Martin recaps the weekend in sports.

Last week, officials from East Lansing and Meridian, Delhi and Delta Townships launched the One Capitol Region Coalition.  The group seeks to expand local protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people living in the greater Lansing area.  

Current Sports host Al Martin gives a rundown of this weekend's sporting events, including the NHL playoffs, NBA playoffs, The Players Championship and Tigers baseball.

What should America’s energy future be, and how do we hammer out an environmentally conscious national energy security plan for the future?   

It’s spring commencement time, when tens of thousands of new graduates head out into the “real world.”  Here in Michigan, there have been a lot of public conversations about how we train our students for jobs in this state, how we keep talent from leaving and attract new talent, and what our universities can be doing to facilitate all of this. From the proposed Michigan 2020 plan by state Democrats to re-thinking the university corridor, there are a lot of ideas floating out there.

Today on Current State: film documentary on military sexual assault; alternative energy; the future for Michigan talent; and MSU Alumni Association tour of Cuba.

The U.S. military is facing a crisis of conscience. This week, the Pentagon released an annual report indicating the rate of rape and sexual assault by and against service members has risen significantly in the past year.  Adding to the scandal is the arrest of the Air Force officer who previously led that branch’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response unit -- who himself was charged with sexual assault.  

Today on Current State: privatizing Michigan prisons; the Lansing Symphony Orchestra concludes its season; the L3 Academy faces possible closure; and Mighty Uke Day in Old Town Lansing.

Michigan spends $2 billion annually on its prison system. That’s slightly more than one-fifth of the state’s general fund, according to a 2012 House Fiscal Agency report.  In order to whittle down the size of the prison system’s financial burden, Michigan lawmakers have been looking at private companies to provide services.

Tonight, the Lansing Symphony Orchestra wraps up its season with a program featuring music from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet and the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto Number One. Current State's Melissa Benmark caught up with conductor Timothy Muffitt for a preview.

Administrators, staff and students of one of Lansing’s newest charter schools got some bad news yesterday.  The Learn, Live, Lead Academy, launched by local banking executive and former Lansing Community College President Paula Cunningham, was told its contract was being revoked.  “L3,” as it’s called,  is nearing the end of its first year of operations.

It’s the third annual Mighty Uke Day this weekend, with many of the festivities taking place in Lansing’s Old Town. In the studio to play for us today is The Mighty Uke Day Trio, as they’re calling themselves. They are Chris Hamilton on the ukulele; Andy Wilson on the harmonica and pocket trumpet; and the Mighty Uke Day organizer, Ben Hassenger, is also on the ukulele. They spoke with Current State host Mark Bashore.

Come see Current State's Mark Bashore and Emanuele Berry at our City Hall location during this year's East Lansing Art Festival on May 18th.  Watch Mark and Emanuele create your show in this 2-hour special edition of Current State from 11a-1p...then stay with us for classical music live from the festival from 1-5.

Hope you can be there with us - or listen in between 11 and 5 on 90.5, WKAR-FM...

Today on Current State: taxing internet sales; Michigan's historical markers; law enforcement budget cuts; and First Book of Greater Lansing.

There’s movement in both Lansing and Washington D.C. toward what many call a “leveling of the playing field” regarding sales taxes.  A pair of measures dubbed “The Main Street Fairness” bill is currently being debated in the Michigan House.  The proposal would collect a 6% Michigan sales tax on purchases from out of state internet retailers at the point of sale. And on Monday, the U.S. Senate widely approved a measure that would empower states to do just that.