NewsRoom

A state House committee goes to work this morning on a plan that would force teachers and other school employees to pay more for their retirement benefits. Governor Rick Snyder and Republican leaders say that’s necessary to ensure the long-term solvency of the retirement system.

There are a lot of details to work out, but the bottom line for public school employees is, one way or the other, they will pay more for retirement benefits and retirement health care.

Governor Rick Snyder says overall, he supports the plan.

"(Be)'cause it's striking the right balance about taxpayer long-term liabilities and employees who have benefits."

“What’s going to happen next year?" asks retired teacher Thom Houseman.  "What more can they take from teachers next year?

About 2,500 Michigan Republicans gather in Detroit this weekend for their party’s spring convention.

More than a dozen Democratic Michigan House members have introduced legislation to repeal the state's "stand your ground" self-defense law after the fatal shooting of Florida teen Trayvon Martin.

The Lansing Symphony Orchestra played its final concert of the season last week at MSU’s Wharton Center.  Music director Timothy Muffitt took a few minutes to speak with WKAR’s Melissa Benmark about the lineup for next season. One of the concerts they talked about was built around the story of composer Antonin Dvorak’s visit to America.

A number of professional sports in America trace their roots to the school playground.  Basketball, baseball, football and even hockey.  But can you make a career out of skipping rope?  As it turns out...yes.

Adrienn Banhegyi began her jump rope career growing up in Hungary.  She won three world titles before auditioning for the acclaimed touring company, “Cirque du Soleil.”  She’ll perform with the company next week in East Lansing, when Cirque du Soleil presents its show “Quidam."

WKAR’s Kevin Lavery asked Banhegyi to explain the show’s storyline.

It’s up to the Michigan Court of Appeals now to determine whether voters will get to approve or reject the state’s emergency manager law.

The Michigan Senate has passed legislation that would end pensions for newly hired public school employees and switch them into a 401 (k)-style retirement plan.

The Lansing City Council has a budget wrap-up meeting today, leading up to next Monday’s vote to finalize a budget for the coming fiscal year. Hovering over the meeting is the recent news that Lansing’s two pension funds need an additional $3 million to meet their commitments to retirees.

Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero says he is temporarily dropping a plan to consolidate city police operations in a single location.

Michigan’s unemployment rate fell to 8.3% in April – a drop of two-tenths of a percentage point.

State Representative Roy Schmidt took his seat Wednesday on the Republican side of the state House chamber for the first time since he stunned Democrats by switching parties without warning.

It isn't only football and hockey players who suffer from concussions.  Any athlete is at risk, including females.   Studies show girls are reporting nearly twice as many concussions as boys in sports played by both.  Now, new research out of Michigan State University shows that females and younger athletes who suffered concussions took longer to recover than males and older athletes.