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.
Matt Ludtke starts today show off with the breakdown of the Big Ten and ACC challenge. He then delves into the issues for Michigan State’s basketball team next season with the departing of Derrick Nix. He touches on bench players stepping up, and who will have a breakout year. He closes the show with the Detroit Red Wings loss in Anaheim.
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.
