Radio Made in Michigan

Today on Current State:  An update on Detroit's emergency manager situation; Lansing Financial Health Team unveils report; a local priest in Rome on the conclave and new pope; Congressman Gary Peters on his political future; The Festival of Listening for international poetry; Japan two years after Fukushima; and violinist Anne Sophie Mutter.

Thursday afternoon in Detroit, Governor Rick Snyder is expected to name Kevyn Orr, a Washington D.C.-based bankruptcy attorney, as  Detroit's incoming financial manager. The Michigan Public Radio Network's Rick Pluta explains the importance of this historic announcement.

Since Carl Levin’s announcement last Thursday that he won’t be seeking another term as Michigan’s senator, many names have been dropped as possible successors.  Arguably none has been mentioned more often as Democratic Congressman Gary Peters, who represents Michigan’s 14th congressional district. 

Congressman Peters discusses his political career and where it might be headed.

The sixth annual Festival of Listening is this Friday in East Lansing. The event, put on by MSU’s RCAH Center for Poetry, features live readings of poetry in other languages with no translation. And it’s a hit, having become by far the Center's most popular event.

Stephanie Glazier, acting director of the Center for Poetry, and David Clauson, an MSU student, talk about the festival and share a Swedish haiku.

Two years ago, a massive earthquake struck off the coast of Japan. The quake triggered a tsunami which damaged the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant, causing the world’s worst radiation leak since the Chernobyl accident in 1986.  

On Monday, MSU will commemorate the anniversary with an event at the International Center.  One of the speakers, Dr. Ethan Segal, a professor of history at MSU and an expert on Japan, assesses the rebuilding efforts and discusses Japan’s complex relationship with nuclear power. 

Violinist Anne Sophie Mutter is one of the true superstars of classical music. Since her first concerts on the world’s most prestigious stages, Mutter has inspired audiences around the globe with recitals, concerto performances and dozens of recordings.

Larry Morasco continues to host this week.  After the free agency kickoff last night, the Detroit Lions made some big moves and Larry is there to break it all down.  He then discusses other free agency movement around the league.  Larry takes caller opinions, and discusses MSU basketball and Spring Training baseball.