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.
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.
A little known state agency is celebrating an important milestone today. The Michigan Historical Commission is holding its 100th anniversary meeting in Lansing. The commission is the group responsible for the more than 1,700 green and gold historic markers scattered across the state. It’s also heavily involved in the ongoing sesquicentennial of Michigan’s role in the Civil War. The chair of the Michigan Historical Commision, Jack Dempsey, spoke with Current State host Mark Bashore about the importance of preserving Michigan’s history.
In a speech Monday night at a law enforcement memorial held at the state Capitol, longtime Ingham County Sheriff Gene Wriggelsworth decried the political influence and budget cuts on law enforcement. Sheriff Wriggelsworth spoke with Current State host Mark Bashore about the effects of downsizing police departments.
