Special Olympics State Summer Games at CMU for 41st year

BY JENNIFER WEINGART

This weekend, Central Michigan University hosts the 41st annual Special Olympics State summer games.

26-hundred athletes are expected to participate, the highest number in five years.

Athletes will compete in more than 25 different events during the three day competition.

Aaron Mills is the public relations coordinator for Special Olympics Michigan. He said thousands of volunteers make the event possible.

“We’ve got more volunteers than we’ve got athletes coming in. We’ve got about 34 hundred coaches, volunteers, chaperones, family members, everybody coming all in to help out,” Mills said.

The theme for this years games is super stars. Mount Pleasant resident and “American Idol” contestant Shubha Vedula will perform at the opening ceremonies and “Biggest Loser” runner-up and Michigan Native Jeff Nichols will also be part of the games.

Education budget awaits Snyder’s signature

BY JAKE NEHER

Michigan Public Radio Network

The state Senate has approved an education budget that would boost public school funding by about three percent. 

Colleges and universities would also get an increase of around two percent. 

Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville praised the schools budget, saying it addresses issues like teacher retirement costs while giving more money to districts.

“The education budget this year may be the best that I’ve seen since I’ve been up here,” Richardville said.

But many Democrats say the plan does not do enough to make up for cuts to education over the past couple of years. They’re also criticizing Republicans for adding language related to social issues like embryonic stem cell research. 

The education budget now goes to Governor Rick Snyder for his signature.

Copyright 2013, MPRN

Jeb Bush: Stick with Common Core school standards

BY RICK PLUTA

Michigan Public Radio Network

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush said Michigan should pursue more charter schools and online learning as part of the state’s efforts to improve education. 

He also asked state lawmakers to stick with common national standards to measure student performance.

The Michigan Legislature’s Republican majorities just approved a school aid budget that forbid spending to enact the Common Core standards developed by the nation’s governors. Some conservatives say the standards hand over Michigan’s education policy to a national consortium.

Jeb Bush helped come up with the standards as Florida’s governor, and made an impassioned plea for Michigan to stick with them.

“Do not pull back! Please, do not pull back from high, lofty standards,” Bush said.

Bush was addressing the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Mackinac Policy Conference. Governor Rick Snyder also supports the standards. He said there is still time to change some minds in Lansing before the state’s new fiscal year begins in the fall.

Copyright 2013, MPRN

Federal court upholds Michigan death penalty sentence

A federal appeals court has upheld the conviction and death sentence of a west Michigan man who murdered a young mother and her baby in 1997.

Michigan law does not allow for the death penalty, however, the murder occurred in a national forest. That led prosecutors to charge the suspect, Marvin Gabrion, under federal law, which does allow the death penalty.

Gabrion was convicted in the case over a decade ago, and has been appealing the verdict ever since. Police say he murdered 19-year-old Rachel Timmerman to prevent her from testifying in a separate rape case. 

Gabrion could still appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Public meetings to focus on Saginaw Bay improvements

BY ANTHONY RIZZO

Recent improvements to the Saginaw Bay watershed will be discussed at a public meeting Wednesday in Saginaw.

The meeting will call attention to three so-called “Beneficial Use Impairments” in place on Saginaw Bay. The BUI designation identifies needed improvements in areas such as fish and wildlife habitat and water quality.

Warren Smith is acting chair of the Partnership for the Saginaw Bay Watershed.

He said because of recent improvements to the bay, several BUI’s are up for delisting.

“They’ve tied three of these together, as far as the Saginaw Bay. The first which is habitat, the second which is deformities and the third which would be populations.” Smith said.

Smith said based on newly gathered data, he believes the delisting process could begin relatively soon.

State House passes budget, boosts local government funding

BY JAKE NEHER

Michigan Public Radio Network

Schools and local governments would get a boost under a budget plan making its way through the state Legislature. The legislation would also keep open the last three juvenile justice facilities in the state.

Michigan public schools would see at least a $5 per-pupil boost. Schools getting the minimum amount from the state could receive up to $60 more per student. 

Democratic State Representative Brandon Dillon said he’s happy no schools will see cuts in state support. But he said it still doesn’t come close to adequately funding public schools.

“You know, it’s better than last year. But our standards for excellence in school funding have diminished significantly. And it’s still not enough to educate kids, especially kids in high poverty, high needs districts, and our urban districts,” Dillon said.

Democrats are also criticizing the bill for cutting funds that would go toward implementing the federal Common Core curriculum standards in schools. They say those funding cuts put Michigan schools at risk of losing federal dollars.

State revenue sharing with municipalities and counties would increase by almost 5 percent under the budget bills. Many lawmakers say that would be a big help to local governments that have seen their budgets dwindle in recent years.

But the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee said it’s not enough. Representative Rashida Tlaib said many cities will still have trouble providing basic services.

“This little bit of trinkets that we just gave them, they’re trinkets. They’re not enough to really restore those cuts that folks on the other side of the aisle took two years ago,” Tlaib said.

The legislation would also keep open the last three juvenile justice facilities in the state. Many lawmakers wanted the facilities closed to save money.

Republican state Representative Peter MacGregor calls the plan a compromise.

“To tell you the truth, all three facilities continue to bleed general fund dollars. There’s some savings there. I just have to do a better job of convincing my senate and the executive that there are real savings there,” MacGregor said.

Additionally the budget plan would maintain state film incentives at $50 million a year.

The state Senate could take up the budget bills as soon as Wednesday.

Copyright 2013, MPRN

Bill allows local governments to restrict fireworks

BY RICK PLUTA

Michigan Public Radio Network

There soon could be stricter limits on shooting off high-powered fireworks in Michigan on the days surrounding federal holidays. 

The state House has approved the new rules, and they could be ready for Governor Rick Snyder’s signature in time for July Fourth. That’s after the governor and the Legislature adopted a law last year that allows the sale and shooting of high-powered fireworks.

State Representative Harold Haugh sponsored the bill. He said it will allow many local governments to adopt tougher ordinances to deal with complaints of loud explosions into the early morning hours.

“Heaven help those that ignore it because if they get caught, my guess is the local municipalities, the judges are going to hit them with a very stiff fine, so catch ’em one time, I doubt they’ll do it a second time.” Haugh said.

One Democratic House member voted against the bill. He said local governments should be allowed to enact any fireworks limits they want without interference from the state.

Copyright 2013, MPRN

Former congressman to challenge Snyder in 2014

BY RICK PLUTA

Michigan Public Radio Network

The field seems cleared for two sons of Battle Creek to face each other in the 2014 race for Michigan governor. Former Congressman Mark Schauer filed papers Tuesday to run as a Democrat.

Other Democrats explored the possibility and dropped back in favor of Schauer, whose political career spans from the Battle Creek City Commission, to the state Legislature and Congress.

Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lon Johnson said the early start, the 2014 elections are 17 months away, will help Schauer challenge Republican Governor Rick Snyder.  

“It’s going to take a lot of organization. It’s going to take a lot of messaging. And it’s going to take a lot of money. To do that takes time.” Johnson said.

Bobby Schostak is the Michigan Republican Party chairman. He said the state GOP is ready to pounce on Schauer’s record in the state Legislature and Congress.

“We will make that very clear when you are voting for higher taxes, and more spending, and more regulation, it’s wrong for Michigan. And we will get that message out loud and clear, so we see him as very vulnerable.” Schostak said.

Schauer was among the thousands of protestors who demonstrated last December at the state Capitol against the Right to Work law signed by the governor. Snyder has indicated he intends to seek a second term, and is expected to formally announce later this year or early in 2014.  

Copyright 2013, MPRN

Critics say foreclosure bills put banks ahead of homeowners

BY JAKE NEHER

Michigan Public Radio Network

Opponents of a plan to change the foreclosure process in Michigan say it would put more people out of their homes and hurt property values. They were in Lansing Tuesday to protest a package of bills in the state Legislature.

The legislation would shorten the amount of time homeowners have to stop a bank foreclosure from six months to two months.

Ingham County Register of Deeds Curtis Hertel Junior said banks have wrongly foreclosed on thousands of properties across the state. He said it often takes months for people to prove they don’t deserve to lose their home.

“If you’ve ever dealt with Bank of America, trying to get an individual person on the phone several times is a very difficult process. Getting a call back is a very difficult process. To think that within 60 days we’re going to actually solve these problems, I think is just, it’s frankly insane.” Junior said.

The legislation would also add 30 days to the grace period before the foreclosure proceedings begin. Supporters of the plan say that would help homeowners avoid having their homes seized. They say the bills would reduce blight and cut costs for banks and their customers.

Copyright 2013, MPRN

Combat medics gain on-the-job experience in Flint

A Flint-area hospital is playing a crucial role in training special operations combat medics for the U.S. military.

These medics play an important role not only on the battlefield, but also in isolated areas throughout the world.

The medics make their way to Hurley Medical Center in Flint after an extensive training program at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

Dr. Michael Jaggi is chief of emergency medicine for Hurley. He said these combat medics will certainly be treating traumatic injuries, the kind of things you’d see on a battlefield. But they’ll also be learning about general medicine, which they’ll use to treat local populations around the world.

“When these medics are behind enemy lines, in indigenous populations, they really serve as ambassadors for the country, and they do so a lot of times by providing medical care. And it is not uncommon for these medics to be in remote parts of the world, in very austere environments. The native folks will need medical care, and they look to us and they look to our soldiers to provide that care.” Jaggi said.

The combat medics will train in Hurley’s emergency department, intensive care and pediatric units, and birthing wards.

Dr. Jaggi said it is a great honor for Hurley to be training combat medics, it is one of only four civilian locations in the U.S. to do so.