WCMU News

169 dogs are rescued from a Missaukee county puppy mill.

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:15:40 -0500

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals- or ASPCA - says, they'll be in northern Michigan as long as it takes. The organization will help to place more than 150 dogs rescued from what the ASPCA is calling a Missaukee county puppy mill. The 169 dogs were removed from John's Jack Russell and Shiba Inu Kennel in Lake City.Officials say the animals had no access to clean drinking water or proper shelter.

Kathryn Destreza, the director of Investigations for the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response, says that the dogs were fearful of people and exhibited unsocialized behavior that can be common in puppy mill dogs, "Much of the public don't understand this kind of large scale commercial breeding operation in which the profit is priority and not the well being of the actually animals, and this happens all the time. So you see the animals in the pet store but you don't see where they come from and they often times come from these puppy mill situations". The dogs are being held at the Roscommon Animal Shelter. The ASPCA is examining the dogs medically and behaviorally to determine their suitability for placement.

Lake monitoring program seeks volunteers

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:31:41 -0500

BY ANTHONY RIZZO

Volunteers are being recruited to monitor northern Michigan lakes for algae and water clarity this summer.

The Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council is looking for volunteers to monitor lakes in Antrim, Emmet, Charlevoix and Cheboygan counties. And they're holding a free training this week for volunteers who are interested.

Officials say the training and monitor work is a straightforward process.

Kevin Cronk, the Monitoring and Research Coordinator with Tip of the Mitt, will provide the training.

"I'll give an introduction about the program itself, an overview, as well as a summary of data that has been collected by our volunteers in the last 20 plus years. Then I will walk volunteers through the methodologies that they will employ in the field to help us monitor the lakes of Northern Michigan." Cronk said.

Cronk said the training is followed with a field practicum.

He will take volunteers out on a pontoon boat to explain data-collecting methods in a hands-on manner.

Drive to ban abortion coverage in insurance policies will go ahead

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:23:16 -0500

BY RICK PLUTA

Michigan Public Radio Network

Abortion foes in Michigan have been given the go-ahead to launch a petition drive.

They want to ban insurance companies from including abortion coverage in basic health policies.

Women who want abortion coverage would have to purchase a separate rider, or convince their employers to add it to their health policies.

The petition drive needs more than a quarter million registered voters to get the question before the Legislature.

Barbara Listing of Right to Life of Michigan said the Legislature has already voted once for this, but was vetoed last year by Governor Rick Snyder.

"This is simply good public policy that people do not want to pay for other people's abortions." Listing said.

"Right to Life is really urging the Legislature to work around the governor." Groen said.

Megan Hodge Groen of Planned Parenthood says abortion rights advocates will urge people not to sign the petitions. But Right to Life has successfully used the petition process to enact three other anti-abortion laws.

Performance pay for teachers moves forward in state House

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:19:39 -0500

BY JAKE NEHER

Michigan Public Radio Network

A state House panel has approved a plan to tie teachers' pay to student performance.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle say they're worried the bill would strip away local control.

Bill supporters say just because someone has been teaching for a long time, that doesn't mean they're a great teacher. They say educators should be paid more if their students are making progress, and less if they're not.

Eaton Intermediate School District Superintendent Christine Beardsley said they're already implementing a similar system. But she said not all schools can or should adopt the same policy.

"Why not allow us to then maybe lead the way and have others join as they determine their district is ready for this." Beardsley said.

The bill would only apply to teachers hired after the law goes into effect.

Wolf hunt law headed for '14 ballot

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:12:51 -0500

BY RICK PLUTA

Michigan Public Radio Network

Voters will decide the fate of a state law that allows wildlife officials to set wolf hunting seasons in the Upper Peninsula.

As Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta reports the referendum has been approved for the November 2014 ballot.

A state elections board agreed the "Keep Michigan Wolves Protected" campaign gathered more than enough petition signatures to get the challenge on the ballot. That also suspends the law until voters decide.

But the Legislature and Governor Rick Snyder also approved a second law. It circumvents the referendum and still allows the state to establish wolf seasons.

Jill Fritz of "Keep Michigan Wolves Protected" said the campaign could attempt another referendum, or go to court.

"There could be some legal issues involved. We're still looking at all of the options." Fritz said.

Michigan's first wolf season is slated for this coming November. Supporters of the hunt say it's needed to help control wolf attacks on pets and livestock in the Upper Peninsula.

Police are asking for the public's help in finding an Emmet county teen

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:20:15 -0500

The Emmet County Sheriff's Office is asking the public to assist in locating a missing juvenile named Adam Nicholas Albrecht.

Adam is a 15 year old male that was last seen during the evening hours on May 21, 2013. He was last seen leaving on foot from his home on River Road in Bear Creek Township.

Adam is described as 5 feet 5 inches and approximately 120 pounds. He has brown eyes with medium length brown hair. Adam was last seen wearing a gray colored sweater, blue/white base ball hat, khaki shorts and tennis shoes.

Anyone with information regarding Adam's whereabouts are asked to call the Emmet County Sheriff's Office at 231-439-8900 or 231-439-8910.

Beaver Island church gets historical marker

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:49:13 -0500

BY JENNIFER WEINGART

The Michigan Historical Center has approved four new historical markers for the state. Anyone who has travelled in Michigan has probably seen the green and gold signs, but what does it take to get one of these markers?

The cast aluminum markers are used to commemorate places and people that were significant to Michigan history.

People in a community that see a need for one of these markers send in an application to the Michigan Historical Commission. If the commission approves the application, the community moves on to writing the text that will appear on the sign.

Sandra Clark, Director of the Michigan Historical Center, said the markers can be about anything, or anyone historically significant.

"Some of them are about people who have done significant things in Michigan some of them are about events, some of them are about buildings, some about places, so its a wide variety and we're looking for things that mean something to the state or to a local community." Clark said.

One of the markers recently approved is for the Holy Cross Catholic Church on Beaver Island.

The church was consecrated by Father Frederic Baraga, who was the travelling preacher for the Upper Peninsula and the Northern Lower Peninsula. Services in the church were given in Gaelic for the immigrant Irish community until the 1890's.

Now that the text has been approved, the respective communities will purchase the markers and they will be placed and dedicated.

Conference explores U.S. / Canadian border issues

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:05:14 -0500

BY JENNIFER WEINGART

Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie Canada is hosting a conference this week to explore issues surrounding the Canada U.S. Border.

The conference is part of a three year project by researchers to explore the cultural connections at the U.S. / Canada.

Academics will also look at the social and political issues around the border, which is the longest international border in the world.

Jan Clark is a co-organizer for the conference.

"A lot of work has been done looking at the Mexican border with the U.S. and so this is bringing some of that to looking at the northern border." Clark said.

Academics from the United States and Canada will be joined by researchers from the U.K., Austria, Germany, Bangladesh, and Mexico. They will explore social and political issues as well as the culture surrounding the border.

The organizers of the conference say they hope the project will bring increased interest to the issues.

Budget deal funds roads, schools but delays some big decisions

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:54:28 -0500

BY RICK PLUTA

Michigan Public Radio Network

There's a tentative budget deal between Governor Rick Snyder and the Legislature's Republican leaders. It puts more money into savings, schools, and roads. It also delays decisions on some of the governor's priorities.

A budget windfall will allow the state to sock away more in savings, provide a boost to schools, and come up with enough money to qualify for federal matching funds to pay for some road repairs.

"However, that doesn't solve the full problem. We still need to find a solution to the full problem." Bolger said.

That's House Speaker Jase Bolger, talking about the unresolved question of how to come up with an additional 1.2 billion dollars for roads. That's especially difficult with a Legislature that's been opposed to higher gas taxes and registration fees.

Despite the governor's support for it, there's also a continued impasse on expanding the Medicaid program, mostly with money from the federal Affordable Care Act.

New student safety hotline aims to stop school violence

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:41:57 -0500

BY JAKE NEHER

Michigan Public Radio Network

State officials say students need new and better ways to report threats of school violence. Tuesday, they announced plans to create a new anonymous tip-line that would include a mobile app for tech-savvy teens.

The program would let students send in tips by phone, text message, email, or the mobile app, which accepts photos and videos.

Michigan State Police Director Kriste Etue said it's crucial to remove as many barriers as possible for teens with possibly life-saving information.

"They're all socially connected to their device. So we have to appeal to the young people today." Etue said.

Officials say the state would pay for the new service with a pool of money from court settlements paid to the state.

Lawmakers are also drafting legislation meant to make sure the system does not stick school districts with added costs. They say it would also ensure the tips are kept confidential.

Salary commission recommends slight pay raise for judges

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:31:48 -0500

BY RICK PLUTA

Michigan Public Radio Network

Judges in Michigan would see a pay bump, but other state elected officials are in for another salary freeze under recommendations adopted Tuesday by a state panel.

The proposal now goes to the Legislature.

Lawmakers could vote on the recommendations or ignore them and allow them to expire. That's what happened in 2009, the last time the State Officers Compensation Commission recommended judicial pay increases.

Mick Middaugh is a former lawmaker who sits on the commission, and supported a 3 percent pay raise for judges.

"Does it clear everything up? Not necessarily. But it's a step in the right direction, and it gives the Legislature an opportunity to act." Middaugh said.

The Michigan Constitution in 2002 to require lawmakers to face voters before they and other state elected officials can collect a salary increase. There hasn't been one approved since then, although the Legislature voted for a pay cut in 2011.

MPSC allows Consumers to raise rates

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:31:59 -0500

BY JENNIFER WEINGART

Electricity rates for Michigan residents who get their power from Consumers Energy increased effective Thursday.

The utility had first requested this current rate hike in September of 2012.

This week's approval by the Michigan Public Service Commission will generate an additional $89 million per year which Consumers said is needed to pay for increased production and transmission costs.

An average residential customer using 500 kilowatt-hours will see a monthly increase of $1.67.

Judy Palnau is a spokesperson for the MPSC.

"In their filing with the commission noted several reasons for needing additional money and everything from improving their operations and maintenance to improving the system so it is more reliable as it provides electric service to customers to complying with environmental laws." Palnau said.

Palneau said the approved increase represents sixty percent of Consumers request from last year.

Consumers provides power to six point eight million Michigan residents.

Salary commission will recommend no changes to governor's paycheck

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:07:42 -0500

BY RICK PLUTA

Michigan Public Radio Network

A state salary commission is expected to recommend no pay raises for the governor, lieutenant governor, and legislators when it meets Tuesday. But, there could be a dust-up over judges' salaries.

Governor Rick Snyder and legislative leaders sent word to the State Officers Compensation Commission that they're not looking for pay raises. Some judges, though, have said they'd like a bump in their pay after 10 years without a raise.

"Why put something out there that's not going to go anywhere?" Meyer said.

Larry Meyer is the commission chair. He said all the signals are any pay increase proposal would be rejected by lawmakers or simply ignored.

"That would not be an exercise I would want to be a part of." Meyer said.

The state constitution was amended in 2002 to require lawmakers to face voters 'after' making the decision on salaries for elected officials.

Advocates: Restore Earned Income Tax Credit with tax windfall

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:27:56 -0500

BY JAKE NEHER

The debate continues in Lansing over how the state should spend almost half a billion dollars in unexpected revenue this year.

Some advocacy groups said lawmakers should use it to restore tax credits for the working poor.

The state's Earned Income Tax Credit is less than a third of what it was a couple years ago.

Michigan League for Public Policy President Gilda Jacobs said now there's money to restore the credit. She said at least part of the state's surplus should go back to the taxpayers that need it most.

"Part of balancing the budget was done on the backs of low-income people and seniors, and we can do something to fix that." Jacobs said.

A spokesperson for state House Democrats said they support the idea of using some of the money to restore the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Governor Rick Snyder said a similar tax credit from the federal government does enough to help working poor families in Michigan. He wants to use the extra cash to fix roads.

Internet sales tax bills pass U.S. Senate, debate continues in Michigan

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:09:03 -0500

BY JENNIFER WEINGART

Law makers are finding that the honor system isn't all it's cracked up to be, at least when it comes to people paying sales tax on items they purchase on the internet.

Now both federal and Michigan state government are searching for alternative ways to collect the lost revenue.

Jennifer Weingart takes a look at what new proposals may mean for consumers and for Michigan's economy.

Officials say requiring taxpayers to self-report is costing Michigan an estimated 450 million dollars a year, and that number is rising

"The Michigan Department of Treasury estimates that about 491 million dollars of lost revenue will occur in fiscal year 2014." Hallan said.

That was Bill Hallan, with the Michigan Retailers Association.

The 1992 US Supreme Court ruling on Quill v. North Dakota said that a state cannot charge sales tax unless a retailer has a physical presence in the state.

The two bills in the state legislature would re-define what constitutes a 'Physical Presence'.

"Do they have a network of affiliates in Michigan, do they have a subsidiary in Michigan, or a warehouse or a distribution center, if they meet any of those tests then they have a sufficient connection, or nexus if you will, with Michigan where they should be required to collect like any other brick and mortar that's already doing so." Hallan said.

Politicians from both parties support the internet bills, and Michigan isn't the only state with laws like these in the works.

Republican Representative Peter Pettalia from Presque Isle said he co-sponsored the legislation for two reasons

"Number one, it's not a new tax and the dollars that should be collected would help us with the short-falls that we have right now in bringing money back to our schools, local government, police and fires, and the likes. The other is it makes it fair for all businesses, whether you're a brick and mortar business or an internet business in the state of Michigan it makes the playing field level." Pettalia said.

Democrat Stacy Erwin Oakes from Saginaw is also a co-sponsor. She said that state action is not enough.

"Until the federal government passes some legislation there may be some other loopholes to prevent that. This legislation at least starts the conversation and makes sure people understand that we are trying to tie up into other sources to raise revenue other than the backs of the working poor." Oakes said.

The federal law would mandate that all retailers making more than one million dollars a year on remote sales collect the sales tax for each tax jurisdiction they sell to.

Tricia Kinley with the Michigan Chamber of Commerce says the Senate version would be enforceable across state lines but she also acknowledges potential challenges to it that could be raised in the U.S. House.

"The ideal approach would be that congress acts on this but knowing that congress might not there's certainly an interest across the country that states take matters into their own hands" Kinley said.

The bills in Lansing and in Washington have been nicknamed "Main Street Fairness" and "Marketplace Fairness" but just how fair are they?

Brick and mortar businesses located in Michigan charge sales tax on every taxable sale but those sales are made in the same place every time.

If the federal bill becomes law, an internet retailer would have to keep track of all the sales they make and charge sales tax accordingly.

That means an online business would have to count tax for forty-five different states that charge sales tax as well as the nearly seven thousand local tax jurisdictions across the country, something traditional brick and mortars don't have to worry about.

Opponents to the state law say if it passes, Michigan would be at a competitive disadvantage.

The state would charge tax on businesses that are physically present in Michigan, but states without an internet sales tax would not.

Ted O'Neil with The Mackinac Center for Public Policy says this would be detrimental to Michigan's economy.

"With e-commerce it might mean fewer internet type companies are willing to locate in Michigan, or build a warehouse or whatever, which could, in turn mean fewer jobs." O'Neil said.

Americans for Prosperity of Michigan is another organization that opposes the bill as written. It proposes that the bill be paired with another measure that would reduce income taxes, and as a result make the bills revenue neutral.

Scott Hagerstrom is the state director of Americans for Prosperity.

"Politicians are looking for more revenue, and this is the reason they're pushing these bills, is for more revenue they're putting it under the guise of fairness and we don't need to be increasing the tax burden on working class people in this country and we don't need to be increasing the burden on small businesses and this will only result in job losses." Hagerstrom said.

The two bills in Lansing are under consideration on the house side.

The federal bill passed the Senate by a vote of 69 to 27, but has not yet been picked up by the House.

None of the people we talked to for this story would venture a guess as to the likelihood of any of these bills becoming law.