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  <channel>
    <title>WCSG State News</title>
    <link>http://www.wcsg.org/news/</link>
    <description>WCSG News, Keeping You Informed</description>
    <language>en-us</language>
    <webMaster>webmaster@wcsg.org (Marissa)</webMaster>


    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Gov. Snyder, GOP lawmakers agree to budget targets ]]></title>
      <guid>http://www.wcsg.org/news/article.php?article_id=262741</guid>
      <link>http://www.wcsg.org/news/article.php?article_id=262741</link>
      <description><![CDATA[<p> Gov. Rick Snyder and leaders of the GOP majority in the Legislature have reached a budget agreement for next fiscal year that puts Michigan's unexpected surplus toward funding roads and K-12 education.</p>

<p></p>

<p>Snyder met Tuesday with Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville and House Speaker Jase Bolger to complete spending targets for the budget that takes effect Oct. 1.</p>

<p></p>

<p>The plan includes putting about $350 million in the state's ailing roads and bridges, short of the $1.2 billion Snyder had called for in additional road funding.</p>

<p></p>

<p>The Republicans also agreed to put $140 million toward K-12 education and leave $75 million in the state's rainy-day fund.</p>

<p></p>

<p>Budget experts say Michigan should get about $483 million more in taxes than expected in January for the fiscal year ending in 4&Acirc;&frac12; months.</p>

<p></p>

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 08:49:33 -0000</pubDate>
    </item>



    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Palisades water tank repairs take to early summer]]></title>
      <guid>http://www.wcsg.org/news/article.php?article_id=262736</guid>
      <link>http://www.wcsg.org/news/article.php?article_id=262736</link>
      <description><![CDATA[<p> &acirc;€” It could be early summer before repairs are completed at a nuclear power plant in Michigan that has been idled nine times since 2011.</p>

<p></p>

<p>Operators of the idled Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in southwestern Michigan say the repairs involve a tank that leaked slightly radioactive water into Lake Michigan.</p>

<p></p>

<p>The plant is in Van Buren County's Covert Township, about 80 miles east-northeast of Chicago,</p>

<p></p>

<p>New Orleans-based Entergy Corp. idled the plant May 5 after operators found a tank leaking faster than regulations allow. Some slightly radioactive water entered Lake Michigan, but the Nuclear Regulatory Commission says there was no public health risk.</p>

<p></p>

<p>Entergy spokeswoman Lindsay Rose said Monday that inspectors &quot;identified a small crack&quot; along a weld in the tank they believe caused the leak. She says the tank bottom and subflooring are being replaced.</p>

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 21 May 2013 08:47:37 -0000</pubDate>
    </item>



    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Officials to kick of Michigan seat belt campaign ]]></title>
      <guid>http://www.wcsg.org/news/article.php?article_id=262732</guid>
      <link>http://www.wcsg.org/news/article.php?article_id=262732</link>
      <description><![CDATA[<p> Law enforcement officials across Michigan will be enforcing federally funded safety belt enforcement zones through the coming Memorial Day travel weekend.</p>

<p></p>

<p>Safety belt enforcement is to be the topic of a news event scheduled for Monday in Detroit.</p>

<p></p>

<p>Speakers at the event at Henry Ford Hospital are to include Kathy Farnum, section chief of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning; Henry Ford trauma surgeon Erin Field and Detroit police Deputy Chief James Tolbert.</p>

<p></p>

<p>They're to discuss how Michigan's seat belt usage rate has declined over the past three years after leading the nation in 2008 and 2009.</p>

<p></p>

<p>And a mannequin is to be used to demonstrate injuries often experienced by unbuckled motorists in a crash.</p>

<p></p>

<p>___</p>

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 20 May 2013 08:41:30 -0000</pubDate>
    </item>



    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Power bills to rise for Consumers Energy customers]]></title>
      <guid>http://www.wcsg.org/news/article.php?article_id=262726</guid>
      <link>http://www.wcsg.org/news/article.php?article_id=262726</link>
      <description><![CDATA[<p>&acirc;€” The average electric customer of Consumers Energy will start paying $1.67 more per month.</p>

<p></p>

<p>The $89 million rate increase was approved Wednesday by state regulators. It's less than a $110 million rate increase the Jackson-based utility self-implemented in March.</p>

<p></p>

<p>The Public Service Commission ordered Consumers to refund some money, though it's not expected to affect residential customers.</p>

<p></p>

<p>Consumers is one of Michigan's two leading utilities and has 1.8 million customers.</p>

<p></p>

<p>Regulators say rates are going up 2.3 percent over the last time Consumers raised rates, though they didn't provide an actual dollar amount. The $1.67 increase is above the utility's self-implemented rate hike two months ago.</p>

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 16 May 2013 07:12:57 -0000</pubDate>
    </item>



    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Law enforcement agencies observing police week ]]></title>
      <guid>http://www.wcsg.org/news/article.php?article_id=262721</guid>
      <link>http://www.wcsg.org/news/article.php?article_id=262721</link>
      <description><![CDATA[<p>&acirc;€” Law enforcement agencies statewide are holding events to mark National Police Week.</p>

<p></p>

<p>Ceremonies planned for Wednesday include the Port Huron Department of Public Safety, which will honor its police officers, firefighters and other personnel with an awards ceremony. The Cass County Sheriff's Office also is hosting a memorial service for officers including Deputy Shane Britton, who died in 2000 when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree.</p>

<p></p>

<p>The Upper Peninsula Peace Officer Memorial will recognize fallen officers from the peninsula as well as Wisconsin and Canada with a memorial in the Dickinson County community of Norway.</p>

<p></p>

<p>State officers killed in the line of duty are among those honored by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. It held a vigil Monday at its memorial wall in Washington, D.C.</p>

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 15 May 2013 07:42:27 -0000</pubDate>
    </item>



    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Mich. projected to get $542M more than expected ]]></title>
      <guid>http://www.wcsg.org/news/article.php?article_id=262717</guid>
      <link>http://www.wcsg.org/news/article.php?article_id=262717</link>
      <description><![CDATA[<p> &acirc;€” Michigan could take in $542 million more in revenue than projected 4 months ago.</p>

<p></p>

<p>That's according to a report Monday from the nonpartisan Senate Fiscal Agency. It's good news for lawmakers and Gov. Rick Snyder as they work to finalize a state budget for the fiscal year starting in October.</p>

<p></p>

<p>Senate experts say Michigan could have a $739 million surplus in the current budget year. The extra money could be used to boost spending, lower taxes or be socked away in savings.</p>

<p></p>

<p>The Snyder administration and economists are meeting Wednesday to agree on budget figures. The House Fiscal Agency and state treasurer also will put out revenue projections for the meeting.</p>

<p></p>

<p>Legislators aim to pass the next budget by June, though sticking points remain over Medicaid expansion and road funding.</p>

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 14 May 2013 07:20:24 -0000</pubDate>
    </item>



    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[NRC commissioner, congressman to visit nuke plant ]]></title>
      <guid>http://www.wcsg.org/news/article.php?article_id=262711</guid>
      <link>http://www.wcsg.org/news/article.php?article_id=262711</link>
      <description><![CDATA[<p> &acirc;€” A Nuclear Regulatory Commission member and a Michigan congressman plan to visit the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant, which was taken off line over a repeated water leak problem.</p>

<p></p>

<p>New Orleans-based Entergy Corp. shut down the southwestern Michigan plant May 5, one day after operators found a tank leaking faster than regulations allow. Some slightly radioactive water entered Lake Michigan, but the NRC says there's no health risk.</p>

<p></p>

<p>Republican Congressman Fred Upton of St. Joseph says he and Commissioner Kristine Svinicki will visit the plant Monday.</p>

<p></p>

<p>Palisades is along Lake Michigan in Van Buren County's Covert Township. It's had nine shutdowns since September 2011.</p>

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 13 May 2013 07:20:55 -0000</pubDate>
    </item>



    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[House GOP backs expanded Medicaid, with conditions]]></title>
      <guid>http://www.wcsg.org/news/article.php?article_id=262707</guid>
      <link>http://www.wcsg.org/news/article.php?article_id=262707</link>
      <description><![CDATA[<p>&acirc;€” Majority Republicans in the Michigan House are backing an expansion of Medicaid eligibility to more low-income residents, but only if major changes are made to the government health insurance program.</p>

<p></p>

<p>A plan unveiled Thursday limits &quot;abled-bodied&quot; adults to being covered for 4 years. That's believed to the first such proposal in the country.</p>

<p></p>

<p>Other features include health savings accounts for Medicaid recipients and ensuring they spend no more than 5 percent of their income for insurance. Lawmakers would revisit the expansion when the U.S. stops covering the entire cost.</p>

<p></p>

<p>House Speaker Jase Bolger says the plan incorporates ideas from Arkansas and Indiana. Michigan needs a federal waiver before proceeding.</p>

<p></p>

<p>Republican Gov. Rick Snyder wants to add 320,000 people to Medicaid. But GOP lawmakers have resisted unless underlying changes are made.</p>

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 10 May 2013 08:58:13 -0000</pubDate>
    </item>



    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[District that can't pay teachers shuts another day ]]></title>
      <guid>http://www.wcsg.org/news/article.php?article_id=262701</guid>
      <link>http://www.wcsg.org/news/article.php?article_id=262701</link>
      <description><![CDATA[<p>&acirc;€” A Michigan school district that says it can't afford to pay its teachers is closed for another day as officials plan to declare a financial emergency.</p>

<p></p>

<p>The Buena Vista School District is in Saginaw County just outside of Saginaw. It canceled classes again for Thursday after doing so for Tuesday and Wednesday.</p>

<p></p>

<p>The school board voted Monday to lay off most employees.</p>

<p></p>

<p>A board meeting is Thursday night. Board President Randy L. Jackson tells MLive.com the board plans to declare a financial emergency.</p>

<p></p>

<p>Students haven't been in school since Friday, since Monday was a scheduled day off due to professional development for teachers.</p>

<p></p>

<p>The school district announced last week that it won't be able to make payroll May 24 because the state has put a hold on its funding.</p>

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 09 May 2013 08:44:31 -0000</pubDate>
    </item>



    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Governor declares State of Disaster for 19 Counties]]></title>
      <guid>http://www.wcsg.org/news/article.php?article_id=262696</guid>
      <link>http://www.wcsg.org/news/article.php?article_id=262696</link>
      <description><![CDATA[<p>Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has declared a state of disaster for 19 counties and two cities to support ongoing local efforts to respond to the severe flooding that affected parts of Michigan.  The two cities that will get extra help include Grand Rapids and Ionia.</p>

<p>The affected counties are: Baraga, Barry, Benzie, Genesee, Gogebic, Gratiot, Houghton, Ionia, Kent, Keweenaw, Marquette, Mecosta, Midland, Muskegon, Newaygo, Ontonagon, Osceola, Ottawa, and Saginaw.</p>

<p>The declaration will ensure that all possible resources are provided to assist the local response to the flooding.</p>

<p>Gov. Snyder says he has asked that FEMA join state and local officials later this week to assess the damage to home, businesses and infrastructure.</p>

<p>The flooding lasted from April 9 through late last week.</p>

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 May 2013 08:55:35 -0000</pubDate>
    </item>


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