This week from Capital News Service

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Friday, Sept. 20 — Each week, City Pulse will run a series of stories produced by Capital News Service correspondents at Michigan State University’s School of Journalism. While reports cover the entire state, some will be focused on the greater Lansing region.

In this week’s issue, state Rep. Sam Singh, D-East Lansing, is cosponsoring legislation related to recouping costs of rescuing thrill seekers who “do dumb things during emergencies — such as kayaking during a flood.”

A bill to let local governments recoup costs of rescuing thrill seekers who do dumb things during emergencies—such as kayaking during a flood—has bipartisan sponsors, including ones from Grand Rapids,  Hudsonville, Walker, Caledonia and East Lansing. A Grand Ledge GOP senator who worked with a Warren Democrat says Democrats and Republicans can sometimes work together, although a Hope College political scientist is skeptical. We also talk to an East Lansing political consultant. By Becky McKendry.

And elsewhere in the state:

It’s a puzzling century-old population trend in the UP, a yo-yoing cycle of growth and decline every 20 years—with numbers projected by U of M to rise this decade. We talk to the state demographer, a Michigan Tech economist, the Western UP Planning and Development Regional Commission and the Timbermen Association. By Matthew Hall.

A large proportion of students entering community colleges need developmental education courses because high school hasn’t fully prepared them for college-level work, a new federal study shows. We hear from the Michigan Community College Association, a Grand Valley State education professor and the president of Montcalm Community College. By Lacee Shepard.

Many teachers are moving out of state or can’t find jobs here, the MEA president says, and some districts—but not Cadillac or Crawford AuSable—report trouble recruiting special education and science teachers. CMU predicts growing opportunities for new teachers. We also hear from a special ed student teacher in Rochester and the Mackinac Center in Midland. By Stephen Ingber.

A Saugatuck lawmaker wants the state to reimburse local governments for putting out fires on DNR land. The idea follows a fire in the Allegan State Game Area. We talk to the Association of Fire Chiefs president from Alpena, DNR and the Townships Association. By Justine McGuire.

A lawmaker from Clare, where many Amish families live, wants to let counties assess $50 registration fees for horse-drawn vehicles. The County Roads Association of Michigan likes the concept but officials at the St. Joseph County and Mackinac County road commissions say the negatives outweigh positives. There are Amish settlements in Centreville, Mio, Quincy, Hillsdale County and Mackinac County. By Eric Freedman.

All articles ©2013, Capital News Service, Michigan State University School of Journalism. Nonmembers cannot reproduce CNS articles without written permission.

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