Saturday, Sept. 28 — 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.
This week’s topics cover African-American children in foster care; privacy concerns over mandatory DNA testing of criminal suspects; a school-violence hotline; and funding public education on hunting and fishing.
While the number of Michigan children in foster care is shrinking, it’s still more difficult for agencies to place African-American children with adoptive parents than to place white children. We talk to a black author from Brighton adopted by white parents, a social worker in East Lansing and a Grand Rapids-based adoption agency. By Becky McKendry.
A recent U.S. Supreme Court case allowing mandatory DNA testing of criminal suspects who haven’t been convicted is raising privacy concerns among civil liberties experts. We hear from the head of the State Police Biometric and Identification Division, a Detroit attorney and a constitutional law professor at Cooley Law School’s Grand Rapids campus. By Lacee Shepard.
A Senate-passed bill to create a confidential hotline to report possible school violence is stalled in the House, although there’s $3.5 million already set aside to run it. Cadillac schools and a privately financed program in Kent County provide such a service locally. Sponsors are from Sheridan and Six Lakes. The MEA is pushing for it. By Sheila Schimpf.
After approving a major hike in hunting and fishing license fees, 45 lawmakers want to ensure that the $1-per-license surcharge is earmarked for a new public education initiative to promote hunting and fishing. We speak to DNR, MUCC and the lead sponsor from Newaygo. Cosponsors include lawmakers from Marquette, Petoskey, Six Lakes, Harrison Township, Clare, Onekama, Bloomfield Hills, Presque Isle, Lake City and Saugatuck. 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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