http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews?id=midd Your West Michigan NPR and Local News station en-us Copyright 2012 WGVU http://backend.userland.com/rss/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:41:39 EST The next round of presidential primaries is in three weeks. Michigan shares a February 28th primary date with Arizona. More from Rick Pluta. http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15188 http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/audio/15188_020812.mp3 Wed, 8 Feb 2012 18:07:58 EST A state House panel has approved a measure that would allow more online K-through-12 schools to operate in Michigan. Laura Weber has more. http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15187 http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/audio/15187_020812.mp3 Wed, 8 Feb 2012 18:05:36 EST Charter schools applications are being accepted under a new "rolling" plan by Grand Valley State University. http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15186 http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/audio/15186_020912.mp3 Thu, 9 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST Leaders say the limits are designed to help states target aid to those who need it most. But advocates for the poor argue the limits keep families from building up savings that can help get them off government assistance. http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15185 WGVU Top Local News Stories 15185 Wed, 8 Feb 2012 Wed, 8 Feb 2012 15:47:50 EST Existing drugs, new treatment approach promise hope for lung cancer patients in next five years http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15183 http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/audio/15183_020812.mp3 Wed, 8 Feb 2012 12:46:00 EST Federal regulators will let operators of the passenger ferry S.S. Badger apply for a permit to continue dumping coal ash into Lake Michigan. http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15181 WGVU Top Local News Stories 15181 Wed, 8 Feb 2012 Wed, 8 Feb 2012 12:12:44 EST Legislation that would allow more 'cyber' or online charter schools in Michigan has cleared a Republican-led House committee. http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15180 WGVU Top Local News Stories 15180 Wed, 8 Feb 2012 Wed, 8 Feb 2012 12:10:21 EST Legislation introduced in the Michigan House would generally prohibit doctors from performing abortions after a woman's 20th week of pregnancy. http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15179 WGVU Top Local News Stories 15179 Wed, 8 Feb 2012 Wed, 8 Feb 2012 09:27:00 EST A new Michigan State University policy is requiring freshmen to either have health insurance or pay to join a plan through the school. http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15178 WGVU Top Local News Stories 15178 Wed, 8 Feb 2012 Wed, 8 Feb 2012 09:23:57 EST State officials say that a law requiring contractors to pay prisoners minimum wage is holding up efforts to cut costs by privatizing some Michigan Department of Corrections services. http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15177 WGVU Top Local News Stories 15177 Wed, 8 Feb 2012 Wed, 8 Feb 2012 09:21:07 EST A northern Lower Peninsula sled dog race has been cancelled because of a lack of snow. http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15176 WGVU Top Local News Stories 15176 Wed, 8 Feb 2012 Wed, 8 Feb 2012 09:17:00 EST The home of the National Cherry Festival is getting dozens of pear trees to help spruce up its downtown streets. http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15175 WGVU Top Local News Stories 15175 Wed, 8 Feb 2012 Wed, 8 Feb 2012 09:10:47 EST Amtrak and the Michigan Department of Transportation now have federal approval to start using a stretch of rail that can accommodate trains traveling as fast as 110 miles an hour. As we hear from Rick Pluta, it's the first leg of faster service between Detroit and Chicago. http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15173 http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/audio/15173_020712.mp3 Tue, 7 Feb 2012 17:54:39 EST Voters may soon be asked to decide whether Michigan should scrap the 19-cent pre-gallon gas tax at the pump in favor of an increase in the state's sales tax. The change would help generate more money for transportation funding. As Laura Weber reports, a proposal to put the question to voters is gaining momentum with some legislative leaders at the state Capitol. http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15171 http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/audio/15171_020712.mp3 Tue, 7 Feb 2012 17:40:02 EST The German people have emerged stronger from Europe's financial crisis, and the country now enjoys its lowest unemployment rate since reunification 20 years ago, despite the worst economic crisis in more than 60 years. WGVU's Caroline MacGregor has more on how Germany's recovery spells good news for Michigan. http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15170 http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/audio/15170_020812.mp3 Wed, 8 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST An environmental coalition is asking this year's presidential candidates for a pledge to continue an extensive restoration of the Great Lakes and action to keep the lakes free of Asian carp. http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15169 WGVU Top Local News Stories 15169 Tue, 7 Feb 2012 Tue, 7 Feb 2012 15:47:45 EST Prospects for extending President Barack Obama's signature payroll tax cut, once considered a slam dunk on Capitol Hill, now seem far less certain as House-Senate talks have deadlocked over finding ways to pay for it. http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15168 WGVU Top Local News Stories 15168 Tue, 7 Feb 2012 Tue, 7 Feb 2012 15:42:35 EST Amtrak says it's gotten federal approval for its trains in western Michigan and northern Indiana to increase maximum speeds to 110 mph. http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15167 WGVU Top Local News Stories 15167 Tue, 7 Feb 2012 Tue, 7 Feb 2012 15:39:41 EST Just in time for spring comes a warning about a possible major jump in the cost of gasoline. Prices have been steadily rising after a relatively stable period, this week up 30 cents from last year, according to The Auto Club. WGVU's David Moore takes a look. http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15164 http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/audio/15164_020712.mp3 Tue, 7 Feb 2012 13:03:00 EST Michigan lawmakers are continuing votes aimed at reducing the number of probate, district and circuit court judgeships statewide through attrition. http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15163 WGVU Top Local News Stories 15163 Tue, 7 Feb 2012 Tue, 7 Feb 2012 12:12:48 EST The Detroit Economic Club says Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney plans to address the group a few days before Michigan's primary. http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15162 WGVU Top Local News Stories 15162 Tue, 7 Feb 2012 Tue, 7 Feb 2012 12:11:07 EST Looking for a promising career in a lousy economy? A new study suggests you're apt to find it in the apps built for smartphones, computer tablets and Facebook's online social network. http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15154 WGVU Top Local News Stories 15154 Tue, 7 Feb 2012 Tue, 7 Feb 2012 09:13:21 EST A Michigan judge has turned down a request on behalf of a mentally disabled Iraqi refugee to erase his 2005 guilty plea as his lawyers seek to block his deportation. http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15153 WGVU Top Local News Stories 15153 Tue, 7 Feb 2012 Tue, 7 Feb 2012 09:08:00 EST The Binder Park Zoo in southern Michigan has a new resident: an 11-year-old snow leopard. http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15152 WGVU Top Local News Stories 15152 Tue, 7 Feb 2012 Tue, 7 Feb 2012 09:03:00 EST Jury selection is getting under way in Detroit federal court, nearly two years after the dramatic arrest of people accused of belonging to a southern Michigan militia with a goal of rebelling against the government. http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15151 WGVU Top Local News Stories 15151 Tue, 7 Feb 2012 Tue, 7 Feb 2012 08:31:04 EST Blast! Grand Rapids is a business growth initiative for women entrepreneurs in the Greater Grand Rapids region. The intent: to strengthen children and families through support of local women-owned businesses. WGVU's Caroline MacGregor reports. http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/?id=sdetail&sty=15145 http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/audio/15145_020712.mp3 Tue, 7 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST