On this special edition of Focal Point, it’s a day in the life of Michiganders adjusting to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Education
How does the 2020 census affect Michigan schools?
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State officials are pushing residents to complete their census forms. The results are important for allocating aid to public and private schools in the state, including money for special education, Head Start and breakfast and lunch programs. We hear from the state Education Department, a Marquette legislator, the state census director and the MEA. By Joe Dandron.
Environment
Abandoned mines aplenty, but cash to clean, close them, scarcer
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Despite spending billions of dollars, federal agencies don’t know how many potentially dangerous or environmentally hazardous abandoned mining features there are on government land nationally, including Michigan, a new General Accountability Office study of spending from 2008-2017 shows. The Forest Service spent $954,000 for gates and related work in the U.P.’s Ottawa National Forest. Isle Royale National Park and Keweenaw National Historical Park recently received funding to deal with abandoned mine features. By Eric Freedman.
Business & Economy
College students falling through gap in federal stimulus program
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There’s a gaping hole in the federal stimulus package, and college students are falling through it. If they’re 17 to 24 and claimed as dependents for tax purposes by their parents, they won’t get a $1,200 check and their parents won’t receive the extra $500 allotted per dependent. We speak to students and parents from Grand Rapids, East Lansing, Ypsilanti, University of Michigan and Michigan State, as well as an MSU economist. By Taylor Haelterman.
Business & Economy
WATCH: Spartan News Update – remote show 1
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A bar takes all of the signed dollar bills off the walls to pay their employees during the Covid 19 pandemic. Michigan Dairy farms are struggling, and the Royal family checks in online with school children.
Business & Economy
Stimulus checks: Spend? Or save?
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How do Michigan residents plan to spend their federal stimulus checks?s Some will spend their money, which an MSU economist says is good for the economy, while others plan to save, pay down debts or donate to charity. We talk to Ferris State and MSU students, an East Lansing teacher and people from Detroit, Fraser, Oak Park and Auburn Hills. By Nyjah Bunn, Kyana Coleman, Lucas Day, Ben Goldman, Taylor Haelterman, Jordan Meadows and Rui Yan.
Environment
The secret savior of US and Canada’s shared waters isn’t one person
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A new book traces the history of the International Joint Commission, created in 1909 to protect all bodies of water along the U.S.-Canada border and to resolve disputes between the two countries over transboundary waters. We talk to the authors and a Michigan State expert. By Cassidy Hough.
News
The race continues: Biden or Sanders
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Former Vice President Joe Biden
A spokesman for Sen. Bernie Sanders’ campaign announced Tuesday, March 24, that Sanders will debate Joe Biden if one is scheduled for April. Despite Biden’s wins in primaries across the nation, Sanders does not seem to be dropping out anytime soon. Over a month ago, representatives of six Democratic campaigns attended MSU College Democrats’ primary event on Feb. 20 with the intent to educate students on the candidates’ policies.
“It all sort of fell together very nicely, so I’m really excited that it’s here, and I’m hoping that a lot of people turn out so that we can really make this an educational and worthwhile event,�? said Mary Gibbons, president of MSU College Democrats. “We want to make sure that people have a good idea of what their plan is to vote before spring break.�?
Only two candidates remain after a month of candidates dropping out of the Democratic presidential race: Sanders and former Vice President Biden.
East Lansing
Sanders supporters find fault with Michigan’s primary election process
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Long lines during election days left many Michiganders frustrated, with supporters of Bernie Sanders finding particular fault with election hold ups.
News
Trump’s measures to contain COVID-19 find support
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President Donald Trump’s actions to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, including a ban on travel from European countries into the United States, are finding support.
Capital News Service
Leelanau County airport seeks historic designation
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The push to secure state historic site designation for the Clinton F. Woolsey Memorial Airport in Northport is advancing. The former dairy farm is named for a famed local aviator who died in a plane crash and who numbered Charles Lindbergh among his students. The airport manager, Michigan History Center director and head of the Historical Society of Michigan explain. By Joe Dandron.