The program is open to Michigan based non-profits, libraries or schools. The requests for funds must be for literary events that are free and open to the public that will occur in the 2010 calendar year. Funds requested must be for up to $500 or 50% of the event budget, whichever is less.

Please note that starting in 2011, grants will not be awarded to non-affiliate institutions in consecutive years.

If you have any questions, please contact me.

Karren Reish
Library of Michigan
702 W. Kalamazoo
P.O. Box 30007
Lansing, MI 48909-7507

reishk@michigan.gov
1-517-241-0021
fax: 517-373-5700
http://www.michigan.gov/lsta
http://www.michigan.gov/mcfb

The commission issued a request for proposals Friday from the Low-Income and Energy Efficiency Fund to cover the costs of studies of the feasibility of wind turbines in the Great Lakes or tests of the actual devices.

"Michigan is positioning itself as a leader in the research, development, and deployment of renewable energy technologies," said PSC Chair Orjiakor Isiogu. "By today's action the Commission is striving to advance initiatives that will not only improve the efficient use of energy resources, but also strengthen the economy of the state, and provide opportunities for those who live and work in Michigan."

Pre-proposals are due at 3 p.m. December 7 and full proposals, for those selected, are due January 11.

Source: Gongwer News Highlights, November 20, 2009.

(1) Shift State Police road patrols to counties, Detroit News, Septmeber 21, 2009.

(2) "Outlaw binding police, fire arbitration", Detroit News, September 22, 2009.

(3) "Reform Medicaid with incentives", Detroit News, September 23, 2009.

(4) "Raise Michigan's beer tax", Detroit News, September 24, 2009.

(5) "Change way public universities are funded", Detroit News, September 25, 2009.

(6) "Make state worker compensation average", Detroit News, September 26, 2009.

(7) "Make prison sentencing reforms", Detroit News, September 29, 2009.

(8) "Reform state worker laws", Detroit News, September 30, 2009.

(9) "Merge local governments to save money", Detroit News, October 1, 2009.

(10) "Re-route revenue sharing to localities", Detroit News, October 2, 2009.

(11) "Intensify school district consolidation", Detroit News, October 5, 2009.

(12) Let private firms run some prisons, Detroit News, October 6, 2009.

(13) "Eliminate redundant state programs", Detroit News, October 7, 2009.

(14) "Pool health benefits of public employees", Detroit News, October 8, 2009.

(15) "Eliminate personal property tax", Detroit News, October 9, 2009.

(16) "Measure state's business competitiveness", Detroit News, October 12, 2009.

(17) "Privatize nonteaching services in schools", Detroit News, October 13, 2009.

(18) "Change state revenue-sharing formula", Detroit News, October 14, 2009.

(19) "Switch new teachers to 401(k)s", Detroit News, October 15, 2009.

(20) "Cap or shift school health benefits", Detroit News, October 16, 2009.

(21) "Reward prisoners for good behavior", Detroit News, October 19, 2009.

(22) "Slash school district bureaucracy", Detroit News, October 20, 2009.

(23) "Coordinate economic development efforts", Detroit News, October 21, 2009.

(24) "Cut state government work force", Detroit News, October 22, 2009.

(25) "Keep paroled inmates out of prison", Detroit News, October 23, 2009.

(26) "Create 10-year budget outlook", Detroit News, October 26, 2009.

(27) "Eliminate agricultural extension programs", Detroit News, October 27, 2009.

(28) "Change Michigan-only rules", Detroit News, October 28, 2009.

(29) "Create minimum health benefit", Detroit News, October 29, 2009.

(30) "Update how localities get fuel revenues", Detroit News, October 30, 2009.

(31) "Ensure 180 days or more of school", Detroit News, November 4, 2009.

(32) "Stop mortgaging tobacco cash", Detroit News, November 5, 2009.

(33) "Reform lawmakers' salaries, perks, disclosure for more accountability", Detroit News, November 6, 2009.

(34) "No more senior year of high school", Detroit News, November 7, 2009.

(35) "Eliminate cash subsidies for filmmakers", Detroit News, November 10, 2009.

(36) "Shift to year-round school calendar", Detroit News, November 11, 2009.

(37) "Change state land cleanup program", Detroit News, November 12, 2009.

(38) "Switch to incentive pay for teachers", Detroit News, November 13, 2009.

(39) "Educate college underclassmen with a year of e-learning", Detroit News, November 16, 2009.

(40) "Steer students to underfilled professions", Detroit News, November 17, 2009.

(41) "Trim public worker health benefits", Detroit News, November 18, 2009.

(42) "Nursing degrees from community colleges", Detroit News, November 19, 2009.

(43) "End the educational paper chase", Detroit News, November 20, 2009.

(44) "50 Ideas: End K-12 teacher tenure", Detroit News, November 23, 2009.

For the full editorial, see "No evidence of cover-up by Mike Cox; Documents contradict claims that he thwarted investigators", Detroit Free Press, November 22, 2009.

The Michigan Prisoner Re-entry Initiative aims to help parolees transition back into their communities by helping them find jobs, housing as well as substance abuse treatment.

Local Area Support
• A support group for parolees, called Beyond the Bars, meets at 10 a.m. Saturdays in the conference room at the Campus Village apartments, 1151 Michigan Ave. in East Lansing. For more information, call (517) 242-2120.

• A Lansing organization - Advocacy, Reentry, Resources and Outreach (ARRO) - helps ex-offenders. On Dec. 11, the group is hosting an event so people can learn how to advocate for prisoners awaiting release. For more information, call (517) 999-2895.

Average caseload for Tri-County Area

County parole office average monthly caseload:

2007 2008 2009

Ingham 397 377 467

Clinton 32 45 47

Eaton 106 118 112

Source: Michigan Department of Corrections

For the full article, see Kevin Grasha, "State, Lansing officers take proactive role on parolees; They're being helped transition back into society", Lansing State Journal, November 22, 2009.

ANN ARBOR - Amid the carnage of Michigan's shredded economy, economists at the University of Michigan found some glimmers of good news in their annual forecast issued Friday, saying the pace of job losses would slow substantially during 2010 and 2011.

NEWSMAKER FRIDAY: HOUSE DEMS PLAY DEFENSE IN 2010

Hiding all the marbles may not be how the game is played, but it is how marbles are kept, Jack Donaghy of "30 Rock" once said, and the same could be true for House Democrats' strategy heading into the 2010 election.

ECONOMIST: LEGISLATURE NEEDS POLICY ARM

ANN ARBOR - Although the Legislature receives outstanding short-term analysis from its House and Senate Fiscal agencies, it needs a similar nonpartisan arm with a more long-term approach, an economist said Friday.

COURT: PROSECUTORS CAN ENFORCE CAMPAIGN ACT VIOLATIONS

Michigan's Campaign Finance Act does not give exclusive enforcement power to the secretary of state, the Court of Appeals ruled late Friday, saying that county prosecutors could take criminal action against alleged violators of the act.

M.D.O.T. STILL BACKING TWO SPENDING PLANS

The Department of Transportation is asking for public comment on what is essentially two spending plans for the coming five years.

REPORT FINDS LIMITED IMPROVEMENT FROM NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND

While the goal of the federal No Child Left Behind is to move all students to proficiency in math and language by 2014, the legislation actually has encouraged little improvement in student performance overall, according to a report released Friday by the University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.

MICH. JOB GAINS STILL LEAD TO HIGHEST JOBLESS RATE IN U.S.

Michigan added 38,600 jobs in October, one of only five states to post significant job gains for the month.

STATE WAITING FOR RESPONSE PLAN ON CARP

Michigan is waiting for federal officials to develop a response plan before acting on new reports that Asian carp had traveled past the barrier designed to keep them out of Lake Michigan.

COURT DEFINES TAXPAYER FOR PURPOSES OF OVERPAYMENTS

When GMAC overpaid sales tax it was covered under the definition of a "single, taxable entity" for purposes of retrieving any tax overpayments, the Court of Appeals said Friday in a published opinion, adding that an amendment clarifying who can collect overpayments makes it very clear that the company can file for repayment retroactively.

E.L. LAWMAKERS OPPOSE S.O.S. BRANCH CLOSURE

Rep. Mark Meadows (D-East Lansing) and Sen. Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing) said Friday a proposed closure of the Department of State branch office in their hometown will limit residents' access to vital services and make it harder for students to register to vote.

D.H.S. GETS FREE PONTIAC OFFICE

To match its expanding staff, the Department of Human Services is getting new office space, and getting the first year free.

P.S.C. LOOKING FOR OFF-SHORE WIND TESTING

The Public Service Commission is offering up to $2 million in grants to nonprofit organizations or universities with plans to test the feasibility of off-shore wind energy production.

WATER WITHDRAWAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS HONORED:

The state's new water withdrawal assessment process, and the Department of Environmental Quality team that created it, received an innovation award from the Council of State Governments, Governor Jennifer Granholm announced Friday.

Source : Gongwer News Service : Michigan Report, Volume #48, Report 226, November 20, 2009. Full access requires a subscription or a visit to a subscribing library such as the Michigan State University Main Library.

Local school boards likely will make tough decisions at December meetings, adjusting budgets for the new semester in January. Items on the table include:

• Fund equity: Many districts dipped into their savings accounts to balance budgets and now are considering spending down even more.

• Transportation: East Lansing is considering two plans: Cutting bus transportation for middle and high school students and eliminating transportation altogether. Grand Ledge is considering cutting transportation for high school students.

• Building closings: To help balance future budgets, Okemos will close two buildings in June. Closings also are under consideration in Grand Ledge and East Lansing. Waverly has convened a facilities committee to evaluate all district buildings.

• Extras: Everything from athletics to art and music are possibilities for cuts.

For the full article, see Kathleen Lavey, "K-12 funding : Schools facing budget realities; Granholm's charge to lawmakers to replace cuts goes unheeded", Lansing State Journal, November 20, 2009.