Andrew Robins

Pensions erode Michigan school funding

Andrew Robins — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:10:46 +0000

A new report says Michigan's public schools have less to spend educating students because of rising teacher retirement costs. The Citizens Research Council says retirement now eats up nearly 15 percent of the money districts get per-student. That's up from only about nine percent in 2004.

Governor, GOP reach budget "framework"

Andrew Robins — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:12:12 +0000

Governor Rick Snyder and Republican legislative leaders have agreed on a plan to complete the new state budget. But the Gongwer News Service says that does not include two contentious issues: more money for roads and expansion of Medicaid. House Speaker Jase Bolger of Marshall says a “broader discussion” of those areas will continue.

Kalamazoo PCB protest urges action by EPA

Andrew Robins — Thu, 16 May 2013 03:19:34 +0000

Officials from the City of Kalamazoo head to Chicago Thursday, May 16th, to meet with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. They’re looking for answers about the future of PCB contamination in the Allied Paper Landfill.

Consumers Energy customers get a rate hike and refunds

Andrew Robins — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:33:08 +0000

Consumers Energy customers will soon see slightly bigger electric bills. The Michigan Public Service Commission has approved an $89 million rate increase, 40 percent less than originally sought by the utility.

The commission says that means a typical residential customer will see an increase of about a $1.67 per month. Consumers Energy had initially asked for a rate increase of $148 million.

Its customers will also get refunds because the utility put a $110 million rate hike into effect on its own in March. The MPSC says Consumers must give back $21 million in over-charges.

GOP group eyes the Endangered Species Act

Andrew Robins — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:50:38 +0000

A group of Republicans in Congress is casting an eye on the Endangered Species Act. The law was approved in 1973 with encouragement by the Nixon administration to help prevent threatened plants and animals from becoming extinct. The federal threatened and endangered list includes several Michigan species like the Kirtland’s warbler and the piping plover.