State Roundup

Grand Marais $7M Grand Marais Harbor breakwater project delayed GRAND MARAIS, Mich. (AP) -- Plans to rebuild a breakwater at the Grand Marais Harbor in Michigan's Upper Peninsula have been delayed until spring as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers works to review and approve revisions it requested to a permit application for the $7 million project. Officials had hoped to begin work this fall on the project in Alger County's Burt Township to keep sand from drifting and filling the harbor, The Mining Journal of Marquette reported. Last week, the township received its permit approval from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. But Township Supervisor Jack Hubbard said recent revisions sought by the Army Corps have forced delaying the project until April at the earliest. "It was minor changes," Hubbard said. "But they held up the project for two weeks, the permitting process." The permit process has been expedited, Army Corps spokeswoman Lynn Duerod said, and officials are working as quickly as possible on the review. Sand has restricted recreational and commercial boating activity in the harbor along Lake Superior during the past several decades. The breakwater will be roughly 1,400 feet long, scaled back from an original project, which sought to build a pier 2,250 feet long. Money for the project includes $4 million from the 2012 state budget, $1 million from the Michigan Waterways Commission and $1.6 million in federal funds. The area contributed $200,000. And Grand Marais got $40,000 from an online Reader's Digest contest earlier this year The Grand Marais Harbor was protected by a breakwater built in 1894 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. After being damaged in1943 it fell into disrepair. Since the harbor is relatively little used by commercial boats it was more difficult to line up funds. Local officials need to seek bids, locate rock for the project and make other preparations, Hubbard said, but it must wait for the federal permit first. Detroit Repairs completed to Underground Railroad monument DETROIT (AP) -- Repairs have been completed to a monument to the Underground Railroad that sits along the Detroit riverfront. The Detroit Economic Growth Corp. on Friday announced that the "Gateway to Freedom" monument was cleaned, several fixtures were re-secured and the area around the monument was repaired. The Downtown Development Authority project cost $30,000. Earlier this year it was reported that someone tampered with a bronze plaque that's part of the monument, which honors escaping slaves and the network of people that sheltered them. A small amount of graffiti also was removed from the monument. The repairs were completed in time for last week's International Gateway to Freedom Conference, which celebrates the Underground Railroad. Lansing State seeks $70M for early childhood education LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan is seeking $70 million in federal grant money for early childhood education. The Grand Rapids Press reports that Michigan's "Race to the Top" application puts it in the running with 34 other states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico for a share of the $500 million program. Winners will be announced in December. The state's application says that "the potential to fundamentally alter the lives of a generation of children is at hand" if Michigan gets the money. The grant program challenges states to create "comprehensive plans to transform early learning systems." Awards are expected to range from about $50 million up to $100 million. Hillsdale Prosecutor to seek cell records in 'sexting' probe HILLSDALE, Mich. (AP) -- A prosecutor plans to subpoena cell phone records of students in Hillsdale and Branch counties as part of an investigation into widespread sharing of sexually explicit photos. Assistant Hillsdale County Prosecutor Megan Stiverson told WCSR for a story Friday that the original "sexting" incident involved two female students at Hillsdale High School and a male student at Quincy High School. She said at least a dozen others are involved with some students taking explicit photos of themselves and sending them with their cell phones. In some instances, photos were traded with other students. Most of the photos are of students younger than 18. Stiverson said sending a nude photo of a minor is a felony, even if the minor is sending it. Published: Tue, Oct 25, 2011