State Roundup

Lansing Legislation could change alternative ed funding LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Legislation under consideration in Lansing could change the way alternative education programs in Michigan schools are funded. The Detroit News reports Monday that legislation passed by the state House earlier this month could change the formula for paying school districts with alternative education programs. The legislation would base payments on monthly attendance, rather than the current model of paying most at one point. A bill is pending in the state Senate. The legislation comes as alternative education programs come under scrutiny for graduation rates. The newspaper reports that its analysis of graduation statistics shows more drop out of the programs than get diplomas. It also says most of the schools have lower graduation rates than the statewide rate of roughly 74 percent. Detroit Detroit schools: Grads get $106M in college aid DETROIT (AP) -- Students in the Detroit Public Schools have received $106 million in college scholarships and grants. The district released figures Monday for financial aid going to graduates of its 24 high schools. The district says Cass Technical High School leads the list with $29.6 million. The college preparatory Renaissance High School is next at $16.8 million. Western International High School had $14.3 million and the Detroit School of Arts had $11.5 million. The district says $25 million of the money comes from organizations and foundations and $11 million is in the form of athletic scholarships. District emergency manager Roy Roberts says the awards "should serve as an inspiration" to Detroit young people "and all those adults who taught and assisted them along the way." Webberville Auction planned to sell assets of Michigan Brewing WEBBERVILLE, Mich. (AP) -- An auction is planned for Wednesday to sell off assets of Michigan Brewing Co., known for making beers including musician Kid Rock's own Badass Beer. The Lansing State Journal reports brewing equipment and other assets including the Webberville-based brewery's name are expected to be sold. The sale is to satisfy a Detroit-area creditor. Bobby Mason, who founded the brewery roughly 17 years ago, says he's trying to save what he can. An on-site restaurant drew customers in recent years and its craft beers won medals. But Mason was evicted in April following foreclosure on the brewery. Michigan Brewing had an agreement to brew Badass Beer. A statement on Kid Rock's website earlier this month said an announcement is planned soon on a new brewer for Badass Beer. Detroit City adds bus trackers, cellphone app ahead DETROIT (AP) -- Detroit's much-maligned public transit system has added a tracking system to 95 percent of its buses in hopes of improving service and monitoring its drivers. The Detroit Department of Transportation says the system, which started in April, has helped its operations run more smoothly and is part of a broader plan. By September, the system plans to add a cellphone app that lets riders know when the next bus will arrive at their stops, The Detroit News reported Sunday. Detroit riders have complained for years about inadequate and unreliable service. Department chief executive Ron Freeland said the app will be a "monumental" improvement for the bus system and is a big part of restoring reliability. "We have to re-establish the riders' confidence in the system," said Freeland, who was hired in February along with a new chief operating officer and maintenance chief. "Once the riders regain confidence that DDOT is going to provide bus service, and it's going to be out there; it's going to be on time. "We're not going to miss runs, then I think you'll see that the ridership will actually start to increase again." In March, the department said it was moving buses from its lesser-used lines to busier lines in an attempt to please more customers. In April, the system began its "415 Plan," which adds buses to the city's four busiest lines on Woodward, Gratiot, Grand River and Dexter avenues. On April 28, the system updated an automated vehicle location technology on 95 percent of its buses, a key step toward making the cellphone app possible. The separate suburban bus system, known as SMART, already offers real-time tracking through email. At the Detroit city system's Coolidge Terminal control system, a green symbol indicates on-time buses on the maps. If a bus is three or more minutes late, the symbol turns red. A bus arriving two or more minutes early changes to blue. The mobile app is still in early stages of development, according to Alicia Rouault, a fellow at Code for America. The nonprofit helps cities advance their technological services. Code for America is working to tap into the Detroit transit department's information system and says it hopes to have a messaging application ready to launch in September. "You'd be able to stand at a bus stop, text in either the intersection or bus ID and then find out when the bus is coming in real time," Rouault said. Published: Tue, Jun 19, 2012