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Five Things You Need to Know for Monday, March 13, 2006

Questions: Nolan Finley asks "What Would John Do?", Do the Pistons have the answer for March slump?, What happened at Michigan Radio?.

Michigan Budget Could See Major Hit from Smaller Tobacco Payments

MITECHNEWS.COM reports that Michigan could lose $49.3 million of its anticipated $274 million in the Tobacco settlement. Companies involved say they have lost market share and argue that they should be able to drop payments by 18%, a decision that could weigh heavily as the state prepares its 2007 budget, and could impact the plans for the state to invest $2 billion to develop high-tech business.

Read Michigan Could Lose $50 Million If National Tobacco Settlement Scaled Back in the MITECHNEWS.COM
Also see Smoking rates drop 20 percent following tobacco settlement in the Detroit News

More on Company Buying UP Power Co. Land

The Mining Journal reports that folks in the UP are wondering who Naterra Land is and why they have purchased thousands of acres surrounding hydroelectric basins in the Upper Peninsula. The company is based in Minneapolis and (according to Executive Vice President Steve Roman) has been acquiring similar wooded lakeshore properties in the UP for years and selling then to "...the kind of people who visited here as kids or find their roots here and want to come back to live or vacation in the Upper Peninsula, northern Wisconsin and northern Minnesota." About 7,300 acres has been or is in the process of being sold to Naterra around six UPPCO hydroelectric dam reservoirs in Marquette, Alger, Delta, Ontonagon and Houghton counties.

Read Naterra Land has big plans for the U.P. in the Mining Journal
Also see Under scrutiny; Land deal an open process in the Mining Journal
Naterra Land web site (currently not responding!)

Boom Time in Port Huron

For three years the city of Port Huron has been seeking businesses to redevelop some downtown parking lots. Their efforts paid off last week with an announcement by Port Huron Development LLC of plans for a 500-room hotel, casino and 89,000-square-foot indoor water park. The article looks at how a blend of public and private efforts are revitalizing this Michigan city.

Read New attitude fuels Port Huron boom in the Port Huron Times Herald

Separating Great Lakes & Mississippi Watersheds

Earthwatch Radio reports that North America's two biggest watersheds, the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River, are connected to each other by an artificial canal in Chicago. With mounting evidence that invasive plants and animals can spread from one watershed to the other, some are saying it's time for that link to be severed.

Read Parting the Waters from Earthwatch Radio

Bush Says He Understands Michigan's Trade Concerns, Michigan's Leaders Wonder

Saturday's Detroit News reported that at last Friday's National Newspaper Assoc. Conference, President Bush stated that he fully understands the concerns of Michiganders about the trade arena. The article has the reaction of Michigan politicians including Rep. Joe Knollenberg, a Republican from Oakland County's Bloomfield Township, said in a statement that he was concerned Michigan's economy "is still struggling even though we continue to hear good economic news nationally. Michigan's economic problem is not going to go away on its own -- we have to have action, not just rhetoric."

Read Bush says he understands trade worries in Michigan in the Detroit News