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In this morning's news...

Morning News Roundup, Tuesday, January 3rd, 2011
Brother O'Mara
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Morning News Roundup, Tuesday, January 3rd, 2011

Budget Talks Underway in Lansing

Budget talks for the state’s next fiscal year have already begun says Republican State Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville. Laura Weber reports:

Richardville says he expects the budget to be done several months ahead of the constitutional deadline of October. Last year the Legislature finalized a spending plan in June. He also expects the budget process to be smoother this year because Governor Rick Snyder and the Legislature have adopted a planning budget for the coming fiscal year. Democratic Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer says she hopes the GOP will rethink some of the cuts they approved in the budget last year.

2012 Auto Sales

Despite problems for Toyota and Honda, 2011 was a pretty good year for auto sales in the U.S., Tracy Samilton reports. “Auto companies sold about 12.8 million cars in the U.S. in 2011 and this year they should sell about 13.6 million. The U.S. economy is expected to improve a little this year, which should help those car companies solidly in the black,” Samilton reports.

Post-Storm Dig-Out

Parts of the state are digging out after a two-day winter storm brought as much as 15 inches of snow, strong winds and hazardous driving conditions, the Associated Press reports. “Some schools in Allegan, Cass and Van Buren counties in the southwestern Lower Peninsula were closed Tuesday following the snow, which began Sunday. The National Weather Service says Allegan County received up to 15 inches of new snow from Sunday through Monday evening. The weather service says a winter storm warning was in effect Tuesday in parts of the northwestern Lower Peninsula including Gaylord, where at least 8 inches was reported, and Traverse City, where several inches fell,” the AP reports.

Zoe Clark is Michigan Public's Political Director. In this role, Clark guides coverage of the state Capitol, elections, and policy debates.