U-M Pours $440 Million into Residence Halls

(ANN ARBOR, Mich.) -- The University of Michigan says it will have spent $440 million in renovations to its residence halls by the end of 2013, according to the school.

In an interview with AnnArbor.com, Linda Newman, director of University Housing, says the school expects the upgrades to pay dividends in the recruitment process.

“There are many factors that go into a student making a choice, and if all things are equal between the two schools and the residence halls are more comfortable -- have more space, more bathrooms -- I think we would find students gravitating toward the more comfortable living space,” said Newman. “It is a serious contender for the overall quality of a student’s experience.”

The university's "residence life initiative" began in 2006 and represent the only significant upgrades made to the school's dormitories in 32 years.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

UAW Members Voting on Ford Contract

(DETROIT) -- On Sunday, the United Auto Workers union (UAW) announced that 90 percent of their members in Kansas City, Mo. and 62 percent Local 600 members in Dearborn, Mich. approved a new labor contract agreement with Ford Motor Company.

The new contract, which was approved by leadership in September, needs to be approved by a majority of union members. Under the agreement, entry-level wages will increase by nearly $4 while workers will receive signing bonuses and $1,500 annual inflation protection bonuses. More votes are expected from workers in Kentucky on Tuesday.

The deal extends to 2015 and if ratified will prevent a threatened strike by the workers.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Michigan Train Ridership Set Records

(GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.) -- On Thursday, the Michigan Department of Transportation announced that it had set new ridership records.

In the fiscal year which ended on Sept. 30, Amtrak made $27.7 million in ticket revenue. Ridership increased on the three Amtrak lines: the Wolverine, Blue Water Service, and Pere Marquette Service. Track work along the Wolverine route may have reduced the amount of rider growth.

"This past year marks the highest ridership totals ever on Amtrak services in Michigan," said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. "All three lines, especially the Blue Water, have made great gains, despite the slowdowns on the Pontiac/Detroit-Chicago corridor. We've taken steps to repair the track between Kalamazoo and Ypsilanti, so that will help bring speeds back to what customers expect."

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Commission Appointed to Improve Legal Respresentation for the Poor

(LANSING, Mich.) -- The State of Michigan is making an effort to ensure that its low-income criminal defendants are able to get proper legal representation.

On Thursday, Governor Rick Snyder issued an Executive Order establishing the Indigent Defense Advisory Commission, which is made up of 14 members, and will investigate how legal representation provided to low-income criminal defendants in Michigan can be improved. The commission will also be required to submit improvement recommendations to the governor by July 15, 2012.

Governor Snyder said such a commission was needed because legal representation provided to defendants who were unable to pay for lawyers varied greatly statewide.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

President Obama in Michigan Friday

(WASHINGTON) -- President Obama will be in Michigan Friday, according to the White House.

The president will travel to Orion Township, Mich., alongside President Lee of South Korea to tour General Motors’ assembly plant that produces the new the Chevrolet Sonic subcompact -- the first GM-engineered subcompact built in the United States since the vehicle launched nearly four decades ago.

It is currently the only subcompact car -- originally engineered for GM Korea, but now assembled in Michigan -- sold in the U.S. and built in the U.S.

During GM’s bankruptcy restructuring in 2009, the Orion plant, where the two presidents will visit Friday, was on the verge of being shut down. The subcompact expertise and joint venture with GM Korea -- as well as a massive taxpayer funded bailout -- has saved the Orion plant and its 1,750 jobs.

President Obama is due to return to the White House Friday evening.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio