Senate Skeptical of Bridge to Canada Proposal

(LANSING, Mich.) -- Some Michigan senators are leery of a proposal for a bridge connecting Michigan with Canada that was presented to a Michigan Senate committee Wednesday.

Governor Snyder, however has said he is a strong supporter of the bill and wants bills approved by July 1.

Other supporters say the project will create 10,000 construction jobs.

Opponents say that the bridge would be expensive for taxpayers and would cause more traffic.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Report Indicates Nearly $23 Million in Campaign Ads Were Unreported

(LANSING, Mich.) -- A report released this week by the Michigan Campaign Finance Network found that almost $23 million in campaign ads were unreported.

The ad spending was not made public, according to the report, because they never specifically mentioned voting for a specific candidate. The group says Michigan's weak laws on the subject allowed the ads to go unreported in budget statements, even though they were promoting specific candidates.

The report said that close to $70 million has been spent on such campaign ads since 2000.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Michigan Residents Urged to Conserve Energy During Summer

(LANSING, Mich.) -- High temperatures during summer means taking steps to cut energy bills, according to the Michigan Public Service Commission.

The commission has updated its "Be SummerWise" website, with tips on how residents can save on their energy bills.

Some energy-saving tips include:
- Installing a programmable thermostat to keep homes comfortably cool in the summer and comfortably warm in the winter.
- Using compact fluorescent light bulbs with the "Energy Star" label.
- Air drying dishes instead of using the dishwasher drying cycle.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Gov. Snyder: Detroit Won't Go Bankrupt

(LANSING, Mich.) -- Governor Rick Snyder says he won't let Detroit, or any other Michigan city, declare bankruptcy. Snyder says he will increase help to fiscally distressed communities to ensure their recovery.

Snyder touts a new bill that increases the power of emergency workers, allowing them more access to school districts and the cities.

He says bankruptcy simply shouldn't be on the table.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

DOE Announces Installation of Smart Meters

(WASHINGTON) -- On Monday, the United States Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that more than 5 million smart meters have been installed nationwide as part of the 2009 Recovery Act's efforts to accelerate the modernization of the nation's electric grid.

"To compete in the global economy, we need a modern electricity grid," said Secretary Chu. "An upgraded electricity grid will give consumers choices and promote energy savings, increase energy efficiency, and foster the growth of renewable energy resources."

The smart meters provide information on where and how much electricity is being used and also provides customers with real-time information about their energy consumption.

Nearly 90 percent of the smart meters were installed in Florida, Texas, California, Idaho, Arizona, Oklahoma, Michigan, and Nevada.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio