Michigan Bars and Restaurants Plan to Ban Lawmakers

(BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich.) -- Michigan restaurants and bars say it's last call for lawmakers.

Members of Protect Private Property Rights in Michigan announced Monday it is tired of the state's smoking ban and its impact on local businesses and, as a result, they're fighting back.

Effective Sept. 1, 500 bars and restaurants are claiming they will refuse service to legislators after incurring reported revenue losses of $200 million. Officials for the organization say the initiative isn't a joke, stating the smoking ban has cost businesses millions of dollars and left people out of work. The organization says lawmakers did not consider property rights when it passed the law in 2009.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Update: Judge Orders Striking CMU Faculty Back to Work

(MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.) -- Striking Central Michigan University faculty members must return to work on Tuesday after an Isabella County judge ordered an end to their walkout, less than 24 hours after it had begun.

CMU administrators requested that the faculty should return to work and a judge granted their request on Monday. The 600-member faculty union was protesting various issues including wages and the lack of a contract since June 30.

Students were asked to attend classes on Monday as graduate assistants and other faculty were available to teach. A hearing is scheduled for Friday to assess the legality of the strike.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Advanced Rider Course Being Offered to Michigan Motorcyclists

(LANSING, Mich.) -- Motorcyclists in southeast Michigan are being offered an opportunity to sharpen their riding skills thanks to a motorcycle course in September.

The Advanced Rider Course (ARC) will be held on September 11, 18, and 25 at Schoolcraft's Public Safety Training Center in Livonia. Those participating will be subject to classroom instructions, along with range practice, according to a state news release. Riders can sharpen their skills in terms of perception and hazard awareness, crash avoidance techniques, and braking and cornering maneuvers.

Funding for the ARC is provided by a U.S. Department of Transportation grant, which is administered through the Michigan Department of State and the Office of Highway Safety Planning.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Study: Michigan Failing at Encouraging the Youth Vote

(WASHINGTON) -- An organization devoted to encouraging the youth to vote says Michigan is failing at promoting youth participation due to restrictive laws and a lack of online registration, according to The Detroit News.

Rock the Vote claims state law is outdated and not up to standard when it comes to engaging young people.

"Today's generation uses technology to register for classes and pay for taxes," Heather Smith, president of Rock the Vote, told The Detroit News. "It would seem quite normal that we'd also be able to fill out a voter registration form with technology."

According to a study conducted by Rock the Vote, Michigan lacks same-day registration and convenience voting -- the ability to register voters a day early. The study also says the state enforces laws that make it difficult to obtain an absentee ballot.

The study found Michigan ranked 38th in the country when it came to measuring how accessible states' voting processes are.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Study: Crime and Car Accidents Cost Michigan Billions

(LANSING, Mich.) -- Crime and traffic accidents across Michigan in 2009 cost over $6.7 billion, according to a report released by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.

The study was funded by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, and included 2009 traffic crash and index crime data to come up with a monetary value for losses incurred by traffic crashes and index crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft.

The study found that index crimes came with a price tag of approximately $1.9 billion, while traffic crashes racked up $4.8 billion in monetary costs.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio