Lansing State Journal from Lansing, Michigan • Page 1

ite toyrmia 75t FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2009 The Power Of Knowing Since 1855 WWW.LSJ.COM Flu-like illnesses on the rise as influenza season nears its peak amsBimgJI 1 I HI vouiiTake LSJ's ONLINE POLL Today's question for the season, experts say. That means some who are trying to show their love could wind up sharing chocolates and an unproductive cough. "It's actually just starting to kick in full gear," said Dr. Earl Reisdorff, director of medical education and an emergency room physician at Ingham Regional Medical Center in Lansing. As of Thursday, health officials throughout the state reported a second consecutive week of rising flu-like illnesses.

Health officials see 4.4 increase in cases in region Christine Rook Valentine's Day is coming up, a day for sharing affections and maybe influenza infections. The Feb. 14 holiday is expected to mark the peak of Greater Lansing's flu activity There doesn't seem to be cause for alarm, though, officials say. As a percentage of total visits, flu-like illnesses made up less than 2 percent of the roughly 9,000 tracked incidents statewide during the week that ended Jan. 24.

But the peak is on its way. Sparrow Hospital's emergency room is seeing a constant flow of the sick those with non-flu gastrointestinal aches and those with the upper-respiratory ailments See FLU Page 2 A MSU women alone in Did you get a flu shot this year? wwwJsj.comnews The southwest portion of Michigan, including Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties, saw the largest rise in flu cases about 4.4 percent, according to the Michigan Department of Community Health. PAGE second in Big Ten after 1 fl win at Illinois, 63-50 1UP mmmmmmX i History government aid lags' WILX-TV to go digital despite added time Stations have option to stick with original Feb. 17 transition Ryan Loew rloewlsj.com I. -I A decision by Congress to postpone the transition to digital television doesn't necessarily give viewers more time to prepare for the end of analog broadcasts.

On Wednesday, when Congress postponed the mandatory transition until June, it gave stations the option to stick to the originally scheduled date of Feb. 17. WILX-TV Channel 10 still plans to make the switch that day, said Michael King, the station's vice president and general manager. "The time is now," he said. "We've run 3 thousands WHO'S of com Stimulus funds, impact likely to be slow arriving Scott Dams sedavislsj.com Hoping to return to work building roads once federal stimulus money hits Michigan? Plan to wait at least six months before you pick up that shovel.

And those looking for that extra $25 a week in their unemployment checks? They might have to wait at least five weeks after any plan is approved. And taxpayers who are expecting immediate stimulus relief with a tax refund might want to remember last year's federal stimulus checks, which took several months in many cases to arrive in mailboxes. The stimulus plan which could mean $4.6 billion for Michigan is designed to jump-start the economy. But officials say it could be months before much of that money trickles down to Michigan individuals and families. By the time a stimulus package is signed into law, state officials hope to develop a road map on how to allocate the money for various programs in Michigan.

So far, experts say, the government's track record hasn't been good at quickly executing stimulus packages to revive the economy. "In general, history shows that it's extremely difficult for governments to decide that they want to stimulate the economy, make the political decision to do it and then get it into the hands of the taxpayers," said Patrick Anderson, president of East Lansing-based Anderson Economic Group, "Ironically, one of the most successful was George (W.) Bush's stimulus checks (last year) and that really didn't get the economy going." Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an $819 billion stimulus package, and the Senate now is See STIMULI'S Page 3A mercial AFFECTED messages and crawls The Nielsen Co. estimates and count- that more than 6.5 million downs. U.S.

households that rely We've ac- on analog TV sets to pick tually done UP over-the-air broadcast shutoffs on si9nals are still not ready. Tuesdays People who subscribe to for the past cable or satellite TV or 10 weeks, have a newer TV with a and we be- digital tuner will not be lieve our affected. audience is well prepared for the transition, so we're going to go." King said the number of those who might not be prepared for the switch is negligible. Gene Shanahan, operations manager for WLNS-TV Channel 6, said Thursday the station likely will wait until June to turn off its analog signal. WLNS is owned by Young Broadcasting Inc.

Gary Baxter, vice president and general manager of WSYM-TV Fox 47, said the station's parent company, Journal Broadcast Group has yet to make a decision on when the switch will be made for HybvjU ElecWIc Vehicle i GREG DtRUITERLansmg State Journal Hybrid buses: Included in federal funds that come to the region could be $6.2 million for 10 hybrid CATA buses. see Switch page2A INSIDE: Senate struggles to reach agreement on stimulus package, PAGE 3A SPEED READ NOW asks Obama to name Stabenow to Cabinet post The National Organization for Women is asking President Barack Obama to name U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, as secretary of Health and Human Services. Former Sen.

Tom Obama urged to act on food safety Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin, D-lowa, warned that fixing the nation's food safety woes might not be possible this year unless President Barack Obama makes it a top priority. Page 8A Army suicides increase in January The Army is looking into a spike in suicides in January. There were 24 suspected suicides during the month. Seven have been confirmed. Seventeen are under investigation.

The count is likely to surpass combat deaths. Page 8A Arsonist gets nearly 22 years Marie Mason, an activist who committed arson at Michigan State University in 1999 as a protest against crop research, was sentenced Thursday to nearly 22 years in prison. The explosion and fire caused more than $1 million in damage to MSU's Agriculture Hall on New Year's Eve. Page IB MORE INSIDE SURGERY: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg has cancer operation Pg. 3A WINNER: Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's party dominates Iraqi elections Pg.

10A Stabenow Daschle asked on Tuesday that his name be withdrawn because of controversy over unpaid taxes. Page IB RYAN LOEWlansing State Journal Clay painting: Second-grader Abe Bailey, 7, works on a traditional Malian clay painting Thursday at Red Cedar Elementary School. Page 2B Copyright 2009 Mill IMnrV Main WULA Lottery Lansing State Journal, Lansing, Michigan A Local Sports Life Business 4A Our Towns ...38 Outdoors 6B Columns 2C I Classified 5C Deaths 5B Scoreboard Television 4C yueather 8C Sunny, warmer High in the low to mid-30s, low near 30, 8C Opinion 0" "40901 "051 9 SB5'.