Absolute Michigan's Michigan Blog: Five Things You Need to Know for Monday, March 21, 2005

The Detroit News reports that while Sunday was the first day of spring, you couldn't have deduced it from the thermometer or the conditions. The extended outlook calls for continued cooler-than-normal temperatures and above-normal precipitation.

Banner Weekend for Spartans
The Michigan State University faithful had a lot to cheer about as both men's & women's teams rolled on in NCAA tourney action. The No. 1-seeded MSU women's squad whipped 16 seed Alcorn State 73-41 on Saturday. They face 8 seed USC at 7 tonight. The men notched a solid 72-61 victory over 13th-seeded Vermont, following up an 89-81 victory over 12th-seeded Old Dominion and face #1 seed Duke Friday.
Read MSU faces bigger test in the Freep (women)
Read Dance with the Devils in the Freep (men)

Mackinac Bridge Commemorative Stamp
The Traverse City Record-Eagle reports that a Mackinaw City Group is working to lobby the U.S. Postal Service to issue a Mackinac Bridge commemorative stamp in June 2008 - the 50-year anniversary of the bridge's dedication. A stamp of the Bridge was released in 1958, the last 3-cent commemorative stamp issued by the service. An application filed last year was rejected as "too local or regional".

Metro Detroit Students Get Involved in Local Government
The Detroit News has a feature exploring ways in which Detroit area students are getting involved in the process of local government that's well worth a read.

Michigan's Most Senior Employee Retiring
The Lansing State Journal has a feature on Michigan Department of Education consultant Ben Hamilton, 84, who is retiring after working for the state for 56 years. He retires next week as the longest-serving state worker in Michigan history.

Michigan Legislators Split on 2006 Budget
The Detroit free Press reports that Michigan's delegation broke along party lines over 2006 budget proposals last week, with Republicans calling the plans a step toward reducing the federal deficit and Democrats questioning cuts to domestic programs. The $2.6 trillion budget proposal was adopted by the Senate on a 51-49 vote.