The Lansing State Journal reports that a systemwide blackout in Michigan's prisons has been issued for the premiere of a new action thriller from Fox Television titled "Prison Break".

In other Michigan related television news, the Detroit Lions make their inaugural Ford Field (pre-season) Monday Night Football appearance against the St. Louis Rams tonight at 8 PM. Word has it the network wants to feel out the venue for Super Bowl XL.

Who Controls the Mighty Mac?
A fight is flaring up between the Granholm administration and northern Michigan lawmakers involving oversight of the Mackinac Bridge. The Michigan Department of Transportation has taken control of some functions previously handled by the Mackinac Bridge Authority, including bridge inspections, security and insurance. The state also is overseeing the investment of money used for future maintenance projects and the bidding of contracts. The authority, created in 1950, has operated and maintained the bridge since it opened in 1957.

Great Lakes Protection Lacking
A decade-old federal push to keep some of the worst toxic chemicals out of the Great Lakes can't do much more to control pollution levels because it doesn't include some of the biggest sources of pollution, a government audit found.

State Representative Looks to Spark Interest in Biofuels
Rep. Michael Sak, D-Grand Rapids, is hoping to garner interest in a six-bill package he's co-sponsoring in the House that takes a long view on the surge in gas prices and looks to reduce the nation's dependence on oil exports. The package provides tax credits for companies that build facilities that produce and blend ethanol and biodiesel fuel, made from corn and soybeans, respectively.

Mass Transit: Detroit's Pipe Dream?
Metro Detroit leaders were just handed $100 million in federal money to design a light-rail line they say could carry commuters between Ann Arbor and Detroit, prompting hope for the future and concern that the money could end up squandered.

Ann Arbor Tech Company Attracts Interest from Investors
Sensicore, which develops a lab-on-a-chip for water testing, has landed another $12 million from a group of venture capitalists lead by Ardesta. Sensicore was Ardesta’s first start up in 2001. Sensicore’s core technology uses a disposable silicon-based chip the size of a small button to chemically profile the purity and surety of water in less than 4 minutes. Combined with a smart handheld system, the chip provides 14 critical water quality measurements that help users understand the health of their water and their water infrastructure.

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