Hunter safety program slated 
The sixth annual Hunter Safety Program hosted by state Sen. John Cherry is just around the corner.

Two classroom sessions for the MDNR-certified program will be held Tuesday, May 14 and Thursday, May 16 from 6-9:30 p.m. in the Grand Blanc High School cafeteria.

The shooting range lesson will take place Saturday, May 18 from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Linden Sportsmen Club. Free refreshments will follow the range lesson.

There is no cost. All supplies and safety equipment will be provided. To register call (800) 551-1636 or (810) 606-0737. Gifts will be provided to all program graduates.

Construction activity moves higher
The value of new construction starts in February increased 1 percent to $512.8 billion, the F.W. Dodge Division of McGraw Hill reported March 28.

"The improved contracting in January and February gets 2002 off to a good start, and shows that construction remains at least for now one of the most resilient sectors of the economy, said Robert A. Murray, vice president of economic affairs for F.W. Dodge.

During the first two months of the year, total U.S. construction was up 2 percent compared to the same period a year ago.

Feds release more jobless money
Congress and the president have approved up to 13 weeks of additional unemployment benefits to jobless workers across the country, including Michigan.

The Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation program is federally funded, and is intended for those who exhaust their regular state benefits. This program has no connection to the state's still-unresolved plan to improve jobless benefits for Michigan's unemployed.

Under federal law, unemployed workers may qualify for the benefits if they:

• Are not currently working full-time;
• Have exhausted all rights to regular state unemployment insurance (UI) benefits;
• Have no entitlement to other state and federal UI benefits,
• Have a new or additional claim for state UI benefits and a benefit year ending after March 10, 2001.

According to the state Unemployment Agency, eligibility requirements for this plan are the same for unemployed workers receiving state benefits. Jobless workers will generally receive the same weekly benefit amount as under the state plan.

Applications were mailed to unemployed workers potentially eligible for the program, but some may have been missed. If you have questions, call (866) 241-0152.

In the meantime, as we went to press, state Republican lawmakers were coming back from their two-week spring break, and were expected to continue to arguing about how much state jobless benefits should be increased.

"First, the Republicans promised $415, then they promised $375, and now they go on vacation for two weeks while laid-off workers and their families struggle to make ends meet," said state Rep. Julie Dennis last month.

Unemployment benefits have been capped at $300 per week in Michigan since 1995, and the average unemployed worker in our state collects $261 per week.