Gretchen Whitmer, a Democratic vice chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee and 23rd Senate District candidate in next Tuesday's special primary, expressed her views on higher education. Whitmer said she is pleased that Governor Jennifer Granholm has proposed separating Michigan State University , the University of Michigan and Wayne State University from the other 12 universities in the budget because of their research mission and role in strengthening the economy.

"Rosa Parks: More Than a Bus Story": Bonstelle Theatre will host Wayne State University Department of Theatre's special performance honoring the late Rosa Parks Feb. 17-18. The husband and wife team of Von and Fran Washington will return to Detroit for a special engagement to perform the only play authorized by Mrs. Parks. Wayne State University: 2006 Black History Month events on WSU main campus schedule: "Socially Conscious Exhibit": Prof. Charles Simmons of Eastern Michigan University will exhibit works through Feb. 28 and speak at 10:30 a.m., Feb. 16 in the Bernath Auditorium; "Afro-Brazilian Politics: Challenges and Opportunities": Ollie Johnson, Wayne State University Professor of Africana Studies, will speak at 12:30 p.m., Feb. 22 in the Faculty Administration Building ; "Reading Black History/Women's History": Melba Joyce Boyd, author of "The Province of Literary Cats," Opal Moore, author of " Lot 's Daughter," and Leslie Reese, author of "Urbanjunkstar," will offer readings at 7 p.m., March 1, at the Bernath Auditorium.

Florine Mark, president and CEO of The WW Group Inc., was presented the Medallion for Entrepreneurship from the International Honor Society of Beta Gamma Sigma by Richard M. Gabrys, interim dean of the Wayne State University School of Business Administration.

A feature story discusses two William Shakespeare plays opening at the Hilberry and Bonstelle Theatres. "Antony and Cleopatra" opens March 3 at the Hilberry Theatre and is presented by students of the college's distinguished MFA theater program. The play continues in rotating repertory through May 3. "Othello" opens March 3 and plays through March 12 at the Bonstelle Theatre. A photo of a scene from "Antony and Cleopatra" is included.

A brief item notes that Rachel Sprovtsoff-Mangus graduated recently from Wayne State University with a master's degree in communication with a concentration in organizational communications. A New Buffalo High School graduate, she is a copy editor at All Media Guide in Ann Arbor and a freelance writer.

Wayne State's department of Africana Studies, Wayne State's Center for Chicano Boricua Studies, English and history departments, Humanities Center, and Springfed Arts-Metro Detroit Writers are co-sponsoring events for Black History month: "Afro-Brazilian Politics: Challenges and Opportunities" on Feb. 22 and "Reading Black History/Women's History" on Mar. 1.

Wayne State's department of music and Maggie Allesee department of dance are performing the "WinterDance" concert Feb 17-19 at the Old Main building.

Wayne State University's Studio Theatre will showcase productions by winners of the sixth annual Louise Heck-Rabi Dramatic Writing Competition at 8 p.m. on Feb. 23-25 and March 2-4. The Heck-Rabi competition is sponsored through the Departments of English and Theatre with the support of the Louise Heck-Rabi Endowed Scholarship in Dramatic Writing.

In a story about Western Michigan University 's (WMU) participation in the "Gift of Life Michigan University Challenge," a campaign intended to increase the number of residents in the state registered to become organ donors after death, Wayne State University is noted as the current leader. Michigan State University is in second-place followed by WMU.

Wayne State University is mentioned as the site for the Detroit Regional competition for FIRST - For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. Wayne State will host the FIRST robotics regional Thursday through Saturday, March 16-18.

WWJ aired a report on Black History Month activities that included events going on at Wayne State University . Among the events mentioned is the staging of the production "Rosa Parks: More than a Bus Story" at WSU's Bonstelle Theatre on Friday, Feb. 17 and Saturday, Feb. 18.

A sweeping set of federal reforms were proposed Tuesday to combat mortgage fraud, ratcheting up enforcement and creating a national database of brokers who have been disciplined. The bill would increase funding for federal law enforcement programs, create new criminal penalties for mortgage professionals found guilty of fraud and require industry insiders to report suspicious activity. Wayne State University law professor Peter J. Henning says that one provision of the measure would strengthen the ability of fraud victims to file federal lawsuits. Individuals now must seek redress in state courts, which have more restrictive rules about information gathered during discovery, Henning says that could increase the liability banks and real estate companies face for their employees\' misconduct. \"I suspect there would be opposition to that provision.\"

Wayne State University 's Transportation Research Group's (TRG) study on the use of safety belts is referenced in a story about Child Passenger Safety Week. The TRG study found that only 8.6 percent of children ages four to eight use booster seats. According to the National Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of children ages three to 14.

Wayne State University Press has just re-issued "My Forty Years with Ford," memoirs from one of the most important people in the history of the Ford Motor Co. Charles (Cast-Iron Charlie) Sorenson was a production genius who worked for Henry Ford from 1905 to 1944. He helped create Ford's Model T and assembly line, ran the Rouge plant, designed the Willow Run bomber plant and sided with Edsel Ford against Edsel's father Henry and Ford security chief Harry Bennett during the showdown over the company's future before Edsel's death. Sorensen\'s memoirs have been out of print for decades.

The Southfield Public Library is scheduled to host a panel discussion today addressing why affirmative action is important and relevant to the gay community. Titled \"The Promise of Equality: Affirmative Action Delivers,\" the event will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the library. The panel is expected to include representatives Wayne State University , American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, Affirmations Lesbian/Gay Community Center and the National Bar Association.

Anjaneyulu Kowluru, a professor in the pharmaceutical sciences department at Wayne State University , was appointed to the innovative grant review panel of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International.

Michigan 's Best nominees: A sidebar notes that Wayne State fencer Anna Garcia is one of the Michigan 's Best nominees for the sport of fencing.

Wayne State University 's Department of Theatre presents "Rosa Parks: More than a Bus Story," at the Bonstelle Theatre, 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday. Details are available at www.theatre.wayne.edu.

Professor Jerry Herron, director of Wayne State 's Honors Program, was interviewed by reporter Eugene Kim from the New York Bureau of the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan 's largest daily newspaper. Herron talked about Detroit 's image and the rebuilding effort related to sports events recently hosted such as the Super Bowl, Major League Baseball's All-Star Game and the Ryder's Cup.

More than 57% of practicing Michigan doctors plan to retire by 2020. The Michigan population is forecast to grow by just 600,000 in the next 14 years, but by then the population over 65 will be nearly 500,000. The state has 30,000 licensed doctors, and that number is expected to remain constant for the foreseeable future. There are many reasons for the shortage, but the state's problems in attracting and keeping people in every field are the same for doctors. Wayne State is the state's largest medical school. It admitted 256 students in 2004, 270 in 2005 and expects a first-year class of 300 this year. But more medical students won't solve the problem if hospitals don't have the money and personnel to train the graduating medical students in residency programs.