News in Brief: A State Capitals Roundup

A commission appointed by Michigan lawmakers has recommended that the state allow more charter schools, and impose more restrictions on them.

The commission was formed in October after legislators deadlocked over whether to raise the cap on the number of the independent public schools that can be authorized by universities. The current limit is 150, which was reached three years ago. Since then Republican Gov. John Engler has been pushing to increase that number; all but about 40 of the state's nearly 190 charters...