LANSING, Mich. (AP) - A state audit shows Michigan put thousands of children at risk by authorizing sex offenders and other "unsuitable" day care providers between 2003 and 2006. The audit released Tuesday says the Department of Human Services shouldn't have licensed or registered about 1,900 day work providers.

Auditors say background checks done by the state weren't effective in identifying perpetrators of child abuse or neglect, sex offenders and others.  State officials agree with the audit's recommendations. They say in the audit report that in April 2007, they began running additional background checks after being informed a main background check program wasn't flagging enough offenders.