The newest addition to the nationwide chain celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, attended by MSU athletic director Ron Mason and State Sen. Virg Bernero, D-Lansing.

An office representative of Gov. Jennifer Granholm also was on site to declare this week "Wal-Mart Week" in Michigan.

While creating about 260 job openings within the area, the 142,344-square-foot shopping center donated $17,500 to several community orders as part of Wal-Mart's Good Works community involvement program, including the Meridian Library and Capital Area United Way.

The store is open to shoppers from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week.

Dawn Klemish

Officials rule blaze at housing complex arson

Fire officials have officially ruled arson as the cause of a July 9 fire that destroyed a housing duplex and left an East Lansing couple homeless.

East Lansing Fire Marshall Bob Pratt said no other information could be disclosed because of the ongoing investigation.

"We've turned over the investigation to the detective bureau and they're working on it right now," he said.

The blaze caused an estimated $60,000 in damage and the residence at 184 W. Lake Lansing Road was damaged beyond repair.

The incident was the fourth in a string of suspect fires in the Lansing area.

June 28 marked the third fire in a month at Carriage Hill East Apartments & Townhomes. The housing complex, past Lake Lansing Road on Carriage Hill Drive, also was damaged during fires on June 21 and June 7.

Meridian Township fire officials said each of the Carriage Hill fires began in cars parked in townhouse garages and ruled all three incidents as suspicious.

Pratt said his department is not yet sure if the Carriage Hill fires were connected to the duplex blaze.

"We certainly haven't ruled it out completely," he said. "We're meeting with them, and our police departments are meeting with them."

Dawn Klemish