Grand Ledge — It was just a birthday gift for a day of beauty treatments at a local salon, but for Sheila Laing, something clicked. Laing, who had worked as an MSU secretary for 14 years and had been an MSU student for more than two years, quit her job and began to chase her long-time dream of starting her own salon business. "I told my husband this is what I wanted to do," Laing said.
A group of American Nazis might sue the city of Lansing for holding a diversity rally the day of its white supremacist rally later this month, a group spokesman said. The group, dedicated to the preservation of the Aryan race and the establishment of a socialist state in America, is also angry that a fence and metal detectors might be used for security at the National Socialist Movement's rally April 22 at the state Capitol Building. Spokesman Bill White said the diversity rally violates First Amendment rights because it's not neutral, and added that a lawsuit is very probable. "They're doing this to target us and to infringe our exercising of our rights," White said of the diversity rally.
Passover services and Seder dinner will be provided tonight at 7 p.m. at the Hillel Jewish Student Center, 360 Charles St., and at 9:30 p.m.
A Michigan Court of Appeals three-judge panel heard oral arguments Tuesday on whether same-sex couples should receive health care benefits from state entities.
The Nazi group planning to hold a rally in Lansing later this month is upset about a rally the city is planning as an alternative for people opposed to the group's viewpoint. The National Socialist Movement, a group dedicated to the preservation of the Aryan race and the establishment of a socialist state in America, claims the city's alternative rally would violate the law which requires the city to be "content neutral," in preparing for a demonstration. Both rallies are scheduled for April 22. "Frankly, we may just decide to join the city's diversity rally, which is 'free and open to the public,' and help them celebrate our white heritage," Bill White, the group's spokesperson, said in a press release. Despite this, the city plans to continue with its alternative celebration, said Randy Hannan, deputy chief of staff to Mayor Virg Bernero. "Our plans haven't changed a bit," Hannan said.
Protesters will gather today to rally on the steps of the Michigan Hall of Justice to challenge Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox on whether state institutions and employers can offer domestic partner benefits to unmarried couples. Cox will argue before the Michigan Court of Appeals that any state institution offering domestic partner benefits will be in violation of Proposal 2. "We have descended the voice of the people of Michigan and will continue to do so," said Nate Bailey, spokesperson for the Michigan Attorney General.
Help for the Great Lakes is making its way through U.S. Congress. The Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act, introduced by lawmakers Wednesday, could help clean up contaminated sediments and alleviate problems with invasive species and sewage overflows in the Great Lakes. The bipartisan act, cosponsored by Michigan Democrat Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow and Republican Congressman Vernon Ehlers, R-Grand Rapids, is asking for more than $23 billion as part of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration recommendations, a planning process initiated by President Bush. "Invasive species are destructive to our ecosystem and create tremendous costs for communities and businesses throughout the region," Gov.
By Danielle Grondin For The State News Despite chilly temperatures, MSU's men's Ultimate Frisbee team was on fire this past weekend.
The declared Democratic candidates for the 69th District seat in the state House of Representatives will meet in a debate Tuesday at MSU. Mary Lindemann and East Lansing City Councilmember Mark Meadows are seeking the nomination.
By AMY OPREANFor The State News She made the cut alongside with Henry Ford and Rosa Parks — and starting this summer, her name will be cemented into the heart of Lansing, literally.
In East Lansing, fire trucks are green. Recycling trucks are filled with more renewable resources than empty milk cartons and collapsed cardboard.
About 15 MSU students had an opportunity to eat dinner with the mayor on Wednesday. East Lansing Mayor Sam Singh met with students in the Holmes Hall cafeteria, the first of four informal conversations planned for this month. Singh said he was pleased with Wednesday's dinner, as conversation drifted from community issues to casual chatting about sports. The final three dinners will be held April 11 in Wilson Hall, April 17 in Abbot Hall and April 18 in Holden Hall.
Michigan could become the 15th state to take away a local government's authority to decide the type of seeds grown on its farms. The bill, introduced in September 2005, removes a local government's ability to decide whether farmers can grow genetically modified or organic seeds.
Apple computer users will now be able to use Windows, through a new piece of software introduced Wednesday. Apple Computer Inc. revealed the software, called Boot Camp, which will help Mac owners run Windows XP operating system. Boot Camp guides people on how to download Windows and lets them choose between Windows or Mac OS X when they start their computers. By Wednesday afternoon, Sean Leahy, a software support specialist at the MSU Computer Store, had already installed it.
Parking garages and lots in downtown East Lansing could soon offer discounts for students and part-time employees as soon as fall semester and allow people to pay for parking by credit card.
Local government, rock 'n' roll and biodiesel will collide Thursday when East Lansing Mayor Sam Singh joins Adam Gardner, singer and guitarist for the popular rock band Guster, on MSU's campus to advocate for environmentally friendly fuels. The two will meet Dr. Steve Pueppke, director of MSU's Office of Bio-based Technologies, and Bob Boehm, manager of Commodity and Marketing for the Michigan Farm Bureau, at 1 p.m.
CATA will cut back services for the No. 26 bus line which goes down Abbott Road. Starting April 10, it will extend the Friday schedule for Monday through Thursday.
It's finally here. After months of waiting, the Los Angeles-based American Apparel clothing store opened its doors Tuesday to East Lansing.
American Apparel's U.S.-made, solid-colored clothes will be available to East Lansing shoppers beginning at 10 a.m.
Kanani Daka was playing basketball when another player's cell phone rang. The player stopped the game, only to yell at his girlfriend and make a scene, Daka said.