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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

Courtroom apparel important, judge says

By Jason Chapman For The State News East Lansing Judge Richard Ball has overseen trials during which defendants were dressed in tattered bloody shirts and pants, and even soiled clothing. He's seen other judges send people home for wearing bare midriffs, make people spit gum into Kleenex and refuse to go on with cases because of skirts being too short. While people who were just arrested don't have much control over their appearances, those who do might have a better outcome in court if they take the initiative to look presentable in front of a judge, court officials said. "You need to show that you have respect for the court even if you don't," Ball said.

MICHIGAN

Firefighters quickly douse Okemos flames

Melissa Domsic
April 19, 2006

Firefighters were able to extinguish a fire that spread over part of an Okemos house, yard and surrounding forest Tuesday afternoon. There were no injuries and the fire was under control within 50 minutes, said Meridian Township Fire Department Battalion Chief Rocky Larner. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and property owners would not comment. Larner said he did not know an estimated amount of damage. While firefighters secured the house and surrounding area, tankers carrying thousands of gallons of water waited at the end of the long driveway in case more water was needed. Since the rural area doesn't have fire hydrants, volunteers from the Ingham County Tanker Task Force will haul as much as 30,000 gallons of water to the scene of a fire, said Don Gailey. Gailey organized the task force more than 10 years ago. He waited in a large red tanker truck, which holds 3,000 gallons, in case more water was needed Tuesday afternoon. Gailey, a retired Mason resident who's been a volunteer fireman for nearly 50 years, organized the task force after realizing the need for organization at a large fire about 15 years ago. There were tankers before, he said, but they weren't organized.

MICHIGAN

Michigan Democrats aim to host 'O8 primary

Ken Osborne
April 19, 2006

Michigan could be one of the first states to host a Democratic presidential primary in 2008 if an application submitted by the Michigan Democratic Party is accepted by the Democratic National Committee. Last month the Rules and Bylaws committee of the Democratic National Committee, or DNC, created up to four open spots between the set first caucus in Iowa and the period in which any state can hold its caucus or primary. The Iowa caucus will be followed by one or two available spots for other states to house caucuses before New Hampshire holds its own primary.

MICHIGAN

Council wants student input on noise policy

Bob Darrow
April 17, 2006

East Lansing's City Council will seek student input on proposed changes to the city's noise ordinance during a public hearing Tuesday on campus. The revised ordinance would eliminate jail time as a penalty for loud parties. The proposal would add drinking games to a list of indicators police use to write party noise tickets. Tuesday's council meeting begins at 7:30 p.m.

MICHIGAN

Upgrading East Lansing

Gabrielle Russon
April 14, 2006

Soccer players might soon be able to see million-dollar renovations to the East Lansing Soccer Complex from the East Lansing Planning Commission's proposals, which include improved lighting for the fields. The commission annually releases a list of suggestions to the East Lansing City Council on how to improve the city in the Capital Improvements Program. The council uses the Capital Improvements Program to help plan the budget, ultimately deciding whether to approve the funding. The $1.4-million soccer renovations, as well as road maintenance on Abbott and Chandler roads for $2 million, are some of the proposals in the program. Some of these ideas, however, might not come to light due to lack of funding to finance the entire list, said City Manager Ted Staton. "There's no way all these things will happen," Staton said.

MICHIGAN

Zoning delays East Village rebuilding

Bob Darrow
April 14, 2006

East Lansing officials are pushing for redevelopment in the East Village area, but for the time being, they're going to have to put a stop to the very activity they want to promote. The city's planning commission is in the midst of reviewing a new zoning code for the East Village, located south of Grand River Avenue between Bogue Street and Hagadorn Road, and would provide for taller buildings and a mix of retail and residential space not permitted by the existing law. Officials hoped that work on the code, detailing exactly what can and cannot be built in the 35-acre area, would be completed by the time a City Council-imposed construction freeze is lifted. But since the planning commission is still engaged in the review process, it will be almost impossible for the City Council to approve the new code before the moratorium on building in East Village expires May 6.

MICHIGAN

Word on the street

Are East Lansing noise ordinances coming down too hard on house parties? "If you're trashing public property, then there should be a fine.

MICHIGAN

Local spa promotes health, relaxation

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.

MICHIGAN

Nazis may sue city for counter-gathering

Melissa Domsic
April 13, 2006

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.

MICHIGAN

National Socialists argue Lansing's counter-event illegal

Ken Osborne
April 11, 2006

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.

MICHIGAN

Protesters rally for same-sex benefits

Melanie Thomas
April 11, 2006

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.

MICHIGAN

Congress to consider lake protection act

Melanie Thomas
April 10, 2006

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.