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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

Officials offer spring break travelers advice

By Melanie Thomas, Melissa Domsic, and Cori Devries The State News With the relaxed party atmosphere that tends to go along with spring break, officials want to make sure students don't leave their common sense back home. "A lot of times on vacation (students) want to get away; they want to relax," said Jodi Roberto Hancock, educational program coordinator for the MSU Women's Resource Center.

MICHIGAN

Investors sought for East Village

Bob Darrow
March 3, 2006

East Lansing officials are lining up the necessary pieces to encourage high-rise, mixed-use, urban construction projects in the 35-acre East Village, located adjacent to MSU between Bogue Street and Hagadorn Road.

MICHIGAN

Health aides push wage hike

Melanie Thomas
March 3, 2006

Home help workers are joining forces across the state to push for higher wages to improve Michigan's home health care system. The Michigan Quality Home Care Campaign wants to convince state lawmakers to pass legislation to raise wages, add insurance and require training for in-home help workers to reduce the number leaving home health care sectors.

MICHIGAN

New store to hire stylish employees

Corinne Devries
March 1, 2006

American Apparel asks job applicants to send photos of themselves with a résumé in order to apply for a position at its clothing stores, one of which will open in East Lansing at the end of March. The company is looking for people with a "certain fashion sense" to work at the store, said Kristina Ledesma-Davies, manager of human resources at American Apparel. "It's the way people dress, it's the way people present themselves, if they would present our clothes well," Ledesma-Davies said.

MICHIGAN

Local officials react to Michigan road report

Ken Osborne
March 1, 2006

The poor condition of Michigan's transportation system, detailed in a report released Monday by a national organization, did not come as a surprise to John Niemela, the director for the County Road Association of Michigan. "This is not news to us," Niemela said.

MICHIGAN

Helping hands

Vanessa Notman
February 28, 2006

An area group that raises money for South African schools and scholarships has raised more than $35,000 for the cause since the organization's conception. Linking All Types of Teachers to International Cross-Cultural Education, or LATTICE, is a local nonprofit organization that focuses on promoting global understanding in elementary and secondary schools. With unemployment as high as 40 percent in South Africa and education costs at about $150 per student, many children's educations are cut short, the group members said. Tuition, books and uniforms add to the cost, which leads many South African women to fall back on their skills in the ancient art of basket weaving to raise money to provide their children with a basic education. This is why LATTICE joined with Skills Dynamic in South Africa to export the weaver's baskets into the United States. Some Lansing-area teachers and LATTICE members have created pen-pal relationships between their students and students in South Africa who received scholarships.

MICHIGAN

Findlay declines recount

Ken Osborne
February 27, 2006

Republican John Findlay will not seek a recount after last week's special Senate election primary in which he was defeated by Vince Green by only one vote. Green won over Findlay with 1,317 votes to 1,316. Green will now face Rep.

MICHIGAN

'Beer nuts' host festival

By Erin Atkinson For The State News Puddles of beer dampened the pavement and the distinctive ale smell permeated the street at the Winter Beer Festival in Lansing's Old Town Saturday. While most opted for traditional kegs and coolers, the Dark Horse Brewing Co. found a way to make its "Scotty Karate" flavor stand out. The company distributed its beer from the shoulders of an armless mannequin. Local beer aficionados stood sipping on hundreds of flavors including "Quit Jerkn' my Firken" and "Big Phat Abbey Ale," from 21 brewing companies across Michigan.

MICHIGAN

Doctor shortage result of demand, retirees

Melanie Thomas
February 24, 2006

Michigan is facing a shortage of specialty physicians and will face a critical shortage of general practitioners by 2020, researchers said. The Blue Ribbon Physician Workforce Committee, made up of representatives from the MSU colleges of Human Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine, found that Michigan is experiencing the shortage most acutely. Specialty groups that face a deficit of doctors include general surgeons, internists, psychiatrists and radiologists. The shortage is due to a number of factors, said Carol Parker-Lee, executive director of MSU Area Health Education Center.

MICHIGAN

Bills aim for farm regulation

Melanie Thomas
February 23, 2006

Michigan House Republicans hope to help the state's agriculture industry by offering farmers incentives to meet environmental standards, representatives said Tuesday. The six-bill legislation package will allow farmers to enter a voluntary program that verifies the farmer is taking steps to prevent pollution. "This legislation is vital to the continued growth and development of Michigan farm jobs as we strive to reach the goals and objectives of rebuilding the economy and enhancing business and industry," said Rep.

MICHIGAN

Complaints of ID theft high

Michigan residents are filing more complaints about identity theft and consumer satisfaction, according to Attorney General Mike Cox. Complaints that include credit and financial concerns topped Cox's list of top consumer complaints in 2005, according to a report released in early February. Identity theft was frequently mentioned in complaints obtained by the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. The office recovered $4.5 million in consumer refunds from complaints.

MICHIGAN

Rhythm contest

Vanessa Notman
February 23, 2006

Orange and red lights shined on the stage with a single stool, a microphone and a faux brick background. This isn't a nightclub or coffee shop.

MICHIGAN

Proposed building could be 10 levels

Bob Darrow
February 23, 2006

Some of the flattest space left in downtown East Lansing could be transformed into one of the city's tallest structures. With the City Council's blessing, a private developer is researching the feasibility of building on the site of Lot 1, a city-owned parking lot located on Albert Avenue across from Harper's Restaurant & Brewpub. The proposed project would include a mix of residential and retail space similar to the City Center development, which stretches from Barnes & Noble Booksellers at the corner of Charles Street, to Cosi on M.A.C.

MICHIGAN

Word on the street

In light of Tuesday's special primary for the state Senate seat, we hit the streets to find why you think students are so apathetic about voting. "I don't think students choose not to vote.

MICHIGAN

WEB EXTRA: Council discusses property acquisition

Vanessa Notman
February 22, 2006

Council members went into executive session 45 minutes into the East Lansing City Council meeting Tuesday night to discuss property acquisition and the status of labor negotiations. The property acquisition involves part of downtown East Lansing not associated with East Village, said Ted Staton, East Lansing city manager. He said revealing anymore information on the subject would compromise the city's interest in the matter. A resolution to honor the passing and legacy of civil rights pioneer Coretta Scott King was delivered Tuesday evening by Councilmember Kevin Beard.

MICHIGAN

Police: Negligence leads to theft

Melissa Domsic
February 21, 2006

More than $20,000 in personal belongings have been reported stolen on campus since the semester began in January. Most of these thefts were "crimes of opportunity" because the items were left unattended, said MSU police Sgt.

MICHIGAN

Afternoon crash stalls commuters

Melissa Domsic
February 21, 2006

A four-car accident blocked traffic on Lake Lansing Road east of Abbott Road for about 40 minutes Monday. One car rear-ended another at about 2:20 p.m., which caused two more cars in front of it to also get hit, East Lansing police Sgt.