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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

Group to examine petition's wording

Ken Osborne
January 10, 2006

The Michigan Civil Rights Commission will conduct a hearing at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Detroit to investigate allegations that voters who signed the petition to place the proposal on the ballot were misled. Proposed language for the controversial Michigan Civil Rights Initiative ballot proposal, which would end affirmative action, was released on Friday. According to the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration, & Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary, or BAMN, voters who actually support affirmative action signed the petition because they were misled, said Donna Stern, the group's national director. Stern said the Michigan Board of Canvassers provided a sample of 500 people who signed the petition. "We did not find a single black signer that had knowingly signed an anti-affirmative action petition," Stern said. However, state Rep.

MICHIGAN

Police stress caution after local kidnapping

Melissa Domsic
January 10, 2006

The man charged with abducting a 21-year-old student on Thursday reportedly tried making the student think the incident was a prank and he wasn't actually kidnapping her, police said. "He was playing upon the security provided to students in East Lansing," said East Lansing police Lt.

MICHIGAN

Speed limits could increase

Bob Darrow
January 10, 2006

Speed limits on two of East Lansing's main thoroughfares will be going up unless the state's highest court intervenes. Portions of Grand River Avenue and Saginaw Highway could be 10 mph faster, increasing to 35 mph and 45 mph, respectively. The change is the latest development in a nearly yearlong court battle between the city of East Lansing and the Michigan State Police and the Department of Transportation, or MDOT. Last March, East Lansing won a decision that blocked the state's initial attempt to raise the speed limits. The Michigan Court of Appeals overturned the order in a Dec.

MICHIGAN

Retailers attempt to spark sales

By Lauren Hyland Special to The State News Before car enthusiasts swarm to Detroit this month for the auto show, boat retailers tried to tap into the pocketbooks of Lansing residents this weekend by showcasing their newest watercrafts. On display at the Lansing Boat Show at the Lansing Center were nearly 100 of the newest speed boats and pontoons, as well as the latest accessories and flotation devices. Much like the struggling auto industry, retailers are trying to keep Michigan's boating industry afloat.

MICHIGAN

Governor enacts anti-torture bill

Gabrielle Russon
January 9, 2006

Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed a new anti-torture bill after a loophole in the law prevented Huron County prosecutors from correctly charging a Pigeon man who continually tortured his disabled wife. Granholm signed the bill, which creates harsher penalties for people convicted of torture on Jan.

MICHIGAN

Big in '06: East Lansing's to-do list

Bob Darrow
January 9, 2006

It's the time of year to make resolutions for the coming months. But much of the activity in the city government leading up to the new year was more about a lack of resolution. If the city of East Lansing crafted its own list of goals for the new year, it might look something like this: • Approve an East Village Master Plan: The East Lansing Planning Commission wrestled with an outline for future developments in the East Village on Dec.

MICHIGAN

MSU woman abducted on lone trek near Abbott Road

Melissa Domsic
January 9, 2006

A 21-year-old MSU student escaped after being forced into a convicted felon's car Thursday when police pulled it over for dark tinted windows and noticed the student making gestures for help. Michael Lee Castillo, a 32-year-old Lansing Community College East student, was arraigned Friday on charges of kidnapping the student early Thursday morning. Kidnapping is a felony with punishment of up to life in prison.

MICHIGAN

Grill receives no jail, pays back embezzled funds in full

Melissa Domsic
January 9, 2006

Former MSU School of Journalism faculty member Raye Grill was sentenced Wednesday and repaid about $69,000 she stole from the school and the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association. Grill will not see jail time but will be on probation for 18 months and is to serve 300 hours of community service as part of the sentence.

MICHIGAN

New year brings fitness goals

Melanie Thomas
January 9, 2006

As the clock ticked down and 2005 ended, many Americans brought in the new year with resolutions to shrink their waistlines in 2006. But only 8 percent will fulfill them, according to a 2005 survey by Stephen Shapiro, a Boston-based author and former management education consultant. "This is the prime season to lose weight because of the new year and new beginnings," said Scott Schell, owner of Powerhouse Gym, 435 E.

MICHIGAN

Pro-life group plans to petition for amendment

Kris Turner
December 9, 2005

The Michigan Citizens for Life are working to start a petition drive so that an amendment to the state constitution granting rights to the unborn would appear on the 2006 ballot. Cal Zastrow, chairman of the group, said they still have a lot of work to do and are working to get more volunteers. "We are a volunteer organization," he said.

MICHIGAN

Downtown E.L. stores attract holiday shoppers

As the holiday shopping season draws closer to an end, downtown East Lansing stores are seeing what it means to be a destination shopping area. East Lansing Councilmember Mark Meadows, who served on the Downtown Development Authority until his mayoral term ended three weeks ago, said the downtown specialty stores attract customers, but not in the same sense as a mall. "If you want to come downtown without a particular something you're looking for and wander, we get that a little," he said.

MICHIGAN

E.L. principal refuses $20K gift

Kristi Jourdan
December 8, 2005

Chris Savage was shocked to learn the $20,000 prize he won from Samsung's "Hope for Education" essay contest for East Lansing High School was rejected because the principal refused to provide her social security number on the paperwork. "I heard from Samsung saying (the school) had declined it," said Savage, an East Lansing resident.

MICHIGAN

Diverse crowd celebrates 'Holidays in Old Town'

Jennifer Toland
December 8, 2005

Lansing's Old Town is in the midst of its holiday celebration with events aimed at bringing people of all ages to the area and its businesses. "It's an opportunity for MSU students to sneak away from East Lansing and see that this area has a lot more to offer than they think," said Jamie Schriner-Hooper, executive director of the Old Town Commercial Association. The celebration, "Holidays in Old Town," started on Dec.

MICHIGAN

WEB EXTRA: Essay topic for Samsung's "Hope For Education" essay contest

Chris Savage's entry: "Why is the sky blue?" The teacher sends a webpage showing light scattered by atmospheric molecules onto the screens set into her students' desks. As she answers the young girl's question, a colorful, animated scene plays out, graphically depicting the process. One hearing-disabled student hears his teacher's words transmitted wirelessly from a discrete microphone on her lapel to tiny hearing aids in his ears. Another student with diminished eyesight sees the animation on a larger, high-contrast screen. Different students, different learning styles, different needs, different teaching approaches. Technology in the classroom can make this happen simultaneously, seamlessly and effectively.