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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

New E.L. cafe offers crepes

Donning red berets and black aprons, servers prepare European delicacies in a small French-style cafe. Complete with international music, murals and an outdoor patio - students and residents can now find a little taste of France nestled between a pizzeria, ice cream parlor and dozens of other fast-food chains on Grand River Avenue. Ooh la la Crepes, 1133 E.

MICHIGAN

Marshall man to make appearance in court

A 19-year-old Marshall man who is being charged with murder, stealing a motor vehicle and drunken driving will appear in court this week. Alexander Hamil is accused of stealing an MSU service vehicle from the Physical Plant parking lot at about 5:30 a.m.

MICHIGAN

Botanical club to host spring wildflower tour

The Michigan Botanical Club is sponsoring a spring wildflower walk at 10 a.m. Saturday in Scott Woods. The club will be meeting to tour the woods, located behind the Ingham Regional Medical Center Pennsylvania Campus, 2727 S.

MICHIGAN

Organ donation registry events spread information, awareness

About five years ago, Darwin Esson couldn't walk without stopping for breaths. After a lifetime of smoking cigarettes, the 67-year-old Lansing resident was forced to live on a 3-liter oxygen canister 24 hours a day - until he got a new pair of lungs. "Before I couldn't barely walk without huffin' and puffin,' now I can do anything I want to, like I was 40 years old," Esson said.

MICHIGAN

Book characters visit area library

By Maggie Lillis Special for The State News Characters from popular literature were set free from the pages of books Saturday. The Capital Area District Library in Lansing kicked off National Library Week with "Characters Come Alive at Your Library," in which staff members dressed up as characters from popular books.

MICHIGAN

City compiling damage totals

With reports of property damage from Saturday's disturbance still filing into East Lansing City Hall, a complete estimate of the weekend's events still is not available. Local business owners and landlords still are assessing damage that might have been inflicted on their properties, Mayor Mark Meadows said. "Oftentimes, reports come in a couple of weeks after something happened, like when a business owner notices a crack in a front window," Meadows said.

MICHIGAN

Area man arrested for starting 90 grass fires

John Gray, a former volunteer firefighter for the Onondaga Fire Department from 1990 to 1999 was taken into custody Tuesday after detectives from the Ingham County Sheriff's Office witnessed him starting a fire on Walker Road, south of Bellevue Road. While Gray was working at the Onondaga Fire Department, the department responded to more than 90 grass fires that they categorized as suspicious, said Chief Gene Tidd.

MICHIGAN

Cities to get less funding from state

As East Lansing enters another fiscal year and presents another budget, it has also received less help from the state. Cities, villages and townships like East Lansing and Meridian Township, have seen decreases in sales-tax revenue from the state, which is called revenue sharing. "We have less money to provide the same services," said Gary Murphy, director of finance for East Lansing.

MICHIGAN

State promotes energy options

When it comes to keeping lights on and water hot, the state of Michigan is looking for ways to promote the use of cleaner energy. The state's Energy Office and Public Service Commission recently started two programs to financially compensate residents and small businesses that use renewable energy.

MICHIGAN

Floormates testify in rape case

For 19-year-old marketing freshman Travis Eichten, the second day in court on Tuesday brought testimony from witnesses and cross-examination of the accuser. Eichten is accused of raping an Emmons Hall floormate and is facing 15 years in prison. About eight people took the stand Tuesday including friends, an Olin Health Center nurse, an MSU police officer and a detective. The woman, a 19-year-old general business administration and pre-law freshman, also was cross-examined for about an hour and 15 minutes Tuesday. The trial addresses a Sept.

MICHIGAN

E.L. decreases budget for 2006

The city of East Lansing will operate with about $523,000 less than last year, according to the city's fiscal year 2006 budget and program of services. The city's total budget for 2006 is about $55 million, about 2.3 percent less than last year.