MICHIGAN

Billions in tax refunds might still be available

Student workers, take note: You may be eligible to receive a long-overdue tax refund. According to the Internal Revenue Service, nearly 2 million taxpayers nationwide who did not file a 2000 income tax return have until April 15 to claim as much as $2.5 billion total in refund checks. About 81,200 Michigan residents failed to file a return in 2000, totaling $96,031 in lost funds, according to IRS data. Taxpayers have three years to claim a refund owed to them, IRS spokeswoman Sarah Wreford said.

MICHIGAN

Program aids tax filing

Accounting senior Maria Goodfellow sat at a long table in the basement of Student Services and furrowed her brow, punching calculator keys to add a sum on Barbara Boillat's 1040 income tax form. Boillat rocked her 5-year-old son, David, in her arms as she patiently awaited the results of her income calculations. "I have absolutely no clue about taxes," the Haslett resident said.

MICHIGAN

Taxes would hurt bar business

Although 4:40 p.m. would not typically be considered peak business hours for a bar, almost 20 patrons sat in The Peanut Barrel Restaurant at that time Monday - a few eating one of the establishment's hamburgers, some simply perched at the bar for a drink. Among the latter was Johnny Stewart, who sat reading the paper with a large glass of beer in his right hand.

MICHIGAN

Bush campaign continues to grow

Alessa Thomas

February 17, 2004

Campaign supporters say the re-election effort for President Bush is in full swing, even though he doesn't have a definite opponent. Katie Allardyce, chairperson of MSU Students for Bush, said they have been working to recruit volunteers to spread Bush's message.

MICHIGAN

State alters tags to prevent identity theft

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land recently modified the amount of information on disability-parking placards in order to protect motorists from identity theft. The placards, which formerly displayed the complete driver's license number of the driver, will now include only the first letter and the last three digits of the number.

MICHIGAN

Workers step it up

Gretchen Morr wears a pedometer around campus so she can monitor her daily steps. In an average day, she takes about 12,000 of them. "I wear it on top of my pants; it's black and it just blends in - it looks like a pager," she said. The interdisciplinary studies in social science senior works part-time for state Sen.

MICHIGAN

Electronics trends shift

In recent months, Judy Murphy has noticed a surprising trend spreading to several of her female friends and acquaintances. "I know a lot of girls into digital cameras," the biochemistry sophomore said.

MICHIGAN

Governor calls for forest certification

Gov. Jennifer Granholm is proposing a plan that would seek to certify all state forest land by the Department of Natural Resources. Certification could ensure that forest land is managed, preserve habitats and protect water quality. According to Matt Johnson, director of Granholm's northern Michigan office, the forest certification would aid in retaining Michigan jobs in the timber industry because many wood and paper consumers now are demanding that wood producers be certified. "The governor wants to send a clear message to wood-product consumers that the products they purchase are produced in an environmentally friendly and sustainable process," Johnson said in a statement. Granholm said her proposal would make Michigan a leader in forest-certification practices. "Through the certification efforts I am asking the DNR to undertake, Michigan would have the largest amount of certified forest land in the nation by the end of 2005," she said in a statement. Michigan currently owns about 4 million acres of forest land.

MICHIGAN

Lawmakers work for car booster seat law

Recently introduced legislation would modify the Michigan vehicle code to require children between 40 and 80 pounds and no taller that 4 feet 9 inches to use booster seats when traveling in a vehicle. The bills, introduced by state Sens.

MICHIGAN

E.L. Commission votes against rezoning spot

Don Jordan

February 13, 2004

After listening to nearly two and a half hours of testimony from the developers and the public, the East Lansing Planning Commission voted 4-1 against approving a recommendation to rezone a local abandoned property. The commission also voted 3-2 to approve a recommendation to grant Strathmore Development Company a special-use permit to redevelop the property as general office space. The recommendations are given to the city council, who will officially vote on the future of the property, located at 1427 W.

MICHIGAN

HIV, AIDS awareness day raises racial questions within county

While some HIV/AIDS awareness groups are working to educate people by targeting Lansing's black population, other organizations are debating whether the HIV/AIDS awareness issue should be a matter of race.

MICHIGAN

Citizens voice land concerns

Don Jordan

February 12, 2004

From her house's rear window, Alice Schehr's view is dominated by the hulking shell of the former Albert Pic Motel. The structure, which was converted to office use in 1983, closed its doors in 2000 and has sat vacant ever since. But Schehr said her problem isn't with the two-story eyesore, it's with the development proposed to replace it. Strathmore Development Company is petitioning the East Lansing Planning Commission to rezone the area to include retail sales.

MICHIGAN

Police: Weather, ordinance keep E.L. streets quieter

Sarah Mcevilly

February 12, 2004

Cold weather and tougher penalties are the cause for a quiet city, East Lansing officials say, but all are expecting noise to increase again with the onset of warmer temperatures. But more than six months following the passage of amendments to East Lansing's noise ordinance, officials and students remain conflicted on the subject.

MICHIGAN

Alumnus-owned Laundromat offers unique alternatives

LaKyria Snorden was hypnotized by the slow whirring of swishing water, bubbling soap suds and spinning clothes.

MICHIGAN

Son's competency report sent to judge

Sarah Mcevilly

February 11, 2004

A final report has been sent out regarding the competency of murder suspect Bramlett Hamilton and results should be released today. Hamilton, 35, is accused of the November murder of his mother, MSU Professor Ruth Simms Hamilton.

MICHIGAN

Patriot Act spurs concern

Melissa Domsic

February 10, 2004

The East Lansing City Council plans to discuss a resolution submitted by concerned residents condemning the USA Patriot Act as an infringement of their civil rights. Residents opposing the Patriot Act are expected to address the council during the public comment portion of today's 7 p.m.

MICHIGAN

Use of Mich. as landfill might end

Alessa Thomas

February 10, 2004

Some state lawmakers say they are ready to take action on the amount of out-of-state and Canadian trash being dumped in Michigan landfills.

MICHIGAN

City balances licenses, safety

Don Jordan

February 10, 2004

Dave Milligan said he couldn't imagine his restaurant without some beer on the menu. For the Crunchy's owner, a liquor license is just as integral to business as his burger-yielding kitchen. "Liquor makes up almost half of our revenue," Milligan said. Milligan owns one of the 31 liquor licenses distributed to East Lansing by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission.

MICHIGAN

A fighting chance

Tara Miller

February 10, 2004

Inside the boxing ring, 15-year-old Victor Limas throwing punches as if he has the weight of the world on his shoulders.

MICHIGAN

Single local temple home to faithful

Tara May

February 10, 2004

When Payel Gupta was a little girl, she prayed with local members of the Hindu community in their houses. There was no temple in the Lansing area until 1992, so Gupta's friends and family would gather together in local homes to worship. Now, when she attends the Bharatiya Temple of Lansing in Haslett, it is a symbol to her of how far they've come.