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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

Options open to file taxes

Aaron Johnson
April 12, 2002

With the tax deadline on Monday, Juanita Russell and Joshua Dickerson still haven’t sent their taxes.Russell, a sociology sophomore, just hasn’t gotten around to it.“I’m just a procrastinator,” the computer science senior said.And Dickerson said he didn’t work over the last year.“I always (got my taxes in early) when I had a job - around mid-January,” he said.The two aren’t alone - millions across the United States wait until the last minute to file their taxes.The Internal Revenue Service expects 132 million returns this year, but as of April 5, the agency only had received 79.7 million.Michigan was on pace with 2.8 million returns filed out of 4.6 million expected.IRS spokeswoman Sarah Wreford said even if you wait until Monday, there are ways to avoid being audited.Wreford said a majority of the mistakes on returns involve putting down the wrong social security number and math errors.But both types of errors can be avoided if filers take a second to relax, Wreford said.“Put it aside then go back and double-check your math,” she said.

MICHIGAN

Fountain Square construction nears end

Shaun Byron
April 12, 2002

Dasha Loskutova passes Fountain Square three or four times a day on her way to class.The East Lansing High School student, who also is enrolled at MSU, can’t wait to see it when the construction is finished.“They had an old fountain here before,” she said.

MICHIGAN

Council may fill vacant seat with election

Shaun Byron
April 12, 2002

Lansing City Council will fill a vacant council seat, left by Lou Adado, by May 13.Adado announced his resignation Monday because of the distraction from recent sexual harassment allegations.Three bids have been filed with the city clerk since his decision.Two city employees have accused Adado of the charges.Heather Eman and an unnamed woman have said Adado touched them inappropriately.The council has 30 days after Monday, when they vote to accept Adado’s resignation, to find a replacement.Under the city’s charter, the council must accept any resignation in a formal meeting.“We have been elected to do a job and sometimes that job is not easy,” Councilmember Geneva Smith said.City officials will begin interviewing applicants May 6 for the open position.

MICHIGAN

Counts dropped in plea agreement for drinking case

Two counts of supplying alcohol to a minor were dropped Wednesday in the case of an MSU student charged in connection with the death of Eric Blair.Blair, an 18-year-old Bay City resident and Delta College student, drowned in the Red Cedar River in October.Police said Blair began drinking Oct.

MICHIGAN

Students celebrate higher temperatures

Aja Carmichael
April 11, 2002

At a time when students’ heads should be in the books, many have them in the clouds. Three weeks before final exams, students are celebrating the return of higher temperatures in sunglasses and tank tops while playing recreational sports outside.To commemorate Wednesday’s 58-degree weather, Krysten McCully, a pre-vet junior, was just one of the guys.

MICHIGAN

Council to review applications for vacant seat

Shaun Byron
April 11, 2002

Lansing City Council will begin reviewing applications today for a city council seat left vacant after Lou Adado resigned Monday night.The former city council member gave his resignation following accusations of sexual harassment by two former city employees.The council will meet at 1:30 p.m.

MICHIGAN

Food rules protect Muslim practices

Amy Bartner  and  Elissa Englund
April 10, 2002

At Bassam Mahmoud’s restaurant, the meat is prepared according to Muslim dietary law - and a new state law will prevent other restaurants that don’t follow the dietary law from claiming they do.Some Muslims are allowed to eat foods considered halal, which is slaughtered in a certain way.

MICHIGAN

Sexual harassment charges prompt resignation

Shaun Byron
April 10, 2002

Despite a Lansing City Council member’s unexpected resignation Monday, a city employee is still considering a sexual harassment lawsuit against the city.Councilmember Lou Adado announced his resignation at Monday night’s city council meeting, citing negative attention on the city due to two women’s charges that he sexually harassed them.

MICHIGAN

Professors obscenity suit thrown out

Casey Mcnenly
April 10, 2002

Although a Macomb Community College professor’s lawsuit was thrown out by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on March 29 after he was suspended for using obscenities in class, some say it won’t have much impact on classroom conduct around the state. John Bonnell, a professor of Western literature and English composition at the community college, was suspended in November 1998 after a female student complained she felt sexually harassed by language he used in class. “It’s a dark day,” Bonnell said.

MICHIGAN

Lansing group to clean up 3 brownfield sites in summer

Aaron Johnson
April 9, 2002

There’s not much room left in Lansing.But the Lansing Brownfield Redevelopment Authority is looking to alleviate the problem this summer.The 5-year-old agency is getting ready for the development of several brownfield sites.Brownfields are contaminated sites redeveloped by businesses as a way to reduce urban sprawl and excess growth.“It results in additional tax value,” said Tracy Carney-Miller, development specialist for the city’s Economic Development Corp.

MICHIGAN

Environmentalists raise awareness on mercury emissions

Aaron Johnson
April 9, 2002

A group of environmental groups are working to reduce the amount of mercury falling on Michigan residents.The Michigan Environmental Council, National Wildlife Federation and the Michigan United Conservation Clubs are working with the state and private businesses to raise awareness of mercury emissions.Mercury is produced through a variety of processes, but Michigan Environmental Council policy director James Clift said coal-burning plants contribute about one-half of the total emissions.“A new coal-burning power plant has emissions that are five to 10 times lower than older plants,” he said.

MICHIGAN

Greeks get funky for fund-raiser

Aja Carmichael
April 9, 2002

Eleven greek teams contributed their creativity, sweat and the rhythmic ability for the fourth annual MTV Fundraiser Night, at the Auditorium on Monday night. About 2,000 people attended the first fund-raising event of Greek Week 2002 to raise funds for Sparrow Hospital’s pediatric emergency room.

MICHIGAN

Funding for community colleges remains unchanged

Lindsay Frederickson
April 9, 2002

Lansing - Gov. John Engler signed the fiscal year 2003 community college budget Monday that will maintain 2002 funding levels for Michigan’s 28 community colleges. Engler signed a similar budget for the state’s 15 public universities April 1, stating the Legislature would not cut funding to the universities as long as they keep tuition increases at or below 8.5 percent or $425, whichever is greater. The community college budget for fiscal year 2003 will remain at $321.7 million with Lansing Community College receiving $32.2 million in funding.

MICHIGAN

Conflicts cause delay in drowning case

Shannon Murphy
April 8, 2002

The preliminary examination has been postponed for another week for four female MSU students charged in connection with the drowning of an 18-year-old Bay City man.Nicole Bukowski, 21, Cassandra Duggan, 20, Laurel Trezise, 20, and Sara Kaufman, 21, were charged with running an unlicensed bar at a party they hosted in October.

MICHIGAN

Malls set up sessions to improve service

Amy Bartner
April 8, 2002

It takes employees with a good attitude and a lot of motivation to keep customers coming back. Several malls around Michigan are trying to improve customer service skills with sessions for their staff members to learn how to better the mall environment.CBL & Associates Management Inc., an umbrella business that manages several malls, including the Meridian Mall in Okemos, the Fashion Square Mall in Saginaw, the Midland Mall in Midland and The Lakes Mall in Muskegon, recently asked for Michigan Works’ services to better the quality of employees.The sessions will work to improve the performance of the hourly employee up to the highest manager of the retail stores.“We had very, very good feedback,” said Cindy Leyrer, Capital Area Michigan Works workforce development consultant.