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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

East Lansing traffic codes to get face-lift

East Lansing City Council will meet tonight to vote on updating the city’s traffic code. The city adopted the Michigan Vehicle Code, and any changes made in the state Legislature have to be made locally, Deputy City Manger Jean Golden said.

MICHIGAN

Ingham Sheriffs Office hands out awards

Holt - Jeffrey Ribby was employee of the year twice - in the same year. Ribby, a deputy with the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office, was honored Thursday, along with many other office employees in the annual Ingham County Sheriff’s Office Awards Ceremony. Employees received plaques and certificates for jobs including appreciation, bravery and life-saving, signed by Sheriff Gene Wriggelsworth, commending the recipients on a job well done. Ribby won Employee of the Year, which along with the other awards, is picked by an awards board.

MICHIGAN

Community group seeks new interns

When Sara Posius graduates this spring, she’ll take with her not only a diploma but also the memories of good relationships with neighbors. The audiology and speech sciences senior is finishing an internship as a neighborhood resource coordinator for the East Lansing Community Relations Coalition. “I liked it because it gives me a chance to meet other people,” Posius said. Others, too, have the opportunity to get involved. There are at least six positions open for students to apply for in the fall 2002 and spring 2003 semesters. The internship asks that interested students have at least a 3.0 grade-point average, training or interest in community building and communication and have plans to live in one of the East Lansing neighborhoods for the academic year.

MICHIGAN

Clinic remains stable after state funding cut

Employees and affiliates of Otto Community Health Center still are waiting from the state to restore funding that was cut from the clinic four months ago. The state cut $160,000 in funding for the center in November, along with the funding for 18 other health clinics statewide. Shortly after the decision, Gov.

MICHIGAN

Broadband bills could boost economy

Gov. John Engler signed the Broadband package into law Thursday, making high-speed Internet services more available throughout Michigan. Legislators hope the package, consisting of three bills, will encourage businesses to both come to and stay in Michigan, thus boosting the state’s economy.

MICHIGAN

Engler sets March for GHB awareness

Kelli Richardson enjoys going out on weekends, but she also knows about GHB, ecstasy and other club drugs - and often worries about being exposed to them.“Sometimes when I go out with my friends, I think about someone slipping a drug into my drink,” the microbiology sophomore said.

MICHIGAN

Size of sewer basin undecided

East Lansing is beginning its combined sewer overflow project, Peter Eberz, director of public works said.But determining the size of the retention treatment basin may cause more problems than the money it would save.The basin, a large underground tank, will help take the overflow of sewage, which occurs when the snow melts and the rain falls.The East Lansing Wastewater Treatment Plant, 1700 Trowbridge Road, is unable to hold the influx of water when this occurs.In 1993, the first phases of the overflow project were constructed.

MICHIGAN

House passes budget for state universities

The 2002-03 higher education budget passed the state House Thursday, but some MSU officials say the university still has a long road ahead. “Everybody across the state is facing challenging economic times right now,” MSU Trustee David Porteous said.

MICHIGAN

Bill calls for emergency coordinator

Fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems and smoke detectors aren’t free. Personnel to plan for emergencies don’t work without pay either.As part of the anti-terrorism package of bills in the state Legislature, public colleges and universities with more than 25,000 students are required to appoint an emergency management coordinator.

MICHIGAN

Union rallies for more benefits

Lansing - About 2,000 union members stood at the steps of the state Capitol on Wednesday in support of unemployment benefits. A large truck painted with the word “Teamsters” circled the block honking its horn in support of the rally, organized by the Michigan State AFL-CIO.

MICHIGAN

Court hears case for releasing police files

The Michigan Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday on whether police departments must release documents about internal investigations to the public.In 1998, the Lansing State Journal requested files concerning any complaints investigated by the Lansing Police Department Internal Affairs Bureau from 1997 under the Freedom of Information Act.

MICHIGAN

Surveys ask U about off-campus living

Jonathan Rosenthal knows students have housing concerns.Rosenthal, the director for community affairs for ASMSU, is using his time to pass out surveys he hopes will open up communication between residents and the city of East Lansing.The program is designed to define the top three issues students face living off campus.“The new breed of student at MSU we are seeing wants to get involved,” the business administration junior said.Rosenthal distributed the surveys in two lecture classes Monday, totaling more than 450 students.The target number of students to be reached is 2,000.The survey comes as a portion of Rosenthal’s attempt, with the cooperation of the city, to open up communication with students.Earlier this month an e-mail address was introduced, but a lack of response has compelled Rosenthal to use another method.The survey is also asking for students to list their address in the city.Each student given the survey is asked to describe the quality of life issues, they would like to see the city improve.Some of the top responses on the survey have been city ordinances, the quality of housing available to students and the cost of rent, Rosenthal said.On Monday, Rosenthal will distribute the survey to another lecture class of 230 students.“The end result is going to be to have an elite university and an elite community,” he said.Deputy City Manager Jean Golden said this is an excellent way to recognize it is up to both students and landlords to solve the problems together, she said.“The landlords were very clear they see students as customers,” she said.