Carmack receives 2 year probation

Saline, Mich., native Brandon Carmack was given a two-year probationary sentence on Wednesday before Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Rosemarie Aquilina. Carmack faced charges for filing a false report of a misdemeanor, third-degree home invasion and a misdemeanor of stalking. “We are all going to win if Mr. Carmack can take this opportunity to get rehabilitated,” Ingham County Prosecutor Andrew Stevens said. “He, of course, has a wonderful benefit in front of him if he can do so.”

Republicans, Democrats set sights on 2014 elections

Even with elections more than a year away, Republicans and Democrats within Michigan are gearing up for fierce races across the state in 2014. With at least 29 guaranteed open seats in the House and all 38 Senate positions up for grabs, as well as a contentious battle for governor, leaders from both parties say they already are preparing their pitches to prospective voters. While Republicans currently control the Legislature, Lon Johnson, chairperson of the Michigan Democratic Party, believes his party has the potential to make significant gains in the next election. With a platform focused on restoring education funding across the state, as well as ensuring an equitable tax system, Johnson said his party has a strong pitch for voters. “All the way from governor to drain commission, we’re going to talk about how to keep people in Michigan,” he said. Johnson also emphasized his party’s efforts to educate voters on the recent cuts to business taxes to the tune of $1.8 billion, the cost of which he maintains has been passed onto working families and pensioners. Darren Littell, the communications director for the Michigan Republican Party, said his party will focus on fiscal issues and illustrating the progress made during the past four years. “(We’re going to) make the case to voters on how much of an improvement has been made,” Littell said. Michigan ranked fourth in the nation for capital investments in 2012, something Littell believes demonstrates the success of Gov.

Come and get it

While you were catching rays at the pool this summer, construction has been underway to bolster the Greater Lansing restaurant selection. Eastwood Towne Center in Lansing Charter Township, will welcome Capital Prime Steak & Seafood in early September. “If you ask someone, ‘Where would you go to get a great steak?’ I don’t think there’s really a good answer to that right now,” Capital Prime Majority Owner Joseph Goodsir said.

E.L. doesn't hesitate to offer domestic partner benefits

East Lansing didn’t wait long to reinstate domestic partner benefits to same-sex couples after a federal judge ruled the ban unconstitutional.

Lansing resident creates popular, positive stickers

Signs are everywhere in East Lansing and very few signs are pleasing to the eye. Often the signs contain routes of detours, construction chaos or simple speed limits, which occasionally trip people up. But for once, there is a yellow caution diamond sign, not to cause stress, but to generate a smile. That sign reads “This Is A Good Sign” and they are located across the nation, and even overseas.

Meridian Township experiences rise in housing permits

The Charter Township of Meridian has reported a growth trend in the number of construction requests for single family residences. Associate Planner in the Department of Community Planning and Development at the Charter Township of Meridian, Peter Menser said the area has seen growing numbers in construction since the end of last year.

Welcome to the neighborhood

Welcome to the “Capital of Cool,” where ribbons are cut with teeth instead of ceremonial scissors. On Tuesday, Old Town in Lansing welcomed five new businesses, as well as two existing business that expanded or moved.

Republicans, Democrats gear up 2014 elections

New E.L. apartment complex opens doors on Aug. 1

As the 2013-14 school year lingers on the horizon, DTN Management Co. is preparing to open one of East Lansing’s newest student housing establishments. 550 Michigan — no catchy apartment names here — is set to open its doors Aug. 1 as construction and inspections wrap up this week, Wolf River Development Company managing partner Mike Dowdle said.

MSU alumna knitting for local homeless shelters

While some people take the morning to sleep in, some local Lansing residents are up bright and early knitting and packaging items to help the homeless. Lansing residents, Emily Trumbull, 76, and Tilly Montaven, 71, both came together this morning at Trumbull’s home to knit, stuff and send out packages that contain items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, sunscreen and shampoo, that will be sent to various shelters around the Lansing and East Lansing area. Before retiring years ago, Trumbull was a teacher and counselor for Riddle Elementary School and other surrounding Lansing area schools with Montaven as her assistant.

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative could lose substantial amount of funding

The Great Lakes could be in danger, environmentalists say, after a proposal to gut restoration funding by 80 percent cleared a U.S. House subcommittee last week.

MSU hosts three day mental health symposium

MSU faculty, local law enforcement and experts from a variety of disciplines were brought together this morning for a three-day long mental health threat assessment symposium at Kellogg Center. The event, which included a variety of speakers, aimed to bring together the community and delve into what an act of violence really is, how to avoid one and what to do if one were to occur.

Suspects detained for domestic gun incident

Officers were dispatched to a residence in the 1000 block of Bensch Street after a male caller because of shots fired at him on Wednesday.

A fresh foundation

For genomics and molecular genetics senior Zachary DeRade and his partner, MSU alumnus Justin Love, one of the major factors of coming to MSU was the chance to be a part of a larger, more diverse area accepting of their homosexuality — a chance to find a home.

Dempsey: ‘It’s too early’ to understand effects of Detroit bankruptcy on E.L.

Could the banks of the Red Cedar feel the ripple effects of Detroit’s bankruptcy filing? That exact issue is something many in the area still are determining.

Rep. Barnett proposes sales tax increase to ease tuition cost

What if Michigan covered the cost of college tuition for every high school graduate in the state?

Dining plan prices will rise for 2013-14

MSU Culinary Services will restructure off-campus dining plans and raise prices for the 2013-14 academic year, starting Aug. 17. Increasing wholesale food prices, utility costs and other business expenses drove the price increases, Jenna Brown, communications manager for MSU Culinary Services, said in an email. All three on-campus dining plans will remain the same, from number of meals to amount of Sparty cash, but will rise in price by 3.9 percent. The price rise is in accordance with the MSU Board of Trustees decision to raise room and board rates by 3.9 percent for the 2013-14 academic year.

Classic auto show attracts cars statewide

Mother nature whizzed though Lansing’s 21st annual classic auto show, pouring down heavy rain and wind Saturday afternoon, but car owners stood their ground. A little rain wasn’t going to ruin an event full of classic cars, trophies and as Lansing local Mario Ledesma would say, “a great time.”

Locals discuss automatic license plate readers

What law enforcement officers consider an efficient and helpful tool, the public seems to think of as an invasion of privacy. The tool, automatic license plate readers, allows officers to check for stolen cars, expired license plates or outstanding warrants without the lift of a finger.

MSU receives $10 million to fight world hunger

MSU has been given a $10 million grant, which will go toward a bigger movement to end world hunger. The money comes from the U.S. Agency for International Development and will aid Feed the Future, a nationwide initiative to minimize world hunger and tighten food security, according to MSU Today.