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MICHIGAN

PNC bank, medical facility construction plans move forward

A local developer plans to start demolishing a former office site within the next week and eventually build a medical facility and drive-thru bank on Lake Lansing and Coolidge roads. The East Lansing City Council approved the site plan and special use permit application submitted by Caddis Development Group LLC at its Tuesday night meeting, clearing the way for local construction company E.T. MacKenzie Co. to start demolition at the property, 1525 W. Lake Lansing Road, the former site of the Blue Cross Blue Shield offices.

MSU

Face Time: Kelcey Gapske

On Wednesday night, the Residence Halls Association, or RHA, elected social work junior and current RHA Vice President Kelcey Gapske as the new president for the 2012-13 year. Gapske will spend the next several weeks transitioning into her new role before officially taking office April 11.

Rebecca Ryan ·
NEWS

Greek community rallies to support Hope Sovran’s goal

Hope Sovran, whose older sisters Annie and MaryKate Sovran attend MSU, was born with spina bifida and recently diagnosed with aplastic anemia — a disease that causes the body to stop producing enough blood cells. Treatment for the disease requires Hope Sovran to undergo a bone marrow transplant. She recently began chemotherapy at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and will stay there for at least the next month after undergoing the transplant, Nancy Sovran said.

MSU

Students learn about African affairs, empowering women

From the minute Peggy Blackford arrived in Africa more than 10 years ago, she began to see the influence MSU had on the continent. “I met many people there … who had studied (at MSU), and I began to understand the prestige of the program here in African studies,” she said.

Matt Hallowell ·
MSU

Amber's ambition

Apparel and textile design senior Amber Bembnister has been busy this month. The peer-elected student director of the second annual ATD Fashion Show has been working closely with fellow students and faculty advisers to make sure the production goes off without a hitch.

MSU

Gradhacker blog gains popularity

A blog created last year by MSU graduate students about the ups and downs of graduate student life recently has partnered with news publication Inside Higher Education. The blog, GradHacker.org, officially began publishing on the Inside Higher Education website in December 2011 and now averages between 3,000-4,000 unique hits per day, said graduate student and GradHacker co-editor Katy Meyers.

MSU

East Neighborhood hosts soul food dinner

Red, green and black decorations, jazz music and the smell of soul food greeted members of the MSU community during East Neighborhood’s Soul Food Extravaganza! on Thursday evening. The event, hosted by East Neighborhood and Culinary Services, was held at Akers Hall cafeteria and helped celebrate Black History Month.

MSU

Individual rights advocacy group speaks at MSU

Nearly four years after fighting the university to address policy issues that landed her in front of the Student-Faculty Judiciary Board, former ASMSU Association Director Kara Spencer once again discussed MSU policy issues on campus, along with the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, or FIRE.

MSU

Ash Wednesday observed by students

This year, instead of giving up the usual temptations for Lent — candy, sweets and pop — interior design junior Amanda Devera is striving for more. “They’re my weakness,” she said. “But I think this year, I decided to not give something up … and (instead) go to church more.”

MICHIGAN

Landshark now open to 18-and-up crowd

For the past three weeks, a younger group of patrons have been flocking to The Landshark, 101 E. Grand River Ave. The bar and grill adopted a new policy three weeks ago allowing people 18 and up to attend nonalcoholic events at the bar and grill on Wednesday nights.