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MICHIGAN

City offers support for East Village project in memo

Darrell Hughes
June 23, 2005

City council members had a shorter meeting on the first day of summer but still managed to take the East Village redeveloping efforts a half step further into the planning process. The council passed a Memorandum of Understanding at its Tuesday meeting for the master developer of the Cedar Village overhaul and city officials. The document demonstrates the city's support of the East Village redevelopment plans.

MICHIGAN

LBGT march to protest hate crimes

Jason Worthy
June 23, 2005

All over the world this month, the gay community is celebrating in many ways, from parades to floats to drag queens. However in Michigan, the lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender community plans to focus on a more serious theme this weekend - to protest for civil rights for all homosexuals across Michigan. The 17th annual Michigan Pride Weekend will concentrate on hate crimes, among other issues, officials said. Pride spokeswoman Sarah Mieras said, in Michigan, there is no law to prevent anti-gay hate crimes. "There has been in an increase in hate crimes in Michigan, and this year we plan to focus on ways to prevent these crimes, among other things," Mieras said. She said she predicts that about 15,000 people will participate in the civil rights protest at the Capitol on Saturday. "We plan to march from Grand River Avenue all the way to the state Capitol to protest fair treatment for gays and lesbians," she said. Mieras said the rally this weekend will celebrate the lives and achievements of the LBGT community.

NEWS

Reviewer asks for teargassing

Kris Turner
June 23, 2005

The independent commission reviewing the April 2-3 disturbances should be teargassed to know what people on the streets of East Lansing went through, said commission member Derek Wallbank. "I don't think we have been exposed to chemical munitions," the journalism junior said. Exposing healthy members of the independent commission to tear gas was just one of the ideas discussed at the group's meeting on Tuesday morning. The request to teargas the 11 members was sent to the city attorney's office for review, said East Lansing Mayor Mark Meadows, who heads the commission. A police-estimated crowd of about 3,000 people poured out into the city after the men's basketball team loss to the University of North Carolina in the Final Four.

MICHIGAN

Summer festival promotes E.L. businesses

Darrell Hughes
June 23, 2005

Although the ninth annual Summer Solstice Jazz Festival will fill downtown East Lansing with community interaction and live music, the event could also bring downtown businesses more money in the future. The Arts Commission, which planned the event, has several objectives: One is to expose people in the community to various forms of culture and art, said Ami Van Antwerp, East Lansing community events coordinator. Under a huge tent located on the east half of Lot 1 on Albert Avenue, Summer Solstice patrons will have two stages for viewing jazz acts. A musician who grew up in East Lansing, Carl Cafagna, will be playing in the festival with his group, North Star Jazz.

COMMENTARY

Memo found to be of no significance

The pertinent question is not "Why are the mainstream media ignoring the Downing Street Memo?" but rather "Why is The State News trying so hard to keep a dead non-story alive?" After publishing an opinion piece and two supporting letters, I had to wonder.

COMMENTARY

E.L. police at fault in April 2-3 melee

I am disgusted by the East Lansing Police Department's response to criticism on their pre-emptive strike ("Videos spark debate on police action" SN 6/20). I think all citizens of East Lansing, including permanent residents, should start to wonder who is policing the police. When Chief Tom Wibert was first sworn in, he promised to restore relations between the police and the student body.

MICHIGAN

Prof to discuss women in Iraq

Nick Pelton
June 21, 2005

A professor from the University of Baghdad will speak about women's struggles in Iraq in a presentation at a local church Friday. The presentation, titled "Through My Eyes: A Woman's Struggle for Peace in War Torn Iraq," will showcase Professor Naba Saleem Hamid and other women's experiences in Iraq at 7 p.m.

MSU

MSU works on robotic arm for breast exams

Daniel Thai
June 21, 2005

A robotic arm might replace doctors' hands in future breast exams. MSU's Department of Surgery and researchers in the College of Engineering are working together to develop a robotic arm that could give women living in remote areas access to breast exams. The technology is called telemedicine because examinations will occur over long distances, but human doctors will still play a significant role in the exam, said Ranjan Mukherjee, associate professor of mechanical engineering, who is leading the team building the arm. "It shouldn't sound like robots are doing it alone because that's not what it is," he said.

COMMENTARY

Scare tactic

Every few months or so, our nation's high and mighty in command drop a certain name into the pool of media for hungry journalists to eat up.

NEWS

Officials discover cause of house fire

Bob Darrow  and  Kris Turner
June 21, 2005

A faulty electrical outlet was ruled as the probable cause of a fire that destroyed one home and damaged two others Friday night. East Lansing Fire Marshal Bob Pratt said the fire, which began in the garage of a home at 404 Evergreen Ave., was unusually large.

BASKETBALL

Brown to try out for national b-ball team

Alex Abate
June 21, 2005

MSU men's basketball junior guard Shannon Brown accepted an invitation to attend the Under 21 National Team Trials in Dallas on July 21-23. The trials are used to choose the members of the 12-player team that will defend the gold medal for the United States in the 2005 FIBA U21 World Championship in Mar de Plata, Argentina in August. During his sophomore season, Brown averaged 10.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists.

NEWS

Mich. bills might alter alcohol sales

Mara Deutch
June 21, 2005

Michigan wineries and stores in the state that directly ship alcohol to consumers might have to find a new outlet to sell their products after two bills were introduced to the House and Senate on Thursday. "If these bills pass, I'd probably say within two to three years ,we will shut our doors," said Mike Beck, President of Uncle John's Fruit House Winery in St.

COMMENTARY

Validation

It's gratifying to see that the independent commission formed to review the April 2-3 disturbances has set to work.