Budget Plan eases energy costs

Winter energy bills might not be such a shock with a budget plan.Consumers Energy introduced its Budget Plan this month for customers who didn’t like seeing high heating bills in the winter.The plan would take a customer’s annual energy cost and divide it into 12 equal payments.“The benefit for the customer is instead of seeing very high bills in the winter, it spreads it out over the warmer months so they don’t have any surprises,” said Jeff Holyfield, Consumers Energy spokesman.The typical customer will see a monthly budget of about $80, which Holyfield said is based on past energy usage and gas prices.Last year, 22 percent of Consumers Energy’s natural gas customers were on the Budget Plan and more are expected to enroll this year.“Nobody likes surprises with their budgets, and most students have to keep houses year-round,” Holyfield said.

Law students bulk up their minds, replies in new boot camp program

Advantage Education, in cooperation with the University of Michigan, is giving pre-law students a leg up on their future classmates with a Pre-Law Boot Camp being held at U-M.The reason behind the weeklong seminar is to prepare future law students for a new type of learning.

Local parks offer free weekend recreation

Looking for free fun? The Ingham County Parks Department is sponsoring the second annual Memorial Day - Free Day at the Parks on Monday.

Holiday to bring increased traffic

Planning on going somewhere this weekend?So are approximately 2 million others, according to estimates.

Congress accepts plan for WWII memorial

By JIM ABRAMS The Associated Press WASHINGTON - It took twice as long to win approval for the memorial than to win the war, but with a final strike by Congress the government is moving ahead with a memorial to World War II veterans on the National Mall. Congress cleared the last roadblocks to the memorial Tuesday when the House approved a Senate-amended measure that ends lawsuits and procedural hitches that have held up the beginning of construction. President Bush, who backs the legislation, is likely to sign it on or around Memorial Day, allowing the organizers to resume the contractor selection process and start building within a couple of months. Mike Conley, spokesman for the American Battle Monuments Commission, the memorial’s sponsor, said construction should take 30 months, putting completion sometime in early 2004. The memorial, to be located directly between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, is to be built on the site of the Rainbow Pool, with a circle of granite pillars representing the states and two four-story arches to signify victory in Europe and Asia. Conley said the actual monument will take up about one-third of a 7.4 acre site and, including planning expenses from 1993 when President Clinton signed a bill authorizing the memorial, will cost about $160 million.

Motown's electronic music festival to thump this weekend

Detroit Rock City will be Electronic City this weekend as the streets of downtown will be trampled by dancing feet at the 2001 Detroit Electronic Music Festival.As one of the largest free festivals in the world, more than 1.5 million people from the suburbs of Detroit and around the globe flooded downtown last year.

Womens golf ups rank in championship

The MSU women’s golf team moved into 14th place after the second day of play at the 2001 Golf National Championship in Howey-In-the-Hills, Fla.MSU has compiled a two-day team score of 610 and is 34-over par, placing them in a tie with the University of California.

Class delves into youth violence

Education senior Nicole Nelles wants to be a teacher.She’s already worked to prepare herself in classrooms at Lansing’s Grand River Elementary.Nelles’ classmate, Kris Nelson, supervises nearly 40 special education students in the halls and classrooms of a suburban high school.

Here to stay

Sen. David Jaye’s actions are deplorable and quite disappointing, but this does not give the Senate adequate grounds for dismissal. Jaye, R-Washington Township, faced charges in a Florida court for domestic abuse against fiancée Sonia Kloss, but the charges were dropped last week.

Committee recommends Jayes expulsion

State Sen. David Jaye will have to find a new job soon if the special state Senate panel investigating his qualifications has its way. The panel voted 5-1 on Wednesday, its seventh day of hearings, to recommend the Washington Township Republican be expelled from the Legislature. The full Senate is expected to consider the resolution today and could vote on the measure before the day concludes.

Knott pleads guilty to lesser charges

Spartan football recruit Eric Knott reached a plea agreement with prosecutors Tuesday, which may allow him to play for MSU.

Professor remembered for wittiness, sense of humor

Although Paul Somers’ life came to a sudden halt, those who knew the American Thought and Language professor best say there is a lot to remember, admire and even laugh about.“He could always find a way to make things less serious,” said Douglas Noverr, chairman of the Department of American Thought and Language.

Pearl Harbor brings back memories for veterans

GRAND RAPIDS - In a movie theater here earlier this week, survivors of the deadly surprise attack on Pearl Harbor were afforded the opportunity to vividly revisit a day that has lived in infamy. On Tuesday, 39 members and family of the Michigan chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association attended an advanced screening of the high-profile movie “Pearl Harbor,” which opens nationwide Friday. “I didn’t know what was going on,” recalled Ted Houghton, 79, of the Dec.

Aquatic Center comes to E.L.

Residents still have time to shop for new bathing suits for East Lansing’s Aquatic Center after cooler-than-usual weather pushed back its grand opening. The center, 6400 Abbott Road, was approved by residents in November 1998 as part of a $3.5 million bond. The park was supposed to open Saturday, but weather is expected to be in the 60s with scattered showers, and chemical balancing of the pools still needs to be completed. The new opening is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Lengthy Pearl Harbor mixes love, war stories

“Pearl Harbor” is like “Titanic” on testosterone. Just like James Cameron’s film, “Pearl Harbor” is a disaster movie - but not just any disaster movie.

Police briefs 05/24/01

Area politicians help Korean mayors through leadership training program

Lansing Mayor David Hollister spoke with 20 Korean mayors Monday on economic strategies and how important an image is to a city. It was all part of the event titled “Transforming Civic Society and Government in the 21st Century,” a leadership training program promoting decentralization of the Korean government.

Bagel Fragel closes, serves final orders

Customers filled Bagel Fragel Deli on Monday afternoon to solemnly wait out the last few moments of the store’s 27-year existence.Owner Terri Bettinger tearfully hugged longtime customers goodbye after she took their last orders.

Michigan author to discuss book tonight

When thinking about addictions, drug and alcohol dependencies usually come to mind. But not for Sue William Silverman - her addiction was sex.

Three residents hope to unseat Lansing mayor

Three Lansing residents are vying to ascend to the city’s chief executive post, but they are going to have to climb over a two-term mayor to get there.And each admits unseating a rather popular David Hollister isn’t going to be easy.Some political analysts say it’s not even possible.“It’s already over; Hollister is a shoe-in,” said Mark Grebner, who works for East Lansing-based Practical Political Consulting, 220 Albert Ave.