House approves bill on abortion

The Michigan House of Representatives approved a bill Tuesday that could make it mandatory for clinics to offer to perform ultrasounds on women contemplating abortion. However, the bill doesn't require women to view the active ultrasound screen or any images taken. The bill was created in hopes that the women contemplating abortion would be fully educated before the procedure and possibly choose to keep the child, said state Rep.

Rally of 600 protests for affirmative action

Lansing - More than 600 people from all over Michigan, chanted "They say Jim Crow, we say hell no" as they marched toward the Capitol on Wednesday protesting against the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, or MCRI. Included in the protesters were students such as 15-year-old Anthony Bluford, from Cass Technical High School in Detroit, who said the initiative that might affect affirmative action could take away their future opportunities. "Because of affirmative action, that's going to determine my future because I want to go to college someday," Bluford said. The proposal aims to put a choice on the November 2006 state ballot to prevent public colleges and universities, as well as state government, from hiring or accepting students based on characteristics such as race, sex or ethnicity.

Income tax for residents only rumor

The East Lansing officials' decision to spend $50,000 for a financial analyst led some to assume that East Lansing's transient residents - such as students - would soon pay city income taxes, but city officials said it's just speculation. East Lansing's City Council agreed to have a third party analyze the way officials handle money and to see if other sources of income are available for the city.

Court offers rehab option for offenders

Last summer, 36-year-old Steve Wooten was on his way home from an ordinary trip to the store when he was picked up by the police for driving under the influence of marijuana. Instead of sending him to jail or revoking his license, Michigan's 55th District Court in Mason decided to put him into a drug rehabilitation program. "I thought they set me up.

Residents honor GM history, influence

Even though the General Motors Corp.'s Lansing Car Assembly plant recently closed, local residents gathered at the "Lansing Loves GM" rally at the Capitol on Tuesday night. Events coordinator Anita Epolito said the purpose of the rally is to recognize everything GM has done for the city. "Instead of kicking them while they might be down, we are saying thanks for contributing to the Lansing economy," Epolito said. State Sen.

Fair provides resources for veterans

Homeless army veteran Paul Mullins came to the Stand Down for Homeless Veterans program to try and rectify his life. Mullins kept stroking his beard and running his fingers through his newly cut hair, which had not been groomed in two months. "It feels good," he said, smiling. Stand Down, a resource fair to recognize the problem of homeless veterans and help them overcome life on the streets, provides services such as haircuts and dental care and food.

Funding may face changes

Michigan House Republicans laid out a proposed formula for funding higher education on Wednesday that would reward universities for their contributions to the state's economy. The plan aims to invest in the state's future workforce by providing financial incentives for universities based on enrollment, the number and types of degrees and the amount of research at each institution. But local lawmakers worry MSU won't benefit as much as other schools because of the way the funds are divided. Under the new proposal for university operations, the schools combined could receive $1.65 billion - nearly $12 million more than under Gov.

Mich. continues to disagree on legal limits for Canadian trash

More than 200 trucks loaded with trash barrel across the Canadian border every day, bound for landfills in Michigan.

Civil Rights Initiative to be protested

Ten buses carrying Detroit high school students will head to the Capitol on Wednesday to rally against a proposal to end preference-based treatment in university admissions and hiring that might end up on next year's ballot. The proposal, called the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, or MCRI, would amend the state Constitution to prevent public universities and state government from "discriminating or granting preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin." A national group - the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration & Immigration Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary, or BAMN - which helped organize the rally, filed a legal brief with the Michigan Board of Canvassers last month against MCRI, saying MCRI petition circulators deceived those petitioned to sign their proposal. "This is a distinct case, a campaign to deceive the public, and for that reason it should not go forward," said Donna Stern, national coordinator of BAMN. Wednesday's rally at the Capitol will be followed by a public hearing to collect more information from those who say they were lied to by petitioners. Stern said BAMN wants the Michigan Board of Canvassers to force MCRI to redo their petition. BAMN took a statistical sample of 500 people who signed the MCRI petition were able to reach 300 of them, Stern said.

Police briefs 05/24/05

U.S. House approves $10M RIA funding

Recent lobbying efforts and proposed legislation have revitalized interest in the $1 billion dollar proposed Rare Isotope Accelerator project that, only a month ago, was thought by some MSU officials to be a lost cause. MSU and the Argonne National Laboratory, located near Chicago, have each been vying for the project, or RIA, but a limited federal budget stalled plans for either location to build it. Physics and astronomy Professor Bradley Sherrill said RIA would make its host the most technologically advanced institution in nuclear physics.

Ad Council fights civil inactivity across campuses nationwide

According to the Ad Council, an organization that promotes public service campaigns, people who are not civically active run the risk of getting "mannequinism," a fictional disease that renders its victims plastic and immobile. The "disease" is being used as a metaphor in a national advertising campaign to get 18- to 24- year-olds to be more engaged in their communities.

Ash borer awareness week begins

Since the emerald ash borer is still a serious problem, this week kicked off the "Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week" in the states of Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. The emerald ash borer is a beetle that attacks ash trees and eventually kills them.

Construction on campus forces alternate routes

A few large-scale construction projects being tackled this summer could make walking, driving and parking on campus a little tougher for the next few months. Even MSU's president said the construction can be frustrating at times. President Lou Anna K.

City discusses plans to expand, link downtown area to East Village

City officials are looking to nearly double the size of downtown, in part to connect the area with the potential East Village redevelopment, while also helping pay for the massive overhaul. The idea would be to increase the property tax for businesses not currently located downtown - such as Tasty Twist, 1307 E.

Mich. Week celebrates state history

To help people appreciate the history and heritage of the state, Michigan Week was established in 1954 by Don Weeks and is still celebrated today. It is now run by Michigan's Department of History, Arts and Libraries, or HAL. "It started with the concept of taking a week to look at Michigan," said Jim Schultz, who works with the Michigan Humanities Council to coordinate the different events of Michigan Week.

Computer science enrollment declining

The national trend of decreasing computer science majors is occurring at MSU, especially in the last four years, according to data supplied from the Office of the Registrar. The Computing Research Association conducts a Taulbee Survey each fall showing the number of college students attending computer science and computer engineering programs.

Art festival boosts E.L. business

East Lansing businesses in the downtown district say every year they see profits increase during the weekend of the East Lansing Art Festival - and this year was no exception. The festival took place between M.A.C.

E.L. funds budget analysis

East Lansing officials decided last week to allocate $50,000 from the city's reserve account to pay for a financial analyst to examine the city's financial structure. The city will pay for several studies to be administered by an analyst in order to determine if changes should be made to the way city officials determine the structure of the budget, council members said. "The council felt it would be a good idea to look more in depth into the economical structure and the budget of the city," said East Lansing Finance Director Mary Haskell, who came into the position Friday after Gary Murphy's retirement. But Councilmember Victor Loomis said what the study will be about has not been completely determined and that the idea to hire a financial analyst came from a budget planning session in December, not from recent budget cuts. Loomis said the purpose of hiring the analyst is because the council needs to see if there are any structural issues involved with determining the budget. City Manager Ted Staton said the study should be ready to be conducted by August or September. "I think we'll spend the summer figuring out what questions we want the research to answer," Staton said. Haskell said the study could be used to find alternative resources of revenue, because the city is experiencing cuts in state funding. East Lansing receives funding from the state in the form of shared revenue which has been reduced and has caused several budget cuts throughout the city. The $50,000 was decided by council members to be allocated from the city's reserve account.

People with disabilities take part in sports

Like many other kids, 13-year-old Anthony Town enjoys playing table tennis and cycling. This weekend, he had an opportunity to do these events and more as he participated in the Michigan Sports Festival for Athletes with Physical Disabilities. Town was one of many people with cerebral palsy who competed in the festival on campus at IM Sports-West and Demonstration Hall, put on by the Michigan Disability Sports Alliance. The athletes are members of teams that compete in various events such as bocce ball, table tennis, cycling and swimming. "This event gives me a chance to play sports that I would not get to do in school," Town said. Town has a less severe case of the disorder, which disrupts the development of motor skills and can be a result of a brain injury. "I feel very fortunate that I can do most of the things that normal people do," said Town.