City council works to fix parking woes

City council members searched for answers Tuesday to why less people are parking in East Lansing.

Olin sex game serves up health info at Brody caf

Lindsie Boykin left the Brody cafeteria with more than a full stomach Tuesday evening. The elementary education freshman learned about birth control and alcohol dangers and won bracelets, balloons and a puzzle cube in the "Play it Safe on Spring Break" game.The life-size Monopoly-like game, sponsored by Olin Health Education and the Sexual Assault and Crisis Intervention team of the MSU Counseling Center, sent students around six tables and challenged their knowledge on alcohol, relationships and sun and travel safety.

Police briefs 01/29/03

Police warn against imposters in Lansing

The Lansing Police Department is looking for two men posing as police officers.Last week, two Lansing residents were approached by the men who flashed badges and said they were searching for counterfeit money, taking money from the victims.They seem to target older citizens and are described as very convincing.

Council in search of applicants after president resigns position

Lansing - The city council is looking for applicants to fill a third-ward council member vacancy after council President Tony Benavides officially resigned from his position and became mayor on Tuesday.

United way expects $400,000 recovery

Capital Area United Way attorneys are expecting to recover only a small percentage of the at least $1.9 million embezzled over the past seven years. Attorneys for the chapter have arranged for former finance chief Jacquelyn Allen-MacGregor to sell some of her assets.

Bush to visit Michigan

President Bush will be in Grand Rapids today to deliver a speech on health care issues. Bush is scheduled to arrive on Air Force One at Gerald R.

E.L. to see new stores, restaurants

East Lansing will welcome a new sandwich shop next month along with a retail clothing store filling the void left by businesses on Grand River Avenue.Roly Poly, a Georgia-based sandwich company, has already opened a store in Okemos and is coming to the MSU community by mid-February, co-owner Russ Horton said.

Ethernet usage fee to be required in fall

Students living on campus can expect to be charged for Ethernet use beginning in fall.University officials say keeping up with traffic from file-sharing programs have increased the cost of Internet usage.Beginning in August, students will be charged about $57 per year to use the high-speed Internet service.

Parents, 'U' students upset by school cuts

Katie Kerekes is pleading for East Lansing officials to keep Spartan Village Elementary open."It really is an amazing place," the MSU intern at the elementary said.

'U' may see more Hispanics

The growing Hispanic population has some MSU officials expecting increased enrollment and more programs for Hispanic students in colleges and universities. Last week, the U.S.

Madison professor receives award for dissertation

James Madison College Professor Bryan Ritchie was awarded the Distinguished Dissertation Award by the Council of Graduate Schools. Ritchie's dissertation, titled "The Political Economy of Technical Intellectual Capital Formation in Southeast Asia," focused on the importance of integrating technology into the political economies of countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

ASMSU may give $75,000 for Sparty

Sparty's quest for a new home won't come cheaply, but help may be on the way in the form of $75,000 from MSU's undergraduate student government.Plans to recast "The Spartan," MSU's iconic statue near Demonstration Hall, could cost about $500,000, according to University Development.The current statue, known as Sparty and touted by MSU as the world's largest free-standing ceramic statue, would be placed in a new position in a building on campus, which has not been announced.A new bronze Sparty would be placed at the south end of Kalamazoo Street and Red Cedar Road intersection about 50 feet back from its current spot.MSU's undergraduate student government will vote Thursday on whether to donate $75,000 to cover the projected cost for the project."Large gifts of this nature have occurred in the past," said Matt Weingarden, ASMSU's Student Assembly chairperson.The donation would be taken out of a fund the organization uses for large-scale projects, he said.

Union to discuss contract, layoffs

Members of MSU's Clerical-Technical Union are nervous about potential layoffs.The 1,900-member union, MSU's largest labor organization, will head into negotiations with university officials to hash out a new deal before their contract expires in March.Its three-year contract with the university expires March 31 and contract negotiations begin next month.Union members will meet Wednesday to discuss issues they'd like to see addressed in the new deal, including whether recent state budget cuts will impact hiring and layoffs, union President Barbara Reeves said."The biggest problem is that, across the board, higher education has consistently taken hits," she said."It certainly has increased the possibility of layoffs and there's concern there won't be much more hiring."MSU saw a $6-million cut in state appropriations after an executive order by then-Gov.

East Lansing officials to discuss parking issues

Totals for the revenue earned from parking ramps and meters throughout East Lansing are expected to exceed the anticipated totals by "a couple thousand," officials say.City officials will find out how much money parking earned at a city council work session at 4 p.m.

ASMSU gives students free admission to Hannah Center

ASMSU and the city of East Lansing's University Student Commission are sponsoring a free day at the Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbott Road. ASMSU is MSU's undergraduate student government. The passes are valid for one day at the center and expire Feb.

Police briefs 01/28/03

Businesses to fill empty lots on Grand River Ave.

After losing five businesses in a month, Grand River Avenue will see two new shops open soon.A retail clothing store specializing in resort and vacation clothes is taking over the 9,300-square foot vacancy left by Tower Records, 115 E.

United Way President announces plans to resign

Capital Area United Way President Bob Berning intends to resign after a $1.88-million embezzlement scandal.In a statement released Monday, Tom Chirgwin, chairman of the Capital Area United Way's board of directors, said Berning will submit his resignation from the chapter at a special meeting Feb.

Hollister gives last address, says city shows improvement

Lansing - Lansing Mayor David Hollister said the city is more diverse, safer and stronger than when he became the city's top official. Hollister delivered his 10th and final state of the city address, "Lansing - A Path to Success," at 7 p.m.