Officials caution against summer fire accelerators

S'more roasting, hot dog grilling and burger flipping — it's the start of summer in East Lansing. But before you fire up a grill or stack wood in a fire pit, it's important to pay attention to your surroundings and what you're using to start barbecues or bonfires. East Lansing Fire Marshal Bob Pratt said to use caution and common sense when burning any sort of outdoor fire during late spring and the summer months. "With grilling, make sure you have an adequate container that isn't rusted out," Pratt said.

E.L. may fund sobering center

East Lansing officials could provide funding in the establishment of a regional sobering center. The Lansing City Rescue Mission has taken the lead in the early stages of founding the center.

Police briefs 05/15/07

MSU education professor earns prestigious award

Robert Floden can add one more accomplishment to his esteemed résumé: membership in the National Academy of Education, or NAE. The 57-year-old MSU professor has been a part of the College of Education for 30 years. "It means I'm joining a distinguished group of people in the United States," the associate dean for research for the College of Education said.

Habitat for Humanity gets a home

Habitat for Humanity Lansing received a home of its own this month and will celebrate with an open house today. The organization, which previously rented office and storage space, built 64 homes and helped more than 70 families move out of substandard housing in the Lansing area. During its 20 years of operation, the organization rented various spaces, including its most recent location, a 5,500-square foot building that housed administrative offices, a construction warehouse and ReStore, a home improvement thrift shop that sells new and slightly used items at discounted prices. "The old building was uninviting and cramped, placed in a tucked-away area that wasn't completely visible from the road," Justin Rumao said, a mechanical engineering senior and spokesman for the MSU chapter of Habitat for Humanity, wrote in an e-mail. The organization is no longer confined to a small, rented space. Habitat recently moved to 1941 Benjamin Drive in Lansing and will hold an open house for its official opening from 3-6 p.m.

BBQ opens in Melting Moments

Just in time for summer, Melting Moments opened its doors with a brand new twist — a barbecue sandwich shop. Backyard Bar-B-Q adds a different flavor to the ice-cream parlor and the downtown food scene. "One thing we have is our signature product, the pulled pork," said Jim Johnson, owner of Backyard Bar-B-Q.

Honoring nine officers

Mason — Protecting and serving a community can be a deadly task. More than 70 police officers gathered for prayers, poems and a 21-gun salute at the Ingham County Sheriff's Office on Friday in honor of nine police officers killed in the line of duty. Families, friends and co-workers wiped away tears as nine flowers, representing the fallen officers, were placed into a wreath resting between two rows of saluting police officers. Following the ceremony, a training facility at the office was dedicated to Sgt.

Gas prices may affect travel

MSU researchers have come up with three scenarios to gauge how summer gas prices could change. Donald Holecek, a professor in the Department of Park, Recreation and Tourism Resources, said gas prices could fluctuate in three major ways, having varied impacts on travel inside and outside of Michigan. Holecek and researchers at the Travel, Tourism and Recreation Resource Center at MSU were able to determine the three scenarios.

Pfizer donates building to MSU

A building donated to MSU by Pfizer Inc. could be used for bioeconomic research, possibly yielding new fuels from crops and biodiesel additives. "The hope is that if things are able to be completed during the donation, it will provide additional opportunities for the university to contribute to the development of Michigan bioeconomy," said Paul Hunt, MSU's associate vice president for research and graduate studies. A bioeconomy is one that focuses on the dependency of renewable resources, such as plants, for energy and industrial purposes.

State closer to budget accord

After months of political clashes in Lansing, the legislature has moved slightly closer to finding common ground on a replacement for the soon-to-be defunct Single Business Tax, or SBT. Michigan faces an estimated $700 million budget deficit for 2007.

Police briefs 05/14/07

Residents get a lesson in biking

Geeked about safety gear, bike tires and various bike styles, about 15 cycling enthusiasts gathered Saturday at Bessey Hall to discuss and learn more about their favorite mode of transportation. Tim Potter, manager of the MSU Bike Service Center, opened his shop to the class.

Court closings, school boards under review by Mich. Legislature

Throughout recent weeks, Lansing lawmakers have been busy. The following is an update of Capitol developments including an MSU accolade, court closings and a change in adoption law. • The U.S.

Police briefs 04/27/07

Program contributes to sex education in MSU community

Educators from Olin Health Center promote safe sex on campus — and they have the numbers to prove it. Since the beginning of the school year, Olin's various sex education programs have given away nearly 80,000 condoms. Many have been given away through a program called Condom Connection which provides residence hall mentors with information on sexually transmitted diseases, healthy relationships and, of course, condoms. To fund the programs, the Residence Halls Association has granted Olin $2,000 per semester for the past few years, said Paula Wade, RHA director of health and safety. A 2000 survey reported 54 percent of MSU students used condoms the last time they had sex.

East Village plans downsized

The East Village redevelopment has been cut in half. Officials from the San Diego-based Pierce Company Inc. announced Thursday they will no longer be pursuing property east of Stoddard Avenue. But changing the plans doesn't deter The Pierce Company or East Lansing from their mutual goal of a redeveloped East Village. The project originally involved a mix of retail, residential and entertainment properties in the 35-acre region bounded by East Grand River Avenue, Hagadorn Road, Bogue Street and the Red Cedar River by 2011. Prime Housing Group's refusal to sell its seven properties in the region made officials downsize their intentions for the project, said Fred Pierce, president and CEO of The Pierce Company. "We do support their independent development of those properties," Pierce said.

Group provides information, resources for pregnant students

When Sally Winn was a junior at Indiana University, she became pregnant and had to choose between having a child and an abortion.

STAND targets Sudan investments

Some MSU students want to use the state legislative system to help end genocide in Darfur, Sudan. In November, members of MSU's Spartans Taking Action Now: Darfur, or STAND, went to a conference at Northwestern University where they learned about how divestment could be used as a tool against the genocide. The targeted divestment calls for the stopping of financial investments in 83 companies that directly or indirectly help the Sudanese government continue killing its citizens, according to the U.S.

Student's research compares memoirs

Two different genocides: One during World War II, one that began in the 1980s. An MSU student found common links between the two. Jasmine Angelini-Knoll, a political science and anthropology junior, compared memoirs written by boys of the Holocaust and the "Lost Boys" of Sudan. The "Lost Boys" refer to children who were displaced, orphaned or both during Sudan's 21-year civil war that officially ended in 2005. "These groups of memoirs similarly engage you in imagining what it would be like to be in that situation as a child," Angelini-Knoll said.

West Village to be completed by fall

East Lansing will have 32 new residential units by the time students return to school in August. Construction of the West Village development has been ongoing throughout this semester, and developers say they are on track to move in the first tenants by fall. The West Village development is a mix of townhomes, flats and condominiums off West Grand River and Hillcrest avenues.