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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

DACA students to be issued driver’s licenses as of Friday

Kellie Rowe
February 4, 2013

Lansing groups gathered Monday to celebrate a victory for what many hope will be the beginning of widespread U.S. immigration reform, starting with students. Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced Friday the Department of State will issue driver’s licenses to young immigrants who are part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program implemented last June.

MICHIGAN

Mid-Winter Singing Festival brings music, history to city

Michael Koury
February 3, 2013

As snowflakes fell and a frigid wind blew Saturday outside the Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road, the city of East Lansing’s Children’s Concert Series and Mid-Winter Singing Festival brought a little bit of light to residents of East Lansing with music, laughter and dancing. The Children’s Concert Series was held earlier in the day in the banquet hall and featured music by folk singers Kim and Reggie Harris. They performed songs ranging from “Day-O” to “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” and told historical stories through songs of famed Negro League pitcher Satchel Paige and folk hero John Henry.

MICHIGAN

Hundreds hear former sex slave speak out

Darcie Moran
February 3, 2013

A packed Union lounge Friday night told Malynda Jennings there might be hope for the thousands of children living the life she used to — forced to give oral or physical sex as a child sex slave. Jennings spoke about being trafficked by her parents even before she was 2 years old, in a small, eastern Michigan town to raise awareness about human trafficking in Michigan during the University Activities Board’s Spartans Against Slavery event. “It’s a horrific act that some other people do at the cost of innocence of another person,” Jennings said. “There’s no race, creed or color to it.” About 2,500 suspected incidents of human trafficking, mostly sex trafficking of children, in the U.S. were recorded between January 2008 and June 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. There were about 140 calls to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center from Michigan regarding human trafficking incidents from January to September 2012.

MICHIGAN

Changes come to Stateside Deli: Owner faces challenges revamping the restaurant

Michael Koury
January 31, 2013

Stateside Deli, 313 E. Grand River Ave., might be unrecognizable to students today. Construction projects are scheduled, and now the business will be known as Spencer’s Kitchen and Bar. The restaurant was closed this week for painting and aesthetic touch ups, and it tentatively is scheduled to open today pending the interior renovations are completed on time. If not, students most likely can chow on the famous corned beef sandwiches Monday after continued weekend construction.

MICHIGAN

E.L. bars ‘unlikely’ to face tragedy similar to brazil bar

Darcie Moran
January 31, 2013

Long lines at Harper’s Restaurant and Brewpub or Rick’s American Cafe might be daunting for students looking for a fun weekend, but East Lansing officials said they should be thankful because it prevents overcrowding that could lead to dangerous incidents such as the club fire in Brazil. A recent fire at a Brazillian night club left 235 dead, after pyrotechnics lit the building on fire and thousands raced toward a single exit, according to media reports. East Lansing Planning and Community Development Director Tim Dempsey said before any 5establishment opens, owners must go through a thorough review process. He said the design and plans have to be approved, and construction is closely inspected.

MICHIGAN

The golden touch

Natalie Kolb
January 31, 2013

After working with jewelry since high school, gold smither and Bath Township resident Tom Awrey knows how to repair or craft just about anything a customer brings to him. “I guess I look at it in terms of Christmases. I have 43 consecutive Christmases on the bench,” said Awrey, who works his own jewelry repair business fixing pieces for stores in the Lansing area.

MICHIGAN

Local businesses unscathed by fall quarter, lower-than-average GDP

Alex McClung
January 31, 2013

The road to national economic recovery hit a slight barrier during the end of 2012, according to a bleak gross domestic product report released this week. The economy contracted at an annual rate of 0.1 percent during the last three months of 2012, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. This fourth-quarter report is the worst quarter the U.S. economy has seen in three and a half years. Economic experts expect growth this year to rebound at a rate of 1.5 percent, which still is lower than the pace it has kept during the past three years.

MICHIGAN

Puppies, abortion among proposed bills

Kellie Rowe
January 31, 2013

The Michigan Legislature has had a busy few months between right-to-work legislation and gun bills, but few students might know dozens of other bills are introduced everyday. Here are a few of many bills the Michigan legislators are working on at the moment.

MICHIGAN

New addition to Chandler Crossings available in June

Isabella Shaya
January 30, 2013

The image of an average college apartment usually consists of a broken sink, holes in the wall and loud, partying neighbors. But for students past the party scene who are looking for a quiet environment, a new duplex-style apartment slated to be finished this June might appeal.

MICHIGAN

Study: Student debt on decline

Kellie Rowe
January 30, 2013

The latest results from a nationwide student debt survey show MSU students are graduating with less debt and college graduate unemployment rates are dropping. MSU students who graduated in 2011 had about $2,000 less in debt than those who graduated in 2010, according to Project on Student Debt.

MICHIGAN

Snyder asks for court review of right-to-work

Kellie Rowe
January 29, 2013

After opponents of right-to-work legislation threatened to file lawsuits against the new law, Gov. Rick Snyder enlisted the help of the Michigan Supreme Court to determine if certain parts of the bill are unconstitutional. The governor asked the state’s highest court to issue an opinion on sections of the law that protesters could challenge before the law takes effect March 27, according to Snyder’s official letter to Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Young Jr. Many state workers are upset the Michigan Legislature quickly pushed a controversial right-to-work bill through Congress on Dec.