Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

The Smoke-Free Air Law has impacted East Lansing bars, restaurants

Ian Kullgren
June 22, 2011

When Michigan banned smoking in indoor businesses more than a year ago, Patrick Kent, owner of Blue Midnight Hookah Lounge, immediately saw his shop’s profits drop more than 15 percent. But the tobacco-based portion of his business still was thriving. Rather, Kent’s losses were more edible in nature: The new law outlawed the food service portion of his business, banning him from selling malts, wraps and smoothies in the same location as tobacco smoking.

MICHIGAN

Video game kiosk could threaten stores

Dena Elian
June 22, 2011

As Redbox progressively adds more video games to its selection of available media, the company could pose a threat to local video game stores. The movie rental kiosk company announced this past weekend that they will be making video games available to rent at more than 21,000 of their locations. Although movies will continue to be rented out for $1 a night, video games will cost twice that. Redbox is owned in part by McDonald’s Corporation and Coinstar Inc. Together, the companies have distributed more than 27,000 kiosks nationwide in locations such as grocery stores, retailers, drugstores, restaurants and convenience stores. Since its launch in 2003, Redbox, along with other new movie renting and streaming alternatives, have put a strain on the movie rental industry. Blockbuster, for example, has closed thousands of stores worldwide, and Hollywood Video has gone out of business. Tom Leach is the owner of Video to Go in the Frandor Shopping Center, in Lansing, a video rental store that once also carried video games.

MICHIGAN

City Council to pass snow removal law

Ian Kullgren
June 20, 2011

Although summer officially begins Tuesday, the East Lansing City Council is set to approve an ordinance that would dictate the way off-campus students respond to winter weather. After more than a year of discussion on the issue, the council likely will approve a new snow removal ordinance that would require residents to shovel sidewalks within a set time frame, subjecting them to a tiered fine system for failure to clear their sidewalks of snow, ice and other debris — including broken bottles and other trash.

MICHIGAN

Potter Park Zoo holds summer celebration

Josh Mansour
June 16, 2011

This Saturday, Potter Park Zoo will be celebrating summer by hosting a number of activities for people of all ages. The day starts with the Wild 1-Mile race, where children 12 and under will have the chance to run through the zoo, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., in Lansing, and see exotic animals up close. TV personalities Evan Pinsonnault from WLNS and Tim Nester from WILX will be on hand to host the event. There will be games, a bounce house and face painting, along with other activities put on with the help of the zoo’s community sponsors, including Impression 5 Science Center, Meridian Historical Village, MSU Science Theatre and more. Potter Park also will be hosting the eighth annual Volks Folks at the Zoo, featuring various types of Volkswagen cars, which will be located just outside the zoo. General admission still will be charged for the day’s events, although participants in the Wild 1-Mile will have their fee waived after registering for the race. Dads who attend the zoo on Father’s Day, June 19, will receive free admission. The zoo is open daily year-round, with summer hours from 9 a.m.

MICHIGAN

Spartan Tech Center to open downtown

Jesse O'Brien
June 15, 2011

East Lansing residents will have a new place to take their technology-related problems when a computer repair store opens at 228 Abbot Road.Spartan Tech Center will be filling the vacancy left by Swirlberry and is owned by Adna Technologies, a Lansing-based company that offers information technology services.

MICHIGAN

Lansing to holds event to show residents highlights of the city

Rachel Jackson
June 2, 2011

On Saturday, Lansing will kick off the 2011 summer tourism season with the Be a Tourist in Your Own Town annual event. Tracy Padot, vice president of marketing for Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau, said she expects more than 12,000 people will tour Greater Lansing on Saturday, when local business open their doors to people from around the area. For a $1 passport, visitors will have access to more than 60 venues in the Lansing area, including pontoon boat rides on the Grand River, an instrument petting zoo at the MSU Community Music School and even the opportunity to rappel down the 23-story Boji Tower in downtown Lansing. “We really hope that we’re educating (people) about all the great offerings we have,” Padot said.

MICHIGAN

Board of Water and Light holds 16th chili cook-off

Josh Mansour
June 2, 2011

The Board of Water and Light, or BWL, Chili Cook-off has become a Greater Lansing tradition, and this Saturday will mark the 16th year of the charitable event. The cook-off began as a way to offset the costs of the BWL’s Adopt A River program, before ultimately becoming a benefit for local nonprofit organizations, BWL communications director Mark Nixon said. Last year’s event was hampered by rain, but Nixon expects 12,000-14,000 people to attend this year, based on previous years’ turnouts and pre-event ticket sales. “The whole idea was to celebrate the riverfront,” Nixon said.

MICHIGAN

Hospital policy prohibits nicotine-positive hires

Jesse O'Brien
May 19, 2011

Prospective employees at Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital will have to be nicotine-free in accordance with a new hospital policy that went into effect May 1. The policy prohibits the hiring of any employee who tests positive for nicotine or tobacco and is part of an initiative that Sparrow took to help promote healthier lives throughout mid-Michigan. John Foren, a spokesman for Sparrow Hospital, said implementation of the new hiring policy was going well. Foren declined to comment further on the policy. Teri Wilson, a consultant and researcher for the Michigan Department of Community Health, said testing for tobacco is done by assessing the level of cotinine, a metabolite of nicotine, in a person’s system.

MICHIGAN

National Coney closes after more than a year

Ian Kullgren
May 17, 2011

As of May 6, East Lansing might have a little less Detroit spirit. National Coney Station, 565 E. Grand River Ave., part of a southeastern Michigan chain serving the city’s iconic coney-style hot dog, closed its doors at the end of MSU’s spring semester.