All East Lansing city offices, including official buildings, will be closed Monday in observance of Fourth of July weekend. Closures include the East Lansing Department of Public Works, 1800 E. State Road; Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road; the East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbot Road; 54-B District Court, 101 Linden St.; and East Lansing City Hall, 410 Abbot Road.
The Capital Area Transportation Authority, or CATA, will not be in service Sunday in observance of the Fourth of July. The services not available include any fixed-route, Spec-Tran and other CATA services that regularly run.
With Thursday’s implementation of a 10 percent tax on all ultraviolet tanning, getting that summer glow indoors is going to cost more for MSU students. The federal tax, which was passed in March as part of the nation’s health care overhaul, is expected to generate $200 million in its first year and $2.7 billion during the next 10 years, according to the nonpartisan U.S. Joint Committee on Taxation.
After months of waiting, the Meridian Township Parks & Recreation Department was joined by the Michigan Mountain Biking Association, or MMBA, BikeWorks, Denny’s Central Park Bicycles and the Meridian Township Police Department to officially open the course to the public Wednesday. The Eastgate Bicycle Pump Track Grand Opening is located at Eastgate Park, 4023 S. Meridian Road, in Okemos.
Despite budget cuts and an overall lack of revenue, the East Lansing Police Department recently secured grant funding to replace an aging K9 unit vehicle. The department was awarded a $19,633 grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, a unit within the U.S. Department of Justice. State and local economic difficulties challenged the department to purchase a new vehicle, which is expected to be added to the fleet within the next few months.
An East Lansing-based company came closer to its goal of helping an MSU professor commercialize his product with a $100,000 award from a statewide competition. InPore Technologies was selected for the SmartZone Award as part of the Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest, or GLEQ, Statewide Business Plan Competition, a contest to determine the most promising business plans for start-up companies.
Hosting international scholars through the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program is a crucial way East Lansing and MSU further their global reach, city officials said. The program, organized through the U.S. Department of State, is run through 18 U.S. universities and brings in about 200 Fellows each year for study and professional experiences across the country. The program has more than 4,000 alumni in 157 countries across the globe — including 78 Fellows from 53 countries to MSU.
Taking advantage of retirement incentives offered by amendments to the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System, or MPSERS, 17,063 school employees across 95 percent of school districts filed to retire before the June 11 deadline, according to a press release Friday from Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s office.
More than 40 people went to the Harris Nature Center’s Howl at the Moon monthly night walk at 9 p.m. Friday. The walk was about 2.8 miles through the trails behind the center.
To inform citizens about the importance of knowing one’s HIV status, the Michigan Department of Community Health, or MDCH, recognized Sunday’s National HIV Testing Day. Across Michigan, there are more than 18,000 people diagnosed with HIV. About 4,000 of that number are unaware they have the virus and could spread the disease without understanding the complications.
Lansing resident Lori James gave her 9-year-old son, Daniel, his first $10 to spend but said he could only have it if he spent it wisely. Walking around the booths, activities and attractions Saturday afternoon at the Delta Rocks! Family Festival, at Sharp Park, 1401 Elmwood Road, in Lansing, Daniel James did a scan of everything before he chose what to buy. The annual festival was held Saturday afternoon from noon to 6 p.m. and showcased dozens of free, family-friendly activities, including a petting zoo, games, face painting, a business expo, concessions and pony rides.
The Tri-County Bicycle Association’s 30th annual Women on Wheels bicycle tour will be held 7 a.m. July 24 at Mason High School, 1001 S. Barnes St., in Mason. The organization expects more than 500 women, men and children to ride country roads southeast of the Lansing area.
Although a three-day strike of local American Red Cross union workers did little to significantly impact blood donations, there is an increased need for certain blood types at this time, said Monica Stoneking, communications manager for the American Red Cross’ Great Lakes Region. Locations across campus, including Wednesday’s blood drive at the MSU Physical Plant, continue accepting volunteers willing to donate.
With the recent economic downturn, developers have had to take measures to make sure their land will sell. An attempt to rezone land in East Lansing, to be voted on July 20, was discussed by the East Lansing City Council on Tuesday night. Caddis Development Group, LLC is requesting to rezone a property located at 1525 W. Lake Lansing Road from restricted office business district to retail sale business district.
To help deal with about 14 million annual transactions, all Michigan Secretary of State offices are accepting Discover and MasterCard payments at the counter. In addition to new credit card options, branch office customers also can pay with cash or check.
The 10th annual Delta Rocks! Family Festival will take place from 12-6 p.m. Saturday at Sharp Park, 1401 Elmwood Road, in Lansing. The festival will feature numerous activities, including chalk art, clowns, pony rides, a petting zoo, a rock climbing wall, crafts, kids’ bingo, face painting, an obstacle course, a business expo and many more games.
July 6 is the final day for Michigan citizens to register to be able to vote in the Aug. 3 primaries. Voters must be at least 18 years old by election day, U.S. citizens, residents of Michigan and residents of the city or township in which they wish to vote.
Two construction projects in downtown East Lansing will continue throughout much of the summer. Construction on the Division Street Parking Ramp, or Colorful Parking Ramp, began Monday and will include replacement of the steel stairwells, re-pouring of concrete and improvements to the window sealants. Construction also will continue outside the East Lansing Marriott at University Place east plaza.
After more than four years at the bottom of the list, Michigan has shed the dubious distinction of being the state with the highest unemployment rate in the country. Nevada took the top spot for the month of May with 14 percent unemployment, according to a report released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a federal organization that tracks labor economics and other statistics. Michigan had the second-highest rate with 13.6 percent unemployment, followed by California with 12.4 percent.
Lansing’s Old Town puckered up for the SMOOCH! Project at the Perspective2 Studio, 319 E. Grand River Ave., in Lansing, on Tuesday in an effort to reduce violence through human affection. The SMOOCH! Project is a documentary record of the human demonstration to willingly share and welcome love and affection with no regard to social, economic or political boundaries.