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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

2 local gas stations penalized for leakage, soil contamination

Sarah K. Norris
June 4, 2007

Eight Michigan gas stations, including one in East Lansing and one in Okemos, have been fined by the state Department of Environmental Quality for failing to comply with state regulations. The eight stations, all formerly owned by BP Amoco PLC, were fined a total of $869,150 for not submitting required reports about contamination because of leaking underground storage tanks. "These fines are simply for their failure to properly address the contamination as required by Michigan law," said Bob McCann, DEQ spokesman.

MICHIGAN

E.L.'s Project Pride cleanup Saturday

Sarah K. Norris
June 1, 2007

Unconventional recyclables such as tires, used furniture and scrap metal will be accepted at the city of East Lansing's Project Pride cleanup Saturday. Items can be taken to the Abbott Center parking lot, 1400-1500 Abbott Road, for disposal.

MICHIGAN

Spend trails day in Northern Tier

Cash Kruth
June 1, 2007

The 15th annual National Trails Day is Saturday and the city of East Lansing is encouraging everyone to spend time on the Northern Tier Trail or one of the several trails in the Lansing area. For more information, call the Department of Parks, Recreation and Arts at (517)333-2580 or a map of the Northern Tier Trail can be found at www.cityofeastlansing.com.

MICHIGAN

Student Organic Farm planting party

Ryan Beene
June 1, 2007

The MSU Student Organic Farm will have it's summer planting party Saturday. Participants will plant tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and other vegetables at the farm located at 3291 College Road in Holt from 9 a.m.

MICHIGAN

E.L. considers new dog park

Brian McVicar
May 31, 2007

East Lansing has dogs on its mind. The city wants to create a dog park where "man's best friend" can run free, unhampered by leashes. And dog owners want a place where they can bring their four-legged friends without worrying about keeping them on a leash, Wendy Longpre, assistant director of the East Lansing department of Parks, Recreation and Arts said. "We really do want to provide an area where people can recreate with their dogs," she said.

MICHIGAN

ART inspires confidence

Jennifer Orlando
May 31, 2007

With her long, black curly hair swept back by glasses, Pearl Hernandez laughed and joked with those around her as she got her face painted by one of her friends. The result: One side of the sixth-grader's face was painted purple, the other cheek had a stencil of a planet. The Pattengill Middle School student never used to be so outgoing.

MICHIGAN

Coyote pups spotted, authorities weigh in

Ryan Beene
May 30, 2007

At the northern border of Ingham County where Shiawassee and Clinton counties meet, Jamie McAloon-Lampman was foraging for mushrooms in a wooded area on her property and found something she didn't expect. She and her husband stumbled across a litter of coyote pups, with the parents nowhere in sight.

MICHIGAN

Fifth-grader funds research

Rachael Zylstra
May 25, 2007

As royal blue bracelets reading "Be Brave" wrapped around children's' wrists at Williamston's elementary schools Thursday, 11-year-old Dan Warschefsky sat in a chair to take everything in. Students from Discovery and Explorer Elementary schools flocked outside into the sunny, mid-80-degree weather, danced to music, walked a fitness path and donated to a research fund - exactly what Dan had set forth to do. "I just wanted to raise money for my brother's fund," Dan, a fifth-grade student, said.

MICHIGAN

E.L. refutes economic comparison

Sarah K. Norris
May 24, 2007

Flint, Detroit and East Lansing - one of these is not like the other. Yet, a Brookings Institution study released this week identifies those cities, Saginaw, Muskegon and Kalamazoo as six of 80 industrial cities that are economically weak. The news that East Lansing is as financially troubled as these cities was alarming to City Manager Ted Staton. "There's a famous quote by Benjamin Disraeli, 'There are lies, damn lies and statistics,'" he said.

MICHIGAN

Practice makes perfect

Cash Kruth
May 24, 2007

Practice makes perfect and the training exercises of the East Lansing Fire Department create intense situations for its officers. Along with Meridian Township, the firefighters went through real-life training simulations Wednesday afternoon at former Alpha Tau Omega, or ATO, houses, located at 243 and 237 Louis St. The departments have an opportunity unlike any other.

MICHIGAN

Pet, family abuses linked

Rachael Zylstra
May 23, 2007

State Rep. Barb Byrum, D-Onondaga Township held a town hall meeting Monday to spread a message in Ingham County: Animal abuse can be an indicator of domestic violence and child abuse. A small group of social workers, officials and concerned citizens met at the Ingham County Animal Control Shelter, 600 Curtis Road in Mason, to find out what they can do to help. "I just wanted to increase awareness of the link between animal cruelty, domestic violence and child abuse," Byrum said.

MICHIGAN

E.L. funds local microenterprises

Sarah K. Norris
May 23, 2007

The Lansing City Micro-Enterprise Fund will receive $10,000 in funding as part of its new partnership with East Lansing. Microenterprises make up more than 80 percent of the businesses in Ingham County and tri-county area.

MICHIGAN

WEB EXTRA: Granholm sets looming deadline to resolve state budget crisis

Pete Nichols
May 23, 2007

Gov. Jennifer Granholm has set June 1 as a deadline for the Michigan House of Representatives and Senate to come together with the governor's office to reach an agreement as to how to remedy Michigan's financial situation. Michigan is facing an $800 million deficit for the 2007 fiscal year, and with the end of the year approaching, the pressure is on to find a solution to the state's budget crisis. House Democrats, along with Granholm, have been pushing for a solution consisting of a combination of comprehensive reforms, cuts and additional revenue, most likely through taxes. "Obviously, it is a huge, huge deficit," said Liz Boyd, spokeswoman for Granholm.

MICHIGAN

Further budget cuts hurt school funding

Pete Nichols
May 23, 2007

As Michigan's financial crisis mounts and the deadline to balance the 2006-07 budget draws near, East Lansing schools along with districts across the state could face major cuts. Currently, the state is facing an estimated $600 million shortfall in the General Fund and a $202.8 million shortfall in the School Aid Fund, or SAF. The SAF represents money promised by the state to school districts, collected through the sales tax. Part of the problem facing schools and school funding is the recession the economy has been enduring, said Rep.