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Summertime fun at the public library
Attaching orange, pipe-cleaner hair to her paper plate mask, 7-year-old Lindsey Walker contemplates a stapler.
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Bush may impede stem cell research
A bill passed by U.S. legislators allowing federal funding of stem cell research will likely be vetoed by President Bush, local political experts said. Stem cell research is legal, but using federal funds to finance the research is not, said Leonard Fleck, professor of philosophy and in the Center for Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences. "(The government) won't allow any federal funding for that research, or the use of equipment that's been used previously under federal grants, even if the grant has long been expired," Fleck said. The bill was passed with the knowledge that it would not go past Bush's desk, said Bill Ballenger, editor and publisher of Inside Michigan Politics. "As an issue, Bush has vetoed (a) stem cell bill, and he'll do it again," Ballenger said. Bush exercised his first veto last year on a similar bill, which was proposed by a then Republican-controlled Congress. "The people who are talking about it are using it as a political talking point because they know there's public support behind it," Ballenger said. Others agreed with Ballenger's assessment. "The bill is certain to be vetoed," said Thomas Mann, a scholar and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, an independent research and policy institute.
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Sayonara smoking?
State officials heard testimony Tuesday from restaurant and bar owners during a discussion in the Capitol of a statewide ban on smoking. The ban, which was proposed by Democrats in the Michigan House of Representatives, would alter the standing law allowing restaurants and taverns to select whether or not they want to allow smoking in their facilities. The proposed ban would be an unnecessary interference, said Andy Deloney, director of government affairs for the Michigan Restaurant Association, or MRA. "We don't need the government stepping in to tell us what's best for business," Deloney said.
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Council to discuss complex upgrade
Another phase of improvements on the East Lansing Soccer Complex will be discussed today at the East Lansing City Council's work session. Since its construction in 1996, the complex has undergone steady renovations to the seven fields. "The initial construction just installed the fields with underdrainage and irrigation, and some gravel parking lots," said Wendy Wilmers-Longpre, assistant director of East Lansing's Parks, Recreation and Arts program. Phase IV-B of the project would include constructing a team building, with restroom and locker facilities for two soccer teams, press boxes, a central storage facility and an admission booth, Wilmers-Longpre said. Bathroom and concession facilities and lighting are some of the features that have been installed in previous phases of the improvement project. The complex encompasses three Olympic-sized fields and four youth-sized ones, and hosts the East Lansing High School's boys' and girls' teams, as well as youth soccer and several club teams from MSU, City Manager Ted Staton said. "I would say with each generation of soccer parents, somebody's going to have an idea about how to better improve this facility," he said. Future changes could include additional lighting, or converting one of the natural grass field to artificial turf, Staton said. "Some of the purists love that we have these top-notch natural grass fields, but we host championship games so people feel we need an artificial field," he said. Although the soccer complex might not appeal to all of East Lansing's citizens, since the city undertook the project it should be completed, Councilmember Beverly Baten said. "Living in East Lansing, if we're going to do things, we should do it right and finish it up," she said.
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Downtown developments
By combining residential, office and retail space, East Lansing officials hope mixed-use developments will help to create a downtown with a wider variety of businesses - all within walking distance of downtown. "Maybe if we have more condos downtown, then eventually we would be able to support a small downtown grocery market," said Lori Mullins, East Lansing's senior project manager.
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Defensive driving course offered
Drivers can sharpen their safe-driving skills at a defensive driving course held by the Lansing Area Safety Council, held from 6-10 p.m.
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City continues centennial celebration with home tour
During the early 1950s, MSU professors played an integral role in making East Lansing architecturally diverse. The professors wanted cheap, affordable housing, but couldn't find anything that met their needs.
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A celebration for Africa in Lansing
Lansing — Organizations gathered Sunday to highlight the postitive contributions of local Africans and those abroad. People clapped and encircled the African Masquerade Dancers while they performed traditional African dances Sunday during a picnic to help shed a positive light on African culture. The Peace Education Center's African Affairs and Policy Task Force hosted the picnic at Moores Park, 420 Moores River Drive in Lansing. "We just want to kick off and let the community know we're doing this work.
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Mich. kids could get to college earlier
Two bills proposed in the Michigan House of Representatives could change the way some high school students get their education. The bills would change current education law by allowing 15-year-old students the option of enrolling in a nearby community college, or four-year university, to attain an associate's degree while finishing off their high school education. Presently, schools get $7,085 in funding per student.
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E.L. Library to hold events throughout June
A wide variety of educational and entertainment activities will be held at the East Lansing Public Library located at 950 Abbott Road, this month. • Tuesday - summer reading programs for children, teens and adults begins.
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New pipes could turn water red, safe to drink
Due to the reconstruction at the Red Cedar and Wilson roads intersection, the Physical Plant will be testing water main valves today and from 9 a.m.
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Watch 'Happy Feet' with family in the park
Meridian Township will show "Happy Feet" for the first "Movie in the Park" event at 9:30 p.m.
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Michigan's legislature may turn part-time
Michigan lawmakers may shift the state's legislature from full-time to part-time if a plan supported by Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, goes through. The move could offer various benefits to the state, such as reduction in legislative staff, pay and benefit levels, which would save the state money, Bishop Spokesman, Matt Marsden, said. "I think it's an example of one of the reforms that needs to take place in state government to make it more efficient and more cost-effective than it currently is," he said. The plan has additional benefits, such as forcing legislators to go back to their districts to deal with their constituents, and create time lines to expedite the legislative process, he said. The plan has an ally in Gov.
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Juice bar to blend into E.L.
It's a family affair when it comes to California Juice Company. Co-owners Erin Horton and her uncle, Steve Dennis - along with Horton's sister, Lainie, and Dennis' daughter, Meghan - will all take part in the family business. "I'll be running it, Meghan will work and my little sister, Lainie, will be working" Horton said.
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Children's camp in search of participants
The seventh Annual Aviation Youth Camp is looking for kids ages 9-17, who are interested in exploring careers in aviation. The camp will be held Aug.
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WEB EXTRA: Faculty and students train for disasters alongside MSU police and E.L. Fire Dept.
Rescuing trapped people from buildings, extinguishing fires, applying first aid, and shutting off gas and electrical lines were just a few of the things MSU faculty and students learned alongside MSU police and the East Lansing Fire Department. The Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, training program is a way for everyday people to learn how prepare for disasters, ranging from terrorist attacks to tornadoes. "I'm one of those people who is afraid of what I don't know," said Jacque Shoppell, an MSU employee and East Lansing resident. Participating in the four-day program, along with about 70 other people, was a way for Shoppell to be better prepared in case emergencies occur anywhere. Armed with goggles, helmets, flashlights, face masks and first aid kits, in East Lansing's Fire Station 1 on Wednesday, the teams ran through a tornado scenario where they had to extinguish a fire and rescue people trapped in a building, MSU police Lt.
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Wheelchair soccer team in national game
The Capital City Cobras leave for Indiana today to compete in the 2007 National Championships of Power Soccer.
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Mich. abortion ban appeal denied
A federal appeals court ruled Monday that an attempt to ban what opponents call "partial-birth abortion" is unconstitutional due to the law's broad language. The 6th U.S.
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Wild Birds Unlimited looks for donations
Wild Birds Unlimited is accepting bird feeders for their 3rd annual Bird Feeder Drive. Donations can be dropped off at the Wild Birds Unlimited East Lansing location at 2200 Coolidge Road, or in Okemos at 1739 W.
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Ethanol continues to grow in Michigan
Correction: Each gas station that carries E85 ethanol sells an estimated 1,500 gallons a month. When Jim Little first began selling gas at H&H Mobil in 1969, the price hovered around 35 cents per gallon. "People didn't worry about foreign oil and energy independence, but things have changed," he said. Those two factors were the driving force behind Little's decision to open East Lansing's first E85 ethanol pump Tuesday at H&H Mobil, 1500 Haslett Road. The move makes Little's gas station the third in Mid-Michigan with an E85 ethanol pump and the 44th in the state. "If you would have told people (in 1969) they would be running their car on corn, they would have laughed at you," Little said. E85 ethanol is a fuel made from a mixture of corn and gasoline. Gov.