Norm Young, 67, cracked a wide smile and began laughing modestly after having the Ranney Park handball courts named in his honor. "You want the truth?" said Young, a former MSU wrestler and 1961 NCAA champion.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The East Lansing Police Department's motorcycle unit will be issuing speeding tickets and regulating parades in style this year after the purchase of four new Harley-Davidson bikes. The Electra Glide motorcycles have few differences than the ones the department purchased last year, but they do boast much larger and more powerful engines, said East Lansing police Sgt.
Some lawmakers and interest groups are pushing for the removal of the state's motorcycle helmet law. Under the proposed legislation, motorcyclists would not be required to wear a helmet if they are over 21, operated a motorcycle for two or more years, completed a safety course and carry $20,000 worth of insurance. If requirements are met, riders would be eligible to purchase a $100 sticker they would display on their bikes. The helmet law is keeping about $1.2 billion in revenue out of Michigan, said Rep.
Information on a proposed ordinance, which would prohibit people from taking shelter in East Lansing parking structures, will be presented to the East Lansing City Council today. The ordinance was previously tabled because the council wanted more definite information about how the city would handle the treatment of individuals who were found in the structures. "Our fear was that we were going to criminalize the homeless," Mayor Sam Singh said. The council wanted to see a plan for the implementation of the ordinance before they approved it, he said.
With paint on her hands, 3-year-old Jahayza Choat whispered her favorite part of Make it Grow on Saturday was leaf printing. Jahayza's mom, Melissa Choat of Leslie, said she visited the Impression 5 Science Center, 200 Museum Drive, when she was younger, and it was her daughter's first time visiting. "(My daughter) is only 3, so it's really great that it's hands-on," Choat said. Make it Grow is one of the Center's weekly themed activities, which allowed museum attendees to make their own nature inspired items. From 11 a.m.
Lansing — The late afternoon sun shone through the windows of the historic Potter House in Friday as individuals filed in to support the Women's Center of Greater Lansing. Dream, Girl!, the name of the Women's Center's first major fundraiser, ushered in about 200 guests to the 1926-built home located at 1348 Cambridge Road, with the goal of raising $25,000. The fundraiser created a "solid financial foundation" for the Center, said Cindie Alwood, the center's co-director and co-founder. Alwood is currently the only regular staff member who works Monday through Friday at the Center.
The battle over the Wolverine Pipeline Co.'s gasoline pipeline that would run through the south side of Lansing will be settled in the Michigan Supreme Court. On May 9, the Michigan Court of Appeals rejected Lansing's attempt to stop the construction of the pipeline.
When all is said and done after today's revenue estimate conference, Michigan will face a $700 million deficit for the 2007 fiscal year, said Liz Boyd, Gov.
After 34 years of freedom, the convicted murderer of an MSU student now will face prison time for the "senseless" act. Kumbi Salim, also known as Stanley A.
It is only a matter of time before a virus that may have caused fish to internally bleed to death in parts of Lake Erie and Lake Huron spreads to Lake Michigan. Officials at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, or DNR, are currently working to stop viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS. Although the virus does not affect people, if it remains untreated, there could be significant consequences for the environment and the economy, said Kelley Smith, chief of the state's DNR Fisheries Division. "The testing does take time and it does cost money," Smith said.
A tornado has just ripped through Ingham County, damaging two dairy farms and a veterinary clinic. Several hundred animals are loose.
Lansing — Habitat for Humanity Lansing officials celebrated their new home Tuesday — happy they are no longer renting a cramped space to hold its operation. In 2005, Habitat purchased a building at 1941 Benjamin Drive, which, at the time, was only a shell and now, two years and almost 50,000 volunteer hours later, the organization has a place to call home. "Our goal is to build decent, affordable housing and now we finally have our own home that's up to those standards," said Heather LaFave, the organization's family-support manager. Volunteers and staff conducted tours of the new facility. Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero and Rep.
End Violent Encounters of Lansing is feeling the effects of the state's budget crisis and may not be able to maintain its services. The organization relies on state and federal grants to keep its services for domestic violence victims up and running, said Susan Shoultz, executive director of the Lansing-based organization.