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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

City offers trees to combat harmful bug

To combat the emerald ash borer's effects in Mid-Michigan, East Lansing residents can reserve a tree to plant in their yards, beginning Thursday. As part of the Restoration of Our Trees program, sponsored by the city of East Lansing, 200 trees are available for purchase by residents.

MICHIGAN

Bridge celebrates 50th year

Lansing — Fifty years have passed since Richard "Dick" DeMara was a black-haired iron worker. He was paid $3.50 an hour and "a nickel for fringe benefits" in 1957 as a cable inspector during the construction of the Mackinac Bridge. DeMara, who now has gray hair, shared photos and jocular stories of his experience Saturday at the Michigan Historical Museum, 702 W.

MICHIGAN

Students unsure of liaison's progress

In the four months and 18 days that Rachelle Woodbury has been East Lansing's community-student liaison, the MSU employee has met with dozens of people and has begun developing a new Web site — but that's about it. Woodbury's position was created by MSU President Lou Anna K.

MICHIGAN

Inspectors audit E.L. homes

Even though Rob Ryan and his roommates prepared for their annual housing inspection at the New Community cooperative house, he still was surprised his house passed the test. "They're always nit-picking," the advertising senior said of the city's housing inspectors.

MICHIGAN

TIME poll: Clinton has support of Democrats

Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton used to stand by her husband as he made crucial decisions for the United States. Now, she's vying for the opportunity to make those same calls. Does she have a chance? According to a TIME Magazine poll that ran from Jan.

MICHIGAN

New business delivers cookies

It's 11 p.m. on Wednesday, and English senior Nathaniel Janick and his friend, professional writing sophomore Phil DeAngelis, are leaving Wells Hall after seeing a movie. A tad hungry, DeAngelis, Janick and their friends are not interested in eating a full course meal or fast food.

MICHIGAN

Age on center stage

Sitting together, senior citizens and teenagers read a script aloud. The animated group included, one person plugging her nose, imitating a stuffy king.

MICHIGAN

Locals liable for snow removal

Icy roads and snow-blanketed highways are causing trouble for local motorists, while some East Lansing residents are faced with fines for not clearing their sidewalks. Since the beginning of the year, nine residents have received an $85 ticket from East Lansing's Parking and Code Enforcement, or PACE, for not removing snow and ice from the sidewalks around their homes.

MICHIGAN

Word on the street

Would you be willing to pay a sales tax on services such as haircuts, moving companies and financial advising? "Yes, extra tax money for government spending isn't that big of a deal." Joe Gessler finance sophomore "Yes, so the government can get the money to pay expenses like fixing roads, and paying police and firefighters." Matt Gill accounting freshman "Yes, I think the economy is in trouble, and needs anything to help get us back on the right footing." Amber VanderWeide history senior

MICHIGAN

Pfizer Inc. cuts may affect MSU students

Some MSU students and faculty members may feel the burn of Pfizer Inc.'s announcement Monday that 2,400 jobs will be leaving Michigan. The company's decision to cut jobs and close facilities in Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo and Plymouth Township triggered a press conference from Gov.

MICHIGAN

Alumnus to build sculpture

East Lansing's first 100 years will be immortalized in welded steel this year, after being sculpted by the hands of John Neering, a 1951 MSU alumnus and resident of Grand Rapids. The three-part sculpture will depict abstract people joined together as one in a circular build and will stand 7 feet tall at its highest point. The East Lansing City Council approved the design at it's meeting Tuesday, though one member expressed concern about it.

MICHIGAN

Mich. sales tax may extend to services

Decreasing Michigan's sales tax to about 5 percent and implementing a new tax on services is the latest idea being tossed around to solve the state's economic woes. The proposed tax would apply to professional, personal, repair, installation and business services.

MICHIGAN

Travelers plan for spring break

With snow piling up outside and spring break six weeks away, travel agencies and students are preparing for the busy weeks ahead. The few months after winter break are when many students flock to local travel agencies to book spring break vacations, said Jenna Corey, a sales representative at Student Breaks in the Student Book Store, 421 E.

MICHIGAN

Dog leash law to be considered

Dog owners might have to keep their canine friends on a tighter leash if the East Lansing City Council moves ahead with a new animal control ordinance. Dogs are required to be leashed in public parks.

MICHIGAN

LCC trustees face lawsuit over meeting

For months, tensions have mounted on the Lansing Community College Board of Trustees — tensions that may have driven the board into an illegal closed session. The internal drama has led some trustees to publicly criticize board leadership and decision-making, even causing one trustee to resign from her position as vice chairwoman. And on Tuesday, a former trustee filed a lawsuit against the board for allegedly violating the state's Open Meetings Act, which requires all publicly elected bodies to conduct meetings open to the public. "It's a great concern to me when the public's business is not conducted in public, and it should be a concern to every taxpayer," said Todd Heywood, who served on the LCC board from 2001-03. Heywood charges in court documents that the board held a meeting in September at which a majority of members were present without adequate public notice. He also alleges that board Chairman Chris Laverty illegally moved the board into closed sessions. The State News was unable to reach Laverty for comment. If found in violation of the act, the board could be fined and ordered not to violate the act again with an injunction, said Herschel Fink, a First Amendment and media lawyer. An injunction would take another legal step in preventing the government body from meeting in secret by formally ordering it not to violate the act again or risk additional penalties such as jail time. "If the government is able to act behind closed doors, there are no checks and balances," Fink said.