Lansing — Opposing sides of a Michigan ballot proposal to ban some state affirmative action programs squared off Thursday in Lansing. The Inforum Center for Leadership sponsored a Michigan Civil Rights Initiative debate at the Lansing Sheraton hotel between MCRI Executive Director Jennifer Gratz, who supports the initiative, and Bruce Courtade, a Grand Rapids lawyer who opposes it.
To stay or not to stay? That's the question many MSU students must ask themselves after the annual two-day Career Gallery ended at Breslin Center Thursday. Sixty-four percent of last year's graduates who were in-state students remained in Michigan, said Phil Gardner, director of research at the Collegiate Employment Research Institute. "It's slowly gone down," Gardner said, adding that the figure was about 75 percent in the late '90s. This year's graduating class must make a similar decision. During the Career Gallery, students eyed 355 different companies that offered different location possibilities across the country. Chris Terrell, who attended the job fair, lives in a townhouse with three roommates who are all business majors.
Bath Township — Vice President Dick Cheney said the United States must reject any strategy that hinders the war on terror Thursday afternoon during a Republican fundraiser in Bath Township, located seven miles north of East Lansing. "Terrorists are still trying desperately to commit acts of violence," Cheney said.
Michigan will now pay for college graduates to stay in the state. Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced a plan Thursday to entice graduates to stay in Michigan by offering low-interest housing loans in communities that need economic development. The low-interest loans, which go into effect Monday, are only applicable in eight Michigan cities, that "need some additional assistance," Granholm said Thursday. "They are communities that have been struggling in the past, and we want to urge dynamic people to move into each of them and provide a carrot for you to do that," Granholm said.
Want free real estate for your own business? It's more realistic than you think. All you have to do is write an essay and pay a $100 entry fee. "It's no joke," said Frank Lain, a Lansing resident who is active on city boards. Lain, paired with business owner Larry Carr, will give away 2,500 square feet of retail space in Lansing, worth about $325,000. The essay contest has three questions: Why do you want a business?
Okemos — Among the busy shoppers at Meridian Mall Saturday, a beaming Magdalena Peña stood proudly — trophy in hand, tiara on head — after placing first in the 18- to 27-year-old age group of the Miss Sunburst Model Search Pageant preliminaries. Peña, an MSU theatre senior, won a $200 prize to be used for the contestant fee at the Miss Sunburst Model Search Pageant State Finals in May next year. "It's fun; I like it," Peña said. She explained that preparing for pageants includes working out, finding the right dress, getting her nails and hair done, and speech memorization. The event included a model search with age groups ranging from 4- to 27-year-olds who were judged on beauty, poise, projection and overall appearance, and a baby contest that judged babies based on good looks, overall appearance and personality. The 4- to 6-year-old group competition ended in a three-way tie, something Melissa, an assistant director for Sunburst who declined to give her last name because of company policy, said has "never happened as long as I've worked here." When the shy and nervous 4- to 6-year-olds took the floor, they were asked questions about their favorite ice-cream flavor and TV show. "We're looking for your prettiest eyes and your prettiest smiles," the announcer said. Jeremy Scott, an MSU English senior, stopped his shopping to watch the pageant.
A 39-year-old MSU student was the victim of an armed robbery Sunday in Spartan Village Apartments. The incident occurred at about 2:30 a.m., and two men wielding an unknown weapon were involved. A laptop, TV, phones and cash were stolen during the incident, according to the MSU online police blotter. The first suspect is described as a 5-foot-8, 145-pound male who is about 22 years old.
The leaves are a-changin' and that means gone is the season for ice cream store owners. As the mercury drops, seasonal businesses must compensate for dwindling clientele. One way is finding a different focus. "We're trying to build up the wholesale," said Lisa Belen, a manager for Melting Moments, 313 E.
The scheduled preliminary examination for Alex Charles Ellis, one of two 17-year-olds charged in connection with the arson of an East Lansing playground structure in July, was postponed Tuesday at East Lansing's 54-B District Court. Ellis' defense attorney, Brian P.
A 42-year-old man, who attempted to steal cases of beer from CVS and 7-Eleven but failed in both instances, was arrested Tuesday following a bicycle chase through East Lansing. At about 8:25 a.m., the man entered the CVS store located at 240 M.A.C.
When Adam Van Lente read about Young Americans for Freedom's "Catch an Illegal Immigrant Day" event in the newspaper, he wanted to do something about it. Van Lente, co-owner and operator of RetroDuck, a T-shirt company at 210 Abbott Road, decided his store would design and distribute shirts disagreeing with YAF's stance against illegal immigration. "They are going to say 'Catch a YAF,' or something like 'promote tolerance,'" Van Lente said. The shirts will be free and will be handed out Friday from the store on the corner of Grand River Avenue and Abbott Road. "We want to print 100 of them," Van Lente said.
An MSU student charged with an alleged Welcome Weekend assault will go to circuit court after a Lansing police officer testified in a preliminary examination Monday. A preliminary examination is held to determine if there is enough evidence to move the case to a higher court. Physics junior Woodard Williams was arraigned Aug.
Reported forcible sexual assaults decreased by half last year on campus, while the number of aggravated assaults increased twofold, according to a report released by MSU officials Monday. MSU police Sgt.
Three-year-old Ellie Yonker, of Lansing, watched the parade procession from the arms of her father, Jeff Yonker, as he pointed out this year's grand marshal riding past on Friday evening. Ellie and her family were a few of many who came out to see Kermit the Frog Friday in the MSU Homecoming parade. MSU alumni, students and East Lansing-area residents gathered downtown and on campus to watch the famous frog in what was called one of MSU's largest Homecoming parades. The parade began at the Hannah Community Center and ended on campus at IM Sports-Circle.
Patrick Lombardi says the fight against AIDS is long from over. "We're here today to raise money to support programs and services that are designed for people living with AIDS," Lombardi said Sunday to about 500 people who gathered at Valley Court Park to participate in the Lansing Area AIDS Network's 15th annual AIDS Walk.
Lansing — It was a giant one-sided game of tug-of-war. Their little hands held tightly to the rope Thursday morning. An instant later, the Lansing elementary students jerked the rope to make a plastic tarp cover the framework — they just made their own unheated greenhouse. The greenhouse, located behind Gunnisonville Elementary School in Lansing, is a collaboration between MSU students and the Lansing School District to grow food for low-income families. A small group of MSU students from the Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment, or RISE, helped the energized youngsters make the greenhouse. In upcoming weeks, MSU students will help the children plant their own garden, which in part will be used to supply the Greater Lansing Food Bank's Garden Project with fresh produce. Last year, about 20 community gardens in Mid-Michigan fed about 500 Lansing-area low-income families, said food bank director Sharon Krinock.
The preliminary examination scheduled for Wiley Graham, one of two MSU students charged in connection with an Aug.
America's youth aren't apathetic, they just need help changing the social fabric of the country, said a leading Christian commentator. Preaching social justice, Christian leader and best-selling author of "God's Politics: Why the Right Gets Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It" Jim Wallis spoke Thursday night to about 1,100 people who packed the pews at The Peoples Church, 200 W.
Legislators might have to bid farewell to perks from lobbyists come Nov. 7. Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos said Tuesday he would stop legislators from getting their travel and entertainment expenses paid for by special interest groups if elected. "Special tickets and trips lavished upon state officials and lawmakers will not be tolerated in a DeVos administration," DeVos said in a statement Tuesday.
A new Malaysian restaurant will soon fill the vacated space on Grand River Avenue left by The Parlour on Campus. Ria Malaysian Restaurant will open in mid-October, owner Shirley Boucha said.