Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

Store to give out free T-shirts in protest of YAF

Lindsay Machak
October 4, 2006

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.

MICHIGAN

Student gets additional charge for Welcome Weekend conduct

Lindsey Poisson
October 3, 2006

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.

MICHIGAN

Homecoming parade one of MSU's largest

Kristyn Peterson  and  Lindsey Poisson
October 2, 2006

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.

MICHIGAN

Walking for awareness

Alex Altman
October 2, 2006

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.

MICHIGAN

MSU students help children grow food

Gabrielle Russon
September 29, 2006

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.

MICHIGAN

Politics of 'religious right'

Kris Turner
September 29, 2006

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.

MICHIGAN

DeVos would ban perks from lobbyists

Lindsey Poisson
September 28, 2006

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.

MICHIGAN

Toronto to buy own landfill for use after contract ends

Lindsey Poisson
September 27, 2006

Canadians might have an alternative to dumping trash in Michigan landfills in just four years. After about three months of shopping around for a non-Michigan landfill, the City of Toronto announced last week its intent to purchase the Green Lane Landfill in southwestern Ontario, Canada. But the city will continue to dispose of its solid municipal waste in Michigan until its contract ends in 2010 with Wayne County-based Carleton Farms Landfill — the only state landfill where Toronto exports its trash. Stuart Green, spokesman for Toronto Mayor David Miller, said the Toronto City Council approved a "letter of intent," which means city officials will have about 90 days to approve the agreement. "It's sort of one step shy from an actual purchase," Green said.

MICHIGAN

Searching for work

Gabrielle Russon
September 27, 2006

Bachelor's degree — check. And now, Amanda Cochrane is on her way to landing a job — or so she hopes. The 28-year-old, who graduated from Davenport University in August, is instead facing a stagnant Michigan economy with an unemployment rate at 7.1 percent, as of last month. "That puts us tied for the worst (in the nation)," said Jim Rhein, an economic analyst for Lansing-based Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth. Cochrane, an Eaton Rapids resident, doubts her chances for finding work in Michigan, but she spent Tuesday afternoon with 2,000 other job-seekers at the Michigan Works!

MICHIGAN

Campaigning moves to Facebook

Lindsey Poisson
September 26, 2006

Look them up. Poke them. Support them. Some candidates in Michigan's midterm elections received Facebook.com profiles earlier this month to showcase their campaign platforms and reach college students and alumni. Candidates are already anticipating the possibilities of having the popular connection with young voters. Phil Novack, spokesman for Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos' campaign, said this election is the first test to see if Facebook means more younger voters. "I don't think people can question the popularity of Facebook," he said.

MICHIGAN

Deputy city manager retires, takes new job

Kris Turner
September 26, 2006

Jean Golden says she's off to find bliss. After serving as East Lansing's deputy city manager for seven years, Golden is ready to retake control of her life. "I'm going to be 60 years old — I've been working hard since I was 16," she said.

MICHIGAN

Post-tailgate cleanup

Kris Turner
September 25, 2006

Groggy Spartans recovering from a crazed football Saturday got a little extra help in clearing red cups and other party debris from their lawns Sunday morning. A group of about 30 people, primarily composed of students and a few city and university officials, hit East Lansing streets with trash bags to make the tailgating aftermath look like a distant memory. "It's disappointing how much trash is all over the place," said Emily Steibel, an elementary education junior who volunteered to pick up trash.