By Caitlyn Kienitz Special for The State News Frank Ferro, 47, plays volleyball four nights a week. The game had been his hobby for years, but the games put on hold two years ago when he received a kidney transplant. The Lansing resident received the kidney from his brother Patrick Ferro on January 19, 2004. "Our family's really close," said Ferro, a state of Michigan employee.
The Michigan Board of Canvassers will meet today to certify the ballot language of the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative and place the proposal on the ballot for the November election. The meeting will be held at 9 a.m.
Ingham County is beginning a search for a new County Controller. The Ingham County Board of Commissioners has invited public feedback in its search, and will hold a public meeting today from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
A proposal to halt the ballot measures made by the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative was submitted to the Michigan Supreme Court this week by Operation King's Dream. The submission was driven by the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration, & Immigrant Rights And Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary, or BAMN, a civil rights campaign that supports affirmative action. The motion aims to disallow the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, or MCRI, from appearing on the November ballot.
Man's best friend has learned a new trick — detecting cancer. Researchers at the Pine Street Foundation in California found a dog's scenting ability detects lung and breast cancer, said Nicholas Broffman, executive director of the foundation.
A reception will be held to honor former East Lansing Councilmember Bill Sharp this Sunday at the Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbott Road. The reception runs from 3-5 p.m.
Scrapbooking supplies are everywhere, cutting and pasting themselves into the aisles of large retail chains.
Jim Marcinkowski, a candidate for the 8th district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, criticized the policies of the government at an MSU College Democrats meeting Tuesday night. About 40 students had the opportunity to ask Marcinkowski questions about his stances on issues that mattered to them — the goal of the event, according to MSU College Democrat President Stephen Purchase. "One of the things our organization focuses on is bringing politics to campus," Purchase, an international relations and political theory and constitutional democracy senior said. Marcinkowski, a former CIA agent, criticized the handling of the war in Iraq, but acknowledged it will be difficult to leave. He was also critical of the effect the controversies surrounding secret prisons, prisoner abuse and torture are having on the intelligence community. "When you go to recruit an agent overseas, you have to stand for something," he said. He hopes to see a change in the way lobbying and campaign finance are handled. "This is legal money laundering," he said.
A "No Limit Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament" will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at Dietz Pool & Spa, 954 E.
CVS/pharmacy, 240 M.A.C. Ave., is now permitted to sell beer and wine. The East Lansing City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to grant CVS a beer and wine permit. But CVS must follow conditions — they cannot sell kegs, advertise liquor in the windows, or sell alcohol through the pick-up window.
Michigan's Amber Alert system, intended to find abducted children faster, will be updated following a grant from AT&T Michigan. The $77,000 grant will be used to update technology so the emergency broadcast alert will be automatically sent over radio or television during an Amber Alert, and eliminate manpower needed in newsrooms to physically put out the alert, said Karole White, president of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. "It can go directly to the television set," White said. In the previous system, local law-enforcement agencies contacted the Michigan State Police after an abduction.
Registered sex offenders can't live, work or loiter within 1,000 feet of Michigan schools, with few exceptions, after new legislation went into effect this year. Gov.
Since announcing his candidacy in December, MSU College of Law student John Knowles has learned how much work campaigning for a seat in the Michigan House of Representatives involves. "It's been tremendously exhausting," Knowles said. Balancing his campaign and other commitments has 25-year-old Knowles typically working from 8 a.m.
East Lansing doesn't need more student housing downtown, city officials say. City Council will consider adopting a policy today that makes student-geared developments its lowest priority when approving new housing projects, focusing instead on encouraging home ownership. The council will vote to approve the policy at today's meeting, which begins at 5 p.m.
Democrat Jim Marcinkowski, who has announced his intention to run for the 8th Congressional District seat, will attend the MSU Democrats' first meeting of the semester tonight.
State Senate candidate Melissa Sue Robinson, who is a transgender person, filed suit yesterday against the state of Michigan, challenging a law which would require her former name to appear on the ballot. Robinson, who was born Charles Edward Staelens Jr., changed her name in May 1998.
Former CIA agent Jim Marcinkowski launched his bid this week for the Democratic nomination in the 8th Congressional District to run against GOP incumbent Mike Rogers, R-Brighton.
The 21st annual luncheon honoring Martin Luther King Jr. will take place at the Lansing Center on Monday at 11 a.m.
Mike McNeely doesn't plan on keeping his Lansing bar open any later, despite a new law that allows Michigan bars to stay open after 2 a.m. "What would be the reason to stay open?" said McNeely, a co-owner of Trippers, 354 Frandor Ave.
By Darrell Hughes Special to The State News In Flight Sports might be grounded. The sporty, yet vintage, clothing and accessories store — which is known for its Grateful Dead merchandise — is on the brink of closing later this month or in early February if store owner Marvin Pridgeon doesn't find someone to purchase the business. "We've been trying to sell for months," Pridgeon said.