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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

Buddhists celebrate first teaching

Jason Worthy
July 28, 2005

Saturday was the start of the Buddhist celebration Asalha Puja and the Rains Retreat, and many gathered at a local monastery to celebrate its commencement with meditation and ethnic food. Ajahn Khemasanto, the abbot at Dhammasala Forest Monastery, 14780 Beardslee Road in Perry, said the retreat is a time for monks to meditate. "This a special time for monks to take on special practices and be more strict in meditation," he said.

MICHIGAN

State delays ACLU hearing

Jason Worthy
July 26, 2005

The hearing scheduled for last week to determine whether public employers can offer benefits to domestic partners has been postponed until August, and some university employees are worried about losing their benefits. A Michigan Constitutional amendment was ratified in 2004, which defined marriage as being between a man and a woman. The American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU, is representing 21 same-sex couples who filed the lawsuit in March after Attorney General Mike Cox interpreted the amendment as barring the city of Kalamazoo from providing domestic-partnership benefits in future contracts. The court hearing was postponed in order for Gov.

MICHIGAN

E.L. to revise law limiting lawn signs

Darrell Hughes
July 26, 2005

A city ordinance that limits the number of signs East Lansing residents can have on their front lawns is being amended, but it has some residents and city leaders at odds over freedom of expression. Two East Lansing residents expressed their concerns for the city's "environmental quality" at the City Council meeting last Tuesday. These residents are concerned certain modifications to the policy will cause more people to overrun their lawns with political signs. The most significant concern addressed was the "visual clutter," said East Lansing's Deputy City Manager Jean Golden.

MICHIGAN

Research: Flip-flops could be harmful

Mara Deutch
July 26, 2005

With scorching summer temperatures, some students across campus shuffle to class or work in the lightest clothes possible, including their footwear - flip-flop sandals. "(Flip-flops) are better because you can flip them off your feet easily," said Lansing resident, Ryan Howard.

MICHIGAN

Alcohol inhalant could be banned

Nick Pelton
July 26, 2005

Two bills recently introduced to the state House of Representatives would ban the use of alcohol without liquid, commonly called AWOL, in Michigan. AWOL is an inhalant that is a combination of alcohol mist and pure oxygen and can create a euphoric sensation.

MICHIGAN

Storm slows local stores

Darrell Hughes
July 25, 2005

A late-night Saturday thunderstorm that continued through daybreak Sunday left the city and some area businesses scrambling to function. The storm caused a power outage and knocked some trees down, said Sgt.

MICHIGAN

Radio, TV shows downloadable with podcasts

Daniel Thai
July 25, 2005

Owners of iPods and other personal MP3 players now have more listening options than just the music they download or rip from their CD collections. "People have called podcasting the TiVo for radio," said Gary Reid, a university distinguished senior specialist in the Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media and general manager of MSU's student radio station Impact (88.9-FM). Podcasting allows nearly anyone to broadcast an audio file over the Internet.

MICHIGAN

Marshall man gets 8-20 years

Kris Turner
July 21, 2005

A 19-year-old Marshall, Mich., man was sentenced on Wednesday in the Ingham County Circuit Court to serve eight to 20 years in prison for the murder of an Okemos man. Alexander Hamil, who came to East Lansing to celebrate St.

MICHIGAN

Rally addresses health-care cuts

When Ed Carlson goes to a baseball game or visits his girlfriend, it's a large, complicated production. Due to his cerebral palsy and quadriplegia, the 40-year-old said in-home health care has to get him ready to go out, and a special mode of transportation needs to be coordinated.

MICHIGAN

State continues talks on budget, economy

Jon Styf
July 19, 2005

Lansing - Republican lawmakers and the Granholm administration will continue meeting this week to compromise on tax reform, the state budget and college scholarships. Members of the administration have been meeting regularly with Republican legislative leaders. House GOP leaders decided last week to put off a vote on their economic stimulus package after agreeing to requests from Democratic Gov.

MICHIGAN

Council meeting to convene after break

Darrell Hughes
July 19, 2005

The East Lansing City Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. after a two-week break. The meeting will be held at the 54-B District Court, 101 Linden St. The council plans to approve street closures and have a public hearing on an ordinance for the display of political signs.

MICHIGAN

Student group to defend ballot initiative with counterprotest

Jason Worthy
July 19, 2005

In an effort to defend affirmative action, members of a national activist group will head down to the Capitol today to rally for the second time this summer, but one campus group will attempt to counteract their protests. The MSU College Republicans are getting involved to oppose the protest headed by the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration & Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary, or BAMN. The Michigan Board of Canvassers are holding a meeting today to decide if the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, or MCRI, proposal will be on the 2006 ballot. MCRI is a proposal to amend the Michigan Constitution by adding a new section that would prohibit state and local governments from discriminating against or granting preferential treatment to any individual or group based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin.

MICHIGAN

Study: Accidents 4 times more likely with cell phone use

Nick Pelton
July 18, 2005

Driving while chatting on the phone can increase the likelihood of a crash resulting in injury by about four times, according to a recent study. The study from the University of Sydney, Australia, which was published July 12 in the British Medical Journal, or BMJ, also said that hands-free phones are not any safer, said Suzanne McEvoy, who helped conduct the study. Researchers interviewed 456 drivers who were in the hospital for crashes and owned a cell phone.

MICHIGAN

Officials warn against illegal use of wireless

Darrell Hughes
July 18, 2005

Today's technology lets people use wireless connections to access the Internet, and the illegal use of wireless networks is an issue with some officials. Some use their neighbor's wireless Internet networks without giving it much thought, said Rich Wiggins, MSU's Academic Network & Computer Services senior information technologist.

MICHIGAN

Supreme Court seat might sway abortion laws

Daniel Thai
July 18, 2005

The issue of abortion could be affected by whom President Bush nominates for the U.S. Supreme Court seat vacated by Sandra Day O'Connor's retirement. O'Connor, the first woman to serve as a justice on the Supreme Court, announced her resignation July 1.

MICHIGAN

Harry Potter release inspires celebration

When 7-year-old Will Miklavcic dons a black cape and pair of glasses repaired with tape, he said he resembles Harry Potter, even though he's blond. "I like Harry Potter; I've read all the books," the Haslett resident said.

MICHIGAN

Police use fliers to aid search for missing boy

Kris Turner
July 14, 2005

The search for a missing Williamston boy advanced today when officials from the U.S. Post Office agreed to distribute 65,000 fliers containing his picture and description. As part of the Deliver Me Home Network, the fliers aim to make residents aware of disappearances.