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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

Advocates rally for mental health at Capitol

Lindsey Poisson
May 31, 2005

Lansing - The "Walk a Mile in My Shoes" rally was held Thursday at the Capitol to show legislators and the public issues of funding for mental-health programs and stigmas against the mentally ill in Michigan. A crowd of mental-health advocates and people with mental disabilities gathered on the front lawn and steps of the Capitol chanting "walk a mile in my shoes." The event featured representatives from all 83 counties speaking about the state of mental-health programs in their respective county.

MICHIGAN

John Paul II on way to sainthood

Former Pope John Paul II could soon be a saint since Pope Benedict XVI began the process leading to sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church for his predecessor. The pope's choice to beatify, or make "blessed," John Paul II, who died April 2, waives the standard five-year period before the process begins.

MICHIGAN

Michigan homemade

Nick Pelton
May 31, 2005

Lansing- The first quilt Linda Plyler made was for her sister's doll when she was 9. Now more than 40 years later, Plyler is the proud creator of a quilt depicting every city in Michigan with a ZIP code starting with "488." Each of the 80 cities has a square with a photograph, drawing or design . The quilt was on display at the Michigan Historical Center on Friday. "All the photographs I took myself with the exception of Lake Odessa and Cedar Village," said Plyler, who is a Mason resident. East Lansing's square has a picture of Beaumont Tower. Plyler, who is the postmaster in Shaftsburg, Mich.

MICHIGAN

Fair provides resources for veterans

Daniel Thai
May 26, 2005

Homeless army veteran Paul Mullins came to the Stand Down for Homeless Veterans program to try and rectify his life. Mullins kept stroking his beard and running his fingers through his newly cut hair, which had not been groomed in two months. "It feels good," he said, smiling. Stand Down, a resource fair to recognize the problem of homeless veterans and help them overcome life on the streets, provides services such as haircuts and dental care and food.

MICHIGAN

Court offers rehab option for offenders

Alex Abate
May 26, 2005

Last summer, 36-year-old Steve Wooten was on his way home from an ordinary trip to the store when he was picked up by the police for driving under the influence of marijuana. Instead of sending him to jail or revoking his license, Michigan's 55th District Court in Mason decided to put him into a drug rehabilitation program. "I thought they set me up.

MICHIGAN

Residents honor GM history, influence

Jason Worthy
May 26, 2005

Even though the General Motors Corp.'s Lansing Car Assembly plant recently closed, local residents gathered at the "Lansing Loves GM" rally at the Capitol on Tuesday night. Events coordinator Anita Epolito said the purpose of the rally is to recognize everything GM has done for the city. "Instead of kicking them while they might be down, we are saying thanks for contributing to the Lansing economy," Epolito said. State Sen.

MICHIGAN

Income tax for residents only rumor

Darrell Hughes
May 26, 2005

The East Lansing officials' decision to spend $50,000 for a financial analyst led some to assume that East Lansing's transient residents - such as students - would soon pay city income taxes, but city officials said it's just speculation. East Lansing's City Council agreed to have a third party analyze the way officials handle money and to see if other sources of income are available for the city.

MICHIGAN

House approves bill on abortion

The Michigan House of Representatives approved a bill Tuesday that could make it mandatory for clinics to offer to perform ultrasounds on women contemplating abortion. However, the bill doesn't require women to view the active ultrasound screen or any images taken. The bill was created in hopes that the women contemplating abortion would be fully educated before the procedure and possibly choose to keep the child, said state Rep.

MICHIGAN

Rally of 600 protests for affirmative action

Mara Deutch
May 26, 2005

Lansing - More than 600 people from all over Michigan, chanted "They say Jim Crow, we say hell no" as they marched toward the Capitol on Wednesday protesting against the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, or MCRI. Included in the protesters were students such as 15-year-old Anthony Bluford, from Cass Technical High School in Detroit, who said the initiative that might affect affirmative action could take away their future opportunities. "Because of affirmative action, that's going to determine my future because I want to go to college someday," Bluford said. The proposal aims to put a choice on the November 2006 state ballot to prevent public colleges and universities, as well as state government, from hiring or accepting students based on characteristics such as race, sex or ethnicity.

MICHIGAN

Civil Rights Initiative to be protested

Mara Deutch
May 24, 2005

Ten buses carrying Detroit high school students will head to the Capitol on Wednesday to rally against a proposal to end preference-based treatment in university admissions and hiring that might end up on next year's ballot. The proposal, called the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, or MCRI, would amend the state Constitution to prevent public universities and state government from "discriminating or granting preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin." A national group - the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration & Immigration Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary, or BAMN - which helped organize the rally, filed a legal brief with the Michigan Board of Canvassers last month against MCRI, saying MCRI petition circulators deceived those petitioned to sign their proposal. "This is a distinct case, a campaign to deceive the public, and for that reason it should not go forward," said Donna Stern, national coordinator of BAMN. Wednesday's rally at the Capitol will be followed by a public hearing to collect more information from those who say they were lied to by petitioners. Stern said BAMN wants the Michigan Board of Canvassers to force MCRI to redo their petition. BAMN took a statistical sample of 500 people who signed the MCRI petition were able to reach 300 of them, Stern said.

MICHIGAN

Mich. Week celebrates state history

Daniel Thai
May 24, 2005

To help people appreciate the history and heritage of the state, Michigan Week was established in 1954 by Don Weeks and is still celebrated today. It is now run by Michigan's Department of History, Arts and Libraries, or HAL. "It started with the concept of taking a week to look at Michigan," said Jim Schultz, who works with the Michigan Humanities Council to coordinate the different events of Michigan Week.

MICHIGAN

Tomorrow's Political Leaders gather to construct house for Habitat for Humanity

By Kristen Creager Special for The State News Lansing - On Saturday, a group of 30 aspiring politicians dug, hammered and hauled - getting dirty on their way up the political ladder. Members of the group Tomorrow's Political Leaders were building a Habitat for Humanity home as part of a volunteer project. Tomorrow's Political Leaders includes students and recent graduates of Michigan colleges who want to get involved in politics. The group participates in a two-week program at MSU that helps young people learn about becoming part of the political world. "I always wanted to run for office, but I didn't know how," said Catherine Fontana, a sophomore at Albion College and member of the group.

MICHIGAN

Police embark on 2-week seat-belt vigilance campaign

Jason Worthy
May 23, 2005

This summer, there will be more police officers in more locations looking to enforce Michigan's seat belt law. Today, the East Lansing Police Department is kicking off a statewide effort to maintain Michigan's safety belt use in 53 counties, including Ingham County. Enforcement zones on and off campus will be clearly marked with signs along with several officers in those zones making sure motorists are wearing their seat belts. Through June 5, area police will be out to enforce the Click It or Ticket campaign.

MICHIGAN

Art festival boosts E.L. business

Darrell Hughes
May 23, 2005

East Lansing businesses in the downtown district say every year they see profits increase during the weekend of the East Lansing Art Festival - and this year was no exception. The festival took place between M.A.C.

MICHIGAN

Children receive free bike helmets in local campaign

By Jennifer Dodyk Special for The State News Lansing - Seven-year-old Rahjae Flowers-Taylor was excited to try on his first bicycle helmet on Saturday. "If I fall, I won't hurt my head," he said. His mother, Nicole Flowers, 33, brought Rahjae and his two siblings to the Helmet Safety Campaign at Pleasant View Elementary School in Lansing, where the children were outfitted in free helmets. "I've been wanting to get them (a helmet), but I couldn't get them one because I didn't have the money," Flowers, of Lansing, said.

MICHIGAN

E.L. funds budget analysis

Darrell Hughes
May 23, 2005

East Lansing officials decided last week to allocate $50,000 from the city's reserve account to pay for a financial analyst to examine the city's financial structure. The city will pay for several studies to be administered by an analyst in order to determine if changes should be made to the way city officials determine the structure of the budget, council members said. "The council felt it would be a good idea to look more in depth into the economical structure and the budget of the city," said East Lansing Finance Director Mary Haskell, who came into the position Friday after Gary Murphy's retirement. But Councilmember Victor Loomis said what the study will be about has not been completely determined and that the idea to hire a financial analyst came from a budget planning session in December, not from recent budget cuts. Loomis said the purpose of hiring the analyst is because the council needs to see if there are any structural issues involved with determining the budget. City Manager Ted Staton said the study should be ready to be conducted by August or September. "I think we'll spend the summer figuring out what questions we want the research to answer," Staton said. Haskell said the study could be used to find alternative resources of revenue, because the city is experiencing cuts in state funding. East Lansing receives funding from the state in the form of shared revenue which has been reduced and has caused several budget cuts throughout the city. The $50,000 was decided by council members to be allocated from the city's reserve account.