Friday, December 26, 2025

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

News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

Council to discuss E.L. projects

The East Lansing City Council will meet Tuesday and is expected to decide on several housing and retail developmental projects for the city. One major decision involves choosing the lead developer of the redevelopment of the East Village area, in which several apartment complexes, rental homes and businesses in and around Cedar Village will be torn down within a few years and replaced with new businesses, student housing, condominiums and parks. The lead developer is expected to have complete control of the project, with some exceptions that the council will outline at upcoming meetings. At the council's first meeting of the month on May 3, council members approved parking agreements for some MSU faculty and staff members, discussed the 2005-06 city budget and honored East Lansing's finance director of 27 years, who is retiring Friday. MSU has begun construction on a parking ramp near Morrill Hall, which has caused some faculty and staff members to be left without parking.

MICHIGAN

Fire deaths at other colleges lead to local officials' concern

Fire-related deaths at other major universities across the country have some East Lansing officials worried about the safety of students residing in area rental homes and apartments. Three students living in a home off the campus of Ohio's Miami University were killed when a smoking device ignited a couch on April 10. Similarly, one student was killed in a fire at College State Borough, home of Penn State, on Sunday. Several measures to keep smoke alarms working and homes free from fire hazards are in place, said Annette Irwin, East Lansing's operations administrator for Code Enforcement and Neighborhood Conservation. "On some of the larger houses, stairways need to be clear of debris and window wells need to be cleared out," she said.

MICHIGAN

Menus offer healthier food

By Krista Reaves Special for The State News Many East Lansing area restaurants are following the nationwide trend of adding healthier selections to their menus, and students are taking advantage of these low-carbohydrate, low-calorie and low-fat options. Norman Hord, an associate professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, said the offering of healthier choices at restaurants is "a step in the right direction." He suggested trying local restaurants that serve Mediterranean foods such as Woody's Oasis or any Chinese, Japanese or Korean restaurants. Woody's Oasis Bar and Grill, 211 E.

MICHIGAN

Bikers urge motorist awareness during riding season

The ice has melted, the grass is green and Michigan's motorcyclists are revving up and riding their bikes out of hibernation. More than 30 motorcyclists and about 20 other Michigan residents gathered behind the Capitol on Thursday to celebrate May as "Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month." Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land and some of the state's top trainers spoke about the importance of all drivers working together to keep each other safe.

MICHIGAN

Americans skydive to raise awareness about assault

Some people run marathons or sell pizzas to raise money for a good cause, but prenursing freshman Rene Rodriguez seized the chance to jump out of a plane. Rodriguez is participating in Operation Freefall, a national program to raise awareness about sexual assault. The program raises money for two national organizations created to raise awareness about sexual assaults: Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network and Speaking Out About Rape. "Sexual assault is one of the most common things that goes unreported," Rodriguez said. Without clear awareness and resources out there, sexual assault victims will not get the help they need, she said. More than 250 people across the nation will be jumping out of planes for Operation Freefall on Saturday, said Kellie Greene, the founder of Speaking Out About Rape. She said she came up with the event as a way to reclaim a day that had become marked by her own tragedy. It falls on the anniversary of the day she was raped and it takes something extreme like skydiving to counteract the consequences, she said. "It's no longer the day I was raped, it's the day I went skydiving," Greene said. Issues surrounding sexual assault need attention and a bold statement is made by skydiving, Greene said. "When people are throwing themselves out of a perfectly good airplane, people are going to take notice and say 'Wow they must really believe in what they're doing,'" she said. Even though she is afraid of heights, Rodriguez said she wanted to do something to help. She heard about the event through Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention, an MSU sexual assault awareness group, and decided to create a Web site asking her friends and family for help in raising money, she said.

MICHIGAN

Lansing to teach use of voting equipment

The city of Lansing will hold an election simulation from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Friday at Lansing City Clerk's election unit, 809 Center St., for voters to familiarize themselves with new voting equipment. Voters can get their questions answered on the new voting equipment before upcoming elections.

MICHIGAN

City ends its burning ban after recent rain

An East Lansing burning ban was lifted Tuesday because of recent rains and snows in the area. The fire department issued a ban of all fires on March 24 and extended the ban mid-April because of unseasonably dry weather this spring. All permit holders are allowed to burn recreationally in East Lansing.