A report released Tuesday by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs reports that, although crime rates in general are declining, violence against lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender people are still on the rise. Both nationally and in Michigan, the number of anti-LBGT crimes increased by 4 percent in 2004.
A $90,000 parking agreement between the city of East Lansing and MSU might be approved at tonight's City Council meeting. About 100 MSU faculty and staff could be displaced into East Lansing's parking system while a parking ramp to be located near Morrill Hall is constructed. "At peak times, we are at about 59 percent capacity," said Dan O'Connor, East Lansing's parking administrator.
For Jewish students participating in Passover this week, the Hillel Jewish Student Center, 360 Charles St., is offering lunch and dinner every day during the eight- day celebration. "It is difficult for students who do observe it, while living in dorms or on campus, since there are such strict dietary rules," said Jennifer Bloom, president of the Jewish Student Union.
The 36th Annual WalkAmerica event will be held at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the Louis F. Adado Riverfront Park in Lansing. The walk is held by the Lansing Division of the March of Dimes and is intended to raise money for babies who are born premature. Opportunities at the event include a canine competition, in which dogs are judged as walkers cross the finish line, a spirit station with refreshments and a family fun area. To register or for more information, visit www.walkamerica.org or call (800) 525-WALK.
East Lansing's Youth Action Team and Prime Time Seniors' Program are hosting the Vegetable Soup Variety Show from 6 p.m.
The Lansing Area Safety Council, 3315 S. Pennsylvania Ave. in Lansing, is offering the National Safety Council Defensive Driving Course from 6 p.m.
By Lindsey Poisson Special for The State News After weather conditions forced a community landscaping event to be postponed Saturday, East Lansing's Community Relations Coalition still went ahead with a field day inside Bailey Community Center. Liza Walter, 7, sat eating pizza with her mother after spending close to an hour riding a tricycle, coloring a large paper banner and watching a magician do card tricks. "My favorite thing was drawing on the poster," Liza Walter said.
In Las Vegas, citizens can vote two weeks before Election Day in a shopping mall, and in Iowa, voters can cast a ballot 40 days early in a grocery store.
Kim Snook's Haslett High School biology class couldn't believe the things they saw pulled out of the Grand River or found along the banks on Saturday - bicycles in good condition, a large trunk, a bone and a coat. Snook brought her class to the Adopt A River program to clean up the river and its banks and trails. She said the event tied in perfectly with Earth Day on April 22 and a recent class unit on humans' impact on the environment. "I think they see the effects down here more than in the school," Snook said. About 300 people braved dropping temperatures and sleet to participate in the cleanup, which is in its 11th year, Adopt A River coordinator Jennifer Rostar said. "It's amazing that people were willing to come out even with the bad weather," Rostar said, as she watched the shivering volunteers attempt to get warm under the Shiawassee Street bridge. The event was held one day after Earth Day and about a week before Arbor Day on April 29.
Although the unexpected snowfall left many people shivering this weekend, on the roads and in the fields there were few problems, police said. The almost 3 inches of snow that covered the Lansing area this weekend was not a local record, said Walt Felver, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Grand Rapids branch. That record is held with 11 inches of snow on May 9, 1923, Felver said. About 2.9 inches of snow accumulated in the area as of Sunday evening since Saturday, Felver said.
After her son died on his 21st birthday in 1998 from alcohol poisoning, Cynthia McCue sent birthday cards to her son Bradley's friends as they turned 21. "It was very difficult for them," she said.
With the same frozen slush machines, store setup and paint scheme, the 24/7 convenience store, 210 Michigan Ave., remains very similar to 7-Eleven, the store it took over. Ami Bhatt, manager of the new store, said this is partly because it only has been open for a couple of weeks, since April 5.
Editor's note: This is the fifth in a five-part series to reintroduce the people who run East Lansing.
The Lansing Recycling Transfer Station, 530 E. South St., will accept computers and other electronics to recycle from 8 a.m.
Saturday is Earth Super Saturday at the Impression 5 Science Center, 200 Museum Drive in Lansing. Projects developed by students at the Museum Studies Program will be delivered from 11 a.m.
Editor's note: This is the fourth in a five-part series to reintroduce the people who run East Lansing.
Every day, Max Baisel said he works with people who can't afford to pay for basic health and dental care. As a program counselor for the Ingham County Health Department mobile health unit, Baisel addressed a small crowd at the foot of the Capitol's steps on Wednesday during a rally to address disparities in the nation's health-care system. Medical students and health-care professionals spoke at the event, sponsored by the American Medical Student Association at the MSU College of Human Medicine.
"It's terrifying. It's the worst experience. I am renting from a slum lord right now.
Editor's note: This is the third in a five-part series to reintroduce the people who run East Lansing.
The familiar food guide pyramid that graced cafeteria walls, cereal boxes and doctors' offices has been replaced. The U.S.