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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

Race benefits area food banks

By Jolene Ross Special for The State News Lansing - As soon as the runners finished a 5K race on Saturday at Hawk Island Park, most ran under a pavilion to get dry and warm. Rain and sleet caused some problems for the annual Food & Fitness 5K Run/Walk fund-raising event sponsored by the Lansing Dietetic Association, but the amount of money raised was not affected. As expected by race officials, funds increased, with almost $5,000 raised for Lansing area food banks. "I'm happy with that for this kind of weather," said Gayle Hood, treasurer for the Lansing Dietetic Association.

MICHIGAN

Greeks change party policies for safety

Melissa Domsic
March 21, 2005

Amid new party policies, MSU's greek community is keeping safety issues at the top of its priority list. The Panhellenic Council and the Interfraternity Council changed their policies on one-on-one parties last semester and regularly discuss risk management for open parties, said Lyndsay Dalby, vice president for administration of the Panhellenic Council. One-on-ones are parties with a fraternity and sorority in which only members of the two chapters are allowed to attend, and open parties are open to nonmembers. "Risk management is something that is constantly talked about within the community," Dalby said.

MICHIGAN

E.L. library turns to cultural roots in 4-part series

Emily Sorger
March 21, 2005

With more than 40 cultures represented throughout the East Lansing community, the East Lansing Public Library has set out to educate families about their neighbors. Supported by a grant from the Target Corporation, the library's Community Cultures program is a four-part series of Sunday afternoon presentations featuring food, dance, crafts, costumes and folklore from societies around the world.

MICHIGAN

Minorities underrepresented in state advising positions, study says

Amy Davis
March 18, 2005

Minorities remain underrepresented as top advisors to the nation's governors, according to a new study at the State University of New York at Albany. Findings in "Democracy Unrealized," a report by the Center for Women in Government & Civil Society at the university showed that, in 2004, minorities made up 32 percent of the nation's population, but held just 16 percent of key appointed policy positions in state governments. Nationwide, Chicano and Latino appointees held the lowest share of executive positions, only 4.3 percent, relative to their share of the U.S.

MICHIGAN

Student pulled over for drunken driving

Lauren Phillips
March 18, 2005

An MSU student in his early 20s is being held in the Ingham County Jail after being pulled over Thursday by Ingham County Sheriff's deputies for drunk driving, police officials said. After the student was pulled over, a breath test revealed his blood alcohol level was .23, Ingham County Sheriff Gene Wriggelsworth said. Wriggelsworth was traveling southbound on US 127, when he noticed a blue S10 Chevy pickup, traveling in the same direction, driving "erratically" at about 1 p.m. The student was wearing a green plastic derby hat and had green lips, Wriggelsworth said.

MICHIGAN

Local high school paper censored

Lauren Phillips
March 18, 2005

Distribution of an independent East Lansing High School student newspaper was halted this week after school officials said the student writers did not conform to East Lansing School Board's policies. But students involved in the production of the paper, the Right Way, feel their freedom of speech is being infringed upon. "I thought the school would respect our First Amendment rights, but they didn't," co-editor Tyler Whitney, 16, said.

MICHIGAN

Refugee life relived at event

Melissa Domsic
March 18, 2005

A Liberian refugee woman was terrified when she was confronted by police after leaving her camp to collect fire wood. Although the situation was staged and the gun pointed at her was a toy, she and other women expressed fear as they acted out scenes common to life at a Liberian refugee camp. The skit was part of "The Changing Faces of Lansing: Walking in Their Shoes" a simulated refugee camp event held Thursday evening at The Peoples Church, 200 W.

MICHIGAN

Mich. Supreme Court to rule on beachfront-property case

What started as an argument between two neighbors has blossomed into a Michigan Supreme Court lawsuit that some say will affect the future of the entire state. The court heard opening arguments last week to decide where beachfront owners' properties ends and where public property begins.

MICHIGAN

Chevrolet Blazer highest driver death rate in last 4 years

Yvette Lanier
March 17, 2005

When drivers sit down in their Chevrolet Blazers, they might want to make an extra effort to drive carefully. According to a study released Tuesday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in Arlington, Va., the Blazer had the highest driver death rate from 2000 through 2003 of all vehicles. There were 308 driver deaths for every 1 million registered Blazers on the road built between 1999 and 2002.

MICHIGAN

Courts review security following Ga. shooting

Lauren Phillips
March 17, 2005

Ninety-two weapons - including box cutters, a sharpened broom handle and two guns - were collected in January and February at the entrance to the Lansing City Hall. The City Hall screening has been in place for about five years, said Murray Britton, City Hall conflict security administrator. "The screening is considered a necessary part of what we're doing," Britton said. Lansing 54-A District Court is on the sixth floor of City Hall. Courthouses have been reviewing their security measures after Friday's courthouse shootings in Atlanta, Ga.

MICHIGAN

Week celebrates open government

Melissa Domsic
March 16, 2005

Today marks day four of the nation's first Sunshine Week - a time dedicated to shedding light on the significance of open government for citizens and journalists. "The idea of public access to government information, documents, meetings and knowing how their tax dollars are being spent is a fundamental tenant of democracy," Sunshine Week Coordinator Debra Gersh Hernandez said.

MICHIGAN

Credit card numbers exposed

Katie Rausch
March 16, 2005

Customers of the DSW Shoe Warehouse in Eastwood Towne Center in Lansing Township should be watchful of their credit card activity after the company's recent security breech. Last Tuesday, the company announced that personal information, including credit card numbers, was stolen from its database during the past three months.

MICHIGAN

Word on the street: What are you thoughts about public safety in East Lansing?

"I always see cop cars and fire trucks around, so it's obvious they're out working. There needs to be better security at night though, better lighting and more patrols maybe." Sarah Slama no-preference freshman "I'm a mentor on 6 East Akers and every time I've had to call the police, they've been really helpful - their response time has been really fast. Clark Llanzmzon political science senior "I was here for a few of the riots in the past, and then it seemed to me like the cops were pushing the students to do something.

MICHIGAN

Council to decide fate of E.L. rental properties

Kris Turner
March 15, 2005

The debate about limiting rental housing will deepen today when a request to eliminate new rentals in the Bailey neighborhood goes before the East Lansing City Council. Under an ordinance passed last April, permanent residents have the power to petition the City Council to limit or completely restrict rentals in a designated area. Although this process, and the restrictions it dictates, is nothing new, some are concerned about how the council is using its power to add or remove properties from neighborhoods' rental restriction districts. "When the city created the overlay zones, the expressed intent was to create solidified single family neighborhoods," said Jeff Hudgins, co-owner of Hudgins Realty.