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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

Sparrow officials ink contract with nurses

Negotiations between Sparrow Health System and the Michigan Nurses Association concluded Thursday with the ratification of a new contract. The decision ended the possibility of a strike by the association. Representatives from Sparrow released an official statement Friday and declined to comment further. "This contract represents an investment in Sparrow nurses and other professional associates through fair and competitive wages and benefits, while continuing Sparrow's mission of providing quality, compassionate and accessible health care to our community," the statement said. This agreement gives a contract to almost 1,800 health care professionals - which include nurses, pharmacists and physical therapists - who have been working without one since Oct.

MICHIGAN

Local shelter benefits from angel fund raiser

Lauren Phillips
December 3, 2004

Angels will be popping up all over town as the East Lansing UAW Non-Supervisory employees begin a campaign to benefit a local shelter and advocacy center. The event, on behalf of Child & Family Services, Capital Area and the Angel House project, offers a pin-up angel card to anyone who makes a donation to the Angel House shelter, 4287 Five Oaks Drive in Lansing.

MICHIGAN

Absentee voting bill dismissed in Senate

Elizabeth Piet
December 3, 2004

A bill that would remove restrictions for absentee voting stalled in the Michigan Senate on Wednesday when legislators voted to leave it in a committee. The two-year session is scheduled to end Thursday and bills do not carry over into the new term. The bill, which was introduced by Sen.

MICHIGAN

State police welcome new troopers

Lauren Phillips
December 3, 2004

Pounding out a rhythmic beat with their heavy boots, 89 men and women marched into the Lansing Center's Main Ballroom as Michigan State Police recruits - and left as troopers. Recruits from the 120th Trooper Recruit School graduation were sworn in and received their trooper badges on Thursday, after about five months of intense training.

MICHIGAN

Experts forecast drier winter

Snow enthusiasts might find less of the white powder than usual this winter, experts say. Winter temperatures are expected to be fairly typical, but snowfall is projected to be lighter this season, local and national meteorologists said. Throughout the winter weather season - defined by meteorologists as December through February - a weak El Niño system in the Pacific near the equator is going to lead to drier-than-usual conditions, said David Beachler, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Grand Rapids center. "We're pretty confident that the pattern we've forecasted for this winter is going to pan out," said Beachler, adding that even with the service's projections, nature can still be unpredictable.

MICHIGAN

Evening car accident leaves woman dead

A 34-year-old woman was killed by a police cruiser as she walked in the middle of an U.S. 127 ramp on Tuesday night, Ingham County Sheriff Gene Wriggelsworth said. Tina Marie Potter, who has no known address but has parents living in Ludington, was determined dead on the scene. Deputy Robert McElmurray was on his way to a call in Webberville, and as he exited northbound U.S.

MICHIGAN

Senate delays bill to allow state pipeline veto

Elizabeth Piet
December 1, 2004

The same day Rep. Michael Murphy, D-Lansing, held a town meeting to oppose a proposed gas pipeline running through Lansing, state senators announced they will not consider a related bill this year. Last month, the House passed a bill that would give the state government the power to decide if utility pipelines pass through city property on state-owned property.

MICHIGAN

E.L. council members to review renovations

East Lansing City Council members will get their first look at the semi-renovated East Lansing High School when they meet with the city's Board of Education tonight. The groups also will touch base on mutual concerns, such as snow plowing services, and will discuss the possibility of housing some school buses at a new East Lansing Department of Public Works site. Mayor Mark Meadows said the council is looking forward to touring the new high school during one of its quarterly meetings with the school district. "It was a big issue for the community when they voted to provide the school board with funds to make those changes," Meadows said. Construction on the $55 million project, which began in January 2001, is about 75 percent complete, said Paula Steele, principal at East Lansing High School. New music rooms, two gymnasiums, a 550-seat student union, an inside track and science laboratories are among the completed additions to the building, Steele said. The auditorium is scheduled to be completed in mid-December, and a media center will be finished by August 2005. "Everybody's been really patient," Steele said.

MICHIGAN

ID theft trial moved to undetermined date

Former MSU student Denita Dorsey's circuit court trial was moved to an undetermined date, county court clerks said. The May graduate faces 27 charges for identity theft and fraud of more than $100,000 from earlier this year.

MICHIGAN

IBM program to aid research

Lauren Phillips
November 29, 2004

As a computer sits unused in a dorm room or office, a free program available online can contribute the idle energy to research for cures for diseases such as tuberculosis. IBM has unveiled the World Community Grid, a program designed to cut down on research time and increase cost-effectiveness for the companies who sponsor the projects, IBM spokeswoman Catherine Collins said, adding that anyone with access to the Internet can download the program into their computer. "The more people we get signed up for this, the more research we can get done," Collins said. Collins said because of the amount of computers at a university, MSU is an ideal place to implement the program.