Monday, September 30, 2024

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

News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

Smith accepts invitation to speak at fraternity

Shawn Smith
October 25, 2004

Between practice sessions on Sunday, head football coach John L. Smith discussed his leadership philosophy and the current state of the team with students and alumni at the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity house. Since taking the helm of a wavering Spartans program in 2003, he said his biggest challenge has been altering the players' dispositions. "We're in the process of changing attitudes by changing expectations that we have for our guys," Smith said, adding that the "no class, no play" standard has been new concept for some players. "We are a very blue-collar program," he said.

MICHIGAN

E.L. parking ticket effects still unclear

Lauren Phillips
October 25, 2004

A month after East Lansing parking fines were increased, city officials say it is too early to tell if the change is paying off. East Lansing officials increased the rates in September to free meter spaces and cover parking department costs. The increases range from $5 to $25, depending on the violation.

MICHIGAN

Researchers decode first tree genome

Last year, the complete network of DNA in humans was decoded. Just last month, that same genetic sequence - also known as a genome - was revealed for the first time in a species of tree. The Black Cottonwood tree, commonly known as the poplar, was selected as a model species for the project partly due to its relatively small genome size, forestry Associate Professor Kyung-Hwan Han said. Understanding the genome information for the poplar tree will help tree biologists learn more about its growth cycles, Han said. He said he participated in the project as part of the International Populus Genome Consortium, a group of international scientists and researchers that work to map out genetic codes. The majority of the work in sequencing the DNA was done by the U.S.

MICHIGAN

Rental housing ban expired, owners able to rent homes

Kris Turner
October 22, 2004

The city is once again fair game for developers and homeowners looking to rent their properties, after a city-wide moratorium banning new rental housing expired Tuesday at midnight. Plans to renew the ban are not in the works, city officials said. "It was in place several months longer than it ideally should have been," said Vic Loomis, a member of the East Lansing City Council. Although the moratorium has been lifted, it continues in neighborhoods that submitted petitions to create "overlay districts" under an ordinance passed in April whereby new rental properties could not be added. To create a district, neighborhoods need a two-thirds majority of signatures from homeowners included in the area.

MICHIGAN

Flu vaccines reserved for Congress despite shortages

Dave Salisbury  and  Shawn Smith
October 22, 2004

National lawmakers are being encouraged to get flu shots despite vaccine shortages, but the recommendation hasn't been extended to state government officials. Capitol physician Dr. John Eisold recommended the 535 Congressional members be vaccinated because they frequently come into contact with children and older people, and could spread, as well as catch, the flu. Rep.

MICHIGAN

Murder suspect held on bond

Dave Salisbury
October 21, 2004

An 18-year-old Lansing man accused of holding a Red Robin employee hostage and firing eight shots in the Delta Township restaurant faces 16 charges and the possibility of life in prison, according to the Eaton County Prosecutor. Levon Tarele Pate was pulled over by the Michigan State Police fugitive team on Sunday because he was wanted for questioning in the double homicide of two Lansing-area women, Eaton County Sheriff Rick Jones said. Cousins Elizabeth "Betsy" Lowe, 24, and Brandy Lowe, 21, were found shot the morning of Oct.

MICHIGAN

Signs push for Bush

Shawn Smith
October 21, 2004

Lansing - Billboards touting Bush-friendly messages have caught the attention of some residents, but many say the advertisements aren't likely to affect their votes. "People vote their political party, not their political mind," said Rae Herig, president of the House of Car Stereo, 5101 S.

MICHIGAN

E.L. votes recovered

Dave Salisbury
October 21, 2004

Ballots for 253 East Lansing absentee votes were lost in the mail after a post office mix-up prevented them from being delivered to voters this month. City officials took the ballots to the East Lansing Post Office on Oct.

MICHIGAN

CATA to give free rides to voters on Nov. 2

Lauren Phillips
October 20, 2004

The Capital Area Transportation Authority is offering free rides to the polls for voters who show valid voter registration cards on Election Day. Debbie Alexander, assistant executive director for CATA, said the program has been underway since the late 1980s.

MICHIGAN

'U' Extension works to inform E.L. of seasonal insects

Four home-invading insects could make their presence known in East Lansing this fall by infiltrating homes in search of a warm place to live. In addition to the multicolored Asian lady beetle - an invasive species that migrated from northeastern Asia - boxelder bugs, cluster flies and leaf-footed pine seed bugs are among the warmth-seeking pests, said Howard Russell, an entomologist with MSU Diagnostics Services. The insects usually surface on the first warm day following the first cold day of the year, Russell said, adding that the area has already experienced that first cold day. "We haven't seen large numbers yet, so I think that's a very good sign," he said.

MICHIGAN

Council meeting to address rental housing

Three more East Lansing communities will address the East Lansing City Council tonight, in hopes of stopping rental housing from being established in their neighborhoods. Through an ordinance approved by the council in April, residents have the power to create "overlay districts" through petitions, which would prohibit future rental housing or restrict those that exist.

MICHIGAN

7-Eleven shooting trial goes to court

The murder trial of two men accused of killing Joseph Lavon Parker outside an East Lansing 7-Eleven begins today. Eric Charles Gordy, 35, and Hatarie Deamont McCorkle, 29, both of Detroit, allegedly shot Parker at the 7-Eleven at 210 E.

MICHIGAN

Officer arrested on three felony counts

Lansing police Detective Darren Duso was arraigned on three felony charges Sunday morning, according to the Ingham County Sheriff's Department. Duso, a 42-year-old Mason resident, was arrested Saturday afternoon for stealing prescription drugs from a Dansville residence, Ingham County Sgt.

MICHIGAN

Word on the street

"Most people already have their minds made up. Even with the three debates, people had their minds made up weeks or months ago.