A national campaign aimed at stopping discrimination against individuals in the workplace who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender launched its commercials in Lansing last week. TurnOut.org, which is run by The Gill Foundation, started airing six commercials that feature people who are gay or lesbian, talking about how they are about to reveal their sexual orientation to their employer.
According to a MSU Institute for Public Policy and Social Research survey, 42 percent of likely Michigan voters favor Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry while incumbent Republican current President Bush is favored by 40 percent of voters.
East Lansing added more than 500 people to its population during the past year, making it Michigan's fourth-fastest growing city. According to the U.S.
Grand Rapids - The 11th Annual Grand Rapids African-American Festival displayed a blend of traditional African culture and contemporary hip-hop style this weekend with craft vendors selling everything from handmade African dolls to airbrushed T-shirts. About 20,000 people attended the event, according to festival organizers.
As part of Turner-Dodge House's "Meet Your City" program, MSU Associate Professor Lisa Fine will be presenting her new book "The Story of Reo Joe; Work, Kin and Community in Autotown, USA," noon, July 1 at The Turner-dodge House, 100 E.
Lansing - The State House brought Michigan one step closer to resolving the current fiscal year's $250 million deficit and balancing next year's budget by concurring Wednesday with a Senate version of a bill to raise the cigarette tax. State representatives approved the measure 55-52, but sent it back to the Senate with an amendment calling for half of the $3 million designated for smoking prevention to be applied toward programs aimed at helping smokers quit. "We have the potential to help 323,000 people quit in Michigan.
After returning Tuesday from a three-day trip to Iraq, U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, said Iraqis' attitudes are changing for the better and they don't want Americans to leave yet. Rogers, a former FBI agent and Army officer, traveled around the country with three other congressmen to review the progress toward Iraqi independence and developing greater security.
The defense attorneys for the two men charged with murder in connection to the Feb. 29 shooting in front of an East Lansing 7-Eleven withdrew from their case Wednesday. Hugh Clarke and David Feinberg, who were representing Hatarie Deamont McCorkle and Eric Charles Gordy, respectively, both cited a "breakdown in the relationships with their clients." Both McCorkle and Gordy were present at the Veterans Memorial Ingham Circuit Court in Lansing, and, standing in front of Judge Thomas Brown in their prison jumpsuits, acknowledged they would each need court-appointed attorneys to further their legal proceedings. Gordy, 35, and McCorkle, 29, both of Detroit, allegedly shot and killed Lansing resident Joseph Lavon Parker, 34, and allegedly attempted to kill Lansing resident George Edward Whitfield.
Lansing - Lansing officials are hoping a new ordinance will woo minority and women business owners to the city, but company leaders are unsure as to how much the measure will help to promote diversity. The Lansing City Council unanimously approved the Diversity Procurement Ordinance and its resolution Monday night, which will increase the city's spending on business contracts and supplies with women- and minority- owned businesses in Lansing. Councilmembers, Larry Meyer and Randy Williams were not present at the meeting. The council organized the Ad Hoc Committee on Supplier Diversity in response to several inquiries made by the Lansing branch's National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, as well as inquiries from local women- and minority-owned businesses. The city's business contracts and supply bids range from restaurant catering at important events to paper towel suppliers in the city hall bathrooms, committee Chairwoman Carol Wood said. "We're making every attempt possible to encourage women and minorities to bid on city contracts and supplies," Wood said.
Lansing - More than 30 people either testified or submitted an opinion card Tuesday at the Commerce and Labor Senate Committee's public testimony on the proposed ban on smoking in public restaurants.
The 7th annual Bob's 5K Run/Walk will take place at 8 a.m. Sunday in downtown East Lansing. The event, which will benefit the Listening Ear Crisis Center, will start at the corner of Albert Avenue between Charles and Division streets. Entry fee is $15 before the race, and $20 the day of.
A recent report issued by the U.S. Sailing Association shows a considerable decline in participation in sailing. The report detailed statistics showing 100,000 fewer sailors have enjoyed the sport every year since 1992. In response, the national governing body of sailing in the United States is aiming to restructure itself in order to promote further involvement by the public. However, the current decline in the public's interest in the sport does not especially concern MSU Sailing Center Director Ken Warshaw. "The national decline in recreational sailing is due to the emphasis placed on racing," said Warshaw, who has been with the center since 1997.
The fear of germs and worrying about safety is quite normal, but when fears and worries begin to interfere with professional, social and personal relationships, OCD Support Group of Lansing officials say people might have a condition called Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
Impression 5 Science Center in Lansing will host "Animal Super Saturday" this weekend. The event is part of their "Super Saturday"-themed events. "The Animal Super Saturday" exhibit will be open from 11 a.m.
Traffic will be restricted on Grand River Avenue from High Street to Pennsylvania Avenue for about two months. The City of Lansing Department of Planning and Neighborhood Development said the closure is required to accommodate sewer separation and road construction due to Lansing's Combined Sewer Overflow Separation Project. Businesses adjacent to the closed area still will maintain local access.
East Lansing was awarded a $24,500 grant from the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth Energy Office to help fund a new biodiesel refueling storage tank. The new biodiesel fuel, which is a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel, is an alternative fuel made from renewable resources such as soybeans.
With the fate of this year's $250 million deficit and next year's state budget on the line, lawmakers still are struggling to reach an agreement on Gov.
A U.S. Supreme Court decision that came down Monday upheld a Nevada judgment, stating individuals who refuse to give their names to police can be arrested, even if they have done nothing wrong. Michigan was not one of about 20 states with similar statutes to the Nevada one that sparked the 5-4 Supreme Court decision, but local officials say although they now have the right to carry out the court's policy, students still have nothing to worry about.
Due to a sanity sewer failure, Service Road located on MSU campus between South Harrison Avenue and Farm Lane is closed for two weeks.
The expansion of an existing apartment complex has many city residents concerned that a new development will bring traffic congestion, flooding and too many people to an area they say is already overly crowded. "There's already enough apartments surrounding our little neighborhood and now they want to add more," East Lansing resident Ann Chick said. Hollander Development Corporation submitted an application in April to expand the existing Deerpath Apartment Complex, near Haslett Road in East Lansing.