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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

Volunteers cut hair to benefit Locks of Love

Tim Thatcher hasn't cut his hair in seven years, but on Sunday, he decided it was time for a change. The human biology junior had about 10 inches cut, and all of it went to the Locks of Love program. "I had been debating it and thinking about getting it cut," he said, adding that when he heard a Locks of Love event was taking place Sunday, he couldn't resist. All hair donated through the Locks of Love program benefits children under 18 years old with cancer or a medical condition that doesn't allow them to grow hair, and who can't afford a wig.

MICHIGAN

E.L. celebrates Earth Day

Amid an abundance of sunshine and warm breezes, East Lansing business owners and residents gathered to celebrate the city's annual Earth Day jubilee Sunday afternoon.

MICHIGAN

WEB ONLY: Hip-hop acts to be featured at Great Lakes Folk Festival

For the first time in its two-year history, the MSU Museum's Great Lakes Folk Festival will feature performances by hip-hop artists in its three-day lineup. Officials from the festival gathered at Hannah Community Center on Sunday to receive a $15,000 grant that will help fund an initiative called "Rap Music and Hip-Hop Culture," which will showcase the place of hip-hop in today's culture.

MICHIGAN

E.L. deli to close doors after 17 years due to rising costs

The owner of Sidestreets Deli will close his shop for good on Saturday, citing rising rent fees and competition from chain businesses as main factors in his decision. Deli owner Vinnie Bartalone said high rent in the city and rent hikes from landlord Cron Management made it impossible to continue his business at 605 E.

MICHIGAN

Lansing park's future undecided

Lansing city officials, business owners and residents met Wednesday night to discuss future development at Ranney Park, located on Michigan Avenue bordering Frandor Shopping Center. The meeting, held at Foster Community Center, 200 N.

MICHIGAN

Traveling exhibit makes its way to E.L.

A collection of African-American artifacts is on display this weekend in East Lansing, highlighting the harsher aspects of history - from the slave trade to the civil rights movement. The Middle Passage African American traveling exhibit, with more than 250 artifacts dating back centuries, has taken residence in the second floor of the Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbott Road, through Sunday. Above glass displays filled with rusted iron shackles and ragged leather whips, the weary faces of freed slaves stare from the Reconstruction-period tin-type photographs. James Petty and his wife, Mary Anne, the owners of the exhibit, were busy finishing up the final touches on their display Wednesday afternoon - the same display that has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN and Black Entertainment Television. "We want to tell the truth," said Petty, adding that Americans, from the time they first learn about slavery in school, are given a sugarcoated version of African-American history.

MICHIGAN

Judge's decision causes confusion

Officials from the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative have conflicting information relating to the future of its petition drive after an Ingham County Circuit Court judge ruled against the petition's language last month.The organization is petitioning to outlaw race and gender preference practices at state public institutions through a state constitutional amendment.Leonard Schwartz, treasurer for the organization, announced yesterday in the Libertarian Party of Michigan's online newsletter that the petition drive would be suspended indefinitely."After careful consideration of the situation, MCRI decided that continuing the petition drive now would be a waste of time and money," Schwartz said in the statement.

MICHIGAN

Kerry: Bush tax cuts hurt students

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry says the results of the 2004 election will rest heavily on the shoulders of young people.During a brief campus tour, Kerry participated in a 20-minute conference call Tuesday with about 130 student reporters from across the country.Kerry began the call with a few comments about college affordability, stating that over the past three years, college tuition has steadily increased, and more than 220,000 young people have been "priced out of college" this year."As everyone knows, the current administration has made its own fundamental choice, which has been to cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans," he said.

MICHIGAN

WEB ONLY: E.L. library hosts same-sex marriage discussion

On Tuesday evening at the East Lansing Public Library, accounting sophomore Cass Hausserman saved a seat for her aunt as she anxiously waited for a discussion on same-sex marriage to begin. "My aunt gave me a flier about the meeting," she said as more people streamed into the room for the discussion.

MICHIGAN

Job expo attracts crowd

Lansing - As Duane Farris filled out an employment application for Sparrow Health System on Tuesday, he wasn't sure he'd land the job. "Employers have been telling me I might have a hard time because I've already got experience," said Farris, a Lansing resident who recently left his job in the health care industry.

MICHIGAN

City council to discuss new budget, Patriot Act

Members of the East Lansing City Council will get their first opportunity to discuss next year's city budget Tuesday night at their work session. The first draft of the budget, which was delivered to city staff and elected officials at the end of March, estimates a more than 2-percent decrease from last fiscal year's amount. "I think it's going to be just as difficult as it was last year," East Lansing Mayor Pro Tem Sam Singh said.