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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

Past protests discussed

Alessa Thomas
April 26, 2004

On Saturday, former Vietnam War and civil rights protesters, administrators and police officers gathered to talk about their experiences with previous social unrest at MSU. The East Lansing Historical Society sponsored the event, which drew community members of all ages to the Hannah Community Center to relive the era. Tom Wibert, East Lansing police deputy chief and member of the Historical Society, put together the event on civil disobedience.

MICHIGAN

Term limits impact House

More than one-third of Michigan's state representatives will not have the opportunity to run for re-election this fall, as term limits on legislators take effect for the first time since voters approved them in 1992. The limits, which took effect in 1998, restrict state representatives from serving more than three two-year terms in office. This year, 37 of the state's 110 House members will not be eligible for re-election.

MICHIGAN

New laws penalize water polluters

Lansing - Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed two bills during Thursday's Earth Day celebration at the Capitol that will charge Michigan's polluters for dumping industrial and toxic wastes into the state's waterways. The laws require dumpers to pay one-time or annual fees for the unloading of wastes into Michigan's rivers, lakes and groundwater. One of the laws requires municipal dumpers to pay a minimum of $400 annually for surface water dumping in small communities and up to more than $200,000 in larger cities, such as Detroit.

MICHIGAN

'U' student shares story of assault during gay-rights rally

Agnes Soriano
April 23, 2004

Kalamazoo - Everyone at the rally seemed anxious to converse since they had been wordless all day for the National Day of Silence. Participants had been silent to symbolize the silence the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community feel they must overcome in society. But the crowd at the Wesley Foundation building on Western Michigan University's campus Wednesday night remained quiet for MSU political theory and constitutional democracy junior Nathan Triplett.

MICHIGAN

Melrose to combat identity theft with management changes

Joseph Clark
April 22, 2004

Melrose Apartments have undergone some management changes in response to allegations that an employee there used tenants' personal information to steal more than $100,000. Residents of the complex, 16789 Chandler Road, soon will be receiving a newsletter with tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft and the company no longer will accept credit cards as a form of payment, a Melrose spokesman said Wednesday. "The complex is no longer gathering that information so it couldn't be stolen," said Robert Kolt, spokesperson for Atlantis Campus Communities IV, the company that manages Melrose. Additionally, Kolt said, all the files with residents' personal information will be under lock and key.

MICHIGAN

Meeting focuses on budget

Jaclyn Roeschke
April 22, 2004

About 40 people attended an East Lansing City Council meeting and public hearing regarding the city budget Tuesday. Though the meeting was held on campus at the Union's Gold Rooms A and B and allowed for public discussion of the coming year's budget, no MSU students were on hand to address the council during the public comment time. During the meeting, the city's Human Relations Commission presented the council with recommendations for allotting the city's general fund money that comes from taxpayers. Although cuts in city projects were suggested in order to balance the city budget, the commission did not recommend an increase in property taxes. Due to an expected 2005 state budget deficit of $1.3 billion, local governments have received less funding.

MICHIGAN

ASMSU officials attend House Appropriations meeting

Lansing - Rifling through a budget lit by sunlight from a side window in the state House Appropriations room, Andrew Bell checked line by line to make sure higher education appropriations hadn't changed. Wednesday morning, Bell, ASMSU's director of legislative affairs, attended the first of four state House higher education subcommittee meetings to determine next year's Michigan college and university funding. "We're going to make sure we're not left out of anything, that nothing slips by us," Bell said.

MICHIGAN

Business as usual for reopened pizza shop

Gumby's Pizza recently reopened after a four-month hiatus, and while its manager says business is better than ever, some former customers aren't returning. The pizza shop closed in December when a water pipe burst in its building, 311 W.

MICHIGAN

Skater's paradise

Matt Wein stands tall in a land of giants. The curly-haired 12-year-old stretches to almost five feet next to his older skatepark friends, but he warns that his skateboard skills are separate from his height. On a recent late afternoon, he waited among the silhouetted crowd for another chance to frontside boardslide the angled rail posing in front of them. Wein skates almost every day with his friends at the Ranney Skate Park, 300 Frandor Ave.

MICHIGAN

Accused murderer of prof set to begin trial

Sarah Mcevilly
April 20, 2004

The man accused of the November killing of an MSU professor will stand trial today, when a judge is expected to decide if he is not guilty by reason of insanity. Bramlett Hamilton, 36, is accused of killing his mother and MSU professor Ruth Simms Hamilton.

MICHIGAN

E.L. City Council meeting to be held on campus

Interested residents and students will have the opportunity to attend the East Lansing City Council meeting tonight in the Union as part of a public hearing to discuss the city's budget. The council is scheduled to discuss next year's budget, which estimates a 2-percent decrease from the last fiscal year, among other topics on the agenda.

MICHIGAN

Strong spring winds hit city

Wind gusts barreled through East Lansing on Sunday night at speeds greater than 40 mph, tearing down tree branches and damaging some residents' belongings. Scott Kramer said he was watching television a little after 9 p.m.

MICHIGAN

Volunteers cut hair to benefit Locks of Love

Sarah Mcevilly
April 19, 2004

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.