MICHIGAN
'Prisoners' raise $2,500
At 11 a.m. Friday morning, a loud knock came at the door of the Delta Upsilon fraternity house.
MICHIGAN
2nd MIP could mean jail time
Some state officials say it's time to get tough on underage drinking. State lawmakers have introduced a bill that would allow the courts to sentence repeat offenders of minor in possession for up to 30 days in jail. "There are minors who know that there is no jail time for a second offender, so they continue to break the law," said Sen.
MICHIGAN
Clinic offers tax services
Late last fall, East Lansing resident Chris Galey was doing yardwork when he was approached by someone interested in purchasing his house. Galey knew he had some tax trouble, but he didn't know how bad it was. That day, Galey found his house was in foreclosure and his financial situation in dire need of help, which he couldn't afford.
MICHIGAN
Web site receives orders, posts E.L. restaurant menus
One late night two years ago, a hungry Jonathan Dodge and a friend mulled over the inconvenience of calling a restaurant and inquiring about prices and specials - all while the Internet's speedy connections languished nearby. "We discovered an idea - how convenient it would be to browse menus and order online," the advertising senior said. Dodge gazed at his computer screen and devised a simple business plan: An online ordering service for hungry Web surfers. On Monday, Dodge and business partner Chris McAleenan launched www.simpledine.com, a Web site offering online food-ordering services for the MSU community. With a click of a mouse, ravenous computer users can skim through the Web site's selection of close to 20 East Lansing restaurants and place an electronic order. MSU's burgeoning Web surfing population made the area the "perfect market" for such a business venture, Dodge said. "The Internet is the quickest way to do things," he said.
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Children's art helps fill stomachs
More than 100 children, parents, teachers and MSU students gathered at a Lansing elementary school on Wednesday, serving and sipping soup from handmade bowls. Elementary students at the art-focused school crafted and decorated ceramic bowls for Pleasant View Elementary School's third annual Empty Bowls fundraising dinner.
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Rummage sale mixes clothing with memories
With a heavy load of sweaters, blouses and pants slung over her arm, Lori Hornbeck shuffles around the first floor of the Hannah Community Center, ducking in and out of adjacent rooms. The Lansing resident was one of a dozen shoppers at the Classy Used Clothing Sale on Wednesday afternoon.
MICHIGAN
Walk to raise funds for local families' bills
Capital Area Community Service is hosting its 14th annual Walk For Warmth on Saturday. Money raised will help pay the utility bills of low-income Lansing and East Lansing families.
MICHIGAN
Competition, rent threaten life of popular deli
More than five years ago, Vinnie Bartalone set his sights on buying and improving a popular East Lansing eatery. Now, the owner of Sidestreets Deli, 605 E.
MICHIGAN
Athletic club to offer self-defense classes
A one-day Women's Safety & Self Defense Seminar will be hosted by The Michigan Athletic Club from 2 p.m.
MICHIGAN
House passes amendment
A state House committee passed a resolution Tuesday that aims to amend the Michigan Constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman. The resolution, introduced by Rep.
MICHIGAN
E.L. seniors group holds clothing sale
The Prime Time Seniors Program is hosting a used clothing sale at the Hannah Community Center this week. The Classy Used Clothing Sale will take place today through Friday from 9 a.m.
MICHIGAN
2 local Democrats might vie for Rogers' seat in Congress
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, could see some Democratic competition for his district seat.
MICHIGAN
Cigarette tax could spur Web purchases
If Gov. Jennifer Granholm's proposal to raise Michigan's Cigarette Tax by 75 cents passes through the state Legislature, Rose Schepis might join several of her co-workers in ordering smokes at a discount price via the Internet. Purchasing several packs of cigarettes at Campbell's Smoke Shop, 207 M.A.C.
MICHIGAN
Housemom pre-trial set
Hearings are set to begin this week for an East Lansing woman accused of embezzling from an MSU sorority. Nancy Olsen, 53, is scheduled to appear at 1 p.m.
MICHIGAN
Amtrak considers changes to train routes
Local travelers hoping to hop a train bound for Canada this spring might face a longer trip. Amtrak is negotiating with the Michigan Department of Transportation to discontinue the Toronto connection of its international route - which includes stops in East Lansing and eight other cities - and restore a long-defunct line. If a deal is made with the department, the railway service - dubbed Blue Water and not used since the early 1980s - will depart from Port Huron daily beginning April 26. Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said, although a contract might not be signed until the end of the month, change was prompted by declining ridership on the Toronto-to-Chicago route in recent years.
MICHIGAN
College pad turned into 'Wild Goose'
The quaint house on the corner of Albert Avenue and Division Street used to be where Al Bay, president of the rowing team in the '70s, lived with his teammates.
MICHIGAN
E.L. to discuss housing inspections
The East Lansing City Council will discuss the necessity of all-trade inspections for rental houses and apartments in the city at its work session tonight. Under city rules, each rental home is given an all-trade inspection every ten years, no matter the condition of the house. The extensive inspections, which bring in plumbing, building, mechanical, electrical and fire inspectors to check the safety and efficiency of the house, are billed to the building's owner - often at a costly price. "Most of the houses are in good shape, and I can't personally see why we should put an expense on a landlord that has good inspections every year," Councilmember Bill Sharp said. Sharp estimated that an all-trade inspection could cost up to $3,000. With the proposed changes, all-trade inspections only would be administered under certain conditions.
MICHIGAN
Rock of ages
As a first-time shopper at Elderly Instruments in Lansing, you might think you've come across a musician's Mecca. From one side of the main showroom comes a full-out assault of Sunburst Fender Telecasters.
MICHIGAN
Health experts wary of drug club
Relatively high prices for prescription drugs in Michigan have left some residents and legislators seeking cost-saving alternatives. Buying pharmaceuticals from Canada, which traditionally has provided lower prices, is becoming a popular but controversial method for Michiganians to buy their medications.
MICHIGAN
Hot 'N Now to open in E.L. in May
Following a lengthy development period, Hot 'N Now Burgers is expected to open its East Lansing store some time in May. Building permits for the East Lansing Hot 'N Now, 403 E.