Medicaid could feel the blow of a $60 million cut if the state House's attempts to save the Michigan Merit Award Scholarship succeed.The Michigan Merit Award program gives $2,500 to students who successfully pass at least four out of the five portions of the Michigan Educational Assessment Program test.
Fifteen people, including 10 students, allegedly involved in the March 28-30 disturbances have now been arraigned in 54-B District Court. More than $40,000 in damage occurred to the city and campus during the weekend MSU bowed out of the NCAA tournament, and university and city officials vowed those who broke the law would be punished to the maximum extent. Twenty-one students were arrested during the disturbances but more arrests are expected as the university works with police departments and the public to find additional information to make further charges. But as university officials suspend students believed to be involved, the American Civil Liberties Union is questioning whether the university is acting responsibly. The university temporarily suspended two students for actions following two MSU basketball games.
The East Lansing City Council will get their first look at the new computer information systems installed in 14 East Lansing police cars at 6 p.m.
An 11-year-old East Lansing girl was killed Friday night when the truck she was riding in ran into a telephone poll on Coolidge Road near Ramblewood Drive, East Lansing police Sgt.
About 25 people stood in a row along the curb on Grand River Avenue Friday in downtown East Lansing, holding signs and protesting the war with Iraq as they hoped for motorists' reactions.
Smallpox vaccinations might contribute to heart disease Michigan Department of Community Health officials advise Michigan health departments and hospitals to suspend smallpox vaccinations clinics. Dr. David Johnson, chief medical executive for the department, said the suspension is due to concerns about smallpox vaccinations leading to heart disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccinated about 25,000 people nationwide, including 375 Michigan residents since February.
MSU police are asking local media to release footage of Sunday's riots in an attempt to punish students involved. Kevin Ragan, news director at WILX, said he wouldn't give police any material without a subpoena, and even then he would only release material which had been broadcasted. "We want to be good citizens," he said.
East Lansing City Manger Ted Staton testified to legislators Thursday in hopes using homeland security funding to restore funding once received from state fire protection grants. Staton told members of the House Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Committee in Lansing the effects of the $470,000 loss in fire grants this year is too much money to cut if places such as East Lansing and MSU are to be adequately protected. "Please resist plans to distribute funds across the board," Staton said.
A case of three MSU students who were assaulted at gunpoint hit the airwaves Wednesday night to aid the search for a suspect.Last night, Crime Stoppers of Mid-Michigan announced the Lansing Police Department is looking for 21-year-old Edward Griffith, who's believed to have affiliations in Lansing and Detroit, but is expected to be in the Lansing area.The assault occurred Feb.
More than just local residents are noticing the work of East Lansing's City Manager Ted Staton.Staton was awarded the Outstanding Service Award from the Michigan Municipal League, a nonprofit association representing more than 500 Michigan cities and villages, for his leadership in actively campaigning to restore funding to local communities."Ted has been an absolute go-to person for us," said Mike Brady, the Michigan Municipal League director of state and federal affairs.
Lansing - Students came from across the state sporting school sweatshirts and banners - all 50 of them. Students Protecting And Representing Education, or SPARE, held a rally at the Capitol on Wednesday to maintain higher education state funding as the state faces a budget crisis with a $1.7 billion deficit. "This is embarrassing," said Jared English, SPARE member and ASMSU director of university and governmental affairs.
After about two months of listening to public comment, reviewing programs and buildings' uses, the East Lansing School Board unanimously approved the districts 2003-04 budget recommendations. The budget prepares for a projected $4.2-million shortfall.
While oil fields in Iraq remain safe, gas prices in Michigan have dropped nearly 16 cents per gallon in the past two weeks.AAA spokesman Jim Rink said war fears have not come forth and have allowed for the decrease in gas prices."Initial fears that the oil fields in Iraq would be sabotaged have not taken place," Rink said.
After weeks of negotiations, Amtrak and the Michigan Department of Transportation have reached a temporary deal allowing the railway to continue operating its two state-funded train lines for at least the next three months.Amtrak officials and department representatives settled the deal in a conference call Monday, with both sides agreeing to a three-month contract setting Amtrak's funding level at $1.425 million through July 1.Department spokeswoman Stephanie Litaker said the deal provides the Legislature more time to pass a bill lifting a $5.7-million cap in state funding Amtrak annually receives, while still securing Michigan's passenger rail service."This deal is somewhere in between," Litaker said.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm joined U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, and Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick in Detroit on Monday to ask Congress for more money to better prepare Michigan for threats to homeland security.Stabenow spokesman Dave Lemmon said Michigan's location on the U.S.-Canadian border, along with other factors, require more money than local governments can afford, especially with the state's budget crisis."Whether it's money for additional training or additional equipment, local and state governments need the assistance for homeland security," he said.The Bush administration has outlined a supplemental appropriations bill to spend $4.25 billion for states' homeland security efforts.
Residents of East Lansing might face increased sewer and water rates and higher parking prices as city officials attempt to spare public services and still adjust for a $1.4-million shortfall in the city's nearly $53.5-million budget. Officials will present the 2003-2004 budget to the city council at 7:30 p.m.
The Listening Ear Crisis Intervention Center moved to its new location Monday without missing a phone call.
The East Lansing Public School Board will continue adopting parts of its 2003-04 budget, which will make up for a nearly $4.2-million shortfall, at 7:30 p.m.
Tereza Guimaraes didn't know the food was going to be so spicy.The native Brazilian said because of the African influence in her country, she is familiar with African styles of cooking.But when she sampled the food at the annual African Culture Gala Saturday night, she was surprised."The ingredients are similar," she said after finishing a plate of Ethiopian chicken and other dishes.
Homeland security site helps prepare citizens Gov. Jennifer Granholm launched a homeland security Web site last week in an effort to better prepare Michigan residents for an emergency.