Sunday, December 21, 2025

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

'Yellow Ribbon' package to help military families

Joey Guillen
April 10, 2003

State House Republicans are planning to introduce a package of bills, titled the Yellow Ribbon package in an attempt to protect Michigan families of military personnel stationed overseas.Included in the package are bills involving tax credits, tax exemptions and compensation for state employees for wages lost during service.Matt Resch, spokesman for House Speaker Rick Johnson, R-LeRoy, said the package's impact on Michigan's budget will be examined throughout the processing of the bill when legislators weigh the priorities of the state."The feeling is that there are few priorities greater than helping our military families," he said.But Rep.

MICHIGAN

Plans for Kresge unveiled

Benita Mehta
April 9, 2003

Kresge Art Museum officials unveiled plans on Tuesday for an $11- to $12 million expansion that will begin in 2006.The museum plans to add 32,000 square feet for exhibitions, educational programming and a better visitor atmosphere by 2009, celebrating the museum's 50th anniversary.

MICHIGAN

Corridor reserves spot for research

Amy Bartner
April 9, 2003

Novi - MSU, along with four other research institutions in Michigan, teamed up to reserve their spot of "precious real estate" at the Michigan Life Sciences Corridor Conference on Tuesday. Faculty members from MSU, University of Michigan, Wayne State University, Van Andel Research Institute and officials from science companies gathered for the conference.

MICHIGAN

ACLU discusses riot suspension policy at 'U'

Chad Previch
April 8, 2003

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.

MICHIGAN

Medicaid could see $60M cut

Joey Guillen  and  Sarah Frank
April 8, 2003

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.

MICHIGAN

Capitol Update

Joey Guillen  and  Sarah Frank
April 7, 2003

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.

MICHIGAN

East Lansing city manager requests funding for security from legislative committees

Brian Charlton  and  Adrienne Broaddus
April 4, 2003

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.

MICHIGAN

Riot footage remains unreleased by media

Joey Guillen
April 4, 2003

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.

MICHIGAN

City manager lauded for service to community

Brian Charlton
April 3, 2003

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.

MICHIGAN

Crime Stoppers helps solve student assault

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.

MICHIGAN

SPARE rally not as 'U' hoped

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.

MICHIGAN

State gas prices drop despite war with Iraq

Adrienne Broaddus
April 2, 2003

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.

MICHIGAN

E.L. School Board approves budget cuts

Brian Charlton
April 2, 2003

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.

MICHIGAN

Temporary extension keeps Amtrak running

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.

MICHIGAN

Officials try to avoid public service cuts

Brian Charlton
April 1, 2003

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.