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News | Michigan

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Granholm, Kilpatrick, Stabenow seek more federal security funds

Joey Guillen
April 1, 2003

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.

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.

MICHIGAN

Capitol update

Joey Guillen  and  Sarah Frank
March 31, 2003

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.

MICHIGAN

Gala celebrates African food, culture

Aaron Foley
March 31, 2003

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.

MICHIGAN

Winter thaw causes water main breaks

Brian Charlton
March 28, 2003

As the spring weather thaws East Lansing, city officials are fixing a record amount of water mains. Due to the cold temperatures and troubling frost conditions, the city has fixed approximately 40 to 50 water main breaks this winter, costing the city about $40,000, said Todd Sneathen, the city's director of Public Works and Environmental Services.