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22-year-old state Rep. faces challenges of youth
Lansing - Standing in front of a 4-H Club judge, with a dead chicken in his arms and his shirt covered in chicken vomit, state Rep.
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City, school board work to solve budget issues
The East Lansing City Council and school board members are looking to unite - hoping to soften the blow of budget troubles. Members of both groups met and discussed possible collaborations including sharing mowing and plowing services, human resource and auditorium staffs and pool management expenses. "I can say that I don't know any other place in Michigan that's working together like this," Mayor Mark Meadows said. Officials say they plan to find ways to combine city and school district staff positions. East Lansing lost nearly $720,000 from state revenue funding and fire protection grants in December after an executive order by then-Gov.
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Students lead commission to review city noise policies
Student leaders are recommending several initiatives to expand prevention and enforcement activities to the city in hopes of reducing noise violations.At East Lansing's University Student Commission meeting members discussed making changes to East Lansing City Council's noise reduction recommendations Tuesday for residents before a policy is implemented.
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State considers Web tax
Microbiology junior Jonathan Lenz knows the taxes he owes Michigan from Web purchases could start piling up. Six percent sales and use taxes are levied on Internet and mail-order purchases made in Michigan, but little of it is collected, according to the nonpartisan Senate Fiscal Agency.
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United Way scandal worries local charities
The ripple effect of the $1.88-million Capital Area United Way embezzlement scandal fuels the trend of less trust in charities, local charity officials say.Since the Sept.
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Residents choose where to work out
With a variety of fitness options available, students and city residents can take their pick among apartment centers, professional gyms and campus intramural centers.
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New state labor head hoping for more jobs
During their first session of the year Tuesday, the state Senate made two unanimous approvals. Lansing Mayor David Hollister was one of two department heads to be approved - he will serve as head of the new department of labor and economic issues.
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Corps fosters youth volunteers
Lansing - Brothers Corey and Rudy Robinson waited in anticipation to begin their jobs at the Youth Service Corps. The two Lansing residents are students at Pattengill Middle School and are signed up to visit Allen Neighborhood Center, 1619 E.
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MSU plant curator to speak at a meeting for state botany club
Those interested in the Red Cedar Chapter of the Michigan Botanical Club can attend a meeting at 7:30 p.m.
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Winter wellness
Audrey Brockhaus walks to class with socks on her hands. The advertising junior lost her mittens and said she can't stand the cold without her hands covered. "That's how I keep warm," she said.
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Regional Chamber of Commerce to host speaker from Big Ten
Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany will be speaking about commercialism in intercollegiate athletics at 1:30 p.m.
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Engler takes first job in private sector working for Texas data company
Former Gov. John Engler is moving from the executive branch of Michigan government to an executive position with the state's largest high-tech employer. Engler announced Monday he is Electronic Data Systems Corp.'s new president of state and local government and vice president of government solutions for North America. As governor, Engler created the Department of Information Technology, which worked to provide new online government services on the state's award-winning Web site, www.michigan.gov. "This position allows me to draw from my technological experience to meet the needs of state and government business and the citizens who depend on those government services," Engler said in a written statement. Engler, an MSU alumnus, will be responsible for directing the services EDS offers in government-based information technology.
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Capital City Airport sees travel increase during holiday season
Lansing's Capital City Airport experienced record passenger travel during the month of December, although totals for 2002 were lower compared to the previous year, officials announced Wednesday.According to the Capital Region Airport Authority, 47,405 passengers made their way through the airport in December - an increase of 15 percent compared to the same period in 2001.However, total passenger travel for 2002 declined just less than 2 percent.Robert Kolt, spokesman for Capital City Airport, said business was poor at the beginning of last year, but the airport recovered by slowly gaining more travel each month."The numbers dwindled toward the end of the year, but we had a really strong December," he said.
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MLK Day volunteers head Into the Streets
Lansing - To some MSU students, Martin Luther King Jr. Day means a day without classes and a chance to sleep in - but the volunteers at Monday's Into the Streets community service project made the day mean much more. "We felt that since we didn't have classes we should make good use of our time," communication freshman Stephanie Gooch said. Gooch joined about 280 student volunteers to donate time to various locations around the Lansing community, said English senior Andrea Hart, chairwoman of the Into the Streets group. "We were really pleased with the turnout," Hart said.
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Anti-war protesters march to Capitol
Lansing - Carrying a large American flag, Lynn Meadows said she usually attends two rallies a week. The Chelsea resident said since the Sept.
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New bill plans to take Canada to the dumpster
Congressman Mike Rogers is fed up with Canada's garbage - literally. Rogers plans to introduce a bill that would prohibit Canada from sending Michigan its trash when the House reconvenes later this month.
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City worker steps down
When Peter Eberz thinks of East Lansing, he says green and white comes to mind just as often as city landmarks and developments."It's a composite of the whole community," he said.
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Activists to escort war mural to Washington, D.C.
Lansing - The plaster masks represent the people of Iraq while the newsprint covering them symbolize what someone would call the faceless status in American culture. The images on the mural are special to the 31 members of the Greater Lansing Youth for Peace and Justice, who created the project as part of their involvement in the anti-war in Iraq movement.
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Residents worried about sex offenders
Information on 1,313 registered sex offenders residing in Michigan has been lost by Michigan State Police, leaving some Michigan residents worried about their safety. "I'm scared," marketing freshman Meredith Fenton said.
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Cars need protection against cold weather
As the new year is brewing a frigid winter season, experts are suggesting motorists winterize their cars. AAA Michigan spokesperson Jim Rink said motorists should have car items checked out - ideally before the winter driving season. "During the week when you have close to single digits and various wind chills, it drastically reduces the starting power of the battery," he said.