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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

House Democrats pose budget plan

Katie Byrne
June 24, 2002

After House Republicans failed to secure enough votes to increase the cigarette tax Wednesday, House Democrats seized the opportunity to push their budget plan forward. The plan would raise $352 million by consolidating departments, freezing the single business tax, and taking money from the state lottery and “rainy day” fund. “It’s time to stop using smoke and mirrors to fix this budget crisis and start taking our jobs seriously,” said House Minority Leader Samuel “Buzz” Thomas, D-Detroit.

MICHIGAN

Crow infected with West Nile found

Tara May
June 24, 2002

A dead crow found in Mason earlier this month tested positive for the West Nile virus, the Ingham County Health Department said.The virus, which is transmitted to humans, birds, horses and other animals by infected mosquitoes, can cause a flu-like illness.

MICHIGAN

Students graduate from police camp

Jacquelyne Froeber
June 24, 2002

Thirteen-year-old Lee Kreutziger had his own ideas about police. But, a few East Lansing police officers spent the last two weeks changing his mind.Kreutziger and about 20 other students entering high school in the fall spent time with the officers as part of Camp ELPD, a joint effort of the police department and East Lansing school district to target a group of new high-schoolers.“I used to think cops were freaky dudes,” Kreutziger said.

MICHIGAN

DTN warns residents of terrorism

Jacquelyne Froeber
June 19, 2002

Merchandise management junior Alison Framke got a surprise when she opened the mail that came to her Capitol Villa apartment. Included with her regular mail was a warning from DTN Management Co., which owns the apartment complex at 1696 E.

MICHIGAN

Diversity discussion focuses on Lansing officials resignation

Jacquelyne Froeber
June 17, 2002

A forum Sunday designed to promote understanding of different cultures turned into a discussion about whether racism was a factor in the resignation of a top official in the Lansing mayor’s office.Genice Rhodes-Reed, who helped found the Unity in Community group in 1994 and serves as its coordinator, said she was forced to resign in May from her position as director of the Human Relations and Community Service Department.“We feel she has done a wonderful job in her work with the group,” said Beth Bogue, co-facilitator for Sunday’s forum.

MICHIGAN

E.L. library needs teens for reading

Teenagers are invited to volunteer for the East Lansing Public Library’s fifth annual Stories in the Garden this summer. Seventh- through 12th-graders will read picture books to younger children in MSU’s 4-H Children’s Garden.

MICHIGAN

Emergency simulated at Capital City Airport

Kurt Ludke
June 17, 2002

Lansing - Emergency crews from more than 17 area agencies found one of their worst nightmares at Capital City Airport on Thursday morning.When firefighters, police and paramedics arrived on scene, they found 83 people scattered along the runway among damaged luggage and patches of blackened grass near the rear of a burning plane.Fortunately, the disaster was only a two-hour simulation required every three years by the Federal Aviation Administration to test emergency crews’ readiness for such a disaster.Some volunteers acted as wounded passengers while others played the role of casualties, with wounds made from charcoal, tissue paper and petroleum jelly.The mock disaster included a plane modeled after a Boeing 727 hooked up to a gas tank to simulate fire from an accident.

MICHIGAN

E.L. school board decreases layoffs

Jacquelyne Froeber
June 12, 2002

The East Lansing School Board failed to bring back 33 faculty and staff members at their meeting Monday night. Reinstating 75 employees was just part of passing the $39.4 million budget for the 2002-03 school year. “The whole situation was complicated,” school board President Susan Schmidt said.

MICHIGAN

Public forum to debate road improvements

The public is invited to attend a hearing at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday on pedestrian- and biker-safety recommendations to East Grand River Avenue. The open forum will be during the East Lansing City Council meeting in Courtroom 2 at 54-B District Court, 101 Linden Street.