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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

Scheduling conflicts delay preliminary examination

Shannon Murphy
April 16, 2002

The preliminary examination has been postponed for four female MSU students charged in connection with the drowning of an 18-year-old Bay City man. Nicole Bukowski, 21, Cassandra Duggan, 20, Laurel Trezise, 20, and Sara Kaufman, 21, were charged with running an unlicensed bar at a party that Delta College student Eric Blair attended before he drowned in the Red Cedar River. Police say the four females had a party on Oct.

MICHIGAN

Festival highlights art form of anime

Elissa Englund
April 15, 2002

On Saturday, nearly 80 anime enthusiasts showed up at the East Lansing Public Library for the second four-hour festival.The air rang with a mixture of Japanese voices and children’s laughter.“The films here are in Japanese with subtitles,” MSU anime club president Melanie Schoen said.

MICHIGAN

Capitol rally to increase awareness of care system

Erica Berg
April 15, 2002

“The Michigan Health Care Rally - Eliminating Health Care Disparities: A Prescription for the 21st Century” will take place Tuesday to educate people about today’s health care system and increase awareness of various health disparities. The rally will be held 1-4 p.m.

MICHIGAN

Pan-Hellenic Council kicks off week of events

Kendra Snyder
April 15, 2002

The sounds of Billy Joel, Studio 54, “Grease” and “The Flinstones” signaled the end of Greek Week on Sunday at the Auditorium. Songfest was the last event of Greek Week, which featured MTV Fundraising Night, a speech by Judge Mitch Krane, Battle of the Bands, the “Beat the Greeks” game show, Special Olympics and Greeks into the Streets. The week of activities and community service raised about $60,000 for Area 8 Special Olympics, Coaches for Kids, Haven House, Children’s Miracle Network and Verlinden Elementary School in Lansing. “I think that our showing this week as far as fund-raising and community service was far above what is has been in the last few years,” Greek Week director Chris Braverman said. Fourteen teams, each with two fraternities and one sorority, participated.

MICHIGAN

Former mayors remember terms

Lindsay Frederickson
April 15, 2002

On Saturday afternoon, former and current mayors of East Lansing gathered to reminisce on their terms and reflect on changes in the city.The meeting, held in the Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbott Road, featured three former mayors and current Mayor, Mark Meadows.Ted Staton, East Lansing city manager, moderated the panel hosted by the East Lansing Historical Society.“I think all of us run for council because we have an issue that’s dear to our hearts and a love for the community,” said Liz Schweitzer, mayor from 1989 to 1993.

MICHIGAN

Program to be suspended for lack of funding by state

Shaun Byron
April 15, 2002

East Lansing may suspend a program that would create more sidewalks for joggers and bicyclists.The program was passed in 2000 and would connect major portions of the city that do not have sidewalks, City Manager Ted Staton said.“We are just going to suspend it for a year,” he said.

MICHIGAN

Junior League fund-raiser promotes community with auction, entertainment

Aaron Johnson
April 15, 2002

Okemos - It wasn’t unusual to see a Porsche and a BMW parked inside Williams Auto World. But the hanging banners showcasing a man riding an elephant, a hot-air balloon floating by a mountain and other traveling sites and the buffet lines were certainly out of the ordinary for the Okemos auto dealership, 2186 Jolly Road. The dealership’s altered state provided the ambiance Saturday for the Junior League of Lansing’s fund-raising dinner. The night included food provided by restaurants such as Troppo, Beggar’s Banquet and Coral Gables, a live auction and dancing. The event normally is held in November to raise money to support the organization’s goals of community, volunteerism and increasing the role of women, but the date was changed this year. Junior League members still expected 500 guests, each paying $45, despite the change, league President Kim Hartman said. “This year we decided we would try a different venue and a different time, for a change of pace,” she said. Lansing resident Alex Dimmig said he attended because of his girlfriend but supported the group. “I like the whole idea,” he said. The auction, with auctioneer MSU women’s basketball coach Joanne P.

MICHIGAN

Options open to file taxes

Aaron Johnson
April 12, 2002

With the tax deadline on Monday, Juanita Russell and Joshua Dickerson still haven’t sent their taxes.Russell, a sociology sophomore, just hasn’t gotten around to it.“I’m just a procrastinator,” the computer science senior said.And Dickerson said he didn’t work over the last year.“I always (got my taxes in early) when I had a job - around mid-January,” he said.The two aren’t alone - millions across the United States wait until the last minute to file their taxes.The Internal Revenue Service expects 132 million returns this year, but as of April 5, the agency only had received 79.7 million.Michigan was on pace with 2.8 million returns filed out of 4.6 million expected.IRS spokeswoman Sarah Wreford said even if you wait until Monday, there are ways to avoid being audited.Wreford said a majority of the mistakes on returns involve putting down the wrong social security number and math errors.But both types of errors can be avoided if filers take a second to relax, Wreford said.“Put it aside then go back and double-check your math,” she said.

MICHIGAN

Fountain Square construction nears end

Shaun Byron
April 12, 2002

Dasha Loskutova passes Fountain Square three or four times a day on her way to class.The East Lansing High School student, who also is enrolled at MSU, can’t wait to see it when the construction is finished.“They had an old fountain here before,” she said.

MICHIGAN

Council may fill vacant seat with election

Shaun Byron
April 12, 2002

Lansing City Council will fill a vacant council seat, left by Lou Adado, by May 13.Adado announced his resignation Monday because of the distraction from recent sexual harassment allegations.Three bids have been filed with the city clerk since his decision.Two city employees have accused Adado of the charges.Heather Eman and an unnamed woman have said Adado touched them inappropriately.The council has 30 days after Monday, when they vote to accept Adado’s resignation, to find a replacement.Under the city’s charter, the council must accept any resignation in a formal meeting.“We have been elected to do a job and sometimes that job is not easy,” Councilmember Geneva Smith said.City officials will begin interviewing applicants May 6 for the open position.

MICHIGAN

Counts dropped in plea agreement for drinking case

Two counts of supplying alcohol to a minor were dropped Wednesday in the case of an MSU student charged in connection with the death of Eric Blair.Blair, an 18-year-old Bay City resident and Delta College student, drowned in the Red Cedar River in October.Police said Blair began drinking Oct.

MICHIGAN

Students celebrate higher temperatures

Aja Carmichael
April 11, 2002

At a time when students’ heads should be in the books, many have them in the clouds. Three weeks before final exams, students are celebrating the return of higher temperatures in sunglasses and tank tops while playing recreational sports outside.To commemorate Wednesday’s 58-degree weather, Krysten McCully, a pre-vet junior, was just one of the guys.

MICHIGAN

Council to review applications for vacant seat

Shaun Byron
April 11, 2002

Lansing City Council will begin reviewing applications today for a city council seat left vacant after Lou Adado resigned Monday night.The former city council member gave his resignation following accusations of sexual harassment by two former city employees.The council will meet at 1:30 p.m.

MICHIGAN

Food rules protect Muslim practices

Amy Bartner  and  Elissa Englund
April 10, 2002

At Bassam Mahmoud’s restaurant, the meat is prepared according to Muslim dietary law - and a new state law will prevent other restaurants that don’t follow the dietary law from claiming they do.Some Muslims are allowed to eat foods considered halal, which is slaughtered in a certain way.