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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

Policy advises rights for gay parents

A recent policy by the American Academy of Pediatrics said same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt children, citing their ability to provide as stable a household as heterosexual couples. The policy, released Monday, focuses on gaining legally protected parental rights for gay parents whose partners have children and for couples who wish to adopt a child.

MICHIGAN

Patriarche recalls former E.L.

Sitting in the Victorian-style lounge of the Burcham Hills Retirement Center, Jack Patriarche recalled moving to East Lansing.The 84-year-old relaxed on a blue-flower-patterned couch as residents passed wishing him a good morning and greeting him with smiles.One of the three remaining charter members of the Kiwanis Club of East Lansing, Patriarche is considered by many a good friend and a fountain of information regarding the city’s past.Only 1,800 people lived in East Lansing and all of the streets were gravel or mud when he moved here in 1922.

MICHIGAN

Land-exchange suit expands

The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians added another plaintiff and defendant Friday to its search to stop the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ South Fox Island land exchange.The exchange would be between the state and landowner David Johnson.The amendment to the lawsuit named Johnson, an MSU alumnus, and his Mirada Ranch as defendants and the Michigan Land Use Institute as co-plaintiff in the tribal group’s lawsuit.The changes came from a recommendation by Circuit Judge Thomas G.

MICHIGAN

Booklet could list tax credits

The process of filing taxes could soon be much easier, especially if state Rep. Nancy Cassis has anything to do with it.Joined on Friday by about 20 representatives from both sides of the aisle, Cassis, R-Novi, unveiled what she calls a taxpayer empowerment bill.

MICHIGAN

Experts say Rocky faces uphill battle

For state Rep. Andrew “Rocky” Raczkowski, R-Farmington Hills, the road to Washington may be a long and arduous one.“You can achieve anything if your heart is in the right place and you believe in what you’re doing,” Raczkowski said.Raczkowski will challenge Sen.

MICHIGAN

Family trees branch out in E.L.

Carole Callard has been investigating her family history since 1974.She traced her father’s family back to Jamestown, Va., in 1623 and her mother’s family came to the United States from Ireland in the 1850s, she said. Callard, a genealogy specialist from the Library of Michigan, will help others fill holes in their family histories at 7 p.m.

MICHIGAN

Lack of salt inventory causes price to soar

Like many salt suppliers, Cargill Salt builds contracts with buyers before winter with the hope of filling all its customers’ salt needs for the season.Last year, the snowy winter put a bit more pressure on plow companies with salt trucks.“Companies were using their entire contract amount by December,” said Lori Johnson spokeswoman for Cargill Salt.

MICHIGAN

Bill introduced in Washington could make service mandatory

U.S. Rep. Nick Smith, R-Addison, introduced a bill Tuesday that would require young men to be available to serve in the military or national community service for at least six months. “Military training and experience prepares communities for potential challenges while encouraging community and national service,” Smith said in a statement.

MICHIGAN

Students interact with kids

Sarah Masternick spent her Saturday afternoon tying ice skates and spinning kids on the ice. The elementary education junior volunteers along with about 40 MSU students through Meridian Township Police Department’s Spartan Buddies program. The program, which pairs elementary-aged students with college-aged mentors, was started nine years ago by Meridian Township police officer Gayelord Mankowski. “We found we didn’t have much success with the adults, so we decided to do things with the kids,” he said. Spartan Buddies began at Wardcliff Elementary School for children in need.

MICHIGAN

Corps anticipate interest

President Bush is calling on all Americans to serve their country for the equivalent of 4,000 hours - or two years - in their lifetimes. MSU Peace Corps recruiter Chris Foley said this push could definitely increase interest in the Peace Corps on campus. “It gives good publicity and can only do good,” he said.

MICHIGAN

Distinguished professor to commemorate Black History Month at LCC

Johnnetta Cole is not your typical retired college professor. Cole travels to remote places such as the Philippines while juggling roles on community boards and organizations, publishing books and speaking to college students. Cole will be the keynote speaker at Lansing Community College’s Black History Month Keynote Address from 3-5 p.m.

MICHIGAN

BioPort gets FDA shipping approval

Okemos - The Food and Drug Administration gave the green light Thursday to BioPort Corp. to begin shipping their anthrax vaccine. Its Spokane, Wash.-based contracted company, Hollister-Stier Laboratories, needed to get approval by the FDA before any shipment could begin. The nation’s only FDA-licensed producer of the vaccine had its Lansing location, 3500 N.

MICHIGAN

Amtrak upgrades to high-speed rail system

In the first of what is hoped to be many upgrades in railroad tracks, Amtrak announced that 45 miles of its track in southwest Michigan was converted to a new high-speed rail system.The new track, laid between Kalamazoo and New Buffalo, runs along Amtrack’s Detroit to Chicago corridor.The upgrade, developed by Harmon Industries Inc. of Blue Springs, Mo., allows trains to surpass the previous limit of 79 mph set by the Federal Railroad Administration and reach 90 mph, said Jeff Baker, product manager for the system.“It combines an onboard computer on each one of the locomotives with information from the wayside signaling system,” he said.

MICHIGAN

Restaurant challenges sign ordinance

East Lansing Mayor Mark Meadows remembers when store and restaurant signs were pretty rampant around East Lansing. “Many years ago there was no regulation, so you could have signs of any shape or form,” he said. Now, an East Lansing sign ordinance is being challenged by Cosi, a coffeehouse and restaurant chain set to open a store in the downtown this spring. Cosi wants to hang a sign that would protrude off the corner of their building, 301 E.