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News | Michigan

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

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

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

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

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.

MICHIGAN

Passport requests increase for break

Jodie Simons, a study abroad veteran, got her passport in time to leave for the United Kingdom.A decision that not only made her mass media trip to London easier, but also pleased her mother.“I held off probably until March,” the journalism junior said.

MICHIGAN

School board decides to grant field trips on case-by-case basis

Students looking to end the East Lansing School District’s ban on travel received a promising sign.But the green light could still turn red depending on Superintendent Tom Giblin’s decision.“We are still going to ban trips out of the United States, but the other trips are going to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis,” Giblin said.The reversal came during Monday night’s school board work session, and in response to East Lansing High School students’ concerns.

MICHIGAN

U institute to release survey results about cities

After growing up in Detroit, Kelly DeGrandchamp found Greater Lansing a whole different type of area.“(Lansing’s) a lot more friendly and a lot greener,” the zoology junior said.But like many students, DeGrandchamp sees room for improvement in Lansing.“I think there’s a major issue with a lot of housing and property values,” she said.DeGrandchamp represents a majority of Michigan residents, according to a survey put together by MSU’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research.A group of state representatives and MSU professors will meet to discuss the survey results at 11:30 a.m.

MICHIGAN

State Police director heads to homeland administration

Gov. John Engler accepted the resignation of Michigan State Police director Col. Michael Robinson on Tuesday. Robinson, a Grand Rapids native, joined the State Police in 1968 and has been the department’s director for 11 years. Robinson is the thirteenth director for th state police. “It will be a great loss to the community and to the State Police,” East Lansing police Capt.

MICHIGAN

Contest captures unique aspects of E.L.

For some residents, East Lansing might mean their home, family or a favorite moment spent with friends.Since May, residents could snap a picture of what they thought was unique about East Lansing for the City Scenes Photo Contest.The contestants were divided into three categories: children, youth and adults.

MICHIGAN

Pesticide concerns slow apple industry growth

Apple season is over across Michigan but Bernie Tennes still has work to do in his orchard.The owner of The Country Mill, 4648 Otto Road in Charlotte, continues to tend his trees in January to keep up with an industry that already has passed up many of his colleagues.“I’ve talked with a lot of people, and they are looking at down the road and they don’t see a future,” he said.

MICHIGAN

Candidates use Web for voter-outreach

The Internet is one of the fastest ways to get information these days, and this year’s gubernatorial candidates are taking advantage of voters’ need for speed. “It certainly makes us more accessible and more approachable,” said Democratic contender Alma Wheeler Smith, state senator from Salem Township.