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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

E.L. eateries excel in city health inspections

East Lansing is filled with individuals trying to make the grade - and the city’s bars and restaurants are no exception. Several East Lansing businesses and restaurants were found to be in “outstanding condition” during liquor license inspections this year. Inspectors found 11 of the 24 establishments to be exceptionally clean and safe, with careful attention to maintenance and cleanliness of buildings and equipment, said Howard Asch East Lansing code enforcement and neighborhood conservation director. “In some of these establishments, the inspectors found absolutely nothing wrong,” Asch stated.

MICHIGAN

Hiring freeze limits student employment

Aaron Johnson
January 8, 2002

As natural science majors across the university prepare to gain valuable field experience over the summer, many will find one of the more visible sources closed as the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Quality are under a hiring freeze. The hiring freeze affects all paid positions, including many summer assistant positions or internships, which can be vitally important to the agency, said Kelli Sobel, administrative services deputy for the DNR. “In a lot of our divisions (student assistants) are very, very important,” she said.

MICHIGAN

Court delays plan to limit medications

Shaun Byron
January 8, 2002

Mental health advocates and drug companies won a decision in Ingham Circuit Court Monday to push back a plan set forth by the Michigan Department of Community Health. Under the plan, a list of particular medications created by state doctors and pharmacists will not be available to low-income patients unless they show evidence they need the drug. Geralyn Lasher, spokesperson for the department, said they will appeal the decision. “If we are not able to move forward with the plan we feel there will be irreparable harm,” Lasher said.

MICHIGAN

Group seeks peace

Shannon Murphy
January 7, 2002

Lansing - Mary Thomas didn’t spend the holidays visiting family - instead she hopped on a plane to work for peace in Israel. From Dec.

MICHIGAN

Cell phone users in Meridian to get clearer, improved service

A multi-provider cellular tower is being built to improve cellular phone service in Meridian Township. The 180-foot tower will be constructed within the next month between Meridian Township Hall, 5151 Marsh Road, and its adjacent public safety building. The tower was designed to resemble a three-sided clock tower with panels hiding its antennae and a clock face on each side, township officials said.

MICHIGAN

Kmarts future uncertain as stock price sinks

Aaron Johnson
January 7, 2002

Despite reports of higher than expected sales for the last week of December, financial analysts predicted a grim future for Kmart stock. Wayne Hood, an analyst for Prudential Securities Inc., downgraded Kmart’s stock from “hold” to “sell” Wednesday after the announcement that the company, based in Troy, Mich., had a third-quarter loss of more than $200 million. “The analysts considered weak financial results for the fourth quarter as well as weak sales and earning expectations,” said Lawrence Meyers, first vice-president of Prudential Securities in Bloomfield Hills. The downgrade preceded a 72-cent drop in price on Wednesday and a 65-cent drop on Thursday.

MICHIGAN

Grant helps farmers donate surplus food to homeless

Shaun Byron
December 7, 2001

The Food Bank Council of Michigan is being provided with funding to help with the overflow of homeless in shelters.On Tuesday, the State Administrative Board approved the Michigan Department of Agriculture’s proposed grant contract.The grant will supply the council with more than $980,000 for state emergency food assistance.Jane Marshall, executive director for the Food Bank Council, said the grant will help fund the Michigan Agriculture Surplus System (MASS).MASS is a partnership between Michigan food banks and the state’s agriculture industry.

MICHIGAN

Old Newsboys continue charitable work in Lansing

Shaun Byron
December 6, 2001

Lansing - Mayor David Hollister came down from his 10th floor office Wednesday to buy a paper from an Old Newsboy. Since 1924, the Old Newsboys Newspaper has been raising money to buy footwear for needy schoolchildren by selling newspapers with spoof news stories about people in the public eye. The paper is printed and written by the Lansing State Journal. On Friday, more than 400 Old Newsboys sales people will be stationed throughout the city selling the papers. Tom Shiels has been with the organization since 1968 and was a past president. He said the tradition began in 1910, when truancy officer George Palmer, noticed many children were not attending school in winter because they had no shoes to wear.

MICHIGAN

Alternative couples gain benefits but not vows

Camille Spencer
December 6, 2001

A vote by the Detroit City Council will benefit gay and lesbian couples who are city employees - they are now able to register someone as their domestic partner.By a 7-2 vote, the city council approved a measure Friday which grants partner rights to alternative couples who are city employees.

MICHIGAN

Warm weather not going to last for U

Shannon Murphy
December 6, 2001

Javier Ramos hopes to see his last 10 days in East Lansing stay as warm as they have been this week, but unfortunately for him the weather will drop significantly. “It is my last winter in East Lansing and it is treating me really good,” said the turf grass management sophomore, who returns to Spain on Dec.