MICHIGAN
State answers area code exhaustion
By now, most people have cell phones, pagers, computer modems and multiple phone lines in their homes to make life a little easier.
MICHIGAN
Bill urges U to get vaccinations
Michigan lawmakers could choose this week to pass legislation that would urge college-bound teens to receive meningitis vaccinations before moving onto state campuses.If the measure is passed before Thursday, it would come less than a week after Ohio health officials began innoculating thousands of high school students in an effort to contain a meningitis-related outbreak that killed two teen-agers in May and put a third in the hospital June 2.
MICHIGAN
Bills ask to ban racial profiling; collect data
The state House is preparing to examine the issue of racial profiling as a new package of bills makes its way to the Legislature.Racial profiling is a practice in which police take action based on race, ethnicity or national origin rather than illegal or suspicious activities.“For more than 15 years, the use of racial profiling has grown,” said state Rep.
MICHIGAN
Byrum testifies for task force on election reform
State Sen. Dianne Byrum on Tuesday provided written testimony to the national commission on election reform, urging it to seek federal funding to modernize and improve poll machinery. “I find the election issue interesting and challenging,” said the Onondaga Democrat whose district includes MSU.
MICHIGAN
E.L. to look for diversified housing
The East Lansing City Council will meet Tuesday to discuss ways to spread out rental properties in the city. Jean Golden, deputy city manager and chief of operations for East Lansing, said the city wants to begin working more with MSU, neighborhoods in the city and the school district. “We want to have a real diversity of housing for families and individuals at all income levels,” she said.
MICHIGAN
CATA, residents prepare for cuts
Students and residents riding the bus may have to find alternate forms of transportation after Capital Area Transportation Authority eliminates some of its stops and routes in August. CATA will be holding public hearings today and Tuesday to let the community help decide which routes can be cut, said Brad Funkhouser, director of service development for CATA. Funkhouser said CATA is cutting routes because the cost to maintain and operate the buses has risen, while revenue has decreased.
MICHIGAN
Man-made islands proposed
Instead of looking out at the water, residents living along the shore of Lake St. Clair may be looking at man-made islands with homes.The proposed 18 islands, which would link Interstate 696 to Eight Mile Road, two miles offshore from the Grosse Pointes and St.
MICHIGAN
Lansing high school senior among five candidates vying for council seat
Vincent Villegas has two big plans for the summer. One: Receive his diploma from Lansing’s Eastern High School on June 16. Two: Try to win a spot on Lansing’s City Council. But to do that he will have to defeat one of two council incumbents - Louis Adado or Larry Meyer. Adado, 41, was elected to the council in 1997 and wants to stay on board to help improve Lansing’s budget process by maintaining payroll costs. “But, my number one concern is the neighborhoods,” said Adado, Michigan Licensed Beverage Association’s chief executive and city council president.
MICHIGAN
E.L. to celebrate beverage, tradition
A traditional Detroit drink is being celebrated in East Lansing.The demolition of the former Byrnes Building in March uncovered an old Vernors advertisement, with a winking Spartan gnome and the words “Drink Vernor’s Ginger Ale,” on the building on the corner of M.A.C.
MICHIGAN
State may sue Circuit City over lack of rain checks
Michigan Attorney General Jennifer Granholm is threatening to file a lawsuit against the Circuit City electronic store chain. Granholm said the Virginia-based Circuit City Stores Inc. violated Michigan consumer protection laws at its 23 stores across the state by not providing rain checks for specially advertised items not available for purchase during the sale period. Circuit City spokesman Bill Cimino said the company was “puzzled by (Granholm’s) notice.” Granholm filed a Notice of Intended Action, which allows Circuit City 10 days to respond and begin settlement negotiations.
MICHIGAN
Bill hopes to permit Ten Commandments
So let it be written, so let it be done - say several bill-makers who hope to make it possible for Michigan school employees to display signs of religious faith, such as the Ten Commandments.The bill was examined for the first time April 25 in the state House Oversight and Operations Committee.
MICHIGAN
Construction poses few problems
Everyone who lives in Michigan knows the old joke: “In Michigan there are two seasons - winter and construction.” But with construction going on all over Lansing and East Lansing with Interstate 496 and U.S.
MICHIGAN
Bill stiffens penalties to protect construction workers
Motorists who don’t “Give ’em a Brake” could find themselves broke and behind bars if they are responsible for injuring or killing a construction worker while traveling Michigan roads.The state Senate on Tuesday approved a set of bills concerning construction worker safety.
MICHIGAN
Teams to go 100 miles
Ann Stine will walk 50 miles and Carolyn Bennett will walk 50 more, to be the team that walks 100 miles to meet at Meridian Township’s door. Dressed in a pink dress, black tights and her walking shoes, Stine, an East Lansing court recorder, came to work Tuesday at City Hall, 410 Abbott Road, ready to walk her daily two miles. Stine, along with East Lansing city employees and Meridian Township employees, is taking part in the Meridian Township/East Lansing Employee Fitness Challenge. “I am doing it for the challenge,” Stine said.
MICHIGAN
Doctors, athletes unite to help kids
LANSING - Medical experts and some MSU coaches and athletes met up to kick off the new “Athletes for Kids” program Friday at the Lansing Center. “We got together and decided we wanted to do something for the whole community,” said Dr. Tony Briningstool, a physician at Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital and a former MSU football player.
MICHIGAN
Officials push to renew funds for community policing program
Local police and legislators met Monday to raise the issue of funding for police all over Michigan.High on the list of concerns was the Community Oriented Policing Services program, which provides funds for approximately 3,400 officers in the state.“This works,” U.S.
MICHIGAN
Council to vote on increase of parking fees; will match U
East Lansing residents may find parking in the city a bit more expensive after the East Lansing City Council votes to change parking fines Tuesday. Gary Murphy, the city’s finance director, said he will recommend to the council that the parking fines for meters and reserved parking or no parking spots go up $5. “Most tickets are $20 now, they are recommending $25, if it is an expired meter, which is $10, it will go up to $15,” he said.
MICHIGAN
Project inspires pride in community recycling
Unlike most other fifth-graders, Lizzy McDonald didn’t sleep in Saturday. She woke up early, shimmied into a bright yellow rain poncho and volunteered at East Lansing’s seventh annual Project Pride.“My mom and me did this last year,” 11-year-old McDonald said.
MICHIGAN
E.L. Aquatic Center offers fun for all
Two-year-old Elaine Loomis has learned the breast stroke and blown up her floaties. And she was ready for the opening of the East Lansing Aquatic Center, 6400 Abbott Road, on Thursday. “I want to go swimming,” she said, staring at the pool in her bathing suit and floaties, waiting for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
MICHIGAN
E.L. to unveil aquatic center today
East Lansing residents may not have to break out their sunscreen for the expected cool weather today, but they can put on bathing suits and get ready to have fun at East Lansing’s newest attraction. The Aquatic Center, 6400 Abbott Road, will celebrate its grand opening at 5 p.m.