MICHIGAN
Economy hurts savings program
As some parents and students have difficulty saving for college, many look to the Michigan Education Savings Program.
MICHIGAN
Council to discuss location of cellular phone tower
Although Amanda Machovsky has owned a cellular phone since she began college four years ago, she never noticed any of East Lansing’s nine cellular phone towers. Toting her brand-new, pale green cellular phone, Machovsky, an elementary education senior, says the communication tool can be a necessity - or an accessory. “The other one I had was attached to my car,” she said.
MICHIGAN
Residents rush to file taxes
Despite a late start to file her tax forms, Blanka Chrominska said she will mail them before today’s midnight deadline.
MICHIGAN
Parks serve tastier foods
LANSING - Amy Thompson is a huge Lansing Lugnuts fan, but one of her favorite reasons for visiting Oldsmobile Park is the wide array of foods she can fill up on. “It’s usually food you can’t have at your house,” said Thompson, an eighth-grader at Holt Junior High School, while munching on her giant New York Pretzel. And at Oldsmobile Park, 505 E.
MICHIGAN
Michigan senator forms election reform task force
Michigan state Sen. Dianne Byrum, D-Onondaga, announced the formation of the Michigan Task Force on Election Reform on Friday.
MICHIGAN
Concealed weapons law opens discussion
New online information concerning Michigan’s concealed weapons law, which goes into effect July 1, has area students and groups debating how the law will impact the state.The law establishes statewide requirements for people who carry concealed weapons.
MICHIGAN
Lawmakers announce plans for bill to help cover Michigans uninsured
State lawmakers announced a plan to assist Michigan residents without health insurance this week.In 1999, 13.5 percent of Michigan’s nonelderly population had no health insurance despite nearly 57 percent holding a full-time job.
MICHIGAN
Police tie flexcuffs to murder
MASON - After nearly 15 years, a mother’s persistence may have paid off.Muriel Kirby sat with a box of tissues on her lap Thursday while investigators announced they had arrested the man they believe killed her daughter in 1986.David Phillip Draheim was arraigned in 55th District Court on Thursday for the murder of Jeanette Kirby.Kirby, a 36-year-old state employee from Lansing, was found dead in Riverbend Park in Holt on June 12, 1986.
MICHIGAN
State teachers receive new laptop computers
Several East Lansing teachers gathered Thursday afternoon for something that resembled Christmas coming early - just a little more high-tech than the Christian holiday.As part of a new state program, Michigan teachers are able to sign up to receive new laptops from the state for use in their classrooms and homes.Several East Lansing elementary teachers received their new computers Thursday, along with a training session on how to use them.The teachers all opened their bags at the same time, littering the desk with plastic bags and cardboard.
MICHIGAN
Ladybugs infest U, Michigan
Stephanie Lauer hates ladybugs - the tiny, red, flying beetles that are considered good luck by many.The nursing sophomore said the bugs, correctly dubbed lady beetles, infested her Wonders Hall dorm room last semester.“We had hundreds of them in our room and we could not get rid of them,” she said.
MICHIGAN
New hospital will allow animals to be treated at zoo
These days, when the 9-month-old red panda, Achoo, gets sick, she has to be treated in her exhibit.But once construction of Lansing Potter Park Zoo’s $155,000 animal hospital is completed in August, zoo officials will take Achoo there instead.“This will really help us to take care of our animal collection much better,” zoo Director Gerry Brady said.The animal hospital will be the first on the zoo’s grounds, 1301 S.
MICHIGAN
Great Lakes drilling causes concern
Rising energy concerns in America may have some oil companies hoping to say “yes” to Michigan.But reactions by Michigan residents and environmentalists to a possible increase in drilling in the Great Lakes have been negative, according to a local poll.
MICHIGAN
Adopt a River program aims to help clean up local waters
For the first year, MSU students will partner with Lansing and East Lansing to create awareness about river pollution. The eighth annual Adopt a River Program will take place on April 21 - the day before Earth Day. The program has community members following a river trail along Grand and Red Cedar rivers picking up trash, while flat-bottomed boats pull debris out of the two rivers. “We pull out couches, shopping carts, bikes, a swing set,” said Jennifer Rostar, program director for the Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council.
MICHIGAN
New Oasis to open on Grand River
The smell of baked kibbee will be wafting through the air this summer in East Lansing’s downtown.Kibbee, a ground meat spiced with salt, pepper, onions, pine nuts, cinnamon and allspice is one of the items that will be on the menu of Chuck Raad’s newest restaurant, Woody’s Oasis, located at 211 E.
MICHIGAN
State broadens tourism industry with promotional campaign
LANSING - With the slogan “Michigan. Great Lakes. Great Times. Not a great distance,” state tourism officials hope to expand Michigan’s $10 billion annual tourism business. The new campaign, launched this week by Travel Michigan - a division of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation - is intended to draw more travelers from surrounding states. “It’s a great ad campaign,” said Nancy Cain, a spokesperson for AAA. “And the timing of it is good, because with higher gas prices, people in the Midwest are going to stay in the Midwest.” The campaign features television, newspaper, radio and Internet advertisements that will be shown in Green Bay, Wis., Indianapolis, Chicago and Cleveland.
MICHIGAN
Senator to join governors race
It looks like there will be another name on the ballot for the governor’s race in 2002. State Sen.
MICHIGAN
Tax cut incites protest
Students and community leaders met on Wednesday in Lansing to protest President Bush’s proposed tax cuts.Five community leaders, including Michigan State AFL-CIO President Mark Gaffney and Flint-based United Auto Workers regional director Cal Rapson, urged the crowd of more than 200 people in Lansing’s Reutter Park to write Congress and to stand together against Bush’s proposal.“Bush’s tax scheme will make millionaires richer, but offer little relief to working families,” Gaffney said.
MICHIGAN
E.L. looks to trim budget
East Lansing city officials are seeking $325,000 hiding somewhere in the city’s $50 million budget.The East Lansing City Council held the first of three scheduled work sessions Tuesday to help determine how it can stop the 2001-2002 budget from dipping into the city’s $2.8 million savings.“This is the first budget I’ve seen on council where we’ve drawn upon reserves,” Mayor Mark Meadows said.
MICHIGAN
City resident to run for council seat
Vic Loomis has done his hometown homework.After attending elementary school, middle school, high school and college in East Lansing as well as spending several years in community organizations, Loomis says he’s learned enough about the city to run for a seat on the East Lansing City Council.“It’s a community full of diversities and a community that’s a great place to live, raise a family, go to school, own a business, work and visit,” he said.“I want to be part of the team that continues the momentum that this community has going in all of those areas.”Loomis, 54, who has lived in East Lansing since 1949, is in his eighth year as chairman of the Downtown Development Authority.
MICHIGAN
Miles teaches driving safety
LANSING - While children in the front row of a dark movie theater laughed and applauded, Miles, a yellow animated road stripe, waved back as four short commercials about driving safety starring him played. It was his premiere. Miles was introduced Tuesday at Celebration Cinema, 200 E.