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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

Locals take advantage of warm weather

The sun shined at times on Monday on MSU’s campus - reminiscent of last weekend’s weather, when warmer temperatures and sunny skies brought people outdoors.Some people barbecued, others warmed up for upcoming exams by reading in the sun, and a few even tried for a summer tan.But within 24 hours of the 70-degree temperatures and clear skies, the reality of April showers set in.

MICHIGAN

E.L. officials to address unbalanced budget

High health care costs and low census numbers are just two of the factors leaving East Lansing’s proposed 2001-02 budget unbalanced. The budget includes a plan to use $325,000 in savings to help cover gaps left by those factors and the scale-tipping costs of new recreational facilities. Gary Murphy, East Lansing’s director of finance, said the city council will have to resort to reducing costs or raising revenue if it wants to avoid dipping into savings. “Neither are easy,” he said.

MICHIGAN

Womens basketball team helps fight child abuse

LANSING - Gray skies and rainy weather didn’t stop the MSU women’s basketball team from completing the 11th annual 5K walk/run Saturday to help combat child abuse in Lansing. “I haven’t put one of these on since track season last year,” said 6-foot-1 freshman forward Julie Pagel, while pinning her race identification number on her shirt.

MICHIGAN

Residents enjoy moonlight stroll

OKEMOS - Before they camped out in a tent in the living room for the night, six-year-olds Renee Bieler and Marissa Cash came to Harris Nature Center to see the moon and maybe some deer. But what they really wanted Friday were moon deer. The best friends agreed the fictional creature they imagined is all white with a “moon nose” - certainly a different breed than the white-tailed deer normally found snacking around the nature center. The two girls and other nature enthusiasts gathered at Harris Nature Center, 3998 Van Atta Road, for the first Moonlight Stroll of the season.

MICHIGAN

Activists criticize new domestic abuse law

A new law aimed at decreasing domestic violence has some activist groups saying it will have a negative impact on those who are abused.The law allows doctors to provide police the names of abusers of domestic violence without consequence.

MICHIGAN

Court places hold on judges U-M decision

DETROIT - A federal appeals court Thursday put on hold a judge’s order that the University of Michigan law school stop using race as a factor in admissions. A three-judge panel of the 6th U.S.

MICHIGAN

Victims remain hospitalized

Hospitality business junior Justin Jones remains in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit at Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital after being assaulted in East Lansing on Saturday. Jones, a St.

MICHIGAN

E.L. cable service topic of meeting

Although Nick Bofferding and his six roommates split the roughly $50 bill for digital cable each month, the price is still a little high for the mechanical engineering junior. But he doesn’t care. “I’m sure if it were just me paying, I might care more,” he said.

MICHIGAN

Mural exhibits baseball, cars

LANSING - It was a night of firsts for Lansing Lugnuts fan Jim Manley, who attended the team’s home opener against the West Michigan Whitecaps on Thursday at Oldsmobile Park. It was the first time the former Oldsmobile employee and the 6,500 fans in attendance saw the minor league baseball team play this season and the first time they could view a colorful “Hall of History” mural on the south wall of the stadium, which is dedicated to Lansing’s automobile and baseball heritage. Two things Manley knows well. “It shows how much cars are a part of American culture - just like baseball,” he said.

MICHIGAN

Council approves ordinance to limit city building heights, keep downtown skyline

East Lansing may be maturing as an urban area, but it’s not growing up.After more than one year of discussion and planning, the East Lansing City Council approved an ordinance at its Tuesday regular meeting that limits building heights throughout the city.The height limits have been reduced from eight stories, or 14 with a city permit, to four stories, or 10 with a city permit.The ordinance also allows the city council to make exceptions for projects that would be beneficial to the city but require more height.Councilmember Sam Singh said the change would help protect residents living near the downtown from the shadows of tall buildings, while still leaving the city open to new development.“I think the downtown can handle some more considerable heights, especially on the Grand River (Avenue) side, but as soon as you get down around Albert (Avenue), you start to encroach on neighborhoods,” he said.“We’ve had the opportunity to have buildings of considerable size and it just hasn’t happened.”Orilla McHarris, a resident of East Lansing’s Bailey neighborhood since 1965, said she was pleased with the decision to hold on to the small-town atmosphere that can be ruined by tall buildings.“Our neighborhood is generally in favor of keeping the buildings low and letting everybody get some sunshine and fresh air,” she said.

MICHIGAN

U grads combine books and beans at coffee shop

LANSING - When Lisa Thompson and Cynthia Pugh met on MSU’s campus as undergraduates almost 20 years ago in Bryan Hall, they never imagined they would one day open a Beaner’s Gourmet Coffee shop in Lansing. But that day came Monday, when the duo opened a cafe in hope to promote intellectual conversations and thinking, inside the Capital Area District Library, 401 South Capital Ave. “It’s been fun and hectic,” said Pugh, an owner of the new coffee shop.

MICHIGAN

Police launch safety number

LANSING - The Michigan State Police hopes it has the number to stop violence in schools. Police, education and government officials unveiled a new anonymous hotline Wednesday for students, parents and teachers to report threats in Michigan’s schools.

MICHIGAN

New supermarket to replace local building

OKEMOS - A new Okemos farmer won’t need a tractor and plow to run his business. That’s because this farmer is a Farmer Jack Supermarket, which will be located on East Grand River Avenue near Park Lake Road. The block dubbed Majestic Plaza houses Pro-Bowl East; Oriental Mart; Pistachios Restaurant, 2827 E.