Schools a priority for candidate

Editor's note: This is the fourth in a series of articles profiling Lansing's six candidates for mayor. If elected mayor of Lansing, candidate Mary Ann Prince said the front door to her duplex home will always be open. "I'll be available to the citizens, if you can't come to me, I'll come to you," the retired state employee said. Prince worked for more than 26 years in Michigan's departments of community health and education. After campaigning day and night in 1993, Prince was defeated in that year's Lansing mayoral primary election, and says this year she'll do just the opposite. "I learned a lot back then, I paid a lot of money, I put up the signs, I sent out the mailers, I did the parades and I just decided I'm not going to do that this time," Prince said. Instead, the lifetime Lansing resident and Lansing Community College graduate spends her time knocking on doors and networking at her church social functions.

Police briefs 07/30/03

Lansing park opens paved trail, plans for more improvements

Lansing - Dick Sullivan has a brand new course to skate on. The grand opening of the Hawk Island Trail was celebrated Monday by the Ingham County Board of Commissioners and the Ingham County Parks Board. Located in Lansing's Hawk Island's Park, the trail consists of a paved, 1.5-mile loop around the park and is the next step in many planned improvements. A resident of Lansing for more than 40 years, Sullivan attended the opening ceremonies, adding that he couldn't wait to try out the added route. "I rollerblade here every day," he said.

Annual food drive helps poor families

The annual East Lansing Recycling program's ELROW food drive began on Tuesday and will last until August 8.

Researchers study Orchids

Wake up and smell the orchids. That's the idea a team of MSU researchers have been working on in an attempt to get people more interested in growing and buying the flower.

Internet aids learning in low-income families

Use of the Internet may improve children's academic performance and doesn't have any negative effects on social behavior according to a study conducted by MSU. HomeNetToo is a three-year study that followed how low-income families use the Internet at home and what effects it had on them. "We wanted to study low-income families because there is so little research on their technology use," Linda Jackson, psychology professor and lead investigator on the project said.

State Police program results in less deaths

More than 2,500 arrests were made during the statewide "You Drink & Drive You Lose" program police agencies across the state participated in. This year, more than 300 agencies participated in the program that took place from June 27 to July 13.

DNA sequence may allow researchers to control fungus

An MSU professor and a team of researchers from across the country have discovered the DNA sequence they say can help control a fungus that cuts crop yields and produces toxins.New farming practices and climate change have made the fungus, known as Fusarium graminearum, a problem for farmers during the last 10 years.Fungicides have been used to combat the problem, but nothing has been proven effective, researchers say."We've tried to find the weak link in the disease process," said Corby Kistler, a researcher from the University of Minnesota's ARS Cereal Disease Lab.

Candidate plans to attract housing

Editor's note: This is the third in a series of articles profiling Lansing's six candidates for mayor. Vietnam veteran Leon Black says his lack of political experience is exactly what Lansing needs in a mayor. One of four of Lansing's six mayoral candidates with virtually no experience holding any public offices, Black says he is planning to bring honesty and integrity to his home city. "I'm not a career politician," said Black a self-proclaimed "strong conservative." "Though, I think that I'm the one - the long shot that I am," he said. After an unsuccessful run against former Mayor David Hollister two years ago, Black, 59, is once again trying to win the top job in the more than a 120,000-person city. Black will be competing against five other candidates for a spot on the November ballot at the primary election on Aug.

Ellen's Race draws to close after 10 years

More than 1,000 people gathered at Pinecrest Elementary School on Sunday for the last time to celebrate life and community during the 10th Ellen's Race 5K Run and Walk. In addition to raising money for three area organizations, the 3.1-mile run and walk served as a memorial to Ellen Osborn, a fourth grader who passed away on Nov.

Telling nature's story

Lansing - Professional storyteller Tim Bogar stood underneath the cool shade provided by an Oak tree near the Grand River on Friday as he wrapped duct tape around his khaki pant legs.After spending several minutes doing this, he recreated his camping trip - catching stable flies with the sticky side of the tape.

Police briefs 07/28/03

'U' initiative funds livestock projects

A team of MSU researchers have been working on a project that could produce better tasting bacon.Ronald Bates, a swine specialist with MSU's animal science department, and eight other colleagues will begin working on a unique swine population in the fall to determine how muscle mass affects the taste and quality of pork.

News briefs

Alumnus donates life sciences fellowship A fellowship will be available for students in the Eli Broad Graduate School of Management starting in 2004. The James M.

Ballot might include race admissions

A ballot initiative was proposed Wednesday that would allow Michigan voters the option to prohibit preferential treatment based on race or gender. With the support of several Republican state representatives by his side, the chairman of the Sacramento-based American Civil Rights Coalition, Ward Connerly, announced the campaign for the ballot initiative at the state Capitol. If passed, the initiative would become a constitutional amendment against the U.S.

'U' offers kids a taste of college at science camp

Most children would say they'd rather spend summer days playing outside than learning. But for the more than 250 third and fourth graders who spent two weeks on campus for Kid's College, they say braving the classroom in the summer was worth it. Sitting next to a structure made of wooden dowels pegged into a board with string to hold up action figures, 10-year-old Jessie Marshall-Reeve learned about structures, gravity and architecture.

United Way, unions kick off campaign

With wounds still fresh from a more than $2-million embezzlement scandal, Mike Brown, president of the Capital Area United Way, addressed a crowd of laborers saying the scandal won't shake the 64-year partnership with the labor union. "We have to roll up our sleeves and go back to work," Brown said.

Mayoral candidate hopes to attract youth

Editor's note: This is the second in a series of articles profiling Lansing's six candidates for mayor. Melissa Sue Robinson says after half a decade of being a constituent, she's ready to make her mark on Lansing by running for mayor. "I want to give back to the people that helped me," the 53-year-old said.

Police briefs 07/24/03

E.L. prepares for pest

East Lansing residents and landscapers could soon kiss their ash goodbye. An infestation of the emerald ash borer, an exotic insect which destroyed more than 6 million Detroit-area Ash trees, has recently been discovered infesting more than 50 Ash trees in Meridian Township.In response to the close proximity of the beetle, a public meeting at Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbott Road, was held Tuesday night to inform a large crowd of concerned residents about the latest news on the ash borer and eradication methods.