Friday, April 26, 2024

News

MICHIGAN

Council votes to sell

Lansing - A downtown office and housing development is one step closer to breaking ground after the city council approved the $2.18 million sale of city land for the new home of the Michigan State Police. The council voted 7-0 Monday to sell the land to developers Gary Granger and MSU Trustee Joel Ferguson, rejecting other recent offers of up to $4.2 million.

MICHIGAN

Students graduate from police camp

Thirteen-year-old Lee Kreutziger had his own ideas about police. But, a few East Lansing police officers spent the last two weeks changing his mind.Kreutziger and about 20 other students entering high school in the fall spent time with the officers as part of Camp ELPD, a joint effort of the police department and East Lansing school district to target a group of new high-schoolers.“I used to think cops were freaky dudes,” Kreutziger said.

MICHIGAN

Crow infected with West Nile found

A dead crow found in Mason earlier this month tested positive for the West Nile virus, the Ingham County Health Department said.The virus, which is transmitted to humans, birds, horses and other animals by infected mosquitoes, can cause a flu-like illness.

MICHIGAN

House Democrats pose budget plan

After House Republicans failed to secure enough votes to increase the cigarette tax Wednesday, House Democrats seized the opportunity to push their budget plan forward. The plan would raise $352 million by consolidating departments, freezing the single business tax, and taking money from the state lottery and “rainy day” fund. “It’s time to stop using smoke and mirrors to fix this budget crisis and start taking our jobs seriously,” said House Minority Leader Samuel “Buzz” Thomas, D-Detroit.

MICHIGAN

Potter Park Zoo gets new animal exhibits

Potter Park Zoo, 1301 S. Pennsylvania Ave. in Lansing, welcomed six new critters this weekend. Five adult ostriches and one female red panda went on exhibit at the zoo. The ostriches were raised on an ostrich breeding farm in mid-Michigan and are on loan to the zoo. Jiao, the red panda, comes from the San Diego Zoo.

MICHIGAN

Child abuse legislation for clergy passed

An effort to require clergy to report people suspected of child abuse is working its way through the state Senate after unanimously passing the House on Wednesday.The bill would add clergy and other members of religious hierarchy to the list of professions required by law to report such abuse to the Family Independence Agency.

MICHIGAN

Pipeline still in limbo after state meeting

The Michigan Public Service Commission met Friday, but commissioners have yet to decide whether to allow a controversial gasoline pipeline project to begin later this year.Wolverine Pipe Line Co. executives want a $40-million, 26-mile pipeline laid alongside Interstate 96, but they need permission from state departments, several area townships and the city of Lansing before the project can begin.

MICHIGAN

E.L. council to vote on land-sharing deal

The East Lansing City Council is set to vote at its Tuesday work session on a land-share agreement with Meridian Township. The proposed deal, known as a 425 agreement, would share tax revenue on 101 acres of Meridian Township land between the township and the city.

MSU

Students fish for life in river

MSU students have pulled bicycles, trash cans, radios and manhole covers from the Red Cedar river in an attempt to clean up the campus landmark.But fisheries and wildlife graduate student Jo Latimore was looking for something else in the water Thursday - fish.Latimore hopes she can determine the condition of the river by measuring its fish population.

MSU

4-Hs 100th birthday celebrated at U

Kayaking, roller hockey, climbing and repelling.They may not be the first things that come to mind when people think of 4-H, but that’s what nearly 3,000 students and chaperones are doing on campus to celebrate the agricultural organization’s 100th birthday.The students will spend until Friday in Akers, Holmes and Hubbard halls for 4-H Exploration Days, an annual youth conference.“Kids and chaperones come from all over the state,” said Judy Ratkof, conference coordinator for Michigan 4-H Youth Development, which is based at MSU.

MSU

Alumnus earns debate internship in D.C.

Leadership on MSU’s debate team helped a 2002 graduate become the first person from the university - and only the sixth ever - to land a prestigious Washington, D.C., internship at a nonprofit think tank.Austin Carson, who graduated with a degree in international relations, begins the yearlong William J.

MSU

Professor brings cases, experience to U

The “hands-on” philosophy of MSU’s forensic anthropology program brings prominent cases and serious students to the university. Anthropology Professor Norman Sauer’s current investigation at the campus lab could reopen a 7-year-old missing person case.

MSU

SN approves $2.16M budget for 2002-2003

The State News Board of Directors approved a $2.16 million budget for the newspaper for the 2002-2003 fiscal year.About $80,000 of that budget is covered by a $1 increase in student taxes approved in March, State News General Manager Marty Sprigg said.