Officials debate governors Internet access initiative
Lansing - Gov. John Engler’s New Year’s resolution is to provide Michigan residents with fast, stress-free Internet service through thousands of miles of government-subsidized broadband cables. “The governor believes very strongly that Michigan needs to be positioned as a high-tech state that has the infrastructure it needs to draw businesses and investments,” Engler spokesman Matt Resch said.
Farmer Jack begins construction near E.L.
The former site of Pro Bowl East has been vacant since August. But the spot at 2757 E. Grand River Ave.
Lansing cuts citys budget
Lansing Mayor David Hollister announced Thursday that $1.5 million will be cut from this year’s budget.The budget cuts were largely a result of a decrease in state revenue sharing payments and also due to losses of current-year city revenue, Hollister said.The cut includes a hiring freeze on filling vacant city positions, deferments on vehicle purchases, a reduction in general administration expenditures and a reduction in supply and expense accounts by 10 percent, Hollister said.The deferments on vehicle purchases will mean 16 police cars are purchased instead of the intended 24 and the elimination of one fire truck purchase, said Robert Swanson, city finance director.Hollister also said the cut includes a recapture of city grant match funds for a major police department grant worth $125,000.No actual programs were cut and the only administrative actions made were ones to lower the total city budget, Swanson said.The 2001-02 budget ends June 30, and the new policy will take effect July 1.“It’s basically a straight-line budget,” Councilmember Sandy Allen said.
Smoking ban goes to board
Lansing - Tom Bramson worries that a proposed smoking ban in Ingham County could lead to a ban that would empty his business, the Nuthouse Sports Grill , by about half. Ingham County’s Environmental Tobacco Smoke Task Force Committee approved a resolution this week that would ban smoking in all public and private work sites.
Churches honor civil rights leader with blood drives
Leaders of the Diocese of Lansing Office of Black Catholic Ministry don’t want money for Martin Luther King, Jr.
Campus briefs
Professor to discuss reggaeReggae music will be the focus of a lecture presented by James Madison College and the Department of Political Science. Harvard University sociology Professor Orlando Patterson grew up in Jamaica and is familiar with the music’s impact on Jamaican culture. A grant MSU received in 2001 from the Freedom Project is funding Patterson’s visit.
U considers fall break
Some MSU students refuse to rest and relax until they get a fall break from school. The University of Michigan Board of Regents decided in December students will get a two-day fall break during October.
Internet shopping provides incentive for college saving
A new service is trying to keep college-bound families shopping online without breaking the e-piggy bank.Upromise, an online-based service, gives families the opportunity to put money away for college every time they buy toys, gasoline or even a new car.
Agriculture research gets $2.8 million
Dairy cows experience stress like the average person - and MSU agriculture researchers were able to milk $2.8 million from the Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems to study the effects of stress on farmers’ bovines at the genetic level.“We’ve identified over 18,000 unique genes in cattle and we have those on hand right now,” said Paul Coussens, director of the MSU Center for Animal Functional Genomics. Coussens is the primary investigator in the set of studies.
Group hosts competition for best legal essay
The Violence Policy Center will award one student $3,000 in the first “Alexander Hamilton Second Amendment Student Writing Competition.” Contestants must write an article, essay or law review about the Second Amendment and the decision of the U.S.
Physicist brings universe to U
Although the weekend is approaching, Sarah Lockwitz can hardly wait to attend Brian Greene’s lecture about the elegance of the universe. “I’ll have to break a hot date to go to it, but I think it’s worth it,” the physics freshman said. Lockwitz met the Columbia University professor of physics and mathematics on Tuesday when he visited her Physics 193H class. Greene will discuss his best-selling book, “The Elegant Universe,” tonight during the first McPherson Professorship lecture.
International wildlife refuge to be built
Wildlife now has a safe haven between Windsor, Canada and Detroit.The United States reached an agreement with Canada to develop the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.The 5,000-acre refuge, located on the lower Detroit River, represents the first international refuge in North America, though several exist in Europe.Even though the United States and Canada maintain friendly relations, the refuge took a long time to develop and came about as the result of a common goal, said Scott Flaherty, spokesman for the Fish and Wildlife Service.“Everyone was looking for ways to conserve and protect and keep the conservation values in the lower Detroit River in order,” he said.
Restaurant changes ownership
An old East Lansing restaurant is being sold for the second time in three years. Jerry Norris, Jacquie Norris and Robert Smith, owners of Hobie’s Restaurants, 930 Trowbridge Road, have reached an agreement with Dave Baker, a Holt resident, to sell the 34-year-old restaurant. Baker has worked in restaurants for years but this is his first time owning one. “I wanted to be in the restaurant business,” he said.
Highway renamed to end confusion
As a way to reduce confusion along the U.S. 27/U.S. 127 corridor, the entire corridor will now be known as U.S.
Plan seeks to reduce aquatic-life nuisances
Michigan is starting a program that would help reduce the introduction and spread of foreign aquatic species in the Great Lakes, Lt.
Increased expenses force ASMSU to cut events
Money cuts from the undergraduate student government are forcing ASMSU’s Programming Board to cut entertainment events this semester.Matt Weingarden, Student Assembly vice chairperson of internal affairs, said ASMSU’s expenses have increased, which has caused less money to be allocated toward concerts, speakers and other cultural events.“When you only have so much money to work with, someone has got to lose,” Weingarden said.The Programming Board had about $100,000 this year to divide among several student organizations.About six years ago, the organization had about $200,000 per year.Increased expenses from Student Legal Services and other budget problems caused the cuts, despite a 20 percent minimum of ASMSU taxes going to the Programming Board.“This means there’s going to be much more limited programs,” Weingarden said.
Event forecasts E.L.s future
East Lansing officials are hoping more residents will pull out their crystal balls and forecast the future.The city is holding the Big Picture event from 1-5:30 p.m.
Web courses offer education for time-crunched community
With free time becoming scarcer, businesses are developing classes for Web users who desire to continue their learning. And a local parks department has taken notice. The Lansing Parks and Recreation Department has jumped on the bandwagon offering seven online courses this winter. “More and more, a lot of community ad agencies and school districts are going into (Web courses),” said Denise Lynch, special recreation services coordinator. “We’re just following the trend.” The classes range from “Organize or Agonize” to “How to Start a Home Based Business.” “Normally, when you offer a class and one person signs up you have to cancel the class because you’re dealing with a classroom and an instructor,” she said. “There’s really no minimum for a class because you’re not dealing with an actual 24-hour classroom.” Lynch said online classes offer an alternative for those who wouldn’t be able to fit a traditional class into their schedules. “The only way they would have to come to one of our facilities is if they want to pay in person,” she said. Growth Strategies, a company that sells the classes to the department, has offered them since 2000. The company had offered adult-enrichment classes previous to the online endeavor, but Gary Fugere, president of Growth Strategies, saw an opportunity after listening to complaints of courses not being offered in areas where there was an interest. “I was just a step above a novice computer user,” Fugere said. “I’m an entrepreneur and can smell an opportunity from 100 miles away.” The transition has worked out well for students and for Global Strategies, which offers nine online classes. Compared to many online or dot-com businesses, Fugere has been able to find a market niche, albeit a small one, in which his company can make money. “I’m in one of the most unique markets of all,” he said. “I’m there for Joe Six-pack who says, ‘I’m there because I need some information,’ and he reaches into his wallet and pays for the class.” It is that type of reasoning that could allow for a sustainable online adult-education program, said John Dirkx, MSU associate professor of educational administration. “I hope it grows and I hope it develops but there are a lot of pitfalls along the way,” Dirkx said. For more information on the Lansing Parks and Recreation Department’s online courses, go online at www.parks.cityoflansingmi.com.