Lansing resident creates popular, positive stickers

Signs are everywhere in East Lansing and very few signs are pleasing to the eye. Often the signs contain routes of detours, construction chaos or simple speed limits, which occasionally trip people up. But for once, there is a yellow caution diamond sign, not to cause stress, but to generate a smile. That sign reads “This Is A Good Sign” and they are located across the nation, and even overseas.

Meridian Township experiences rise in housing permits

The Charter Township of Meridian has reported a growth trend in the number of construction requests for single family residences. Associate Planner in the Department of Community Planning and Development at the Charter Township of Meridian, Peter Menser said the area has seen growing numbers in construction since the end of last year.

Welcome to the neighborhood

Welcome to the “Capital of Cool,” where ribbons are cut with teeth instead of ceremonial scissors. On Tuesday, Old Town in Lansing welcomed five new businesses, as well as two existing business that expanded or moved.

Republicans, Democrats gear up 2014 elections

New E.L. apartment complex opens doors on Aug. 1

As the 2013-14 school year lingers on the horizon, DTN Management Co. is preparing to open one of East Lansing’s newest student housing establishments. 550 Michigan — no catchy apartment names here — is set to open its doors Aug. 1 as construction and inspections wrap up this week, Wolf River Development Company managing partner Mike Dowdle said.

MSU alumna knitting for local homeless shelters

While some people take the morning to sleep in, some local Lansing residents are up bright and early knitting and packaging items to help the homeless. Lansing residents, Emily Trumbull, 76, and Tilly Montaven, 71, both came together this morning at Trumbull’s home to knit, stuff and send out packages that contain items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, sunscreen and shampoo, that will be sent to various shelters around the Lansing and East Lansing area. Before retiring years ago, Trumbull was a teacher and counselor for Riddle Elementary School and other surrounding Lansing area schools with Montaven as her assistant.

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative could lose substantial amount of funding

The Great Lakes could be in danger, environmentalists say, after a proposal to gut restoration funding by 80 percent cleared a U.S. House subcommittee last week.

MSU hosts three day mental health symposium

MSU faculty, local law enforcement and experts from a variety of disciplines were brought together this morning for a three-day long mental health threat assessment symposium at Kellogg Center. The event, which included a variety of speakers, aimed to bring together the community and delve into what an act of violence really is, how to avoid one and what to do if one were to occur.

Suspects detained for domestic gun incident

Officers were dispatched to a residence in the 1000 block of Bensch Street after a male caller because of shots fired at him on Wednesday.

A fresh foundation

For genomics and molecular genetics senior Zachary DeRade and his partner, MSU alumnus Justin Love, one of the major factors of coming to MSU was the chance to be a part of a larger, more diverse area accepting of their homosexuality — a chance to find a home.

Dempsey: ‘It’s too early’ to understand effects of Detroit bankruptcy on E.L.

Could the banks of the Red Cedar feel the ripple effects of Detroit’s bankruptcy filing? That exact issue is something many in the area still are determining.

Rep. Barnett proposes sales tax increase to ease tuition cost

What if Michigan covered the cost of college tuition for every high school graduate in the state?

Dining plan prices will rise for 2013-14

MSU Culinary Services will restructure off-campus dining plans and raise prices for the 2013-14 academic year, starting Aug. 17. Increasing wholesale food prices, utility costs and other business expenses drove the price increases, Jenna Brown, communications manager for MSU Culinary Services, said in an email. All three on-campus dining plans will remain the same, from number of meals to amount of Sparty cash, but will rise in price by 3.9 percent. The price rise is in accordance with the MSU Board of Trustees decision to raise room and board rates by 3.9 percent for the 2013-14 academic year.

Classic auto show attracts cars statewide

Mother nature whizzed though Lansing’s 21st annual classic auto show, pouring down heavy rain and wind Saturday afternoon, but car owners stood their ground. A little rain wasn’t going to ruin an event full of classic cars, trophies and as Lansing local Mario Ledesma would say, “a great time.”

Locals discuss automatic license plate readers

What law enforcement officers consider an efficient and helpful tool, the public seems to think of as an invasion of privacy. The tool, automatic license plate readers, allows officers to check for stolen cars, expired license plates or outstanding warrants without the lift of a finger.

MSU receives $10 million to fight world hunger

MSU has been given a $10 million grant, which will go toward a bigger movement to end world hunger. The money comes from the U.S. Agency for International Development and will aid Feed the Future, a nationwide initiative to minimize world hunger and tighten food security, according to MSU Today.

Republicans lead in fundraising

With the 2014 elections just on the horizon, new figures detailing fundraising efforts released by both parties show Republicans, who control both the House and the Senate, are opening up a significant lead on their Democratic colleagues. The House Republican Campaign Committee has raised $316,000 since April, nearly double the $160,000 the House Democrats raised during the same three-month period. Over on the Senate side, Republicans garnered $291,000 in contributions from constituents, dwarfing the $24,000 raised by Democrats.

Video Story: Train Day

Two railway clubs shared their model trains and expertise with young conductors-in-training Thursday at MSU’s 4-H Children’s Garden. The Lansing Model Railroad Club and the Capital Area Railway Society set up tracks and electric trains for the kids to learn the process of trains. The kids also created various crafts focused on trains. “It’s a good partnership between the railway clubs of the Lansing-area and (the 4-H Children’s Garden) to be able to come together and support each other,” 4-H Educational Coordinator and Event Director Jessica Wright said.

Amendment to limit NSA spying narrowly defeated on House floor

A proposal to stop blanket surveillance programs conducted by the National Security Agency was narrowly shot down on the U.S. House floor Wednesday night. The 217-205 vote showed a rare solidarity between Democrats and Republicans. Even rarer, the massive support for Congressman Justin Amash’s amendment showed that both sides of the aisle are willing to go against their respective party’s leadership. Even if that means the President.

Former Provost Kim Wilcox named chancellor at University of California Riverside

University of California, Riverside’s President announced Thursday that he has selected Kim Wilcox, MSU’s former provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, as the university’s ninth chancellor.