MICHIGAN

Organ donation might be option on 2010 tax form

Alanna Thiede

July 12, 2010

Michigan residents might be able to become tissue and organ donors by checking a box on their state income tax forms next year, if a plan proposed by Michigan’s Secretary of State is implemented. Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land recently proposed adding the option as a way to make registering for the Michigan Organ Donor Registry easier for residents. Currently, residents can sign up online or by asking at any Secretary of State office.

MICHIGAN

Democrats compete for endorsements

Andrew Krietz

July 12, 2010

Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero and state House Speaker Andy Dillon, D-Redford, received formal endorsements for their Democratic gubernatorial campaigns throughout the weekend and Monday. Officials from Michigan’s 13th and 14th congressional districts chose Bernero over Dillon during a press conference Saturday, citing a recent interview with Fox News Channel during which Bernero defended the area’s automobile workers and those without jobs. The Dillon campaign received an endorsement from former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer on Monday.

MICHIGAN

Walking event promotes healthy living

Alanna Thiede

July 11, 2010

Mid-Michigan residents walked Saturday at the Stroll East Lansing event of the Walking in Our Community series. The series is aimed at promoting walking as a form of exercise and getting to know local communities. There were one-, three- and five-mile trails that started at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road, and led participants through East Lansing’s downtown and residential areas, as well as MSU’s campus.

MICHIGAN

Lansing hosts Taste of Downtown

Anthony Odoardi

July 11, 2010

Residents of the Lansing area sorted through more than 100 varieties of wine and food samples from 15 different local vendors Saturday at Lansing’s Taste of Downtown. The inaugural event kicked off at 3 p.m. on South Washington Square in Lansing, and was hosted by the Lansing Principal Shopping District, or LPSD, with wine and food served buffet style accompanied by music from live local bands Third Coast Steel and Soulstice.

MSU

Whooping cough exposure reported during MSU event

Emily Wilkins

July 11, 2010

An undiagnosed case of pertussis, or whooping cough, might have been exposed to the 900 people who attended Grandparents University at MSU from June 29 to July 1. The Michigan Department of Community Health, or MDCH, identified 20 individuals Friday who attended the event who are at a high risk for contracting pertussis.

MSU

4-H Discovery Camp introduces teens to green careers

Meagan Choi

July 11, 2010

Nine students attended the first Michigan 4-H Discovery Camp last week, which offered Michigan students ages 15-19 opportunities to learn about bioenergy and green solutions. At the camp, students visited MSU faculty member’s labs and took interactive field trips across the state while experiencing dorm living in Shaw Hall.

MSU

MSU professor named national Cherry Industry Person of the Year

Meagan Choi

July 8, 2010

MSU horticulture professor and researcher Amy Iezzoni was honored as the 2010 Cherry Industry Person of the Year by the Cherry Marketing Institute on Wednesday at MSU’s Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station in Traverse City. Iezzoni was chosen for the award because of her commitment to cherry growers through her research.

MICHIGAN

Jeanologie boutique to offer designer duds

Ashley Brown

July 8, 2010

Transforming the former dance studio of Pin-Up Pole Dancing into a unisex boutique, store owner and MSU alumna Michelle Gross is attempting to bring New York street fashion to the city of East Lansing with Jeanologie XX/XY Boutique, 303 M.A.C. Ave., which opened last week. Jeanologie offers labels including Betsey Johnson, BCBG, Lacoste and Lucky Brand, but also features local designers, such as Niki Biki, a designer from Central Michigan University that has a line of one-size-fits-all camisoles. Gross plans to invite pieces from MSU’s apparel and textile design students into her boutique as well.

MICHIGAN

Heat wave to end this weekend, precautions still necessary

Although local residents will get a break from the 90-degree heat this weekend, this summer promises to be warmer than average. Saturday will bring highs in the low 80s under sunny skies. Sunday will be mostly sunny with highs in the mid 80s. Although temperatures will be five to 10 degrees lower than the past few days, people still should be cautious and monitor their hydration.

MICHIGAN

Neighborhood holds 36th annual ice cream social

Alanna Thiede

July 7, 2010

Hand-churned ice cream, music, sunshine and residents from across East Lansing were abundant Wednesday evening at the 36th annual Bailey Neighborhood Ice Cream Social. The event, which is sponsored by the Bailey Neighborhood Association and the Orchard Street Pump House committee, welcomed East Lansing residents to the Orchard Street Pump House, 368 Orchard St., to make ice cream and socialize with community members they otherwise might not have had a chance to meet.

MSU

MSU analysis could be helpful in rape cases

Andrew Krietz

July 7, 2010

An MSU-assisted analysis of 10,500 sexual assault evidence kits from the city of Detroit might be used to prosecute hundreds of alleged rapists if results prove conclusive to investigators. The MSU Center for Statistical Training and Consulting, or CSTAT, the Michigan State Police, the Detroit Police Department and others are coordinating the effort to process the kits in an attempt to understand how a rape happened and who committed it. A $600,000 allocation by the Michigan Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Board was given to the various agencies to begin the study to assist the defunct Detroit Police Crime Laboratory, said John Collins, the forensic science division director for the Michigan State Police.

MICHIGAN

Police golf outing held to benefit kids

Aseel Machi

July 7, 2010

Local police and MSU officials gathered Wednesday at the Eldorado Golf Course, 3750 W. Howell Road, in Mason, to enjoy a round of golf and support children in the community. Donors gathered at the East Lansing and Lansing Police Athletic League’s, or PAL, joint 2010 PAL Golf Outing, with proceeds benefitting field trips and sports camps for children in the area.

MICHIGAN

Play in the Park kicks off July community events

Alanna Thiede

July 7, 2010

A magician’s performance, which included three birds, a rabbit named Banana and many jokes for all ages, was the kickoff event for the city of East Lansing’s Play in the Park interactive children’s series. The annual series of events is sponsored and planned by the city of East Lansing’s Office of Communications.

MICHIGAN

E.L. Fire chief takes part in program at Harvard

Pat Evans

July 7, 2010

East Lansing Fire Chief Randall Talifarro recently returned from a fellowship program at Harvard University to help improve his decision-making abilities and become a more receptive public servant, he said. Talifarro was selected with six other fire officials from across the country by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Fire Administration to review case studies from governments across the country and discuss emerging practices and issues in public safety.

MICHIGAN

Michigan Students First loan program puts students 2nd

Meagan Choi

July 7, 2010

Because of a lack of funding from the federal government, about 80,000 students with the Michigan Students First, or MSF, loan program could be responsible for paying more for college than they originally signed up for. Established in 2003, the program offered students the ability to pay zero-percent interest on their student loans if they made 36 timely consecutive payments every month. Now that funding for the program was cut last week, students who were on pace, but hadn’t completed, the 36 payments are liable to pay full interest for the balance of the loan.

MSU

MSU finds link in undernutrition, brain health

Anthony Odoardi

July 7, 2010

An MSU-led study has found undernutrition and a poor early life environment can lead to cognitive disabilities later in life. Zhenmei Zhang, an MSU assistant professor of sociology, started the project with two other professors in 2007 and found males and females who grew up undernourished were more likely to develop mental deficiencies, such as memory loss, when they are older.

MICHIGAN

Michigan obesity rates ranked 10th in country

Karen Confer

July 7, 2010

Michigan has the 10th highest adult obesity rate and the 41st highest childhood obesity rate among the 50 states and Washington, D.C., according to the study. The study, the “F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2010,” was released last week by Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

MICHIGAN

Mich. legislature take July recess

Karen Confer

July 7, 2010

Both the Michigan House of Representatives and Michigan Senate are on a summer recess, and will resume operations on July 21. The last regularly scheduled meetings in the houses took place July 1. Both the House and Senate will meet next at 10 a.m.

MSU

MSU welcomes high schoolers for Future Science Program

Emily Wilkins

July 1, 2010

Ten area students participated in the pilot run of the Future Science Program this week at MSU. The program is meant to target younger students and help them develop an interest in scientific research. The eight-week program began June 28 and ends Aug. 20. The students will work 40-hour weeks and receive a $2,000 stipend.

MICHIGAN

Taxpayers Party nominates local mother for governor

When President Barack Obama was elected and began promoting his economic stimulus package, Stacey Mathia decided she needed to do something. A mom of four who spent her time homeschooling and serving on the Village Council of Fife Lake, Mich., Mathia decided to run for governor. The U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan, an affiliate of the U.S. Constitution Party, officially nominated her as their gubernatorial candidate Sunday.