Wednesday, March 21,2012

Eyesore of the week

by Sam Inglot

Property: 819 N. Larch St., Lansing Owner: Jennerin Inc. Assessed value: $17,700 Owner says: Demolished by the end of the year Nestled between a dirt alley driveway to the south and a vacant lot to the north, this flaking, brownyellow house with dark red accents has nothing to distract the eye from its forlorn appearance.

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Wednesday, March 21,2012

The casino Promise

Twenty percent of East Lansing Public Schools students live in the Lansing School District. Could a casino’s funding the Lansing Promise Scholarship change that?

by Sam Inglot

The pupil drain has left Lansing’s three high schools — Sexton, Eastern and Everett — with less than solid enrollment among eligible Lansing students. And one of these schools may be closed due to a struggling financial situation within the district. A decision is expected before April, when the schools go on spring break.

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Wednesday, March 14,2012

Michigan AARP President

PR man Bob Kolt takes on a new cause: the needs and wishes of the state’s seniors

by Lawrence Cosentino

Kolt, a longtime Lansing public relations man, has worked for some big clients, but now he speaks for the state’s demographic 800-pound gorilla. Last week, Kolt was named president of the Michigan chapter of AARP. Kolt has belonged since he became eligible at 50, when his wife gave him a membership as a birthday present. Now, after just three years, he is state president.

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Wednesday, March 14,2012

GOP eyes House district in Ingham County

by Kyle Melinn

He’s also signed on to a plan with neighboring Democratic state rep candidate Doug Drake to get voter approval for a $2 billion bond that would be used to cover tuition costs for Michigan students if they live and work in Michigan after graduation. Those who move out-of-state would gradually pay the money back.

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Wednesday, March 14,2012

Eye candy of the week

by Amanda Harrell-Seyburn

It’s easy to take great design for granted. Take the intersection of Rosewood and West Grand River avenues in East Lansing. It really has it all, and what makes this intersection so great is its mixed uses — single family residential, low-rise multi-family and commercial — all within an eighth of a mile.

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Wednesday, March 14,2012

Does #lovelansing #hatecasino?

Will the young, "creative class" build opposition to the downtown Lansing casino proposal? It already is.

by Andy Balaskovitz

Turns out the people behind some organized opposition to Lansing’s downtown casino proposal are young, up-and-coming entrepreneurs who think a casino does nothing to bring more people like themselves to Lansing.

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Wednesday, March 14,2012

New in town

Great Clips

by Alyssa Firth

Michigan State University students have a new spot for haircuts in between class. Great Clips’ new location at 205 M.A.C. Avenue had a soft opening two weeks ago and has its grand opening Saturday.

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Wednesday, March 7,2012

Eyesore of the week

by Lawrence Cosentino

Property: 500 S. Fairview Ave., Lansing Owners: Bobbie and Claudia Pelfery Assessed: $38,100 Owner says: Unable to be reached for comment Some houses flake away quietly at the edges, tucked among better cared for neighbors, without drawing a second glance.

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Wednesday, March 7,2012

A gay rights first

East Lansing led the nation in local legislation that protected gay employees against discrimination. Forty years later, the city celebrates.

by Lawrence Cosentino

Two score years ago, after hearing from an angry resident who didn’t want to pay the city $11 for mowing his vacant lot and before taking up the matter of an abandoned easement, the East Lansing City Council made national human rights history.

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Wednesday, March 7,2012

Democrats can't wait until November

by Kyle Melinn

Salivating over a scorched earth Republican primary here a week ago, Michigan Democrats are moving all of their chips to the middle right now. In March. Let’s go.

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