Wednesday, June 9,2010

Big box revival

Church repurposes Lansing’s biggest eyesore, despite city’s objections

by Neal McNamara

Standing in what was once the butcher section of the former Farmer Jack supermarket on South Cedar Street, the Rev. Louis Dixon was about 25 yards away from a team of steelworkers installing a giant girder across the ceiling. In such a huge, empty space, the sparks from their blowtorch and the crackling of steel being cut seemed miles away.

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Wednesday, May 26,2010

'At the end of the day, you have to always challenge the status quo'

Kande Ngalamulume ready to fight the Mike Rogers standard

by Neal McNamara

The other volunteers at the Recycle Livingston center in Howell that day said that Ngalamulume’s clothes really raised the dress code around the place. Plus, the safety vest might have been a little unnecessary since the recycling center is essentially a large parking lot with more stationary Dumpsters than heavy machinery.

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Wednesday, May 26,2010

Virg Watch

Virg's environmental scorecard vs. Andy Dillon's, plus, some national press

by Neal McNamara

Given the recent sunny weather, it might be a good time to look at the environmental record of Virg Bernero.Two weeks ago, Bernero spoke at a forum that hosted by the League of Conservation Voters. And on Tuesday, the League released its annual scorecard of state elected officials.Since Be...

Wednesday, May 19,2010

Kagan connection

Lansing city attorney got the Socratic treatment from Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan

by Neal McNamara

One day back in 1999 in administrative law class at Harvard University Law School, future Lansing City Attorney Brig Smith was clicking away on his laptop at a game of solitaire while his professor, Elena Kagan, was looking for an answer to a question.

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Wednesday, May 19,2010

Knocked down

A couple of years and a Facebook group later, Lansing resident kisses eyesore goodbye

by Neal McNamara

Since Orlich moved onto Princeton Street five years ago, the house at 735 Princeton has been a problem. At first, the people living there were a nuisance, attracting the attention of the cops. Then, when those people moved out, they left a litter of puppies behind.

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Tuesday, May 18,2010

KIDS IN THE HALL

by Neal McNamara

Thanks to a last minute session of sausage making Monday night, Lansing City Council came to a compromise on city employee salary cuts and approved the $109 million city budget unanimously with no malarkey — though there were a few grudged “yes” votes.Council held l...

Wednesday, May 12,2010

Premium channels

Lansing close to giving out grants for cable access, moving forward on a cable access studio

by Neal McNamara

Luckily, the city of Lansing is getting its Pro-Cyc wall for about $5,000 less than the retail price. Instead of buying the piece of equipment directly from Pro-Cyc, Lansing was able to scoop up a floor model used by the company only once for a broadcasters conference in Las Vegas.

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Wednesday, May 12,2010

Virg Watch

Another scuffle with Dillon, and a Michigan Chamber of Commerce appearance

by Neal McNamara

Gubernatorial candidate Virg Bernero has had an interesting week: He filed a couple thousand petitions to run for governor, saw the Democratic side of the governor’s race winnowed from three to two, and lashed out at his opponent, Andy Dillon, and an news website.Bernero campaign spo...

Monday, May 10,2010

Eye candy! of the week

by Neal McNamara

Properties: 320, 326 Ottawa St., Lansing Owner: Dave Anderson and Cathy Stull Assessed: 320, $62,900; 326, $138,500 Owner says: “They were the last two row houses left” Architecture critic Amanda Harrell-Seyburn says: In the shadow of the Capitol stand the treasured Emery Houses whose architecture is evocative of Lansing’s Victorian era.

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Friday, May 7,2010

Virg Watch

The difference between Mayor Virg and candidate Virg

by Neal McNamara

What’s the difference between Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, and Michigan gubernatorial candidate Virg Bernero? Well, when it comes to making his stance on issues public, spokesmen for both sides of Bernero’s political life say, not much.On Tuesday, both the mayor’s office a...