Thursday, November 4,2010

Alexander's health

Local politician hospitalized but feeling “much better”

by Andy Balaskovitz

Alexander challenged Rogers in 2004 and 2008, helped lead a local petition drive to increase Michigan’s minimum wage and worked to extend health care coverage for the nearly 30,000 Ingham County residents without it. He ran unsuccessfully for Ingham County commissioner this year.

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Wednesday, November 3,2010

A GOP frenzy

Republicans celebrate a wave of victories

by Andy Balaskovitz

DETROIT — Well, there you have it. The Republican Party has a lot to cheer about.The GOP snagged the governorship, the offices of attorney general and secretary of state and two state Supreme Court seats easily before 10 p.m.

Wednesday, November 3,2010

Bullied out of the zoo?

Controversy surrounds the firing of the former Potter Park Zoological Society director

by Andy Balaskovitz

Diane McNeil, who was fired in March after 25 years at the Zoological Society, refused to disclose financial records of the society ' a private nonprofit in charge of fund-raising and education at the zoo ' without first checking with the society board of directors, her husband, Tom McNeil, says.

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Wednesday, November 3,2010

East side upgrades

Unique partnership hopes to educate eastside residents on efficient and affordable home renovations

by Andy Balaskovitz

The homes across from each other at 1501 and 1512 E. Kalamazoo St. will be hands-on models for home restoration. About 40 students in LCC’s Environment, Design and Building Technologies Department will remodel the two homes over the course of three years, educating interested residents on their energy efficient and cost effective renovations.

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Tuesday, November 2,2010

Kids in the Hall

Snow removal standards, a closed session and the unveiling of a (planned) consolidated service garage

by Andy Balaskovitz

Tuesday, Nov. 2 — There was no scheduled legislative business during Monday’s Lansing City Council meeting, but that just meant all the action happened immediately after during Committee of the Whole.Second Ward Councilwoman Tina Houghton kicked things off with a motion, which was approved 7-0 (with Vice President Kathie Dunbar absent) to go into a closed session in order to discuss the Market Place project. Finance Director Jerry Ambrose and City Attorney Brig Smith joined them.

Monday, November 1,2010

Defining the snow

Tonight’s Committee of the Whole will discuss the administration’s formal snow removal standards

by Andy Balaskovitz

Monday, Nov. 1 — The city of Lansing has come up with a set of standards that clarify city residents’ snow clearing responsibilities in light of the new snow and ice removal ordinance. However, the new standards leave out minimum snow depths for action and make residents clean up after snowplows.

Thursday, October 28,2010

‘Your rights: From hate crimes to marriage equality’

Forum at Cooley gives a rundown of legal protections for the LGBT community

by Andy Balaskovitz

Thursday, Oct. 28 — One year after President Barack Obama signed a bill extending hate crime protection based on gender, sexual orientation and gender identity, two legal experts explain LGBT rights, why Michigan is one of the least progressive states to offer these protections and why this year’s Supreme Court race matters.

Wednesday, October 27,2010

Virg Watch

Is the 'Mighty Mac' in Snyder's sights?

by Andy Balaskovitz

Wednesday, Oct. 27 — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Virg Bernero was in the northern regions Tuesday warning voters that if his Republican opponent Rick Snyder is elected, Snyder would privatize the Mackinac Bridge and give it a corporate name like the “McDonald’s Big Mac.”

Wednesday, October 27,2010

Kids in the Hall

Just like that, Market Place is back on

by Andy Balaskovitz

Tuesday, Oct. 26 — In a swift afternoon at the 30th Circuit Court, Pat Gillespie got his brownfield plan approved for his $23 million Marketplace project after the City Council wrestled over it for weeks. So why did it happen so fast?

Wednesday, October 27,2010

Approaching taxpayers

by Andy Balaskovitz

So now, 13 townships in Ingham County will have “special assessment” proposals on its ballots Nov. 2 that would finance police services: Alaiedon, Aurelius, Bunker Hill, Ingham, Leroy, Leslie, Locke, Onondaga, Stockbridge, Vevay, Wheatfield, White Oak and Williamstown.

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