Best, Brightest and Most Beautiful 2008: Abby Schmid
Abby Schmid, Senior Scientist at Kraft Foods
News Briefs 7-11
LANSING, MI — Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Don Koivisto has announced that Michigan-grown tomatoes are not associated with the current Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak and have been declared safe to eat by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Michigan has been added to the FDA’s “safe to consume” list available online.
$2 Billion Dollars of MI Taxes Spent on Corrections
Today, the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) is the largest program that state government operates directly, accounting for nearly 20 percent ($2 billion) of the current discretionary General Fund budget and employing nearly one-third of the classified workforce. Corrections programs growth is a direct result of the dramatic increase in the number of inmates from 1973 to 2007, during which time the population grew 538 percent, or roughly 42,000 prisoners, to 50,000 inmates. Official MDOC projections reflect a continuation of the historical trends over the next five years as the prison population is estimated to be slightly more than 56,000 by the end of 2012.
R. KELLY JURORS SPEAK: Most believed it was singer on the tape, but there ‘wasn’t enough evidence to prosecute.’
The 12 jurors who set R. Kelly free of child pornography charges Friday were reportedly in agreement that the singer was actually on the tape, but could not find him guilty because there was "not enough evidence to prosecute."
Severe weather season hasn’t ended in Michigan
Tammy Banovik stands on her front lawn where a tree had fallen on 2213 S. Washington Avenue. Sue Jenkinson was outside cleaning up some falling branches during a recent storm in Lansing when it occurred. Photo by Nicole Wallace
Perspective by Melik
Life is a drag isn’t it, getting up every morning to go to work? Or for your second and third shifters you have the added pressure of your schedule being not quite like everyone else’s in your world. You probably work at a job that you don’t mind but it’s not really a dream job is it? On top of that if you have kids you have the added pressure of dealing with that 25/8. You love them but you had no idea it was going to be so taxing some times.
Excuse me, are you Listening? 7-11
When we saw each other we just smiled. The last time I saw her was in May. I spoke to her briefly on the telephone several times but never met her in person. She works at an organization that helps children who are in the worst situations. How could we ever forget the children in our community? We can write about the tsunami and Hurricane Katrina but what about the children who don’t have the same type of parents that you’re to your own children.
Do you have an opinion? 7-11
We would love to hear your thoughts about our articles. Letters, e-mail and photos should include your name, address, and daytime and evening phone numbers. Letters may be edited for length and clarity; photographs can only be returned with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Address : The New Citizens Press, Opinions, PO Box 19006, Lansing, MI 48901; or e-mail us at tncp@comcast.net.
**Please note that you will need to provide your full address, first and last name and signature. If you send you message by e-mail please include your phone number.