Lansing State Journal from Lansing, Michigan • Page 1

State amsio 75 THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2009 The power Of knowing Since 1855 NEW ANIMALS, EXPANDED EXHIBITS PLANNED Sports 10B Durrell Summers rrnssPTC" Well, THE CONTENDERS Online kl'li Extra For full coverage of the NCAA men's and women's tournament, go to www.lsj.com marchmania. Joe Rexrode says MSU is among 8 teams in men's tournament that still have a real shot at winning title. hello! An otter checks out visitors Wednesday at Potter Park Zoo. A Web cam will be placed near the otter exhibit so viewers can keep up with the otters online. Below, a female Bighorn sheep stands in the rain.

Two Bighorn sheep from the Buffalo Zoo will be coming to Lansing. ROD SANFORO Lansing State Journal SPRING MOVIE PREVIEW Find out what Hollywood has on tap I 5 Lti, hibi. eft mli More to see, do at Lansing zoo Changes aim to increase revenue Emm ay llr with wfi Attendance climbs at Potter Park Zoo State Senate expected to OK bill allocating stimulus funds 150, Christine Rook clrooklsj.com New animals, massive landscaping projects and expanded exhibits are all part of big plans at the Potter Park Zoo this year. Expect to see a new tiger, new wolf, more Bighorn 120 137.236 118.639 110.167 '-m -I i I INSIDE 3 90 3 60 30 Zoo improvements Potter Park Zoo has budgeted almost $670,000 in capital improvements this year. Here are some of the plans: I A aviary where visitors can step insidaand feed the birds.

The aviary will contain about 450 Australian birds. The exhibit is expected to open at the end of May. I A new female tiger, which will arrive in mid-April, will be on exhibit possibly in mid-May or early June. The zoo currently has a male tiger. Two Bighorn Sheep from the Buffalo Zoo are to go on exhibit in May or June.

Potter Park Zoo currently has a female. The male and female from Buffalo may yield baby Bighorns next year. New signs will be installed throughout the zoo and will be interpretive and interactive to help create a sense of place and a theme for visitors. Slightly more than $35,000 is budgeted for landscaping improvements throughout the zoo. aviary, amid hundreds of snack-friendly birds.

Potter workers are toying with the name "Wings from Down Under." Now, the exhibit is pretty much a poured-concrete pad the base for the bird haven. The aviary will be free with the price of zoo admission. The seed sticks will cost an extra $1. "You'll have five, six, seven birds come down and perch on your arms," zoo Director Gerry Brady said, explaining what people can expect. "They'll just have so much fun." The zoo has budgeted $667,100 for capital expenses this calendar year.

That's almost 17 percent of See ZOO Page 2A Sheep and ostriches, another lemur and about 450 Austra Online 'A Extra For more photos, check out www.lsj.com. Scott Davis sedavisSlsj.com The asphalt and concrete could soon be flowing across mid-Michigan. The state Senate is scheduled to vote today on an $873 million road funding bill that would send $57 million to the region for state trunk line projects. The state House already has approved the bill and the Senate is expected to OK the measure. If the money is approved, construction on one or more of six regional projects could begin as early as July, said Kari Arend, regional spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Trans- A list of the five costliest of 13 road projects submitted by the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, Page 5A portation.

That includes $3.5 million to resurface Interstate 96 from Meridian Road to M-52 in Ingham County. That would come as good news to area contractors surviving in a sluggish economy. Key goals of the federal stimulus money approved in February are to expand jobs and build the nation's infrastructure. "There's not a lot of see Roads Page 5A 2006 2007 2008 Sources: City of Lansing. Ingham County Lansing State Journal "It's going to be a good year," said zoo veterinarian Tara Harrison.

And how could it not be, with Potter Park just weeks away from opening an interactive exhibit that puts visitors seed sticks in hand inside a giant lian birds: That's just the start of the changes Greater Lansing is in for this spring and summer at the Ingham County-run zoo in Lansing. Officials hope the changes drive attendance figures and revenues up. Economy showing signs of life, but analysts say worst may not be over I Projects slated for approval MD0T is planning the following projects in the region using the stimulus money; the Michigan Senate is expected to approve the following projects today: $45 million to reconstruct a portion of 1-96 between M-43 and Wacousta Road in Clinton and Eaton counties. I $3.5 million to resurface 1-96 from Meridian Road to M-52 in Ingham County. $3.2 million for road restoration on 1-69 between Chandler and Peacock roads in Clinton County.

JOBLESS RATE IN MICH. HITS 12 Michigan's unemployment rate rose to 12 percent in February, marking the eighth straight monthly increase, the state reported Wednesday. Story, Page 4A. On Wednesday, the Commerce Department said demand for big-ticket manufactured goods, which had fallen for six months in a row, actually rose by 3.4 per Recovery in key areas unlikely anytime soon Associated Press WASHINGTON Glimmers of hope for the economy better home sales and higher demand for goods, plus optimism from the White House and a nearly 20 percent rally in stocks have some people wonder cent in February. And reports this week have shown sales of both new and existing homes rising by about 5 percent last month.

On Wall Street, the landscape looks better. The Dow Jones industrials gained about 90 points on Wednesday to close a fraction of a point under 7,750 an 18 percent rally from its low point on March 9. And President Barack Obama struck a more hopeful see Economy Page5A ing if the worst is over. Not so fast, say many economists. Layoffs are still mounting and home prices are still falling in an economy shrinking at an alarming rate.

A recovery anytime soon doesn't seem likely. "We may be seeing the end of the beginning of this recession, but it is not the beginning of the end of the downturn," said David Wyss, chief economist at Standard Poor's in New York. Still, the recent news has been better than expected. $2.8 million for cold-milling and streetscape work on M-50, from Hallawood to Kimbark in Eaton Rapids. I $2.1 million to improve intelligent traffic system measures along 1-96, between Lansing and Novi.

$300,000 to resurface Cochran Avenue I between Warren Avenue and the Battle Creek River Bridge in Charlotte. SPEED READ Clinton says U.S. shares blame for Mexico drug wars At the beginning of a two-day trip to Mexico, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said that America's "insatiable" demand for illegal drugs Police hope jaywalking tickets increase pedestrian safety Insisting they aren't waging a war on wayward walkers, Lansing police said Wednesday that when they issue a jaywalking ticket after numerous warnings, the hope is that it will raise awareness of pedestrian safety. Page IB MORE INSIDE TEAM EFFORT: Obama, Democrats say they are united on this year's budget Pg. 3A STANDOFF: Ingham Township man held after five-hour standoff with police Pg.

IB Postmaster says service facing losses of 'historic proportions' Postmaster General John Potter told Congress on Wednesday that the post office is facing "losses of historic proportions" and will run out of money this year unless it gets help. Page4A High-speed rail raises questions The proposed Midwest Regional Rail Initiative designates Chicago as the hub of a Midwest high-speed rail line, but raises a few questions. Page 3A UN; Clinton and its inability to stop weapons from being smuggled into Mexico are fueling an alarming spike in violence along the border. Page 3A ROD SANFORDUnsing State Journal Just chillin': Moores Park Elementary second-graders Markyia Gilchrist (left) and William Roberts enjoy a beach party read-in. Story, Page IB.

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