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LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) - One person is injured and another is in custody after an assault Monday. Officials were called to the 1300 block of Knollwood around 5:30a.m., but the incident has continued intoget more >> Lansing police say a woman in her early 20s was assaulted at a home in the 1300 block of Knollwood on Monday.get more >> LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) - The man killed over the weekend at a strip club has been identified as Christopher Michael Goins, 21, of Lansing. Goins was found at Centerfolds Strip Club with a gunshot woundget more >> Officials say they have a few leads, but no one in custodyget more >> JACKSON, Mich. (WLNS)- A Jackson man is in the hospital after being stabbed multiple times Tuesday night. It happened just after 8 P.M. on the 300 block of Wilkins Street in Jackson. Where officialsget more >> A 31-year-old female is in custody after allegedly stabbing a 50-year-old man multiple timesget more >> LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) - Two suspects were arraigned Tuesday after what police say was a sexual and physical assault the day before. Mohamed Ali Adawe, 27, and Bishaaro Mohamed Abdi, 31, both of Lansing,get more >> Mohamed Ali Adawe, 27, and Bishaaro Mohamed Abdi, 31, both of Lansing, faced a judgeget more >> Meridian Township says now is the time to make some major changes to Cornell road, but it's the only natural beauty road in town. So the idea of cutting down trees to make those changes had many outraged. Ourget more >> Meridian Township says now is the time to make some major changes to Cornell road, but it's the only natural beauty road in townget more >> EAST LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) - Jackson National Life announced Tuesday they will be opening up on East Grand River Ave and Charles Street, which used to be a Barnes & Nobles. According to a release, thisget more >> According to a release, this fall, the company plans to unveil its new facility near Michigan State's campusget more >> EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Michigan State University is proposing to charge juniors and seniors more than other undergraduate students. Trustees on Friday will consider raising tuition by 3.6 percentget more >> Michigan State University is proposing to charge juniors and seniors more than other undergraduate studentsget more >> LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)- Chrysler is now recalling more than 2.5 million of its most popular vehicles. This after initially refusing a request by the government earlier this month. The automaker stillget more >> Chrysler is now recalling more than 2.5 million of its most popular vehicles.get more >> LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)- Last week's rainfall still remains troublesome for many Lansing area families. Leaking windows, flooded basements, and even sewage backups are some of the reports coming from homeowners.get more >> Leaking windows, flooded basements, and even sewage backups are some of the reports coming from Lansing homeowners since the big storms last week.get more >> LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) - Lansing Police are asking for your help to track down an armed robber who they say walked into Lucky's Party Store. Officers say the man entered with either a knife or a gun onget more >> Despite a K-9 track, police couldn't find the suspectget more >>
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta announced Thursday that women will be allowed to perform in combat. Pentagon officials say the new policy will be phased in over the next three years and will open more than 200,000 front-line jobs to women serving mostly in the Army and Marines. Lifting the ban also means more advancement opportunities and higher pay for women.
President Barack Obama commented that allowing women to serve in combat marks another step toward the country's founding ideals of fairness and equality. Obama said in a written statement he expressed strong support for the decision to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who lifted the combat ban Thursday.
Obama says he is confident the decision - coupled with the recent repeal of the ban on gays in the military - will strengthen the U.S. military.
"I think it's a great opportunity for soldiers and airmen, females to advance in the military," said LTC Theresa Brown, a member of the Michigan National Guard.
"If they're qualified, then they should have the opportunity to do just that," said Staff Sgt. Diana Ferguson, a member of the Michigan National Guard.
Combat is nothing new to Lt. Colonel Theresa Brown. In her 24-year Michigan National Guard Career, she's been deployed to Guantanamo Bay and Afghanistan and believes women can handle being on the front lines.
"There are very tough women out there. I've seen males that haven't been able to handle the rigors of combat," said Brown. "I think if a woman wants to be in that position, they'll train, they'll be able to do it."
The idea also has its skeptics. Local Marine Corps Korean Combat Veteran Eugene Hanson served in the 1950's as a tank commander and isn't sure if women can physically keep up with the men.
"If a woman can do it, fine. That's got to be the woman's prerogative," said Hanson. "The new generation, I don't know. Over where I was at, I wouldn't want them over there."
