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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

Finding the faith

As the music of the piano and other instruments drifts in the background, the choir leads the St. John Student Parish congregation in song. With their hymnal books open, the parish stands in Father Mark Inglot's presence.

MICHIGAN

Drama unfolds during mystery game

Friday night, it was curtains for Don "Big Jim" Ravioli. Less than an hour into a gala celebrating the grand opening of a friend's speakeasy, the mob boss was brutally gunned down in front of gangsters, gamblers and scantily clad harlots. The lights flickered out seconds before the shooting and, despite a broken champagne bottle near Big Jim's bullet-ridden body, no other evidence remained.

MICHIGAN

'U' machine group beat by Purdue team

Members of the MSU Rube Goldberg Machine Team spent more than four months tinkering with wires and mousetraps to get their contraption ready for the national competition held Saturday at Purdue University.

MICHIGAN

Small businesses fight to survive

After nearly two decades on the block, John Novak said he has witnessed many a small business' rise and fall on Grand River Avenue. Novak reopened Wazoo Records, 619 E.

MICHIGAN

Senate bills would make insurance info public

Some lawmakers are working to make the confidential factors that influence the cost of car insurance public. A nonprofit agency - created to reimburse some insurance companies for providing coverage to injured people needing lifetime coverage after car accidents - is stirring up debate because some legislators say the group is keeping secrets from Michigan's residents. Michigan is the only state that provides lifetime coverage for personal injuries in car accidents.

MICHIGAN

No joke: Newborn wins LCC award

Lansing - Twelve hours after José Robert Gutiérrez first entered the world on Thursday, he got a free chance to prove he was no fool. In a hospital lounge, surrounded by news camera crews, the baby boy and his parents, Reneé and José Gutiérrez, were presented with a free year of schooling at Lansing Community College. The scholarship, awarded every April Fools' Day for the last 10 years, is part of the college's celebration of National Community College Month.

MICHIGAN

Lawmakers debate options for 'sin taxes'

As bills aimed at closing the state's budget shortfall by raising "sin taxes" make their way through the state Legislature, supporters for and against the bills are making their opinions heard. In the state House on Tuesday, a number of Republican legislators proposed amendments to the state's budget that would reduce spending, rather than raise taxes on cigarettes and liquor.

MICHIGAN

City parking department budget expected to come up short; officials suggest creation of task force

After years of budgetary problems, the East Lansing Parking Department is bracing for another budget shortfall at the end of this fiscal year. At an East Lansing City Council work session on March 23, parking administrator Dan O'Connor asked that a special task force be created to find more efficient ways for the city to cut parking costs and increase parking revenue. O'Connor outlined a report of this year's budget as it currently stands and where the department expects to be when the fiscal year ends in June.

MICHIGAN

Students bring projects to state Capitol

Lansing - About 50 students from MSU, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University had an opportunity Wednesday to showcase their research projects at the Capitol. The first Michigan Undergraduate Research Forum brought the top-three research institutions in the state together to display the research conducted by undergraduate students. The program was opened with speeches from MSU Provost Lou Anna Simon, as well as university heads from U-M and Wayne State.

MICHIGAN

Carbon dioxide levels reach record highs

A greenhouse gas is showing up in the earth's atmosphere at record-high levels, and officials say global climatic patterns could be impacted in the future. According to a report released earlier this month by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's climate monitoring lab in Hawaii, carbon dioxide levels have reached record highs in the past year.

MICHIGAN

Grand Ledge McDonald's beefs up, supersizes image

Grand Ledge - Customers at a recently renovated area McDonald's restaurant might soon skip ordering at the drive-through window, opting instead to eat their fast-food meal inside, sitting on plastic wood-like chairs next to a roaring fireplace. After closing its dining room for one month of renovations, the McDonald's at 608 S.

MICHIGAN

Darkest night

Five years after 10,000 revelers torched the streets of East Lansing and tainted MSU's name, the scars still are visible as a reminder of the college town's darkest night. March 27, 1999, signaled the beginning of a new era for MSU as the men's basketball team returned to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 20 years.