MSU

MSU vets use new technology to preserve salamander population

Ashley Brown

August 10, 2010

After learning North America’s largest salamander was in danger of extinction, MSU veterinarians have teamed up with two zoos to start researching the sticky situation. Due to the declining populations of the hellbender salamander, MSU researchers — with help from the Nashville Zoo and Antwerp Zoo in Belgium — have been tracking and collecting sperm samples from the remaining salamanders.

MICHIGAN

Emergency notification system to inform Ingham County residents

Andrew Krietz

August 10, 2010

A new initiative is giving residents of Ingham County an opportunity to receive notifications of emergencies and traffic advisories from across the county. East Lansing officials and the East Lansing Police Department are encouraging people to sign up for Nixle, an online information service that allows local governments to send real-time text messages and e-mails to subscribers. City Manager Ted Staton said the service is an alternative to traditional means of broadcasting important information — such as a radio station alerting the public of a road closure. “So many people are very tech savvy — that is where they get important news,” Staton said.

MICHIGAN

StateSide deli prepares to open E.L. location

Pat Evans

August 9, 2010

The second location of StateSide Deli, which will open Wednesday in downtown East Lansing, will fulfill the name of the store, a sentiment missing from the original location in Okemos. With the newest location of StateSide Deli, 313 E. Grand River Ave., Spencer Soka, the deli’s owner, said he is planning on the New York-style deli to be an MSU mainstay.

MICHIGAN

E.L., Meridian plan to share services

Alanna Thiede

August 9, 2010

An agreement between East Lansing and Meridian Township to share construction inspection services and save money for both communities went into effect Monday. As a result of the agreement, Meridian Township utility inspections will be conducted by East Lansing inspectors.

MSU

Garden Tour to be held Tuesday

Alanna Thiede

August 9, 2010

The annual MSU Garden Plant Showcase will take place all day Tuesday at the Plant and Soil Science Building and Trial Gardens. The showcase will feature MSU faculty and staff discussing top-performing plants.

MSU

MSU Quilt Index to receive grant

Meagan Choi

August 9, 2010

This fall, the MSU Museum’s Quilt Index — an online database of more than 50,000 quilt images — will prepare to expand its resources internationally, using an almost $100,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, or IMLS. The IMLS is the primary source of federal support for U.S. libraries and museums. The Quilt Index was one of 13 national recipients to receive one-year project planning grants.

MICHIGAN

Pass It Forward website hosts 2nd annual event

Ashley Brown

August 8, 2010

When Bob Hoffman, the public relations manager for Wharton Center, was cut off by a woman driving in front of him, he had no idea it would lead to the grassroots nonprofit movement ePIFanyNow.org. Hoffman invited friends to do the same, resulting in 250 people at Dublin Square Irish Pub, 327 Abbot Road, for the inaugural Pass It Forward party in February 2009, which was hosted by the website.

MICHIGAN

Locals compete in Down syndrome scavenger hunt

Anthony Odoardi

August 8, 2010

About 90 percent of pregnant women who discover their child will be born with Down syndrome have an abortion, but Jamie Rahrig, the vice president of activities and events for the Capital Area Down Syndrome Association, or CADSA sported her “proud parent” T-shirt Saturday, which displayed a picture of her 6-year-old son, Jackson, who has Down syndrome. Rahrig and CADSA hosted an inaugural scavenger hunt event Saturday, which was used not only to garner funds for other CADSA functions, but also to raise awareness about the genetic disorder.

MSU

17 program graduates to compete in election

Karen Confer

August 8, 2010

Seventeen graduates from an MSU political training program will compete in the Michigan November general elections to become legislators in the state House of Representatives. Since the Michigan Political Leadership Program, or MPLP, began at MSU in 1992, 10 graduates have served in the House and six currently serve.

MSU

MSU shows green thumbs on Garden Day

Aseel Machi

August 8, 2010

Friday was the annual Garden Day at MSU, led and organized by the MSU Horticulture Gardens, and with a dozen workshops and two keynote speakers, including the director of the MSU Horticulture Gardens, Art Cameron. The day is an opportunity for the public to learn how to be successful gardeners.

MSU

MSU, Habitat, Whirlpool join together to honor Sept. 11

Emily Wilkins

August 8, 2010

A decade after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the day has come to symbolize supporting America through service. To commemorate the anniversary, MSU will collaborate with Habitat for Humanity and Whirlpool Corp. for its 2010 Whirlpool Building Blocks program. The nation-wide program has targeted seven different communities in which to build a house, and MSU is the first college campus to be involved in the project.

MSU

MSU College of Human Medicine receives $1M donation

Emily Wilkins

August 8, 2010

MSU received $1 million from the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation last week to help students at MSU’s College of Human Medicine get life-like experience as pediatric doctors. The grant will fund a pediatric simulation center containing high-tech mannequins used to simulate actual humans for pediatric students to practice on.

MSU

MSU professor creates pest-resistant soybean plants

Emily Wilkins

August 5, 2010

A new trait in soybean crops developed by MSU could help farmers be more efficient while reducing the amount of chemicals sprayed on the plants. Dechun Wang, an associate professor of crop and soil sciences, has developed two genes in soybean plants that render the plants resistant to soybean aphids, which are insects that feed off the plant.

MICHIGAN

E.L. voters pass updated CATA millage proposal

Pat Evans

August 4, 2010

Two ballot proposals crucial to the funding of the Capital Area Transportation Authority, or CATA, were approved by voters during Tuesday’s primary election. One proposal — which passed with 63 percent of the vote — was to renew and conjoin two millages for CATA, allowing the buses to continue operating without cutbacks.

MICHIGAN

McGillicuddy to face Meadows Nov. 2

Meagan Choi

August 4, 2010

As polls closed Tuesday evening, Susan McGillicuddy felt the support of Michigan’s 69th district with 65 percent of the vote in the Republican primary election for a seat in the state House of Representatives. McGillicuddy, an MSU alumna and 10-year Meridian Township supervisor, had 4,123 votes to beat opposing Republican candidate and General Motors Corp. lineworker Frank Lambert’s 2,237.

MICHIGAN

Canady, O'Berry ready for Nov. race

Karen Confer

August 4, 2010

Following a close finish, Clinton Canady and Billie Jo O’Berry were the top two vote-getters in Tuesday’s primary for 30th Circuit Court Judge, allowing them to move on to a November general election face-off. Canady, the founder of Canady Law Offices and an attorney with 37 years of experience, earned nearly 30 percent of the vote. In second, O’Berry, an assistant city attorney for the city of Lansing, gained 27 percent support.

MICHIGAN

Voters approve library millage

Andrew Krietz

August 4, 2010

Employees at the Capital Area District Library, or CADL, knew even in a slowing economy, area residents still would be there to support their services. Voters approved a CADL proposal to renew 1.56 mills, or $156 for a house worth $100,000, for the next four years during Tuesday’s primary election.

MICHIGAN

Breast-feeding awareness walk held

Alanna Thiede

August 4, 2010

Breast-feeding mothers face unique challenges when returning to work, and MSU’s Breastfeeding Initiative, or BFI, is hoping to create solutions. The organization held its second annual Breastfeeding Awareness Walk on Wednesday along the Red Cedar River to inform the MSU community of obstacles faced by working, breast-feeding mothers.

MSU

GM allows students to test drive cars

Andrew Krietz

August 4, 2010

With a variety of makes, models and pricing points, owning a new vehicle might be one of the first expensive and confusing purchases a college student can make. Jason Fisher, the regional director of the investment company StraightLine, said that as a college student, it is necessary to think about the most important aspects of buying a vehicle — especially cost.

MSU

African languages class ends at MSU

Aseel Machi

August 4, 2010

There was a representation of 15 different African languages Wednesday evening at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, marking the end of the 18th annual Summer Cooperative African Language Institute, or SCALI, at MSU. SCALI is an eight-week educational course in African languages, combining four hours of class time with additional extracurricular activities and homework for students.