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MSU

New crops to boost biofuel

Corn is about to get some competition in the biofuel industry. A team of professors from MSU’s Department of Entomology examined several biofuel crops to see how many beneficial insects were attracted to the plants and found several other potential biofuel crop candidates.

MSU

English classes offered in March

Conversational English classes will be available for $15 in Wells Hall on March 16 through April 22. Six levels of classes, taught by graduate students in the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages program, will be offered to accommodate all proficiency levels.

MSU

MSU professors watch for star development

Megan Donahue is taking her sights out of East Lansing and setting them 219 million years away. The MSU professor of physics and astronomy is part of a team of researchers from across the globe keeping an eye on an unusual, two-pronged, star-creating tail of gas first discovered three years ago.

MICHIGAN

New Dems consider run for Governor

The exit of Democratic front-runner Lt. Gov. John Cherry from Michigan’s gubernatorial race three weeks ago left the Democratic candidacy wide open, and the position still is sparking interest among party leaders.

MSU

MSU Museum hosts exhibit for Darwin Discovery Day

A new exhibit in the MSU Museum took flight this week to coincide with the museum’s Darwin Discovery Day. The exhibit, called Avelution, focuses on birds highlighted by famed biologist Charles Darwin in his theories on evolution. The museum will host its Darwin Discovery Day from 1-5 p.m. Feb. 14.

MSU

Academic Council OKs student rights document

After about six years of review by a university committee, revisions to what has been referred to as the bill of rights for MSU students made it to the next step of implementation Tuesday after it was approved unanimously by Academic Council members.

MICHIGAN

City Center II developer pays city taxes

Strathmore Development Co., the developer in charge of the City Center II project, paid the entirety of its outstanding city taxes Tuesday. With the nearly-$96,000 ledger erased with the city, Strathmore’s amended site plan will be considered by the East Lansing Planning Commission at its Feb. 24 meeting. The city had previously notified Strathmore owner Scott Chappelle that it would not consider any changes to the project until all city taxes were paid.

MICHIGAN

Texting while driving ban passes Senate

Texting and driving might soon be illegal in Michigan because of moves made Tuesday in the state Senate. A two-bill package that would make texting and driving a secondary offense passed in the Senate 31-6 and a similar bill passed in the Michigan House 94-13 in December. The bills must now be reconciled and sent to Gov. Jennifer Granholm for approval to become law.

MSU

MSU 'bill of rights' to see update

Academic dispute cases eventually could be handled by a new board of representatives from across the university if a set of proposed changes to MSU’s student rights document moves forward today.

MSU

Cautiously optimistic

After a year’s worth of setbacks, MSU officials are moving forward with construction of the multimillion-dollar Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, despite not having all the funds raised for the project.

MSU

Distinguished MSU alumnus dies Sunday

When Steven Wildman first met James Quello 10 years ago, he expected to find an elderly man. What Wildman found instead was an energetic 85-year-old who “treated everyone as if they were the most important person in the world,” he said.