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FEATURES

Alumna realizes Hollywood dream

Just when it seemed like Jennifer Hutchins was going to have completed a successful project in the demanding and competitive industry of show business, her production group’s luck took a turn for the worse. Now, her career is back on track.

NEWS

Cities, complexes work to improve safety

At 8 p.m. on June 29, residents heard gunshots echo through The Village at Chandler Crossings. In minutes, police from Bath Township, Clinton County and DeWitt Township responded to the scene, searching the area with flashlights and a K-9 unit.

NEWS

High temperatures to remain in E.L.; residents, businesses prepare for heat

East Lansing residents could experience the city’s most intense heat wave in more than a decade with temperatures forecasted to ascend above 90 most of this week. Heat advisories already are in place for southern Michigan and parts of the Upper Peninsula and could spread to Greater Lansing if the heat index rises over 100, said Bob Suttle, a National Weather Service specialist. Michigan last experienced a heat wave of similar length in 1995, Suttle said, although it is usual to experience smaller stints of intense heat this time of year.

NEWS

Family, friends remember MSU students’ ‘extraordinarily full’ life

From playing electric violin in a bluegrass band to traveling the world, graduate lifelong education student Aaron Riley, 21, approached every part of his life with passion, his father and fisheries and wildlife associate professor Shawn Riley said. His family never heard him complain, but Aaron Riley suffered from epilepsy, a disease that caused him to have partial seizures. Some of his family believe his death was related to his seizures. Aaron Riley’s body was found July 11 in Raystown Lake, in Huntingdon County, Pa.

Josh Mansour ·
MICHIGAN

Rally gangs up on bullies

After watching her children become victims of the same bullying that affected her as a child, Lisa Freeman decided to do something about it. In 2005 she created Abuse Bites, a nonprofit organization dedicated to stopping the abuse of both people and animals.

MICHIGAN

Outdoor film festival begins in E.L.

East Lansing resident Sherrie Baidoon and her two children, Caroline, 13, and Nicholas, 10, enjoyed a movie in the park Thursday at the first night of the Moonlight Film Festival at Valley Court Park, 400 Hillside Court.

MICHIGAN

State Legislature could set 48-month limit on welfare

Welfare-limiting legislation approved by the state Legislature last week has some worried the safety net currently in place to protect Michigan residents — including people with disabilities, victims of domestic violence, children and recent college graduates — no longer will be there to catch them when their income falls.

MSU

MSU to host Michigan Ag Expo

More than 250 agricultural vendors will flock to campus starting Tuesday for the 32nd annual Michigan Ag Expo. The three-day event — held in and around MSU’s South Campus farm — is expected to draw upwards of 15,000 visitors, nearly all members of the state’s farming industry.

SPORTS

68 MSU athletes earn academic award

Tied for most in the conference, MSU had 68 student-athletes presented with the 2010-11 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award, the conference announced Thursday. Along with Minnesota, the Spartans sit at the top of the conference, which recognized 534 total athletes.

FEATURES

Rock Camp members take stage at Common Ground

Although actor Jack Black wasn’t in attendance to share a timely AC/DC lyric, the School of Rock was in session Friday at the Common Ground Music Festival. Through a partnership with MSU’s Community Music School, or MSU CMS, and under the direction of Grand Rapids-based rock band, The Outer Vibe, more than 50 students took part in Rock Camp, a weeklong summer program for students ages 12-19.

COMMENTARY

Changing Detroit’s mentality

If there is anything I have learned as a student of public policy, it is that most large problems have complicated solutions. There are many independent variables that not only interact with a dependent variable but also play off themselves. We sometimes forget that when we hear the one-liners used in political campaigns.

NEWS

Compromise could have helped city, business

Last session, the East Lansing City Council did a great job protecting children from the dangers of alcohol. Unfortunately, no one told them that the children are already well protected in that respect. By a 3-2 vote, the council decided to deny an application that would have allowed the East Lansing BP gas station, 504 Michigan Ave., to sell packaged beer, wine and spirits.