Innovations: MSU professor strives to protect tomatoes from pests, disease
With a family tree filled with farmers, Gregg Howe's interest in plants was almost inevitable. Howe's father and grandfather were both farmers, so his family spent a lot of time outdoors, he said. "I guess I just sort of have an appreciation of nature," the biochemistry and molecular biology professor said. But the defining moment for Howe's career choice was seeing a professor decapitate a rat. At the time, he was studying biology as an undergraduate at East Carolina University. They were working on the rat's liver, and the professor had to sacrifice the animal in the process, Howe said. The class stood around and watched. "That wasn't too appealing," he said with a laugh.
Coaches cope with tragedies
Chicago — Coping with tragedies that struck their football programs, Northwestern University head coach Pat Fitzgerald and Indiana head coach Bill Lynch have made an effort, along with their players, to put losses on and off the field behind them. Not so long ago, Fitzgerald and his teammates were stunning the college football world and taking Northwestern on an improbable run to the Rose Bowl during the 1995 season. But then, things began to change.
WEB EXTRA: Package causes evacuation of Romney Building
At 9 a.m. a suspicious package was delivered to the George W. Romney Building, 111 South Capitol Ave., Lansing, and by 9:30 a.m.
Suburban dangers
My grandparents own a farm four hours north of East Lansing, outside of Boyne City. Growing up, every holiday break from school or a birthday meant another trip to the farm.
Football veterans out of top positions
Chicago — First-year football head coach Mark Dantonio admitted Tuesday that change is tough, and MSU's preseason depth chart shows he's not joking. While senior Terry Love and sophomore T.J.
Word on the street
What do you do to keep cool on hot summer days? "I worked all day in the air conditioning, and now I'm going to class to sit in the heat.
Perks for coaches do not affect student tuition
Steve Japinga's letter, "Special treatment for coaches waste of money" (SN 7/31), was way off base. Our tuition is not increasing because of courtesy cars or country club memberships for coaches and athletic administrators.
MIDDAY UDPATE: Mich. bridges to be re-evaluated Friday
Michigan motorists shouldn't second guess crossing over any of the state's bridges, experts say. The Interstate 35W bridge that collapsed Wednesday in Minnesota was named "structurally deficient" two years ago.
FAT Act allows citizens to track tax dollars
Lansing — Michigan citizens could see how every single tax dollar is spent by the state if a package of bills created by House Republicans is passed into law. The Funding Accountability and Transparency, or FAT Act, would require each department in state government, public schools, universities and community colleges to list the use of taxpayer dollars on a Web site accessible to the public. "It's best described as 'Google government,'" said Rep.
Not all Christians deserving of criticism
Isaac DeVille's inflammatory opinion, "Tyranny of faith" (SN 7/31), disheartens me but does not surprise me.
Locking classroom doors could save lives
Would locking classroom doors ensure the safety of students? Experts say yes. There is a simple solution to preventing tragedies such as the Virginia Tech University massacre and shootings at Columbine High School: putting locks on the inside of classroom doors. All MSU classrooms and buildings have locks, especially those with expensive laboratory equipment or computer systems, said Bill Latta, director of facilities planning in the Office of Planning and Budgets. Different types of classrooms require different types of locking situations. General classrooms, such as those in Berkey Hall, which host many different disciplines, are kept open for students and faculty.
MSU doing what it can to prevent embezzlement
I believe it is important for me to respond to "Embezzlers deserve harsher penalty" (SN 7/26), and add some clarifying and significant points. First, the internal control process worked in catching employees who embezzled from the university. Second, Internal Audit is not in charge of the penalty phase - we do an investigation of the facts and provide our report to MSU's Department of Police and Public Safety who, in turn, gives it to the prosecutor who pursues appropriate charges and penalties. Third, when there is a lack of required oversight, an opportunity is provided for embezzlement to take place. Finally, the university processes more than $30 million annually in purchasing card transactions.
Heat wave hits city
Summer is at its peak in East Lansing - and weather officials say this week's hot temperatures will linger for a while longer.
Lugnuts manager, players back up Bonds
Lansing Lugnuts outfielder Brian Pettway and manager Gary Cathcart have come to the defense of accused steroid user and soon-to-be home run king Barry Bonds. The San Francisco Giants slugger is one home run away from tying and two home runs away from breaking Hank Aaron's all-time home run record. "If he breaks it, that's fine," Pettway said before the Lugnuts played Tuesday.
Breaking alcohol myths a good plan
An MSU group recently received a $175,000 grant to publicize its findings regarding alcohol consumption by college students. The idea behind the group's research is that students enter college with misconceptions about their peers' drinking habits.
It's a family a-fair
Mason — The cinnamony scent of fried elephant ears sizzling on the grill seems the same, and so do the bright lights of the Ferris wheel in the night sky. Even so, much has changed behind the scenes at the Ingham County Fair. For the first year, the Ingham County Fair Board has hired Skerbeck Brothers Shows Inc. to run the carnival. Joe Skerbeck co-owns the carnival company with his brother, Bill.
Tasty Twist robbery fails, suspect at large
A man brandishing a semiautomatic handgun was unsuccessful in robbing Tasty Twist, 1307 E. Grand River Ave., on July 25, according to an East Lansing Police Department news release. The attempted robbery happened at about 11:30 p.m.
Don't change your values to please a boyfriend or girlfriend
I feel like all too often, women forget there are billions of men in the world. Literally, men are everywhere.
Safety Carnival to take place Aug. 7
East Lansing National Night Out Safety Carnival will take place from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Aug. 7 at Patriarche Park, 1100 Alton Road. National Night Out is a national event and campaign used to aid crime prevention and promote community interaction. Co-sponsored by the East Lansing Police Department and East Lansing Kiwanis Club, attendees can enjoy free hot dogs, chips and drinks, and participate in activities such as a First Aid kit workshop, carnival games and Michigan National Guard climbing wall. For more information, call (517) 319-6813.