COMMENTARY
U.S. occupation in Iraq doesn't benefit region
A tragically mistaken war in Iraq is not going to be fashioned into any kind of victory worth winning.
MICHIGAN
'FRESH' choices for less
Greasy chips and candy bars may be a cheap buy, but some farmer's markets provide low-income families and seniors with healthier alternatives at a lower cost. The Meridian Township Farmer's Market, 5151 Marsh Road, in Okemos, offers Project FRESH, a program that provides $20 coupons redeemable for fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables. "It's rewarding to be able to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to several people who might not be able to get them otherwise," said Earl Threadgould, a Mason farmer and vendor at the market. "The second advantage is, by having them get fruits and vegetables Michigan-grown, it helps people get accustomed to having fruits and vegetables, and they improve their eating habits," Threadgould said. Project FRESH began in 1986 and provides eligible families with coupon booklets to be used from until through Oct.
NEWS
MIDDAY UPDATE: Dantonio optimistic heading into football season
Chicago — Although members of the Big Ten Conference media voted Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio State as the top three preseason football favorites, MSU head football coach Mark Dantonio was not hanging his head. "Our attitude at MSU right now is we will measure up," Dantonio said at the Big Ten media conference at Chicago's Hyatt Regency.
NEWS
June brings unemployment increase to state
Jobless rates in June jumped, according to a report released Thursday by the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth, or MDLEG. The report showed unemployment rates increased in 14 of Michigan's 17 metropolitan statistical areas, or MSAs, in June.
NEWS
Former MSU wrestlers test their grit in ultimate fighting
Fenced in the eight-sided cage called the Octagon, Gray Maynard's adrenaline is boiling over. The roar of screams and cheers from the thousands in attendance surround the former MSU wrestler turned fighter of mixed martial arts, or MMA, in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
COMMENTARY
Tyranny of faith
For a very long time now, Christianity has been marketed as a religion of love. Not only is it a religion of love, we're told, but also it is a religion of redemption and forgiveness.
COMMENTARY
Special treatment for coaches waste of money
On Friday, The Detroit News reported that not only does MSU pay for courtesy cars for athletic coaches and athletic administrators, but "Michigan State hands out another perk reserved for the highest echelons of private business - a country club membership." According to the report, the memberships cost the school around $35,000 a year.
BASEBALL
Under-11 World Series of baseball visits E.L.
The East Lansing Softball Complex, 6400 Abbott Road, came to life this past weekend as young sluggers from throughout the Midwest descended upon its fields to battle for the Baseball Players Association World Series title. Twelve teams, composed of players ages 11 and under, from the association's Midwest league, stole bases, smashed fly balls and struck out from Thursday-Sunday. The Baseball Players Association is an organization that runs baseball leagues for players of all ages throughout the nation. Bob Schrah, state director of the Baseball Players Association, said the softball complex's quality facilities made it an ideal location to hold the event. "This is by far the smoothest place we've held tournaments," he said. While the young players were brimming with enthusiasm as they cheered on their teammates, the swarms of families were equally passionate.
NEWS
Alcohol awareness research gets $175K
An MSU team has been nationally recognized for its paramount role in researching drinking misperceptions in college students. The group, comprised of MSU faculty, staff and health educators, was awarded a $175,000 grant from the U.S.
COMMENTARY
Farming changes
Despite veto threats from the president, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a new and improved version of the multibillion-dollar farm bill, the core of the country's government farm program that sends subsidies to U.S.
NEWS
Preaching peace
In the United States, many people's childhood memories are a compilation of playing outdoors and skinned knees, of games with friends and petty fights - many children get the luxury of growing up relatively stress free. But the Rev.
COMMENTARY
Everyone should be tested for hepatitis C
As a representative of virtually all the facilities nationwide that collect blood and 80 percent of those that transfuse blood and blood components, I wanted to bring to your attention inaccurate information included in "Mich.
MICHIGAN
Photo ID required
With a change in the state's voting policy, casting a ballot in Michigan will require more than just a pen - it'll require photo identification. In a 5-2 decision July 18, the Michigan Supreme Court upheld a 1996 law that required voters to present photo ID every time they voted.
NEWS
SAF to play smaller role without Corner Blitz
The Student Alumni Foundation will still be part of the game plan this football season, despite the demise of Corner Blitz. In hopes of creating a more unified student section, the athletics department was a driving force in opting for one student section, rather than a divided group of student fans - those who paid extra to be part of SAF's more exclusive Corner Blitz section and those who didn't. For $15 more, Corner Blitz members automatically received SAF memberships, and for a few extra dollars they got T-shirts and gameday handouts. Although SAF lost a program that included more than 3,000 members last football season, the organization's Vice President of Operations Richard Aufderheide said the effects are minimal. Many of SAF's major programs, such as Izzone, Corner Blitz, the Sparty Mascot Program and Slapshots, pay for themselves and are self-sufficient, he said. "We charged extra money for Corner Blitz, but every dime went back into the program," he said.
NEWS
Nameless student section causes stir
As the familiar sights and sounds of Spartan football loom right around the corner, one thing will be different - a newly unified student section without a collective name. Numerous Facebook.com groups were created in response to merging the two sections, giving students a chance to voice their opinions on topics such as T-shirt designs, cheers and the name of the section. Dan Stoller, creator of the group "Spartan Football.
COMMENTARY
Contradictions, flaws in Bible from the beginning
This is to respond to John Hayden's letter "Non-Christian teachings cause of world tragedies" (SN 7/26). In it, he states his belief that the Bible is the guiding path to glory.
MICHIGAN
New store to cater to college students
Joe Conrad has catered to the hungry, late-night drunken crowd before. The former MSU student involved in opening the Menna's Joint restaurants is at it again with Conrad's Corner, 228 Abbott Road. Conrad describes his new business, located next to Rick's American Cafe, 224 Abbott Road, as a miniature convenience store. "The store is going to be a glorified concessions stand with more of an emphasis on food," he said.
COMMENTARY
Cost of school should be same for all
Many students will soon pay more for choosing a certain major at public universities across the country. High professorial salaries in certain fields, expensive specialized equipment and waning state funding for public universities are driving some state schools to charge higher tuition to students in fields like business, engineering and journalism. Such majors focus on learning a task, and students paying more for a certain major may focus on taking classes only within that major to get their money's worth.
NEWS
Trustees retreat to bond, mull MSU affairs
Talking, eating and working - that's pretty much what the MSU Board of Trustees did Wednesday through Friday at Crystal Mountain, a resort in Thompsonville. After a tour of Nugent Farms, owned and operated by Trustee Don Nugent, the board spent Thursday discussing some long-term strategies for the university and focusing on external relations, such as how MSU is viewed by the rest of the world, Trustee Colleen McNamara said. "It was quite a conceptual retreat," she said.