COMMENTARY
Two sides of Iraq
The "surge" is a success. The "surge" is a failure. Come September, it is likely that you'll be hearing both verdicts from politicians, analysts and your neighbors.
MICHIGAN
LCC Faculty Jazz Combo to perform
The Lansing Community College Faculty Jazz Combo will perform music at 6:30 p.m., July 5 at LCC's Outdoor Amphitheatre, Washington Mall between Dart Auditorium and the Gannon Building in Lansing. The jazz group will perform its own music as well as charts from the Great American Songbook.
NEWS
Experts: Fireworks not all fun and games
The fuse to the Fourth of July is sizzling down, and when it burns out, city officials are hoping the bang comes with an "ooh" and "ahh," not an "ouch." The worst problem some people might face is ringing in their ears, but others could experience serious burns caused by matches, fireworks and grills.
MICHIGAN
Child Development enrollment open
MSU Child Development Laboratory is now accepting applications for fall enrollment for children ages 3 months to 5 years. The Child Development Laboratories provide services to children and families while training MSU students in child development. The play-based preschool program offers various, age-specific programs for children and parents at the East Lansing and Haslett campuses, located at 325 W.
MICHIGAN
E.L. hosts themed summer camps
The East Lansing Department of Parks, Recreation and Arts are hosting two theme camps to liven the humdrum of summer break for area children. A Rockit Robot theme camp will run 9 a.m.
NEWS
MSU will receive $50 million to study biofuels
The research ball is still rolling - MSU officials announced Tuesday the university received the largest research grant in its history, totaling $125 million. MSU will collaborate with the University of Wisconsin at Madison to establish the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, which will be one of three U.S.
MICHIGAN
Term limits reconsidered
An initiative proposed in the Michigan House of Representatives could change the way legislators do business at the Capitol by extending term limits on both representatives and senators to 12 years. The primary sponsor of the initiative, Rep.
MICHIGAN
Get tested on National HIV Testing Day
The Michigan Department of Community Health recognizes today as National HIV Testing Day. Local health departments and community-based organizations are providing testing opportunities to at-risk populations.
COMMENTARY
Nonsmokers should be able to enjoy restaurants
This letter is in response to Amy Boersma's letter "Smoke-free legislation would infringe on rights" (SN 6/25). She has challenged those who support a ban on smoking to distinguish it from a ban on fast food. There is a major difference.
MICHIGAN
Apply for citizen leadership program
MSU Michigan Political Leadership Program is accepting applications from those interested in politics and citizen leadership. The scholarship-funded program, valued at $12,000, is awarded annually to individuals across Michigan.
MICHIGAN
Bill could add environmental ombudsman
A bill to add an environmental ombudsman office within the state's legislative council was referred June 19 to the Michigan House of Representatives Great Lakes and Environmental Committee. House Bill 4952 would create a regulatory office to oversee the actions of the state's Department of Environmental Quality, or DEQ. An ombudsman, the primary executive officer of the office, would be appointed to manage complaints citizens have with the DEQ. "It sets up a process and an individual for the citizens in Michigan to go to if they believe the DEQ has overstepped its bounds or have found that state laws or policies have unfairly impacted individuals," said Phil Browne, chief of staff for Rep.
COMMENTARY
Academic ranking
Americans, pressed for time and eager for dish, love lists. Not surprisingly, well-known people or institutions that fare badly on well-known lists tend to be less fond of them. So, at first blush, you might think sour grapes was on the menu this week as a gathering of college presidents blasted the influential U.S.
COMMENTARY
Second-hand smoke affects musicians in bars
In response to Amy Boersma's comments about smoking in her in "Smoke-free legislation would infringe on rights" (SN 6/25), I'm a musician who spends a lot of his weekend nights in bars. I'll tell you that other people eating unhealthy food doesn't do anything bad to my voice or equipment.
COMMENTARY
Students' speech must be protected
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a potentially damaging blow to students' rights to free speech in a ruling Monday. In 2002, Joseph Frederick unfurled a 14-foot banner that read "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" near his school in Juneau, Ala., as the Olympic torch passed through town.
NEWS
911 dispatch plan could save $9M
A new model for Ingham County's emergency services proposed by East Lansing police Chief Tom Wibert could save about $9 million during the next 10 years. The Ingham County Board of Commissioners approved a 30-day study of Wibert's proposal to reorganize the county's 911 services Tuesday.
MICHIGAN
State plans stricter DUI laws
Correction: One out of every seven convicted drunk drivers in Michigan is required to use a Breathalyzer. A two-bill package was introduced into the State House this month that would require breathalyzers to be installed in the cars of repeat drunken drivers and those with their blood alcohol content, or BAC, almost double the legal limit. The first bill would create an additional charge for drunken drivers with a BAC of .15, almost double the .08 legal limit. "Now we charge them for drunk driving," said Rebecca DeVooght, a legislative director for Rep.
MICHIGAN
License plates looking less blue
Michigan could receive a $4 million boost as motorists replace their old license plates and say goodbye to "old blue." Although the plate changeover comes with an $11 million price tag - taken from the Michigan Transportation Fund, which, among other things, funds road and bridge projects - the new plate changeover is expected to cover its costs and turn a profit, said Kelly Chesney, spokeswoman for Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land. The new plates will come at no extra cost to motorists, Chesney said.
COMMENTARY
A day of silence
If you turn on your favorite Internet radio channel today you might find it eerily silent. Today, Internet stations around America are participating in a universal Internet "Day of Silence," a symbolic gesture to arouse political awareness.
MSU
Dairy Month milks success
Correction: Information regarding the history of June Dairy Month is incorrect. As the heaping mound of blue moon ice cream slowly started to melt, 9-year-old Reese Morgan caught each drop of the sugary-smooth concoction with a few quick licks. Eating the frozen treat out of a cup was not an option for the Fenton native, but he made sure none of the ice cream took a messy plunge down the side of his sugar cone.
COMMENTARY
Comparing smoking to unhealthy eating unfair
Amy Boersma's commentary on the smoking ban in "Smoke-free legislation would infringe on rights" (SN 6/25) makes me fear there are a lot of people missing the point about the ban.