Touring around town

Over the river and through the bike trails, MSU is home to acres of flower gardens, galleries full of one-of-a-kind artwork and dozens of ancient fossils — all for the public and all for free. This weekend, area officials hope to remind people of hidden jewels in their backyard as the Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau presents its annual "Be a Tourist in Your Own Town" event. Tracy Padot, vice president and director of marketing communications at the bureau, said about 15,000 people participate annually. "We hear tales that people haven't been to the Capitol Building since they were in fourth grade," Padot said.

1 year, 53 destinations

A camera, a computer and more than 53 families from across the nation are key ingredients in Justin Sailor's self-created Hometown Invasion Tour. Sailor, a 2006 MSU graduate, hopes to begin the tour in August and will stay with a family for five days in each state.

Evidence called science supports evolution theory

The letter "Intelligent design valid science, not anti-science," (SN 5/25), presented claims against three broad fields of science: evolution, astrophysics and biogenesis.

Protesting should be protected

We all know the phrase "No taxation without representation." On one of the nation's earliest attempts at protest, we look back with proud smiles, happy that our rebel forefathers set the rules for our young country.

Insurance agency victim of robbery

What began as a request to use the bathroom at Alf Spartan Insurance Agency turned into a robbery early Wednesday afternoon. A man entered the agency, 2660 E.

MSU ultimate team places 9th in championship

By Nick Hurwitch For The State News The MSU men's ultimate Frisbee team, Burning Couch, competed at the 2006 Ultimate Players Association, or UPA, College Championships for a third straight year, last weekend in Columbus, Ohio. The event featured 16 of the best men's and women's teams in the country.

Gas line hit, Olin evacuated

Construction workers hit a gas line Wednesday between 1:50 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. while working on the new parking ramp near Olin Health Center and Morrill Hall. Employees of Olin Health Center were evacuated, but there were no injuries, said Debra Dodd, spokeswoman for Consumers Energy. "The fire department thought it was best to evacuate the building since it was so near," Dodd said. No other buildings were evacuated, MSU police said. Consumers Energy officials were called to the scene to inspect and repair the damaged gas line.

Cartoonist attacks not directed toward Bush

I guess the beauty of political cartoons is that two people can see starkly contrasting depictions. Where Mark Mack, "Cartoonist gone too far, issue under investigation," (SN 5/26), saw an attack on some Marines, the military and even President Bush in Mike Ramsey's May 23 cartoon, I saw a criticism of the right.

Working woes

Unemployment rates are falling and area businesses are looking to fill their staffs as seasonal jobs open up — a paper posted in El Azteco Restaurant's main window advertises the business' need for help.

United States swarming with ADD, falsely diagnosed Adderall addicts

The first time I heard about attention deficit disorder, or ADD, was in the fourth grade. My friend, Eric, had to leave recess early, and when I asked him why, he told me he was sick. It wasn't until later that his mom told my mom that he had been diagnosed with a different form of ADD called attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.

State News lawsuit to continue in Ingham

The State News lawsuit against MSU to obtain a police report related to an alleged assault in South Hubbard Hall on Feb.

Prison populations increase nationwide

The Michigan prison population grew by nearly 2 percent last year, continuing an ongoing trend that many legal experts say won't slow down anytime soon. The Michigan Department of Corrections report shows that Michigan's prison population of about 49,000 increased by 820 inmates — which is actually below the 10-year average before 2003 of 1,400 more prisoners each year.

Parents release police report

The parents of MSU student Dannielle Brandt, who was struck by a vehicle and killed on campus on Feb.

State bills could protect abortion patients from coercion

Women seeking an abortion could be examined to determine if they are being coerced into the procedure, if a series of bills passes through the Michigan Legislature. The bills, which passed through the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee on May 24, are also known as the Coercive Abortion Prevention Act. They would require a doctor performing an abortion to screen the woman seeking the abortion to determine if she was coerced into it.

Angels and Airwaves debut dull, unoriginal

It's more than obvious that Tom DeLonge wants his post-blink-182 project taken seriously. The evidence: a pseudo-pretentious name (Angels and Airwaves), and an album title that begs to be said in a hushed British accent ("We Don't Need To Whisper.") Also, none of the songs seem to be about farting. To achieve this more mature air, most of "We Don't Need To Whisper" finds its inspiration in that bastion of rock 'n' roll seriousness, U2.

Folksy country singer engages live audience

Country/folk rising star Hayes Carll strummed beautifully at an intimate concert on the night of May 24 at Creole Gallery, 1218 Turner St.

Graduates receive arts award

Two MSU graduates were the recipients of the Louis Sudler Prize in the Arts, a renowned national award for their achievements in the arts. Karen Myers, an studio art and art education graduate, and Veronica Fitzpatrick, an English graduate, were informed in April that they would be receiving the prestigious award. "At first I didn't realize how big the award really was," Myers said.

Conservative control of nation silences rationalist community

With all the recent arguments in favor of banning abortion and implementing the teaching of Intelligent Design in science classrooms as an alternative to Darwinian theory, I took it upon myself to research what exactly has happened in our nation's rich past that has pivoted the fundamentalist Americans against rationalists. With the many losses fundamentalists have suffered to science in the past century, the current conservative control of our nation is abusing its power by trying to silence the rationalist community.

Bike theft happens often, should be greater concern

My daughter, soon to be a summer graduate of MSU, has just had her second bicycle stolen. Although she used approved, heavy duty police recommended locks, someone still used bolt cutters.

Police briefs 05/31/06