Filmmakers fool police, motorists in mock robbery

Two men, wearing black face masks and armed with rifles, stormed into STA Travel on East Grand River Avenue on Sunday afternoon. After a passing motorist saw them and called the police, squad cars raced down the street within minutes. Officers — some brandishing shotguns — arrived at the travel agency to stop what they thought was an armed robbery. But what they saw through the window looked nothing like a hold-up.

SN irresponsible with housing guide how-to

If there's one thing the MSU students don't need lessons on, it's "How to party." Over the past few years, I have watched the relationship between the East Lansing residents and MSU students and have been severely disappointed.

Preachers are more annoying than helpful

I was walking out of Wells Hall around 10 a.m. and, of course, passed one of the "Wells Hall preachers." When I was passing him, he was pointing and singling out students telling them that they were going to go to hell because they devote their lives to academia instead of to Jesus Christ.

Living the American dream

For John-Michael Liles, there was no dramatic phone call. Instead, the former Spartans hockey standout heard the news a few days before the official announcement was scheduled to be made Dec.

Enos back in E.L. as QB coach

Former MSU quarterback Dan Enos is returning to the football team after being named the new quarterbacks coach Thursday, filling the vacancy created when Doug Nussmeier left to join the NFL's St.

More, please

Gov. Jennifer Granholm is starting to realize if she wants qualified professionals to play a role in improving Michigan's economy, the state's going to have to pay up. Granholm released her budget for the 2007 fiscal year (which begins Oct.

MSU spending tight despite more funds, officials say

MSU still will have to make difficult spending decisions, even if Gov. Jennifer Granholm's proposed 2-percent funding increase passes the legislature, university officials told the MSU Board of Trustees during a discussion-only session at its Friday meeting. "It's important from the perspective of the campus that when we talk about an increase this year, we have to talk about it in terms of the additional cost we will be incurring," said David Byelich, MSU's assistant vice president and director for planning and budgets. After inflation is considered, according to a presentation at the meeting, Granholm's 2 percent increase in higher education funding for MSU will result in a 1-percent reduction in funding for the university. MSU President Lou Anna K.

Monday musings

Play-by-play analyst Al Michaels was traded from ESPN to NBC last week. As part of the deal, The Walt Disney Company (ESPN's parent) obtained the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, a cartoon character Walt Disney created 79 years ago. Other cartoon characters were supposed to be involved, but those talks broke down when Goofy reportedly failed a drug test. Denver Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin allegedly sent a friend of his into the stands to confront some fans who were heckling him at a game last week. Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest has said he will do the same thing to keep fans from harassing him, just as soon as he gets some friends. Former NHL player Rick Tocchet was indicted last week on charges that he operated an illegal sports gambling ring for several years. Bets allegedly included a 4-to-1 wager on whether Barry Melrose's mullet is actually a tranquilized animal. Anne Abernathy, a 52-year-old American known as "Grandma Luge," broke her right wrist during a crash in practice Sunday and might not compete in the Turin Games. Also in jeopardy for the games is "Grandpa Curling," who broke a hip Sunday taking his broom out of the closet. Figure skater Michelle Kwan withdrew from the Olympics on Sunday with a strained groin, effectively ending her career at age 25. Kwan is the most prominent American to have her career end in her 20s with a groin-related condition since Christina Aguilera. Seen at the game: Signs the Izzone made during the game against Purdue on Wednesday: "Remember the Comb-over," "Your season (picture of train going off cliff)," "Chuck Norris + Vin Diesel = Tom Izzo (Minus the Beard)," "Primary Colors —Brown + Gray" and our favorite: "My Grandma Has the Hots for Shannon Brown."

Abortion up to court, not people's biases

There have been many letters in The State News this week about choice, and specifically about a cartoon The State News ran criticizing Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's views on the constitutional right to privacy — specifically in dealing with abortion (SN 1/27). I think these letters truly miss the point. It is not up to Katie Wilcox, "Cartoon makes light of unsafe abortion" (SN 2/1), nor is it up to politicians to decide what are good and bad medical procedures.

Student kidnapping case will go to trial

Amanda Brandel thought it was just a prank. The human biology senior said she left her friends in the early morning hours of Jan.

Police briefs 02/13/06

Shakespeare group enacts love scenes

With Valentine's Day on the horizon, Sunsets with Shakespeare is prepared to perform classic love literature.

Izzo: MSU lacked preparation

Minneapolis — It's not often MSU head coach Tom Izzo throws around words like "outcoached" and "outplayed," no matter what the circumstance. That is what made Saturday's 69-55 loss to Minnesota that much more surprising.

WEB EXTRA: Title hopes fading away as Gophers upset Spartans, 69-55

Minneapolis — It's been a rough Big Ten season for Minnesota. The Golden Gophers came into Saturday's game against MSU with just two league wins to their credit. But despite that, Minnesota was able to clamp down on the No.

Sins are unavoidable; Christ is our salvation

Although I will not justify the Wells Hall preacher's statements, I wanted to comment on the letter from Dan Jakeway, "Sidewalk preaching harmful to listen to" (SN 2/08). Jakeway implies that being good enough is OK to get into heaven, and he mentions a few of the Ten Commandments. Unfortunately, the problem is that no one can keep them.

Fetus is human, not merely 'wad of cells'

I would like to respond to the comments made by Shane Krouse, in his letter "Fetus not living until it exits womb, born" (SN 2/08). In his letter, Krouse argues that abortions are justifiable because the "fetus is not a true human, and therefore should not be considered a living creature." This argument is an interesting one, due to the fact that it was once used to justify the enslavement of blacks and the denial of their basic human rights. Our country was founded on the beliefs that "all men are created equal." Yet how could they justify slavery without violating this belief?

WEB EXTRA: Banquet gives students taste of world hunger, class differences

All some students had to eat for dinner Wednesday night was rice and water from a spot on the floor — while another group of students feasted on a four-course meal right next to them at elegantly set dining tables. These MSU students learned about the disparity between the wealthy and the poor at a hunger banquet put on by the North Campus Black Caucus in the Snyder Hall cafeteria.

Making the right move

They do a lot of the work and get very little of the credit. But coaching is a labor of love for MSU's three assistants, Jim Boylen, Mark Montgomery and Dwayne Stephens. Through much of the season and especially in March, sleep is not very high on their priority lists.

Waiting for his time

Remember Goran Suton? After seeing extended time in MSU's first few games of the season — including 42 crunch-time minutes against then-No.

Theater venues abundant

There have been claims that Americans are opting to skip going to the theater because of piracy, increased ticket prices and better technology for watching at home.