LL Cool J's new album misses beat, lacks hard edge

At 36 years old, it's time for LL Cool J to put the weights down and retire from the music business.

Fund helps parents with college costs

Parents looking to send their children to MSU can do so using today's prices by purchasing a Michigan Education Trust contract.

MIDDAY UPDATE: Red Cross seeks union with "U" residence halls

The American Red Cross Mid-Michigan Chapter is seeking a more defined relationship with the Residence Halls Association after years of hosting blood drives on MSU's campus. A long-debated bill that would create the union did not pass during an RHA meeting Wednesday. The bill sought the association's support with on-campus advertising for blood drives and other services offered by the American Red Cross.

MIDDAY UPDATE: East Lansing officials push for fire safety awareness

After a fire at a University of Mississippi fraternity house led to the deaths of three students in August, East Lansing city officials are urging residents to raise their awareness of fire safety.

'U' trounces Central Mich. in home opener

Redshirt freshman quarterback Stephen Reaves came out firing in his first career start Saturday against Central Michigan University, connecting on a 50-yard pass to senior tight end Eric Knott on his first play from scrimmage.

New restaurant offers a flavor of the Caribbean

The smell of Cajun spices lingers in the air as calm Caribbean music plays in the background. Customers' voices resound through the quaint Le Chef Creole restaurant, 625 E.

Q & A with Brian Kelly

After finishing last in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference, Central Michigan (3-9 overall, 1-7 conference) hired Brian Kelly as its new head coach, replacing Mike DeBord. Kelly comes to Central from Grand Valley State University, where he was the head coach for 13 seasons and won back-to-back national championships in 2002-03, and also finished second in 2001. Central lost at Indiana University last week, 41-10.

Q & A with Angela Karkau

The State News chatted with Angela Karkau, a supervisor for the Special Event Security Employees, commonly known as Greencoats.

Green Party presidential nominee David Cobb to visit Mich.

Green Party presidential nominee David Cobb will speak in Lansing on Wednesday, according to area Green Party activist Steve Herrick. Cobb, who coordinated Ralph Nader's 2000 Green Party presidential campaign, joined Nader in June as a viable third-party presidential candidate.

SN's portrayal of students unfair

I am writing in regard to "Student groups march for migrant workers" (SN 9/7). The State News' portrayal was extremely racist and presented an inaccurate picture of the panel discussion.

WEB ONLY: Big Ten teams debate the use of instant replay

Big Ten teams saw the good and the bad side of instant replay in the first week, but overall, coaches and players said it is a good idea for college football. "I think it's a really good thing because some of the calls the refs make aren't always the right calls," MSU senior linebacker Ronald Stanley said.

Rock your body

Welcome back to "Rock Your Body," The State News' fitness and nutrition column. Each week, we hit up our local experts with some questions and pass on their wisdom to you. But before we get to the goods, we thought we'd tell you a little bit about who'll be giving you advice. Jim Pivarnik: Jim is a professor of kinesiology and epidemiology.

Lack of experience for back-ups taking its toll on defense early

Last year on the scout team, Kaleb Thornhill's practice assignments were handed to him on a small card.

E.L. officers prepare for Saturday football game

Since the MSU police department finalized its Sept. 11 schedule a month ago, preparations for the first home football game have been taking up the bulk of Jill Geile's time. Geile, the department's special events coordinator, sat next to a large printer and a stack of fluorescent parking passes in her office Thursday afternoon, explaining parking lot prices as she talked on the phone. She said the week before the first game is her busiest time. "Be patient and take my word for it when I tell you an area's closed," she said wearily, listing her suggestions for successfully navigating campus.

'U' volunteer program director to serve in Iraq

One of MSU's devoted volunteer program directors will be leaving on Nov. 22 to serve in Balad, Iraq. Carlos Fuentes received a call in March informing him that his unit, F Company 238 AVIM, was placed on red alert.

Terror, Sept. 11 influence path of campaign trails

At the Republican National Convention, President Bush told the nation he wakes up every morning thinking about how to better protect the country. At the Democratic National Convention, presidential candidate John Kerry said he would deploy every tool available to fight terrorism. As the third anniversary of the Sept.

Police briefs 09/10/04

'U' helps with Mich. blood shortage

Kristin Dierwa passed out the last time she donated blood to the American Red Cross, but it did not prevent her from rolling up her sleeve to give more in the North Wonders Hall blood drive early Wednesday morning.

Siege of Russian elementary school draws parallel to Sept. 11

I wish I could tell you that the Chechen terrorist standoff and subsequent massacre at a school in Beslan, Russia could not happen in the United States - if I did I would be a much worse liar than any politician. In its own way, the event could be seen as a fusion of some of the disasters that our own country has pulled through, the Sept.

2 sexual assaults reported on campus

MSU police are investigating two reported sexual assaults in or around Emmons Hall late Sept. 2 and early Sept.