E.L. library offers adult reading program

The East Lansing Public Library's Summer Reading Club is for anyone who is at least 18 years old.

Editor's note

Honey, we shrunk the newspaper. Beginning today, The State News is being printed by Michigan Web Press, based in Davisburg.

WEB ONLY: Dopirak and Collins homer in 10-6 Lugnuts win

The Lansing Lugnuts were involved in a sloppy game Tuesday night, on their way to defeating the Clinton Lumber Kings 10-6.Both teams put on a clinic of good hitting and poor fielding, as singles and errors seemed littered throughout the game.Lansing (3-3) first baseman Kevin Collins got the scoring started in the second inning with a solo home run over the right field wall.After throwing a retaliation pitch that hit Lugnuts third baseman Francisco Salas, Lumber Kings (3-3) starter Matt Lorenzo was promptly ejected in the second.

Spidey sense

It's a great feat to create a film that satisfies both the mainstream viewers and the die-hard comic book fans who will stand in line to see "Spider-Man 2." It's also very difficult to do justice to Stan Lee's timeless classic comic book that shares the name.

Local leaders' opinions differ over Iraqi government transfer

The unexpectedly early transfer of power in Iraq has MSU officials, legislators and members of the Arab community saying much work still remains in making sure the country is politically and socially stable. The U.S.-led coalition transferred sovereignty to the interim Iraqi government on Monday, two days ahead of the previously discussed June 30 date.

Hate crime victim's memory inspires fund

Beginning in the spring semester of 2005, the university will award scholarships to student activists who work with issues relevant to students of color who are also a part of the lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender community. The death of 15-year-old New Jersey resident Sakia Gunn, which resulted from a 2003 hate crime, became the motivation for a scholarship.

Police briefs 06/29/04

Golf outing to raise scholarship money

The Dick Letts Memorial Golf Outing, which raises scholarship money for minority students at Lansing Community College, will be held July 24 at Forest Akers East Golf Course. For more information, call Deborah Sudduth at (517) 355-6527.

Harmon finishes 2nd at Michigan Amateur

MSU sophomore golfer Matt Harmon, from Grand Rapids, finished second at the Michigan Amateur Championship on Saturday. Harmon defeated East Lansing's Korey Mahoney, 2002 Michigan Amateur Champion, in the semifinal round on Saturday.

Animal animosity

Ideally, every dog or cat would have a home and live healthy, happy and free. The reality is that animals are abandoned by irresponsible people every day, and rather than roaming the streets in hordes they are captured and removed from society. While it's true some animals in the pound are lucky enough to find a more hospitable home, some will always be left unwanted - no matter how hard animal control centers search for new families. Two options exist for the fraction of misplaced pets that will always be with us - death in vain or benefit to human and animal-kind through research. While to some the conflict over whether to use animals for research at all might rank up there in importance with the conflict on stem cell research, to most, the problem is more benign. The difference with conflict over "Class B" animal dealers buying from the Ingham County Animal Control Shelter is when concerned citizens brought the issue up to their local government, the government listened, taking them seriously. The government response is admirable, since other local governments might not have given the issue the time of day - local animal rights activists did make some difference. The victory and strategy, however, were incomplete, since "Class B" and "Class A" dealers are still present in Michigan and are unlikely to ever fully be removed. As long as animals are treated ethically, properly cared for and respected during research, then their sacrifice in the name of science will not be in vain.

E.L. Public Library to offer computer class

Adults interested in learning computer skills are invited to attend the East Lansing Public Library's computer classes.

WEB ONLY: Lugnuts lose 6-4, Garcia ejected after throwing base

Lansing - Lugnuts manager Julio Garcia is known for arguing calls, something that often gets him thrown out of games, but Monday night's tirade in a 6-4 loss to the Clinton Lumber Kings had to be one of his most memorable. As third base coach for the evening, Garcia was called for interference on an out at home plate to end the seventh inning that instead turned into another Clinton run.

Ads focus on labor discrimination

A national campaign aimed at stopping discrimination against individuals in the workplace who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender launched its commercials in Lansing last week. TurnOut.org, which is run by The Gill Foundation, started airing six commercials that feature people who are gay or lesbian, talking about how they are about to reveal their sexual orientation to their employer.

Grand Funk Railroad still making songs, having fun

In the 1960s, just when funk music was hitting the scene, a young Don Brewer watched trains go by in Swartz Creek, Mich.

Michiganians' attitudes toward home state denote quality of life

Michigan sucks. Well, at the very least, it certainly ranks low on the totem pole of states. Why?

MSU softball team gets new assistant

The MSU softball team announced the hiring of Kathryn Gleason as assistant coach on Monday. Gleason has been the assistant coach at Purdue since 2001 and spent four years before that as the assistant at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Gleason graduated from the University of Michigan in 1996 with a degree in sport management and communication and earned her master's degree in sports management from UMass-Amherst in 2000.

Vacations and carbs, rude friends in bars

Ramble on … • I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that I'm suffocating as we speak.

Kerry, Bush close in poll by 'U' institute

According to a MSU Institute for Public Policy and Social Research survey, 42 percent of likely Michigan voters favor Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry while incumbent Republican current President Bush is favored by 40 percent of voters.

The handover

While most of America slept Monday morning, Iraq's wobbly stagger toward the desert mirage of full sovereignty took on the appearance of a slightly prouder shuffle.

E.L. expansion rapid among Mich. cities

East Lansing added more than 500 people to its population during the past year, making it Michigan's fourth-fastest growing city. According to the U.S.