Team heads east for record-setting 5th consecutive national tourney appearance

This weekend, Hayley Techner will return to her home state and have the opportunity to face the school she almost attended. Techner, a California native, is part of the MSU women's water polo team, which will compete at California Polytechnic (CPU) in San Luis Obispo, Calif., in the three-day National Collegiate Club Championship - the Olympics of water polo. For her, the meeting will be personal: Techner grew up in Santa Cruz, a mere two hours north of CPU.

Union to march in defense of TA jobs

The Graduate Employees Union will be marching across campus Thursday to defend teaching assistants' jobs, union President Scott Henkel said. Graduate employees, faculty and community members will march in protest of any possible TA positions being cut before next fall.

Cheap games

It's a full house and the kings, queens and aces have checked in for a night around the card table.

Columnist makes her last call

I sat around for quite some time thinking about what I wanted to write for my last column as the State News Beer Gal.

Mac's has perfect mix

Place: Mac's Bar, 2700 E. Michigan Ave. in Lansing More information: Visit www.macsbar.com or call (517) 484-6795 Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sunday, noon- 2 a.m. Beers on tap: Budweiser, Bud Light, Labatt Blue, Harp, Guinness, Oberon, Bells White Winter Ale, Killian's (some beers scheduled to change seasonally) Atmosphere:> This is a rock bar.

Leaders honored for contributions

A cornucopia of club leaders, academic achievers, sorority and fraternity members and community volunteers came together in the dimly lit Union Ballroom on Tuesday night for the third annual Student Life Leadership Awards. "It's a token of how we feel about the good work they do during the academic year," said Fred Watson, assistant director for the Department of Student Life. More than 100 people attended the event, which included a dessert reception.

Kerry unveils job security plan in Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor - As the presidential election draws near, both John Kerry and President Bush are making stops at U.S.

Robbery occurs in Bailey Hall

Police are searching for three men following an armed robbery in a Bailey Hall dorm room Wednesday afternoon, marking the second dorm robbery in a week. The men entered the second-floor room of computer science freshman Matt Julson and chemical engineering freshman James Lipke, shut and locked the door and stole several items.

Students want renewable energy, but 'U' board won't listen

MSU's administration needs to remember to mind its manners when dealing with the people who comprise the majority of this university. The administration enraged the faculty by announcing plans for an academic rearrangement before consulting the academics themselves.

Fiber artists introduce community to 'Fascination'

A tubular, life-size woven red tree, a fiber sculpture of a woman and collages of various cloths and hand-dyed yarn currently cover the walls of the MSU Museum. Local fiber artists are taking the opportunity to share their passion for a constantly developing art form this weekend. The Michigan Handweaving Heritage and Michigan League of Handweavers 13th Biennial Fiber Show includes handmade scarves, sculptures, purses and collages.

Students for Bush silenced on campus

The day after members of MSU Students for Bush chalked the campus to announce our kickoff meeting, we found our messages across campus and especially at the Union erased and replaced with "No Rice" chalkings protesting MSU's commencement speaker. It is shameful that students who are working to elect someone other than President Bush must try to keep students from engaging in political activism to further their cause.

Wal-Mart, Sam's Club to join local shopping center

Two national retailers will open stores near Eastwood Towne Center in midsummer, adding to the slew of merchants already doing business in and around the Lansing Township shopping mall. A Wal-Mart store is set to open there in July, according to mall officials.

Complex continues services with expansion

Nick Archer's involvement in East Lansing soccer dates back more than 30 years to his days on the MSU national championship teams. As the head coach for both the boys and girls varsity soccer teams at East Lansing High School, Archer said the East Lansing Soccer Complex, 3001 Abbott Road, is an important part of continuing the soccer tradition of the area. "This is the East Lansing soccer hub now," Archer said.

Police briefs 04/29/04

Outdoor furniture

It's been almost a year since frustrated students had to drag their makeshift lawn furniture into their houses.

WEB ONLY: 'U' baseball defeats Eastern Michigan, 12-8

Lansing - The Spartans said they wanted a tune-up for their series against Michigan this weekend. Eastern Michigan provided it. The MSU baseball team (21-18 overall) used a seven-run third inning and a handful of pitchers to defeat the Eagles 12-8 Wednesday night in front of more than 2,100 fans at Oldsmobile Park. "We're swinging the bats well," said MSU manager Ted Mahan, whose team tallied 14 hits and scored 12 runs for the second-straight game.

Against the odds

Lansing - An eclectic group of protesters stormed the Capitol on Wednesday to urge the state Senate to vote against a series of bills that would add casino-like games to Michigan's horse racetracks. More than 200 people gathered for the protest, including local government officials, American Indian tribal members, Detroit residents and casino employees, anti-gambling activists and other concerned citizens. Several petitions were passed around by various event organizers to get the issue on the November ballot. Protesters stood in the cold wind for more than an hour demonstrating, speaking and chanting, "Salute tribe elders; say no to racinos." Grace Taylor, a longtime Detroit resident, said she came as a concerned senior citizen. "In Detroit, every opportunity that comes up to get Detroit on its feet - like the casino money - gets taken away," said Taylor, a retired public school teacher.

Tada! : The Nook in a Book

What is it exactly? Don't judge this textbook by its cover. To the untrained eye, it looks just like one of the many books assigned to students each semester, but concealed within the pages of this real hardcover book is a carefully hollowed and fitted secret compartment that hides your valuables in plain sight. Usefulness factor: If you are extremely agitated because the bookstores wouldn't give you any money for your old textbooks, this might be the craft for you.

E.L. tickets for yard couches

While city officials say a 9-month-old ordinance is improving East Lansing neighborhoods, some say it's too early to tell how well it's working. In August, the East Lansing City Council passed an amendment that prohibits the use of upholstered furniture outside in hopes of eliminating problems with rodents and eyesores within the community. Mayor Mark Meadows said the council noticed the problem as much as five years ago, but it wasn't actively enforced because of a poorly worded code. "At the time, there was a lot of outdoor furniture being taken outside and left outside," he said.

MIDDAY UPDATE: Kerry visits Mich.

Ann Arbor - Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry paid Michigan a visit Wednesday. Kerry chose Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor for the final stop of his "Jobs First Express" bus tour across West Virginia, Pennslyvania, Ohio and Michigan. Throughout the tour, Kerry revealed his plans to strengthen the economy.