Same-sex couples join in matrimony

Lansing - Rather than getting married in front of her disapproving parents, Rene Rasmussen traveled all the way from Minnesota with her life partner, Angie Hawkins, to share their commitment.Dressed in black and white wedding gowns and holding pink roses, Rasmussen and Hawkins sealed their seven-year relationship with a kiss at the Washtenaw Rainbow Action Project Commitment Ceremony on the steps of the Capitol on Saturday.The ceremony was part of the 2003 Michigan Pride LGBT March, Rally & Festival.

Legislatures work to prevent allergy deaths

Michigan lawmakers are working to prevent deaths from severe allergic reactions by passing legislation requiring all ambulances to be equipped with adequate drugs to quickly relieve patients.State Rep.

Local music festival raises $1,000 for children's organization

By Joseph MontesThe State NewsWhile playing and listening to the music he loves, a Lansing resident was able to help a local organization.John Krohn put on the third annual Krohnstock in Stockbridge's Memorial Park on Saturday exposing local music, and benefiting the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Lansing Inc. The organization links volunteers, who serve as mentors, with at-risk children."We're in the wide-open country where you can walk around barefoot," Krohn said.

Bank robbed for second time in three weeks

A masked man escaped with an undetermined amount of money around 1:30 p.m. on Friday after holding up a Flagstar Bank.It was the second robbery in three weeks for the East Lansing business, located at 1400 E.

Tulia drug defendants released from prison

By Lee Hockstader The Washington Post Tulia, Texas - It began one sultry summer morning four years ago, just before dawn, when masked police officers swept through the poorest neighborhoods of this sun-stunned rural town in northern Texas arresting dozens of people on drug charges.

What weapons?

Before going to war with Iraq in March, the U.S. government said it had "evidence" from numerous intelligence organizations showing, beyond the shadow of a doubt, former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.

Ceremony honors AIDS victims

Lansing - A 20-by-30 foot rainbow-colored flag draped the Capitol building on Saturday, commemorating thousands of people who lost their lives to the AIDS epidemic.The flag contained 3,318 names of people who died from the disease since 1991.

Kryzminski places fifth, earns All-American nod

After pacing the MSU women's track and field team in distance running all season long, junior Jamie Kryzminski capped her season with a fifth-place finish in the 10,000-meter run at the 2003 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships late Thursday night. Kryzminski trumped her own school-record in Thursday's race, posting a 32:52.87 time - more than 30 seconds better than her previous best. The fifth-place finish earned her All-America recognition for the second straight season and improved on her seventh-place finish at the same event one season ago. She became the first female Spartan track and field athlete to be named an All-American in consecutive seasons. @Byline:Patrick Walters

Pride festival marks 15th year

Lansing - Rallying cries of "We're here, we're queer, get used to it" resonated throughout the streets of the capital city, as more than 5,000 people marched Saturday to the Capitol during the 2003 Michigan Pride LGBT March, Rally & Festival. Participants in the festival championed equality for those of the lesbian, bi, gay and transgender community.

Shelter shouldn't deal with research

Animals taken from shelters and pounds should not become research and teaching subjects. Consider each individual companion cat or dog and what it goes through after being transferred from a human home to a shelter to a dealer and then from a Class 'B' dealer to a laboratory for lethal experiments. After being held temporarily at the shelter and being exposed to several other animals that might have underlying maladies, the animals are transferred to animal dealers who are required by federal law to hold them for only 10 days.

'U' does have one Nobel Prize winner

I would like to correct Josh Haussman's assertion that MSU does not have any Nobel Prize winners ('U' will benefit from "BasketBowl" SN 6/11). While it is nowhere near as many as we'd like to have, we do have one Nobel laureate alumnus, Alfred D.

Customer service top priority for Land, with help from Miller

One could argue Candice Miller was Terri Lynn Land's greatest asset in her campaign for the secretary of state's office in last year's general election.

Police briefs 06/16/03

Anti-parenting kit

The Lansing Police Department has started giving out free drug test kits to parents. But why stop there?

Bank robbed twice in 3 weeks

A man escaped with an undetermined amount of money at 1:36 p.m. today after robbing the Flagstar Bank on Lake Lansing Road - its second robbery in three weeks.After walking up to a teller's window, the suspect brandished a handgun and demanded money, East Lansing Deputy Chief Thomas Wibert said.No one was hurt during the incident.The suspect was last seen fleeing south behind the bank, carrying a small black duffel bag.

Program offers free drug tests

The Lansing Police Department is handing out free drug tests for parents to test their children.Lansing police Sgt.

Show your pride

Events at the 2003 Annual Michigan Pride LGBT March, Rally & Festival: • The 2003 Annual Michigan Pride LGBT March, Rally & Festival kicks off with the Absolut Pride Comedy Show at 9 p.m.

Students charged in connection with disturbances move to pretrial

MSU students charged in the March 28-30 disturbances waived their right to arraignment in Ingham County's Circuit Court Wednesday.Ian Bailey, Brian Balamucki, Daniel Callton, Kimberly Martin, Miguel Miranda and Tony Warren's rights to arraignments were waived by Judge James Giddings in the 30th Judicial Circuit Court.The disturbances the students were charged with followed the MSU men's basketball team March loss in the NCAA tournament.

Pill article focuses on wrong effects

The article, Contraceptive costs climbs," (SN 6/11) disturbed me.

Festival marks pride celebration

More than 10,000 people are expected to show their true colors starting Friday at the Capitol in a weekend-long gay pride celebration. After 15 years of celebrating the annual Michigan Pride LGBT March, Rally & Festival at the Capitol, the governor has planned to recognize June as Gay Pride Month.