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MICHIGAN

If passed, Prop. 5 might force cuts to city, safety

Voters today will need to consider which trade-off they're willing to have: More education funding or less police and fire safety. Proposal 5, which would automatically allocate a minimum of $565 million toward K-16 education if approved, would pull money from the state's General Fund to cover its costs.

MSU

$550 raised for charity competition

Patients at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., will receive about a $550 donation from MSU's Senior Class Council, which raised the money at its ninth annual Charity Bowl. Teams composed of students from campus organizations and their friends competed for the charity of their choice in a coed touch-football game.

MSU

Phi Beta Sigma Sleep Out

People walking down Grand River Avenue on Friday night were bombarded by students outside the Union with signs and requests for spare change — all for the homeless. Members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. stayed outside for 12 hours, starting at 8 p.m., and raised $300 in cash, food and clothing for the City Rescue Mission of Lansing, a local homeless shelter. The event, which is called Sleep Out with the Homeless, is an annual program held by the national fraternity and members of the MSU chapter, said Cortez Robinson-Starks, president of the MSU chapter. Participants want to experience what it is like to be homeless, while collecting money, food and clothes to donate to the shelter, Robinson-Starks said.

MICHIGAN

A push to vote, Dean's at the helm

Democratic candidates in Michigan and the nation could retake control of Congress from Republicans if MSU students "go to work at the polls" Tuesday, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said. "What we're fighting for is honesty in government," he said early Saturday at a Kellogg Center rally.

MSU

Student organizations rally against Proposal 2

With one day to go before elections, student government officials are pushing to educate students about the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative. The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, which is known as the MCRI or Proposal 2, will eliminate preferential treatment based on race, class, gender and ethnicity in Michigan if passed Tuesday. ASMSU, MSU's undergraduate student government, will hold a rally at 4 p.m.

MICHIGAN

Olin to offer cold, flu comfort packs for free

To fight off cold and flu symptoms, students can pick up free comfort packs at Olin Health Center beginning Tuesday. The packs contain a thermometer, a chamomile tea bag, cough drops, sanitary hand wipes and information on staying safe from the bird flu. "The thermometer is probably the most important thing in there," said Jonathan Kermiet, an Olin health educator.

MSU

Students remember boycott, celebrate

Their message: Unity and organization can effectively change the world. Former participants of the Movimiento Estudiantil Xicano de Aztlan, or MEXA, organization's weeklong hunger strike reassembled Saturday afternoon for a conference to discuss their activism during their time at MSU.

MICHIGAN

Senate contenders split on issues, plan

Michigan's interests haven't been met in Washington with Sen. Debbie Stabenow at the helm, says Republican challenger Mike Bouchard. Bouchard is a former small business owner, and he said when it comes to a failing economy that forces businesses to make tough financial decisions, he can "understand those issues very personally." Bouchard formerly owned three businesses, including one in yogurt and ice cream food products, corporate consulting and security applications. "Not only do I have a record of creating and supporting job creators, but conversely, my opponent has been incredibly hostile to job creators," he said.

MSU

Trustees: Smith fired for record

As university officials ask MSU's head football coach to leave one week before elections, political analysts and election candidates say they believe the decision to relieve John L.

MICHIGAN

Young and ambitious

Some MSU students have very ambitious extracurricular activities this semester. From Michigan's House of Representatives to the MSU Board of Trustees, students and local young politicians are campaigning for public office to make needed changes, they say.

MICHIGAN

MSU student assaulted with pistol Wednesday

Correction: The map accompanying the story mistakenly switched the locations of where the incident occurred and where the suspects were found. Friends of an MSU student assaulted with a handgun Wednesday morning were able to help police track down the three suspects within minutes of the incident, East Lansing police said. The man who allegedly brandished the Highpoint .380 caliber semiautomatic handgun used in the assault was charged Wednesday with multiple felony counts, including felony firearm and carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent. Lansing resident Anthony Derek Richard, 20, was arraigned Wednesday at East Lansing's 54-B District Court and charged with a total of five counts stemming from the incident that occurred at 1:30 a.m.

MSU

Students celebrate Hindu holiday on campus

The Hindu holiday called Diwali is a time for families to gather and recognize good triumphing over evil with a celebration filled with lights. In India, where the holiday is mostly celebrated, communities decorate homes and buildings with lamps and candles.

MICHIGAN

Stabenow aims to improve economy

U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow plans to help Michigan's struggling economy by voting for more federal funding for education and research, stem cell research and reform trade laws if re-elected. Saving Michigan's jobs and economy must start with a change in health care funding and fair trade laws that lessen expenses for American businesses while making workers a top priority, she said. "I work in Washington where a president believes the way to compete is by saying, 'If you work for less, pay more in health care and lose your pension, we can be competitive,'" Stabenow said.