Llamas invade campus

By Matt Valant For The State News While the Idaho Vandals were storming Spartan Stadium on Saturday, a plethora of llamas and alpacas also made an appearance on campus.

Police: Alcohol-related offenders not just MSU students

Despite an increase in overall Welcome Week arrests this year, MSU police are concerned that the number of alcohol-related offenses involving non-MSU students on campus matched those of MSU students.

Police officers honored for taking course

The East Lansing Police Department on Friday hosted a ceremony for 35 local officers, including three East Lansing police officers, who graduated from Northwestern University's Center for Public Safety's Staff and Command School.

Police briefs 09/05/06

'Represent the students'

Most students find it hard enough to balance work and school, but social relations sophomore Lauren Spencer hopes to add another responsibility. Spencer will run for one of the two available positions on the MSU Board of Trustees.

Company to offer advice about crops

A comprehensive nutrient management plans, or CNMP, training program will be available for farm consultants and engineers Nov.

Religious, scientists debate stem cells

Researchers last week announced a new method that could extract stem cells without harming the embryo — but many aren't convinced the controversy surrounding the practice will end. Advanced Cell Technology, which researches human embryonic stem cells for regenerative medicine purposes, announced the procedure that parallels an in vitro fertilization procedure that removes and tests a cell for genetic abnormalities. In the study, the embryos were intentionally deconstructed by scientists, but they are expected to survive in actual practice, reported Nature, a weekly international science journal. Pediatrics and human development professor Chia-Cheng Chang said in an e-mail Monday the effects of the procedure when used for stem cell research purposes needs to be thoroughly tested. He said using embryonic stem cells for clinical medicine could still produce adverse effects, such as tumors. "It is possible that the manipulation of the embryo may affect the embryo's normal development," Chang said.

MSU triathletes complete race

By Andrea Humanic For The State News Three MSU students put their bodies to the test when they competed in the Ludington Lighthouse Triathlon on Sunday in Ludington.

Multiple thefts reported across campus in 1-day span

Five burglaries occurred on campus Wednesday within a 10-hour span, totaling more than $800 in losses, MSU police said. Students living in Butterfield, Campbell, Hubbard, Mary Mayo and Williams halls reported stolen property such as wallets and MP3 players, and several said their rooms were left unattended during the incidents. Police and university officials are unsure if all five incidents are linked, but they stressed the importance of exercising caution and vigilance in the residence halls. At about 6:40 p.m.

Shoppers flock for football

Football is back in town and for many East Lansing businesses, it's a familiar, yet welcome return. "It does have a huge impact on everybody's business," said Student Book Store manager Brad Ballein.

Prof predicts cashless vending on campus

Need a snack or drink but have no cash on hand? No worries. An MSU professor predicts vending machines that accept credit and debit cards will become more popular in coming years. Michael Kasavana, National Automatic Merchandising Association-endowed professor in hospitality business, does research with self-service technologies, including cashless vending machines. "By 2009, half of the six million vending machines will be capable of having cashless technology," Kasavana said.

Mich. obesity ratio still among highest in U.S.

Scales are still strained across America as obesity continues on its growing trend, according to a new report issued Tuesday. Almost one of every four Michigan residents is obese.

Police briefs 08/31/06

Zoo unveils exotic rodents

After a voyage of more than 300 miles, five new Patagonian cavies are on display at the Potter Park Zoo in Lansing. The cavies, which were quarantined for the past month in the zoo, were first shown to the public last week. The long-legged rodents, a relative of the guinea pig, look similar to a cross between a miniature deer and jackrabbit.

Gov. Granholm leads slightly over DeVos

A recent poll of likely Michigan voters gave Gov. Jennifer Granholm a slight lead over the challenger Republican candidate Dick DeVos in the race for Michigan governor. In a poll of 1,200 likely voters conducted Friday to Sunday by Georgia-based Strategic Vision LLC, 48 percent said they would re-elect Granholm.

Construction Zone

Construction at MSU didn't end with roads this summer, as dust, dirt, orange barrels and equipment still linger around campus buildings.

Voters support wiretap verdict

A majority of Michigan voters agree the Bush administration's warrantless surveillance of international e-mails and phone calls is unconstitutional, according to a poll conducted last week by Lansing-based EPIC-MRA. Fifty-six percent of 600 likely voters agreed with last week's ruling by U.S.

Trial date pushed back in playground fire case

The scheduled pretrial hearings of the two 17-year-olds charged with burning a Harrison Meadows Park playground structure has been delayed. Alex Charles Ellis and Jace Wickman, both of East Lansing, will appear in court on Oct.

$250K to promote alternative fuel pumps

More Michigan gas stations might have an ethanol or biodiesel fuel pump by 2008, Gov. Jennifer Granholm said Tuesday.

Innovations: Bird viruses

Name: Richard Fulton, associate professor Department: Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health Location: Diagnostic Center, 4125 Beaumont Road in Lansing Type of research: Bird diseases Basics of the research: The "Asian Bird Flu" is a deadly form of avian influenza virus.