RHA hosts concerts through fall

The Residence Halls Association is bringing a series of concerts to MSU's campus. Up-and-coming indie-rock band Hit the Lights will perform Oct.

Dinosaur Dash to be held Sunday morning

The MSU Federal Credit Union Dinosaur Dash will take place at 10 a.m. Sunday at the MSU Museum. Proceeds from the 5K race will benefit education programs at the MSU Museum, which houses the area's only full-mounted stegosaurus and allosaurus casts. The event will also include the Museum Mile, for children ages 12 and younger, and the Mini-Dash, a 200-yard race for children 6 and younger. The MSU Federal Credit Union has helped raise more than $200,000 since the company began sponsoring the event more than 20 years ago.

Searching for work

Bachelor's degree — check. And now, Amanda Cochrane is on her way to landing a job — or so she hopes. The 28-year-old, who graduated from Davenport University in August, is instead facing a stagnant Michigan economy with an unemployment rate at 7.1 percent, as of last month. "That puts us tied for the worst (in the nation)," said Jim Rhein, an economic analyst for Lansing-based Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth. Cochrane, an Eaton Rapids resident, doubts her chances for finding work in Michigan, but she spent Tuesday afternoon with 2,000 other job-seekers at the Michigan Works!

Police briefs 09/27/06

Innovations: Catalysts

Name: Mitch Smith, associate chemistry professor Department: Chemistry Date of research: Smith has been working on this project since 1995, but Michael Faraday began working with chemicals in 1825. "Compared to that, I haven't been working that long on my work," Smith said. Type of research: Inorganic and organic chemistry Basics of research: Researchers working with Smith are studying carbon bonds.

Homecoming court winners announced

MSU announced the 2006 Homecoming court Tuesday. The court is composed of seven seniors who will represent MSU students at an array of homecoming events throughout the week.

Seven Mich. cities to participate in AIDS Walk

The annual AIDS Walk Michigan will begin Sunday at Valley Court Park in East Lansing. East Lansing Mayor Sam Singh and Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero will lead the walk along Grand River Avenue in an effort to raise awareness of AIDS and HIV.

MSU Museum opens African exhibit

The "Workers Culture in Two Nations: United States and South Africa" exhibit opened Sept. 10 at the MSU Museum. The exhibit examines the parallels between the working history in South Africa and the U.S., including mining, automotive manufacturing, agricultural, domestic service and labor union similarities. The exhibit will be on display in the MSU Museum West Gallery until August 2007.

Former economics reporter to give speech

Louis Uchitelle, author of "The Disposable American: Layoffs and their Consequences," will speak at 4 p.m.

Political author to give speech, discussion

Jim Wallis, author of The New York Times bestseller "God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It," will speak at 7 p.m.

Household items help find prints

"CSI" met "Bill Nye, the Science Guy" earlier this month when MSU police conducted a two-day workshop on techniques for preserving fingerprints during investigations. MSU police Sgt.

Online program to help nurses transfer within medical field

MSU College of Nursing officials are creating an online program to help fill the potential void of nurses, with a $246,602 grant awarded to the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation intended for the program. By 2008, Michigan could be unable to fill as many as 7,000 nursing positions, said Teresa Wehrwein, assistant dean for Professional Partnerships & Faculty Practice. The new program, which is geared toward working nurses, will train them in hospice, home care, ambulatory care or long-term care. "Nursing for Life: The RN Career Transition Program" would be accessed from the Angel Web site so participants can continue to work in their current field, Wehrwein said. "It is a certificate program to prepare nurses that are looking to move to (other fields)," Wehrwein said.

Police briefs 09/26/06

Campaigning moves to Facebook

Look them up. Poke them. Support them. Some candidates in Michigan's midterm elections received Facebook.com profiles earlier this month to showcase their campaign platforms and reach college students and alumni. Candidates are already anticipating the possibilities of having the popular connection with young voters. Phil Novack, spokesman for Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos' campaign, said this election is the first test to see if Facebook means more younger voters. "I don't think people can question the popularity of Facebook," he said.

Independence workshop to be held in Nov.

The MSU Product Center will sponsor a Road to Independence workshop Nov. 7 at the Jackson County MSU Extension Office, 1715 Lansing Ave.

RHA to remove channels from graduate housing, university apartments this semester

Residents of Spartan Village, Cherry Lane Apartments and Owen Hall will no longer receive Residence Halls Association channels because they don't pay RHA taxes. Channels 11 and 12 will be broadcast through RHA exclusively to undergraduate residence halls on campus. "Our primary focus is undergraduate halls.

Deputy city manager retires, takes new job

Jean Golden says she's off to find bliss. After serving as East Lansing's deputy city manager for seven years, Golden is ready to retake control of her life. "I'm going to be 60 years old — I've been working hard since I was 16," she said.

WEB EXTRA: 2002 grad named second-youngest of '15 to Watch' in public relations

Jim O'Leary, a 2002 MSU graduate, was chosen as the second-youngest member of PR News Online's "15 to Watch" award for his work in the public relations department. "He's got not only the work ethic, but the self-confidence and the passion, which are all critical to being a leader," said Michael Holland, director of Honeywell Hometown Solutions, and O'Leary's supervisor.

Simon to speak at university program

MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon will speak at noon today at the State of the Public Universities Program at Cobo Hall in Detroit. The program was organized by the Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan — a Lansing-based nonprofit organization that serves Michigan's 15 state universities.

Campus traffic circle to be remodeled

One of the last traffic circles on campus is set to transform into a four-way intersection by August. The reconstruction of the traffic circle at Red Cedar and Wilson roads is part of the 2020 Vision plan — an outline for campus development until 2020 — and is necessary to handle increased traffic on campus during the construction of the Farm Lane underpass, university officials said. The MSU Board of Trustees approved construction on the traffic circle at its Sept.