MSU joins partnership to increase Mich. tourism

Unlike other states across the nation, Michigan's tourism industry has not seen the type of growth it would like to see. But Travel Michigan, a group that helps plan statewide travel, and the MSU Tourism Center have formed a council to make a strategic plan to help the tourism industry in the future. Michigan ranks about 13th nationally in the tourism industry, said Don Holecek, the tourism center's director and the team leader of the plan.

Annual folk festival seeking new volunteers

The annual Great Lakes Folk Festival is seeking volunteers for the event, which takes place Aug. 11 through 13 in downtown East Lansing.

Graduate gives $5M for new division

The MSU College of Human Medicine will be revealing its new dermatology division today after receiving a $5 million donation from an MSU graduate. Nicholas V.

Police briefs 07/12/06

WEB EXTRA: Planning commission to discuss development

The East Lansing Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. tonight at City Hall, 410 Abbott Road, to discuss the Stonehouse Village project. The project calls for the demolition of the building that houses Cottage Inn Pizza, 615 E.

MSU day camp educates kids about paleontology

Several children surrounded Danita Brandt as she pointed to the details of a freshly found fossil at the MSU Museum's Fossil Camp on Tuesday. "A lot of people confuse paleontology and archeology, but the kids have it straight," said Brandt, a professor of geology at MSU who teaches the camp.

Police briefs 07/11/06

Study links brothers, gay men

The more biological older brothers that a man has, the more likely he may be gay, according to a recent study performed at Brock University in Ontario, Canada. The study was conducted by Anthony Bogaert, a professor of community health sciences and psychology at Brock University, and was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on June 28.

MSU group compiles bug book

To some a spider isn't just a creepy insect, but a helpful and invited guest in gardens or crops. A new pocket guide created by MSU's Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, is meant to help people identify insects, like spiders, that could be beneficial or harmful to their plants. Mary Gardiner, an MSU entomology graduate student, decided to create the guide, "Identifying Natural Enemies in Field Crops," about six months ago. Doug Landis, a professor of entomology and Gardiner's adviser, said the guide was never planned, but was conceived coincidentally. "The project was originally intended to focus on soybean aphids," Landis said.

Interstate 96 vehicle collision causes Okemos exit traffic jam

For one Sunoco cashier, Thursday's most notable differences were the amount of drivers coming off the Okemos Road exit and their exasperated attitudes. "It was horrible," Carrie Parks said. "Everyone was just mad because they had to get off the highway and go a totally different way." Three accidents forced police to close a portion of Interstate 96 Thursday night. One driver, who collided with an empty "cement" semitrailer tanker truck in the third accident, was critically injured and was considered alive Friday afternoon, according to Ingham County Sheriff Detective Sgt.

MSU Board of Trustees meeting rescheduled

The MSU Board of Trustees meeting planned for July 11 is rescheduled for July 17. The Trustee Finance Committee will meet at 2 p.m.

Italy beats France

The crowd packed into Crossroads Food Court in MSU's International Center didn't just observe a heated match Sunday — it became part of a World Cup final experience.

Mich. traffic projected to worsen

Future congestion of highway traffic could be a problem by the year 2026 for the state of Michigan, a research group in Washington, D.C.

Police briefs 07/10/06

E.L. City Council will meet again next week

The East Lansing City Council will not meet this week. It will resume next week at 7:30 p.m. on July 18 in City Hall, 410 Abbott Road.

MSU student wins LGBT scholarship

An academic, an activist, a role model and now a Point Scholarship recipient — Lauren Beach has accomplished many things during her time at MSU, and she said she is by no means close to finished in the pursuit of her goals. Beach, a social relations and microbiology senior, was surprised she won the prestigious scholarship for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, or LGBT, students. "It was like a big fluke," she said.

State may increase education funding

Gov. Jennifer Granholm and the state Senate and House of Representatives have come to an agreement on the state's fiscal year budget for 2007, but now they have to iron out its details. Granholm, speaker of the House Craig DeRoche, R-Novi, and Senate Majority Leader Ken Sikkema, R-Wyoming, released the budget June 30.

30-year-old music haven closing

Nestled between businesses on Grand River Avenue, The Grand Wazoo has been a fixture in East Lansing for 30 years. The store, located at 619 E.

Voter registration for primary ends Monday

Monday is the last day to register to vote in the Aug. 8 primary election. Registering to vote can be done at a Secretary of State office, including the one in East Lansing, located at the corner of Albert Avenue and Charles Street.

Police briefs 07/07/06