2 Mich. bills could force coverage of contraceptives

Contraceptives could be covered by more Michigan health-insurance agencies, if a new initiative is passed that is currently in the state Senate. Senate Bills 431 and 432 were introduced in April and could require Michigan-based health-care providers who already cover Food and Drug Administration-approved prescription medications to also cover approved contraceptives. "Right now insurers are not required to insure (contraceptives)," said T.J.

Police briefs 07/12/05

Church OKs same-sex marriage

The United Church of Christ general synod passed a resolution last week endorsing same-sex marriages. This makes the United Church of Christ the first mainline Christian denomination to officially support same-sex marriages said Michael Schuenemeyer, minister for LGBT Ministries in the church's national office in Cleveland.

Proposed tax might hike movie prices

When moviegoers walk in to Celebration Cinema in Lansing, they are asked to fill out a card addressed to Gov.

LCC to open campus near MSU

Students who are enrolled at both MSU and Lansing Community College will soon be able to have both sets of classes within one mile of each other.

E.L. works to finalize city's grant budget

Final expenditures for several downtown improvement projects are unknown, but city leaders said they're working on a more detailed budget. East Lansing received a $100,000 Cool Cities Neighborhoods in Progress grant, along with 13 other Michigan cities, about two weeks ago.

Hagadorn Road speed limits, lanes to change

To meet federal requirements on road width, Hagadorn Road will be under construction no later than Aug.

Dig's findings shown to public

Members of the general public had a unique opportunity last weekend to get a glimpse at what life was like inside the first dorm on campus - a glimpse that, until recently, was buried underground. For the past five weeks, MSU students and archaeologists have been excavating the site of Dormitory #1, nicknamed Saints' Rest by its residents.

Restoring history

Students and researchers excavating the site of MSU's first dorm might have uncovered a link to the fire that destroyed the building - a trowel found in the dorm's basement. In December 1876, the student residents of Saints' Rest had left for winter break, and the only people in the building were a group of workmen doing grouting in the basement.

Mich. 1st to offer e-mail protection for children

For parents like Detroit attorney Talia Goetting, who worry about the e-mails their children are receiving, there is a new program in place to ease their fears. Michigan is the first state to create a registry to prevent certain spam e-mails from reaching a minor's online account. "I'd hate for (my daughter) to open something up at such a young age and be shocked," Goetting said, adding her 7-year-old daughter recently started e-mailing people. In 2004, the Michigan Children's Protection Registry Act was created to prohibit people from sending e-mail to children about products or services that are illegal for minors.

Board to set tuition rates for 2005-06 at July meeting

MSU students will have to wait a few weeks longer than in previous years to receive their tuition bills for the upcoming school year. As tuition for the 2005-06 school year hinges on the authorization of the Legislature's state higher-education budget, the MSU Board of Trustees has delayed the process of setting tuition and sending out tuition bills until the university's state funding is certain. Last year, tuition rates were approved in late June, and students received their tuition electronically on July 23.

Commission meeting open to public debate

The independent review commission will hold a meeting from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday in the Executive Conference Room at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbott Road. The commission is reviewing the planning and implementation strategies to control spontaneous large crowd events, including the April 2-3 disturbances. The commission has invited everyone who has spoken on the issue in the past to speak at the Friday meeting, along with other individuals who want to voice their concerns, said Mayor Mark Meadows, chairman of the commission.

HIV tests advised for pregnant women

Pregnant women should make HIV screenings a routine part of their prenatal checkups, according to a report in Tuesday's Annals of Internal Medicine. The U.S.

Merit Award distribution might change

House Speaker Craig DeRoche, R-Novi, announced an economic plan on Thursday that included setting aside $1.5 billion of Michigan's tobacco settlement money for the Merit Award program. The money would be divided between 15 public universities, said Jason Brewer, spokesman for DeRoche. "Under the Republican plan, no politician will be able to touch the Merit scholarships," DeRoche said in a statement.

Forensics aid murder case

Death is a puzzle - at least when it comes to determining what causes it. With the recent discovery of two bags containing human remains in the Red Cedar River, the Ingham County medical examiner and a team of forensic scientists are trying to piece together the mystery behind the disassembled body parts. Police are waiting on DNA tests to confirm how many people's remains were recovered, said Sgt.

Transgender community wants discrimination policy reworded

The MSU Board of Trustees added the term "gender identity" to the university's anti-discrimination policy's harassment section in 2003.

Officials: Avian flu vaccine will cover 2 percent of population

The government hasn't stockpiled enough of the only drug known to be effective against avian influenza but is in "aggressive discussions" with its maker to buy more, federal health officials said Thursday. Enough Tamiflu to treat 2.3 million people is in a national stockpile set aside in preparation for the next flu pandemic - a worldwide outbreak that influenza specialists fear could be triggered by the increasingly worrisome avian influenza in Asia. "There are simmering reports about China and Vietnam of people dying, animals dying," said Dean Sienko, medical examiner at the Ingham County Health Department.

MSU server compromised

The latest in a series of computer attacks within the MSU community has struck the Human Resources servers. On Friday, MSU officials sent an e-mail to some members of the MSU community informing them that two of the department's servers, which hold information such as social security numbers and personal home addresses, had been hacked into by an unknown attacker. Assistant Vice President for Human Resources Pamela Beemer sent an e-mail to notify the potentially affected people about the intrusion. The letter said someone attempted to gain unauthorized access to two MSU Human Resources servers between June 25 and 26.

Mock homicides aim to train officers

Several police officers from departments throughout Michigan swarmed Spartan Village on Wednesday to investigate six homicide crime scenes.

Police, firemen battle for blood, encourage donations to fight shortage

Area police and fire departments are helping save lives in a different way this summer by persuading people to combat seasonal blood shortage. The American Red Cross is trying to counteract the 15 to 20 percent drop in blood donations across Michigan with its Fifth Annual Battle for Blood.