Beneath the soil

Archaeologists excavating the site of Saint's Rest, MSU's first dorm, aren't leaving anything to the imagination. With a little help from geophysicists, archaeologists hope to reveal the location of the residents' most private refuge - the outhouse. Tom Mann, a geophysical specialist from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, or DEQ, paced the area surrounding the dig site Wednesday morning, carrying a GPS unit and an instrument resembling a long plastic pipe.

'Jimmy Kimmel' show comedian dupes news media

The jubilant man who appeared on the front page of Tuesday's edition of The State News might look like a crazed Michael Jackson fan, but he is actually an actor and writer on the late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live." The man identified in the caption as Jake Byrd is really Tony Barbieri and was pictured rejoicing after Monday's acquittal.

Hearing will discuss education bill's funding

A senate hearing today at 8:30 a.m. will provide expert opinion and information on funding dealing with a bill that might increase state funding for public schools and universities. Senate Bill 246, which was introduced in February, would increase state funding for grades K-16 by either a 5-percent increase or to reflect inflation increases, said Sen.

Event to benefit Old Town

Complete with food, music and wine tasting, the sixth annual Festival of the Sun will be taking place on Saturday in Lansing. The festival is a fundraiser to help improve the area of Lansing known as Old Town, Marketing Coordinator Lesly Burgamy said. "This is an opportunity to celebrate the start of the summer," Burgamy said.

Commission will review melee film

Video footage collected from students and police will be the focus of the next meeting of the independent commission reviewing the April 2-3 disturbances. The commission will meet at 10 a.m.

Police briefs 06/16/05

Designers focus on health, comfort in work spaces

It's not what employees can do for their work station, it's what their work stations can do for them. Everyone on campus, from students to staff, is in constant contact with work spaces that might be harmful to their health. Ergonomics is the study of people's relationships with their work environment, which can include computers, keyboards, boxes and furniture.

Proposal 2 lawsuit aims to win benefits

Two Michigan women have filed a federal lawsuit attacking Michigan's newest constitutional amendment that defines marriage as only between a man and a woman.

Campus Crusade loses hangout

Every time Christy Allen drives past the empty space above Gary's Campus Hair Salon, she said she feels heartbroken. For about six years, it was a place where she and fellow members of MSU's Campus Crusade for Christ used as a downtown hangout. "That place brings back so many memories," said Allen, a psychology and studio art senior. But the group had to end their lease on June 1 due to a limited budget. Allen said she'll miss the former 547 Place, named after its Grand River Avenue address, where Campus Crusade for Christ members gathered after weekly meetings. "It (was) a casual place where kids can just come and be themselves, instead of worried about sticking to the norm," she said.

CMU students propose new merit award

College might be more affordable for future high school graduates if a proposal to change the Michigan Merit Award program, penned by a class of college students, gets the governor's approval. Six Central Michigan University students went before the state Senate on Wednesday to present a new plan for the award that would increase the scholarship from $2,500 to $5,000. As part of the Michigan Merit Award program, the state provides two annual payments of $1,250 to students who meet or exceed Michigan standards on all four Michigan Educational Assessment Program tests and perform 40 hours of community service.

Testing the waters

As tourists and residents venture out to swim in one of the many Lansing-area lakes this summer, they won't have to worry about contaminants that might be swimming with them. In an effort to keep beachgoers informed of the water quality in area lakes and watersheds, samples of water from various locations are collected each week by the Ingham County Health Department to be tested for harmful contaminants. "It makes sense for it to be clean; it is a matter of health," said Meghan Burns, sanitarian for the department and an MSU alumna.

Word on the street

"There are less parties; in order to do things you have to travel because there are less things going on on campus.

Summer study held for 6th-8th graders

The East Lansing Hannah Community Center will provide a Summer Study program for students in sixth through eighth grades to help with their study habits.

State to lower flags in honor of Mich. soldier

On Wednesday, all U.S. flags in the state should be lowered to half-staff to honor Eric T. Burri, an Army Specialist from Wyoming.

Job prospects might rise for college grads

Chemical engineering senior Greg Gawura, who graduated in May and is finishing up some classes this summer, is having a tough time securing a job to start his career.

Summer amusements

Evian Myrick, 12, of Haslett, flips on the Power Jump at the Play World Amusements carnival Thursday night.

Fungi study might benefit farms

An MSU scientist is finding out the plants he studies rely on organisms too small for the naked eye to see. In the June 9 issue of the scientific journal "Nature," an MSU professor and other researchers explain how the interaction between microscopic fungi and many land plants could play a vital role in some of nature's most basic chemical processes. "We need to understand how these fungi function in helping the plants," said Plant Biology Associate Professor Yair Shachar-Hill, who did the study with researchers at New Mexico State University and the Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. That knowledge could help improve overall environmental quality by encouraging the growth of certain fungi, which would reduce the need for harmful fertilizers, he said. The microscopic organisms - called arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, or AM fungi - are asexual and rely on a mutual relationship, or symbiosis, with plants to survive.

E.L. acquires new fire truck

The East Lansing Fire Department recently purchased a $380,000 fire truck and department leaders say students, city residents and firefighters will all benefit from the investment. Most of the money used to purchase the new truck came from a $270,000 federal grant awarded last year to East Lansing by the Department of Homeland Security. The city paid more than $100,000, a deal that was part of the original grant proposal, Deputy Fire Chief Terry Lapinski said. The fire department, located at 1700 Abbott Road, applied for the grant in 2003 to buy the updated engine and it received the truck about a week ago.

Mich. Senate to review state revenue sharing

The Michigan Senate will be reviewing the proposed state budget changes, which include about a $4 million increase in revenue sharing, after it was approved Thursday by the House of Representatives. The House Republicans proposed a budget in a bill that combined 15 different budget ideas into one.

MSU apple field day to help local growers

The MSU Field Day will present an organic apple field day to provide information for apple growers from 1 p.m.