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MICHIGAN

Amtrak looks to swell funding with talks

Negotiations between Amtrak officials and Michigan Department of Transportation representatives remain at a standstill after nearly a month, but renewed discussions continue today, officials announced Wednesday.Amtrak officials will meet with transportation officials and representatives from Gov.

MSU

'U' program makes roads safer

Rusty Haight has been in more than 700 car wrecks.On Wednesday, the crash test driver prepared a Pontiac Aztek for one more."I would be lying to you if I said I didn't get nervous," he said, as he helped remove the driver's side door from the Aztek.The car crash - No.

MSU

Disaster preparation Web site launched by University Relations

MSU launched a Web site to help people prepare for terrorism, natural disasters or other emergencies Wednesday. "With the general increasing concern of terrorism post 9-11, we started looking at ways we could consolidate safety information in one Web site," MSU police Chief Jim Dunlap said. The site, http://beprepared.msu.edu, shows the current national terror threat level, as decided by the Homeland Security Advisory System and explains what each degree of threat means. As of Wednesday, the nation is at level yellow - which means a significant risk of terrorist attacks. Dunlap said the site, which is run by University Relations, is an effort to consolidate safety information from different organizations on and off campus into one comprehensive resource. "It really was an effort to try to bring in all the places at the university that had a different piece of the puzzle," he said.

MSU

Student Life pamphlet to educate activists

With the possibility of war and recent racially motivated incidents on campus, some students are taking an active approach to get their voices heard - and the Department of Student Life wants to help."What Every Activist Should Know" is a new pamphlet created by the department in February to educate people who choose to voice their opinions.

MSU

Event to showcase diverse talent

To kick-off Asian Pacific American heritage month, the Asian Pacific American Student Organization will host a talent show, "Cultural Vogue," displaying some of the innovative waves of talent on campus and to educate students."Cultural Vogue," which includes about 150 performers, is held bi-annually, and about 500 people attended when it was held in the Auditorium's Fairchild Theatre in 2001.Bindi Patel, co-coordinator for the event, said the idea began 11 years ago in the McDonel Hall Kiva to allow Asian-American students to display themselves in a nonacademic venue."Since then, it's continued and gotten bigger to educate the masses at Michigan State," she said.The theme of this year's show, "The Best of Both Worlds," blends the traditional aspects of Asian cultures with the modern angles of Asian-American cultures."If you grow up in Asia, there is a different culture there than in America, and we want to show the difference between Asian and Asian-American cultures," co-coordinator for "Cultural Vogue" Ryan Abenes said.

MICHIGAN

Students hold clothing drive

Dewitt - When a Lansing youth group dropped its donation off at the Child and Family Services of Lansing, it immediately decided it wanted to do more. When the members of the Youth Action Committee of the Capital Region Community Foundation brought a money donation to the center, 4287 Five Oaks Drive in Lansing, they noticed the organization had a sparse amount of donated clothing. "I made up a video, posted posters for the schools and got our junior high school involved," said Hillary Pasch, action committee co-chair and a DeWitt High School senior.

MICHIGAN

Gas prices unlikely to raise CATA rates

Capital Area Transportation Authority officials say though they are keeping watch over rising gas prices, they don't anticipate increased costs for their riders. "We are keeping a close eye on gas prices since it's such a big part of our budget," said Pat Gilbert, CATA director of marketing. Although CATA ridership has been "booming," there has never been a "proven correlation between high gas prices and increased bus riders," Gilbert said. "It's amazing what people will pay to stay in their cars," she said. She said there are no plans to raise prices or change routes in the area. But despite consistent prices, English junior Emily Laskowsky said she is hoping the spring weather will soon bloom in East Lansing, so she can toss aside her car keys and avoid budget-busting gas prices. "I'm definitely looking forward to the warm weather," she said.

MICHIGAN

Roly Poly opens its doors, pulls in student business

Roly Poly, the Georgia-based sandwich shop specializing in rolled sandwiches, opened its doors in East Lansing on Tuesday. Yonni Hanson, the store's general manager, said the grand opening yielded a steady crowd and hopes it is a sign of more to come. "We're excited to see students and faculty," he said.

MICHIGAN

Local business man dies at 58

After more than 25 years of business in East Lansing, Wazoo Records closed on a sad note. Owner James Patrick Lindsey, 58, died Thursday after suffering a heart attack in his home. Rebecca Lindsey-Kennedy, who was once married to Lindsey, said the fate of the music store doesn't look good after the death of its founder. "There is no one to really run it now," she said.

MICHIGAN

Big Boy on 'cursed corner' says farewell

The storefront located at 101 E. Grand River Ave. at the corner of Abbott Road is once again vacant.Movers carried out furniture and equipment from the East Lansing Big Boy on Saturday because the restaurant didn't make enough money.

MSU

'U' to host forum discussing legal aspects of U-M case

Less than one month before the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on the University of Michigan's admissions policy, representatives from both sides of the debate will argue their points at MSU.The MSU-Detroit College of Law and the office of MSU President M.

MICHIGAN

Exhibit offers healing outlet

When faced with an almost overwhelming family ordeal, John Magnan decided to turn pain into art.After his wife, Mary, was diagnosed with an advanced stage of ovarian cancer in April 1999, the professional sculptor and New Bedford, Mass., native began crafting various artistic works to help him cope with her illness."I'm an artist, and this was my way of dealing with the trauma of my wife's fairly severe diagnosis," Magnan said.The pieces eventually became the 15 compositions forming the "Body Image/Body Essence" national art exhibit tour.

MSU

New ASMSU budget reflects economy

Between $1.7 billion, $30 million and $35 in budget cuts, ASMSU chose the last option. MSU's undergraduate student government couldn't escape having to crunch budget numbers along with the MSU and state of Michigan this spring. On Feb.

MSU

Arbitration hearing between union, 'U' delayed by weather

Arbitration of a grievance between members of the Graduate Employees Union and MSU officials has been postponed.The final step of the union's grievance procedure was set to occur Wednesday, but heavy snow prevented the Southfield-based arbitrators from making the trip to East Lansing, union President Scott Henkel said.A new date has not been set."We have been talking about this for so long, since August," Henkel said.

MICHIGAN

Program faces expanding community challenges

MSU Extension's Citizen Planner, a six-part program designed to teach interested participants about facing the challenges of a growing community, begins March 19. The program will focus on the basics of planning, reviews of site plans, legalities, best practices and running productive meetings.

MICHIGAN

Council to discuss city parking issues

East Lansing officials are looking at new marketing tactics and innovative permits to attract motorists to use the city's parking system.With fewer people parking in the system, the city is looking for opportunities to improve customer convenience and efficient usage of the garages.The city council will discuss the parking budget at 6 p.m.