The 28th annual Ag Expo will feature a Project GREEEN exhibit about the benefits of native plants. Running July 17-19 at the northwest corner of Farm Lane and Mt.
Farmers interested in improving Michigan's soybean crop and can enter the 2007 Michigan Soybean Yield Contest. Contestants will provide researchers with data on planting, harvests, and pest and crop management to help increase yields and profitability.
The Michigan Supreme Court has declared July to be Juror Appreciation Month in an effort to raise awareness about jury service. "It's an occasion that's been declared by the Michigan Supreme Court to recognize people who have served on juries and to recognize the importance of jury service and its role in democracy," said Marcia McBrien, public information officer for the Michigan Supreme Court. Forty-one courts in 28 counties will participate, including Lansing's 54-A District Court. "It's understandable (duty) is not the way people want to spend their time," McBrien said.
The MSU Bug House will host an open house for the general public 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday in room 147 at the Natural Science Building.
From how grass gets cut to what's being used to scrub toilets, some university departments are turning to more environmentally friendly ways to run MSU. In the everyday tasks to operate a major university, employees are making small changes to protect the environment, which also can end up saving money. Instead of using diesel gasoline, mowers now use biodiesel fuels when they mow grass on campus, said Gerry Dobbs, the grounds maintenance manager. Biodiesel fuels, which can be made from soybean oil, burn cleaner than diesel fuels, Dobbs said, adding that they also use biodiesel lubricants, oils and grease for other equipment. The department mows most areas every other week to save on fuel. "On a population-dense campus, we're especially concerned about carbon emissions," Dobbs said. Department workers mow highly visible areas of campus more frequently, such as the area near the Administration Building, and use a higher blade so grass doesn't need to be mowed as often, Dobbs said. Walking south of the Red Cedar River, some passers-by may even notice "no-mow zones" where the grass is tamed as little as once a year. "With the 'no-mow zones,' we're trying to create a habitat for birds, beneficial insects and other native species," Dobbs said. He said higher grass helps prevent runoff of fertilizers and other substances into the river. Other departments use substitutes to help clean up the environment. MSU custodial services use a "green" cleaner for tasks like washing the floors, said Gus Gosselin, director of building services. To see another way MSU officials make an effort to help the environment, look up. The university is experimenting with "green roofs" on top of the Plant and Soil Sciences and the Communication Arts and Sciences buildings. The flat roofs are covered with a membrane that decrease energy costs, protect the buildings from extreme weather and help hold storm water, said Brad Rowe, a horticulture associate professor. The larger, 3,500 square feet of roof atop the Plant and Soil Sciences building helps hold storm water.
In an effort to balance the state's budget, 20 of Michigan's 138 state forest campgrounds have been temporarily shut down Monday. The decision came after $75,000 was eliminated from the state's Department of Natural Resources Recreation and Trails Program. The cut means fewer camping spots and more canceled trips, which could hurt northern Michigan's economy, said Rep.
Students can renew their MSU Student Alumni Foundation membership for the 2007-08 school year and enter to win a $50 gift certificate to Spartan Bookstore in the International Center or Eastwood Towne Center, 3003 Preyde Blvd., in Lansing.
As the camera captured her every move, Eileen Zimmerman walked toward a penny on the ground Tuesday afternoon. It was the opening shot of film as the 16-year-old acted in a short movie about a girl who finds a not-so-lucky penny during MSU's weeklong Digital Cinema Day Camp.
The Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance, a nonprofit, trail-advocacy organization, is hosting a mountain bike ride called Michigander Bicycle Tour on July 14-20.
The list of celebrity victims includes Pamela Anderson, Naomi Judd, Mickey Mantle, James Earl Ray and Steven Tyler. But hepatitis C, a deadly virus which affects more than 4 million Americans, now will be tackled by a new Michigan task force. The Hepatitis C Advisory Task Force will advise the governor and Legislature on policies for reducing the risk of hepatitis C, said T.J.
The last time Carol Facca saw her first child alive was 20 years ago. Her then 3-month old son, Kyle, died at day care of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, on the first day Facca returned to work from maternity leave. "After Kyle was born, I felt like I knew what life was all about.
The blue police cruisers that roam the streets of East Lansing soon could become more like the talking car David Hasselhoff fought crime in during the 1980s - Knight Rider. While the East Lansing Police Department's patrol cars will not shoot back sarcastic one-liners, officers will be able to talk to their cars, if the East Lansing City Council approves a contract at tonight's meeting to install upgrades to the fleet's on-board computer systems. If the contract is approved, each cruiser's computer will be updated with voice recognition software and other upgrades, which would create a hands-free link between the driver and the information he or she needs. "The biggest thing is officer safety," said Juli Liebler, East Lansing's deputy police chief.
A new bill is being considered in the Michigan House of Representatives that would levy a tax on phones is coming under fire from Michigan's telephone companies. The bill would place a monthly charge of $1.35 on every phone in the state including landlines, cell phones, and Voice over Internet Protocol. The Telecommunications Association of Michigan launched a print and radio ad campaign Thursday intended to raise awareness about the bill and how it could affect Michigan residents if passed. Called "Hang Up the Phone Tax," the campaign is aimed at informing voters about what the bill does so they can call their legislators, said Scott Stevenson, president of the Telecommunications Association of Michigan. "The state is trying to shift $200 million on the bills of telephone users," Stevenson said.
Fundraisers come in cans. The 10 cents refund received on bottles and cans will go to a greater cause with the MSU Women's Resource Center "Cans for the Cure" bottle drive. Collection bins are set up and the bottle campaign will run until Oct.
For Freddie Cunningham, kids are crucial to a successful concert. "They have that natural energy and enthusiasm, and adults sometimes have gotten too sophisticated and cool to do that," said Cunningham, lead singer of the Root Doctor band, which performed for East Lansing's Live!
If you had 24 hours with the Stanley Cup, what would you do? "I would date the Cup.
Correction: Should have identified State Rep. Steve Bieda, D-Macomb. A pair of bills introduced to the state House of Representatives would let certain Michigan bars and restaurants to allow their customers to smoke, even if a state law banning smoking in public places is passed. Introduced June 21, the bills would work in tandem with the proposed statewide smoking ban, requiring bars and restaurants that want to allow smoking to apply for a permit.
After being awarded a $2 million federal grant, the Lansing Economic Development Corporation plans to improve the infrastructure of the University Corporate Research Park with hopes of attracting technical companies to the area. In addition to the grant, the MSU Foundation - a nonprofit organization that works to advance the growth of MSU as a landgrant university - will match the funding awarded, bringing the total to $4 million. "Essentially, what we are doing is linking the north end of the park to the south end of the park to open it up for future development," said Kara Wood, director of Downtown Core and SmartZone liaison. Changes to the infrastructure will include road, water and sewer system improvements, as well as adding street landscaping and additional parking, Wood said. The Lansing Regional SmartZone encompasses the whole of the research park, she said, and is owned and operated by the MSU Foundation.
Ten feet in the air, a man dressed in a glittery, purple mermaid suit danced on top of a truck parked in the street at the Michigan Pride festival, march and rally. Several thousand supporters of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community raised awareness for the community in Lansing during the weekend. "It's important to come out and be part of a community that is often isolated," said David Jaques, a communications junior.
The nearly 5,000 MSU students who will work in the dorms and cafeteria this year won't be greatly impacted after the state minimum wage jumped Sunday to $7.15 per hour. The new minimum wage, which was previously $6.95 per hour, is the second installment of a three-part increase that eventually caps at $7.40 in July 2008. Most MSU students are paid at or above minimum wage, and the same number of employees will be hired this year compared to previous years, said Angela Brown, director of housing. But some people wonder if the new minimum wage can make a difference in boosting Michigan's struggling economy, which has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. "Economists report rising wages can stimulate economic activity throughout the state," said Megan Brown, a spokeswoman for Gov.