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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

Store holds ice cream flavor contest

A new contest is trying to get people to think outside the chocolate and vanilla box. The competition, sponsored by the city of East Lansing and Melting Moments, is asking people to invent a new ice cream flavor for the city's 100-year celebration next year. "It's going to be something where the community can get involved and be a part of the centennial," said East Lansing spokeswoman Mikell Frey.

MICHIGAN

Automated calling used in political campaigns

Future Michigan elections might continue campaign calls to voters and try to duplicate what has been considered a successful year. About 38 million voters showed up at the polls — about 6 million more voters than the previous midterm election, Michigan Secretary of State statistics show. John Truscott, spokesman for former Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos, said the DeVos campaign used automated calling to get people out to vote, and it appears to have worked. "While people complain about it, it leads to record levels," he said, adding that robo calls are cheaper than television or radio advertising.

MICHIGAN

Fraternity house may sell before year's end

The former Delta Upsilon house located at 427 M.A.C. Ave., might be sold to an unknown buyer by the end of this month. Vacant since May, the house is being sold because there wasn't enough student interest to maintain a Delta Upsilon group at MSU, said Jim Pattee, president of MSU Delta Upsilon Corp., which owns the house.

MICHIGAN

Virtual candles promote National AIDS Fund

You can help fight the battle against AIDS with the click of a mouse. For every virtual candle lit this month at www.lighttounite.org, pharmaceutical giant Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. will donate $1 to the National AIDS Fund to help AIDS organizations in the United States. The company said it will donate up to $100,000. On Nov.

MICHIGAN

Students help fight AIDS crisis while studying abroad in Europe, Africa

It doesn't get the hype of terrorism. Or the economy. But AIDS is still a global humanitarian crisis — killing 2.9 million people so far this year. In parts of South Africa, where almost 40 percent of the population lives with HIV, young children have made up a new game. Instead of playing house, they play funeral. The concern for this international crisis has led some MSU students, such as Lauren Beach, to get more involved while studying abroad. One year ago, Beach spent World AIDS Day in East Lansing, helping to organize student activities. This year, she's thousands of miles away in Geneva, Switzerland, and working at the World Health Organization to fight the spread of AIDS while participating in a study abroad program. "If it's not me, then who?" said Beach, who has been an intern at the United Nations-led agency since September. For the last three months, the microbiology and molecular genetics senior has worked to create an Internet database that connects 600 people worldwide, including health experts and policymakers. "HIV is really having the biggest impact in the developing world," Beach said from Switzerland on Thursday morning.

MICHIGAN

MSU parking to open ahead of schedule

Correction: The story misidentified Mike Rice as the MSU police deputy chief. The story should have said he is the assistant police chief. A controversial $19.5-million parking structure on north campus will open seven months ahead of schedule. The ramp, located between Morrill Hall and Olin Health Center, will open Dec.

MICHIGAN

Granholm to focus on economy, education

Gov. Jennifer Granholm will have more than enough to do for the next four years. After a mud-spattered election, observers say Granholm will need to focus on health care, education and the state's economy to fulfill her promises to voters. The governor's performance in her last term and her views on education are what bagged food industry management senior Cara Sturley's vote.

MICHIGAN

MSU student arrested for attempted financial fraud

A 24-year-old MSU student was charged Wednesday for attempting to cash four counterfeit $500 traveler's checks at two East Lansing-area MSU Federal Credit Unions on Tuesday. Jason Hayes was arraigned at East Lansing's 54-B District Court on four counts of uttering and publishing, a felony offense punishable by up to 14 years in jail. MSU police Sgt.

MICHIGAN

Farming event to discuss profit increase

Farmers looking to make their farms more profitable are encouraged to attend Agriculture's Conference on the Environment: Managing Today for Tomorrow, in which agrimarketing specialist and international speaker Jane Eckert will share her advice from 9 a.m.

MICHIGAN

Records for student's death not yet released

Muskegon Township police said second-year medical student Michael Lundholm, who died last Thursday in Muskegon, lost control of his vehicle driving home from a bachelor party, went off the road and hit a tree at 2:36 a.m.

MICHIGAN

Gas prices could fall more; awaiting OPEC's decision

Curious to know the winter forecast for gas prices? The official season is less than a month away, and local gas prices have dipped to an average price of $2.27 per gallon this week. "Typically, from about the first of August until the end of December, the price of gas is going down," said Michigan Petroleum Association President Mark Griffin.