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MICHIGAN

Service tax proposed

A 2 percent tax on services is what Michigan consumers can expect the next time they go to a hair salon, dry cleaner or movie theater, if Gov.

MSU

Celebrating Charles Darwin

Birthday cake and hominoid fossils meant one thing to the MSU Museum: It was time to celebrate Charles Darwin's birthday. Darwin Discovery Day, hosted by the MSU Museum for the second time ever on Sunday, was part of an international celebration of the impact Darwin's theory of evolution has had on science. The annual event is held around the world on or near Darwin's birthday, Feb.

MICHIGAN

YouTube users to receive profit share

There are more than 100 million videos shown each day on YouTube.com, with at least 65,000 videos uploaded daily and viewed by some 70 million users. Now, imagine if every user who uploaded a video to the Web site was paid for the content. YouTube, which recently was purchased by Google, is now offering to share ad revenue with users.

MSU

New chair elected to serve on ASMSU

Nigel Scarlett, who became the new ASMSU vice chairperson for external affairs early Friday morning, said he plans to focus his time on advocacy and spreading the word about MSU's undergraduate student government. "When students come to MSU, they don't really know about ASMSU," Scarlett said.

MICHIGAN

Governor reveals state budget plan

Gov. Jennifer Granholm followed through on her promise to Michiganians on Thursday when she unveiled a budget proposal focused on increasing funding for education. Granholm's proposal includes initiatives to increase investment in higher education by more than $43 million, increase per pupil funding in K-12 schools by $178 per student and invest $200 million to expand early childhood education. "This budget continues the trend of investing record amounts in education," Granholm said in a statement.

MSU

American Indian tribes compete on campus

Members of American Indian tribes from across the country are coming to Jenison Field House to compete against one another in traditional dancing, drumming and singing. The North American Indigenous Student Organization, or NAISO, is hosting the 24th annual MSU Pow-Wow of Love this weekend. "We love to have students of every background — it's not only fun, but it's educational," said Allie Sturk, a NAISO member and ASMSU's director of racial, ethnic and progressive student affairs. Any kind of event that advocates diversity and culture is important, she said, especially after the passing of Proposal 2, which banned affirmative action in the state. Don Lyons, another NAISO member, said many people's only knowledge of American Indian culture is connected to casinos. He said the powwow can serve as an introduction to tribes with rich histories and traditions. "Student have no idea that American Indians are still here," he said. The powwow dancing, drumming and singing ceremonies have traditional significance and purpose, said NAISO fundraising chairman Jeff Gargoshian. "We believe that the creator gave us this way of life," he said. Some ceremonies, for example, are done when "a feather drops," Gargoshian said.

MICHIGAN

Quenching the economy

While Michigan's $800 million deficit is thirsty for dollars, one nonprofit corporation is looking to dry the public's palette by raising a tax on beer. The Center for Michigan, a nonpartisan think-tank, has created "Eight Ideas to Structurally Change How Michigan Does the Public's Business in These Difficult Economic Times." The plan, which has been developed for months, gives ideas to alter both spending and taxation. Aside from an increase on the beer tax, the plan also calls for the creation of a soft drink tax. Executive director John Bebow said the current beer tax is "reaching irrelevance." The $6.30 tax per barrel of beer hasn't changed since 1966.

MSU

ASMSU to discuss Prop. 2, election in meeting today

At tonight's ASMSU Student Assembly meeting, the assembly will discuss the state's affirmative action ban with MSU administrators and elect its new vice chairperson for external affairs. ASMSU is MSU's undergraduate student government. Vice President for Student Affairs and Services Lee June and Director of the Office for Affirmative Action, Compliance and Monitoring Paulette Granberry Russell will attend the meeting at ASMSU's request to discuss the effects of Proposal 2 on the university. "It's a great idea," said Allie Sturk, director of racial, ethnic and progressive student affairs for ASMSU.

MICHIGAN

State, MSU to develop alternative fuel plans

Lansing — MSU faculty gathered with the Michigan Senate Economic Development Committee on Wednesday to discuss how the university and state can become leaders in a post-petroleum economy. This is the first of many committee meetings throughout the next few months. The transition to a bioeconomy is crucial for Michigan to survive, which was made evident by the State of the Union and State of the State addresses, said Steve Webster, MSU's vice president of governmental affairs. "Those leaders identified the bioeconomy as an area of growth for our country and state," he said.

MICHIGAN

State of the State draws mixed reviews

Despite a combined $3 billion deficit looming over Michigan, Gov. Jennifer Granholm said the only way to get out of the state's economic crisis is by investing more in the economy. "If we are to revitalize Michigan, we … must invest in our people and diversify our economy," Granholm said Tuesday, during her State of the State address.

MICHIGAN

Garbage imports overcrowd landfills

Michigan is a desirable location for garbage exports from around the world. But the dirty habit of making cash from other people's trash has left the state with little capacity in its landfills. A report filed two weeks ago with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, or DEQ, estimated Michigan landfills have 18 years of space remaining in them. "It's certainly a concern for us," DEQ spokesman Bob McCann said.