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MSU

Innovations: Bird beaks

Fredricka Paul
November 10, 2006

Name: Pamela Rasmussen, assistant curator of Mammalogy and Ornithology Department: Zoology Type of research: Ornithology, the study of birds Date of research: Rasmussen has been working with birds since she was a doctoral student but has had an interest in them since she was a child. Basics of research: The size of a bird's beak or how long its tail is may be the difference in two species of birds that were thought to be of the same species, Rasmussen said. "It is often very difficult," she said.

MICHIGAN

New minimum wage barely noticed in E.L.

Gabrielle Russon
November 10, 2006

Last month brought Michigan's first minimum wage increase in nine years and, so far, East Lansing businesses haven't noticed an impact. "Generally, in this area, all the jobs are already above minimum wage," said Phil Gardner, director of MSU's Collegiate Employment Research Institute. Previously, the minimum wage rested at $5.15 per hour, but rose to $6.95 in October.

MSU

MSU looks to purchase Grand Rapids property

Holly Klaft
November 10, 2006

University officials are taking a step forward in their plans to expand MSU's College of Human Medicine into Grand Rapids. The MSU Board of Trustees will decide on the purchase of about one and a half acres of property in Grand Rapids at its monthly meeting Friday.

MSU

Ongoing construction updates MSU housing

Tara Thoel
November 10, 2006

Newly renovated Snyder and Phillips halls and the new student apartment complex, University Village Apartments, plan to open their doors to students in August. The projected cost of the Snyder-Phillips project is $37.5 million and University Village Apartments is estimated to cost $16 million. Renovations in dorm rooms for Snyder and Phillips halls include higher ceilings, new lighting, new fire suppression features and fire alarms.

MICHIGAN

16 drivers cited for illegally entering lot

Sixteen drivers in the past two days have learned the costly way why they shouldn't enter through the exit of Lot 9. MSU police cited 16 drivers on Tuesday and Wednesday for fraudulently entering the parking lot by driving up to the exit gate, causing the gate arm to rise, MSU police Sgt.

MICHIGAN

So she's back: What's next?

Kristyn Peterson
November 9, 2006

Think of Michigan as an ocean liner or an aircraft carrier. In that context, Gov. Jennifer Granholm was re-elected as the admiral of the ship, economics Professor Charles Ballard said. "An admiral can't stand on the bridge and make that thing turn around rapidly," Ballard said, alluding to the race between Dick DeVos and Granholm that focused on finding a solution to Michigan's struggling economy.

MSU

Top 20 Spartan Idols to perform Friday for free

Tara Thoel
November 9, 2006

Spartan Idol, a singing competition among MSU students, will be held 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday in the Union Ballroom. The event is free to all MSU students and one guest. On Friday, the top 20 Idols will perform, and audience members will vote to determine the five who will advance to the final round on Saturday. Guests have a chance to various prizes. Last year's Spartan Idol, David Bailey is hosting the event.

MSU

Library might carry fewer journals

Justin Kroll
November 9, 2006

In an effort to save money, MSU's libraries could stop subscribing to materials students use for research papers because of a drastic increase in the price of literary journals. This could make it difficult for students to get the information they need to pull that all-nighter. Commercial publishers that produce these journals have raised the prices of subscriptions, according to the MSU Libraries, Computing and Technology department.

MSU

MSU's Eli Broad, partner make bid for Tribune Co.

Fredricka Paul
November 9, 2006

MSU's College of Business is named after him. And with his latest bid, he could own the Chicago Cubs baseball team, among dozens of television stations and newspapers nationwide. MSU alumnus Eli Broad and supermarket billionaire Ron Burkle teamed up and submitted a bid for Tribune Co., according to The Associated Press.

MICHIGAN

Student, statewide voters agree on mourning doves, property proposals

Brendan Bouffard
November 9, 2006

MSU students voted to ban dove hunting, keep affirmative action, restrict government seizure of property, increase education funding and help the environment. Of the five, only two weren't supported by the statewide electorate. Nearly eighty percent of votes cast in student precincts voted against Proposal 3, which would have created a mourning dove hunting season, and 69 percent of statewide voters agreed. "We went door to door, we made phone calls, we sent out fliers.

MICHIGAN

City Council to hold meeting tonight

Kris Turner
November 8, 2006

Raising the speed limit along Hagadorn Road, two redevelopment projects, creating a dog park and allowing a service to transport people from East Lansing to Detroit are some of the issues being considered by the East Lansing City Council tonight.

MSU

Word on the street

"Yes, I voted at 7:29 this morning. I voted for Granholm. I was impressed with how hard she fought for universal health care.

MSU

MSU center awarded for high CUTCO sales

Alex Altman
November 7, 2006

The Lear Corporation Career Services Center and MSU Career Services and Placement Center won a combined $3,500 in College Bowl checks for their success in the Vector Marketing College Bowl competition.