Board encourages conservation

With high temperatures blazing through Michigan, the Lansing Board of Water and Light has asked its customers to try to conserve the amount of electricity they use to prevent a possible blackout. Temperatures in the upper 90s have lead to high energy use across the state from the increased use of air conditioners and fans, and Mark Nixon, the communications director of the Board of Water and Light said the company could break the record for the amount of megawatts produced. "When something like this happens, it is hard to say whether it is a good thing or bad thing," Nixon said.

Defendants plead guilty to bank fraud

Nine people charged in connection with a mid-March MSU Federal Credit Union scam pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge as part of a plea bargain on Tuesday in district court. The defendants also testified in court that they or a third party knowingly used the defendants' account information for the purpose of withdrawing more than what was in their accounts. One of the defendants did not appear at the court proceeding's scheduled time. Those charged in connection with the scam were approached by people who asked for their ATM cards and personal identification numbers, or PINs, said Catherine Lynch, vice president of member services for the credit union, in a May 17 State News article. The scam involves using ATM cards or PINs that are sold or given in exchange for money deposited into accounts.

Police briefs 08/01/06

Local restaurant closes because of slow business

Spinning on red stools while eating a bowl of 21 scoops of ice cream may not be a an option for incoming freshmen this year — at least not at The Parlour On Campus.

WEB EXTRA: IM Sports-West offers free pool time

The IM Sports-West outdoor pool will be open and free to the public from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and again from 6-8 p.m., all week through Sunday.

Program gives children opportunity to see plays

Dabbling in the arts, attending plays and watching concerts could become a more frequent option for children from low-income families, with a new Wharton Center program. The Seats 4 Kids scholarship program will provide tickets to Wharton Center shows through private donations for children who can't afford them, said Bob Hoffman, spokesman for the Wharton Center.

Riding to raise awareness

Lansing — Family and friends waved signs and shouted outside the Capitol as the 21 cyclists from the Journey of Hope ride arrived on their bikes Sunday. The 19th annual ride — which travels from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., — is a part of Push America, a nonprofit organization of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, dedicated to serving people with disabilities through raising awareness and funding, according to the organization's Web site. Soaking wet from the continuous downpour, supporters and riders crowded into a small corridor at the entrance of the Capitol to listen to a letter from Gov.

Professors find ways to predict student success

Grade-point averages and SAT scores can only do so much to predict student success at college. That's why two MSU professors researched other ways to anticipate how student life beyond the books plays into college performance. After looking at students' interests, background experiences and motivational characteristics from 10 universities during a four-year period, psychology professors Neal Schmitt, Frederick Oswald and a team of undergraduate and graduate students found predictors for student potential, including their likeliness to cheat, drop out of school and attend classes regularly. The College Board approached Schmitt and Oswald about conducting the study, which it plans to use to enhance college admissions.

Police briefs 07/31/06

Police briefs 07/28/06

Court date set for alleged assailants

Two men charged with participating in an alleged Feb. 23 assault at Hubbard Hall are scheduled to continue their preliminary examinations in district court Friday afternoon, according to court records. MSU student Albert Reginald Robinson and nonstudent Joel Ross Hamlar began their preliminary examinations June 23 in the 54-B District Court in East Lansing, which lasted more than two hours before being adjourned. Robinson, 19, and Hamlar, 17, were arrested in connection with an alleged assault in Hubbard Hall, which involved three assailants — one with a handgun — threatening three occupants of a South Hubbard Hall room.

Nutty business

Lansing — After 10 years of selling nuts in East Lansing, the owner of Chester's Nuts will be moving the shop to a more noticeable location in Lansing. The nut shop is moving to the Eastwood Towne Center from its former location at 412 Albert Ave.

Memorial to be held for former teacher

East Lansing High School students and graduates will be holding a memorial concert for former teacher Juliet McQueen Dagbovie.

MSU to teach graphic media

After the planes crashed into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, a graphic appeared in the New York Times showing where they hit and which floors were damaged.

Wayne State to host event protesting MCRI

A group of MSU students will travel to Detroit Saturday to participate in the Community Action Day to Defeat MCRI. The MCRI, or Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, is a proposal that would end preferential treatment for minorities in government and university programs if it's passed in November. The event will be held at Wayne State University and is organized by University Students United, or USU, a group of college students throughout Michigan concerned about the initiative. Erik Green, an MSU graduate student and member of USU, said the event aims to inspire others to speak out against the MCRI. "Our goal is to defeat the MCRI this fall," Green said.

Alumnus faces riot, arson charges

A former MSU student living in Illinois will go to court for charges relating to the 2003 riots after he was informed of the three-year-old warrant out for his arrest earlier this month. Illinois police told Kyle Thomas Manning, 22, about the warrant and East Lansing police have tried since then to extradite his case back to East Lansing to undergo court proceedings, East Lansing police Lt.

Hundreds of students OK'd to receive aid via program

A new grant program through the MSU Office of Financial Aid is easing the burden for incoming freshmen who otherwise may be unable to attend MSU.

Police briefs 07/27/06

Insect introduction

Devon Dine's arm went stiff and his eyes widened as he watched the Vietnamese walkingstick wrap its six legs around his hand and crawl up his arm.

Having a ball

Clarkston High School sophomore Allie Brown dashed up the right side of Old College Field on Wednesday, yelling for her teammates' attention as she passed the ball to her fellow players on team Spain. Challenging team England for the MSU Spartan Soccer Camp's world cup playoffs, Brown and her team were wrapping up a three-day stay on campus — usually filled with drills, scrimmages and living like a college student in Wonders and Wilson halls. MSU women's soccer head coach Tom Saxton said the campus, which has welcomed about 980 girls and boys during four weeks of camp, is one of the things the camp-goers enjoy most. "We have really beautiful fields, and being on a college campus makes them feel like an adult," he said. Associate director of athletics Karen Langeland said Wednesday was the last day for any sports camp at MSU, which has held camps for 17 different sports — including soccer, cross country and diving — during a six-week period of time. This summer 8,654 kids, mostly between the ages 10 and 16, visited campus for various camps, a figure that is down a couple hundred from last year, she said.