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MICHIGAN

State continues talks on budget, economy

Lansing - Republican lawmakers and the Granholm administration will continue meeting this week to compromise on tax reform, the state budget and college scholarships. Members of the administration have been meeting regularly with Republican legislative leaders. House GOP leaders decided last week to put off a vote on their economic stimulus package after agreeing to requests from Democratic Gov.

MSU

Union alters dining lineup

Students craving MSU Dairy Store ice cream will soon be able to purchase the treat at a new location inside the Union. Construction of the new store should be completed by the end of September, said Union Manager Jim Sheppard. On Monday, officials announced changes to the lineup of restaurants scheduled to open in the Union this fall. Grill 155 and Pete's Arena Pizza had been slated to replace the Little Caesars Pizza and Wendy's, whose contracts ended this year, located in the One Union Square Food Court.

MSU

High number of visits slows parking site

Students trying to register for campus parking permits Monday experienced some difficulty accessing the MSU Department of Police and Public Safety's online registration Web site. The volume of visitors to the site forced students to wait in an application queue ranging from several hundred to as many as one thousand students. MSU police Sgt.

MICHIGAN

Council meeting to convene after break

The East Lansing City Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. after a two-week break. The meeting will be held at the 54-B District Court, 101 Linden St. The council plans to approve street closures and have a public hearing on an ordinance for the display of political signs.

MICHIGAN

Student group to defend ballot initiative with counterprotest

In an effort to defend affirmative action, members of a national activist group will head down to the Capitol today to rally for the second time this summer, but one campus group will attempt to counteract their protests. The MSU College Republicans are getting involved to oppose the protest headed by the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration & Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary, or BAMN. The Michigan Board of Canvassers are holding a meeting today to decide if the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, or MCRI, proposal will be on the 2006 ballot. MCRI is a proposal to amend the Michigan Constitution by adding a new section that would prohibit state and local governments from discriminating against or granting preferential treatment to any individual or group based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin.

MSU

Player pleads guilty to drunken driving

Senior wide receiver Aaron Alexander pleaded guilty to drunken driving charges and faces an Aug. 12 sentencing, a clerk from the 54-B District Court said. Alexander is still a member of the football team, said John Lewandowski, assistant athletics director and director of Sports Information. However, Lewandowski wouldn't comment on whether MSU football head coach John L.

MICHIGAN

Study: Accidents 4 times more likely with cell phone use

Driving while chatting on the phone can increase the likelihood of a crash resulting in injury by about four times, according to a recent study. The study from the University of Sydney, Australia, which was published July 12 in the British Medical Journal, or BMJ, also said that hands-free phones are not any safer, said Suzanne McEvoy, who helped conduct the study. Researchers interviewed 456 drivers who were in the hospital for crashes and owned a cell phone.

MSU

Program helps freshmen adjust to college living

A group of incoming freshmen performed skits on college life on Friday in the McDonel Hall Kiva to wrap-up the one-week program Maximizing Academic Growth in College, or MAGIC. For nine years, the program's aim has been to provide incoming racial and ethnic minority students with information about transitioning to college through workshops and other activities.

MICHIGAN

Officials warn against illegal use of wireless

Today's technology lets people use wireless connections to access the Internet, and the illegal use of wireless networks is an issue with some officials. Some use their neighbor's wireless Internet networks without giving it much thought, said Rich Wiggins, MSU's Academic Network & Computer Services senior information technologist.

MICHIGAN

Supreme Court seat might sway abortion laws

The issue of abortion could be affected by whom President Bush nominates for the U.S. Supreme Court seat vacated by Sandra Day O'Connor's retirement. O'Connor, the first woman to serve as a justice on the Supreme Court, announced her resignation July 1.

MICHIGAN

Harry Potter release inspires celebration

When 7-year-old Will Miklavcic dons a black cape and pair of glasses repaired with tape, he said he resembles Harry Potter, even though he's blond. "I like Harry Potter; I've read all the books," the Haslett resident said.

MICHIGAN

Police use fliers to aid search for missing boy

The search for a missing Williamston boy advanced today when officials from the U.S. Post Office agreed to distribute 65,000 fliers containing his picture and description. As part of the Deliver Me Home Network, the fliers aim to make residents aware of disappearances.

MICHIGAN

Scholars assess Scientology

The religion Scientology has been around for more than 50 years, yet recently it has become the center of media and public attention. Some relate the rise in popularity to actor Tom Cruise for being outspoken in the media about his views of Scientology and psychiatry. But Mary Anne Ahmad, director of public affairs of Midwest Churches of Scientology said this is not a new religion. "It's always been here," she said.

MICHIGAN

Graffiti artist paints Flats Grille

Artist Joseph Houghton paints graffiti that people will pay to have on their walls. In an effort to beautify a vacant wall, Flats Grille owner Paul O'Connor commissioned Houghton to paint a large mural on the side of his restaurant at 551 E.

MSU

Mozilla browser gains popularity on campuses

For years, Web browsing has been dominated by a single application, but one newcomer is starting to garner more attention at several universities. Microsoft's Internet Explorer has led the field of Internet-browser applications, according to statistics from WebSideStory Inc., a San Diego-based company providing Web marketing applications and Web analysis.

MSU

Weekly bell concerts featured at Beaumont

His loosely clasped fists striking the batons and his black shoes dancing on the pedals, French carillonneur Stefano Colletti filled the air with the sounds of the bells of Beaumont Tower. Colletti's recital, which included the music of Bach, Satie and his own improvisations, was one in the Muelder International Summer Carillon Recital Series. A carillon is a musical instrument with at least two octaves of bells played from a clavier, a series of batons arranged like a keyboard that one plays with both hands and feet.

MICHIGAN

Fair weather, fair season

The Ferris wheel and cotton candy season has arrived. Officials hope that local county fairs will have increased admissions this summer with carnival attractions and local exhibitors. Surrounding county fairs have already started.