Researchers decode first tree genome

Last year, the complete network of DNA in humans was decoded. Just last month, that same genetic sequence - also known as a genome - was revealed for the first time in a species of tree. The Black Cottonwood tree, commonly known as the poplar, was selected as a model species for the project partly due to its relatively small genome size, forestry Associate Professor Kyung-Hwan Han said. Understanding the genome information for the poplar tree will help tree biologists learn more about its growth cycles, Han said. He said he participated in the project as part of the International Populus Genome Consortium, a group of international scientists and researchers that work to map out genetic codes. The majority of the work in sequencing the DNA was done by the U.S.

RHA donation to provide free Night Owl bus rides

Students now will have a free ride at night to get anywhere on campus. The Residence Halls Association is funding the Capital Area Transportation Authority's Night Owl service in an effort to keep students from walking alone at night. The service picks up and drops off students anywhere on campus between 2 a.m.-7 a.m.

Rental housing ban expired, owners able to rent homes

The city is once again fair game for developers and homeowners looking to rent their properties, after a city-wide moratorium banning new rental housing expired Tuesday at midnight. Plans to renew the ban are not in the works, city officials said. "It was in place several months longer than it ideally should have been," said Vic Loomis, a member of the East Lansing City Council. Although the moratorium has been lifted, it continues in neighborhoods that submitted petitions to create "overlay districts" under an ordinance passed in April whereby new rental properties could not be added. To create a district, neighborhoods need a two-thirds majority of signatures from homeowners included in the area.

Police briefs 10/22/04

Flu vaccines reserved for Congress despite shortages

National lawmakers are being encouraged to get flu shots despite vaccine shortages, but the recommendation hasn't been extended to state government officials. Capitol physician Dr. John Eisold recommended the 535 Congressional members be vaccinated because they frequently come into contact with children and older people, and could spread, as well as catch, the flu. Rep.

Murder suspect held on bond

An 18-year-old Lansing man accused of holding a Red Robin employee hostage and firing eight shots in the Delta Township restaurant faces 16 charges and the possibility of life in prison, according to the Eaton County Prosecutor. Levon Tarele Pate was pulled over by the Michigan State Police fugitive team on Sunday because he was wanted for questioning in the double homicide of two Lansing-area women, Eaton County Sheriff Rick Jones said. Cousins Elizabeth "Betsy" Lowe, 24, and Brandy Lowe, 21, were found shot the morning of Oct.

College reorganization plans still on the way

Despite missing final report deadlines, university officials say they are hopeful the Committee on College Reorganization and the New Residential College Program Planning Committee will have reports complete in the next several weeks.

Signs push for Bush

Lansing - Billboards touting Bush-friendly messages have caught the attention of some residents, but many say the advertisements aren't likely to affect their votes. "People vote their political party, not their political mind," said Rae Herig, president of the House of Car Stereo, 5101 S.

Law school to host national trial contest

The future of a heart attack victim's insurance policy will be decided this weekend in the MSU College of Law building - at least 30 different times. Starting today, the law school is hosting the National Trial Advocacy Competition, a three-day tournament that pits 20 teams of four law school students from universities across the nation against each other in three rounds of competition. "This is a way to get students ready for real life practice," said Sara Presler-Hoefle, the National Trial Advocacy Competition director.

Conference addresses Latin American study abroad issues

A leader in international education visited campus Wednesday to highlight different United States and Latin American student study abroad trends after the Sept.

Women look to mace for protection

Even though carrying pepper spray doesn't automatically mean she'll be safe in the event of a sexual assault, Kathy Freel said having it with her makes her feel safer. "I grew up with the Boy Scout motto - be prepared," said Freel, a third-year MSU College of Law student.

E.L. votes recovered

Ballots for 253 East Lansing absentee votes were lost in the mail after a post office mix-up prevented them from being delivered to voters this month. City officials took the ballots to the East Lansing Post Office on Oct.

COGS pushes students to take action, write Congress

In addition to working on theses, graduate students will also spend today writing to Congress. The Council of Graduate Students, along with groups from other universities across the country, are taking part in National Student Day of Action today.

CATA to give free rides to voters on Nov. 2

The Capital Area Transportation Authority is offering free rides to the polls for voters who show valid voter registration cards on Election Day. Debbie Alexander, assistant executive director for CATA, said the program has been underway since the late 1980s.

Provost discusses safety, education

The safety of women on campus, college reorganization, and the higher education budget were a few of the topics discussed at "Conversation with the Provost," held Monday.

Groups encourage fair trade

A visit from two Mexican coffee farmers Tuesday helped some MSU students explain why it's important to make fair trade coffee available in campus cafeterias. The speakers, Jose Vasquez, president of the Las Abejas Civil Society, and Macario Arias Gomez, president of the Maya Vinic Coffee Cooperative, which is part of the society, spoke of hardships they faced growing coffee beans in Chiapas, Mexico before organizing into cooperatives and selling to fair trade companies in the United States, Canada, Japan and Switzerland. "We are organizing as a cooperative so that we can organize and work toward a better life," Vasquez said. In the mid-'90s, the Mexican government wanted to take the coffee farmers' communal land and sell it to private oil and timber companies, but the farmers peacefully protested.

Police briefs 10/20/04

Unfinished study spurs debate 2 years after death

Two years after an MSU student died while crossing Chandler Road, a crosswalk lies near the site she was struck.

'U' Extension works to inform E.L. of seasonal insects

Four home-invading insects could make their presence known in East Lansing this fall by infiltrating homes in search of a warm place to live. In addition to the multicolored Asian lady beetle - an invasive species that migrated from northeastern Asia - boxelder bugs, cluster flies and leaf-footed pine seed bugs are among the warmth-seeking pests, said Howard Russell, an entomologist with MSU Diagnostics Services. The insects usually surface on the first warm day following the first cold day of the year, Russell said, adding that the area has already experienced that first cold day. "We haven't seen large numbers yet, so I think that's a very good sign," he said.

Police briefs 10/19/04