Friday, April 3, 2026

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MSU

Astronomers in awe over Venus transit

Venus will do something today it has not done in more than a century - it will line up exactly against the sun this morning, creating a black dot only visible through a telescope in what is called the transit of Venus.

MICHIGAN

E.L. Council to discuss rezoning, improvement

Planning and zoning move to the forefront of today's East Lansing City Council work session. The council will review two applications to renovate and rezone city property to include new residential housing, as well as another measure to resurface a major road. Council members will review an application, which would rezone properties on West Grand River Avenue to allow for the inclusion of townhouses, retail stores and apartments. Developer Signature Associates would renovate the former Greyhound Bus Station and surrounding houses, located at the intersection of Hillside Court and West Grand River Avenue, into what city officials are calling "West Village." "Plans include a mixed use structure with retail space, apartments above and a building containing several townhouses," said Bob Owen, the city's planning and zoning administrator.

MSU

Royalties from drug end due to expired patent

A MSU patent on a cancer-treating drug is up and will no longer provide royalties for the university. The drug, Carboplatin, which has had a dramatic effect on the nation, was a modification of Cisplatin, a cancer-treatment drug also discovered by MSU researchers Barnett Rosenberg, Loretta Van Camp and Thomas Krigas in the 1960s.

MICHIGAN

Change of venue

Like George and Louise Jefferson, the MSU Student Housing Cooperative is movin' on up to the east side. After 34 years in Student Services, the cooperative's headquarters has moved to 541 E.

MICHIGAN

Alumnus conquers Everest

Fighting hunger, frigid conditions and the death of several group members, MSU alumnus Dale Darling, 39, had to rely on his experience to take him to the summit of Mount Everest. Darling, who has been climbing mountains for 10 years, knew how to pace himself, thus he never was worried about death.

MICHIGAN

Funding to aid Northern Tier policing

Bath Township - Bath Township Police Chief Jack Phillips said he hopes to use a $15,000 donation from a local developer to train a team of police officers from several communities, in an attempt to prevent serious problems within the community's student housing district. Gordon Hunsaker, chief executive officer of Atlantis Development Group Ltd., said the money, which he donated Thursday morning, could come in handy with patrolling student apartment complexes in the Northern Tier. "The Bath Township area is currently experiencing tremendous growth," Hunsaker said in a written statement.

MICHIGAN

Reagan's influence warmly remembered

Following former President Ronald Reagan's death Saturday, some local politicians say the "Gipper's" charm and optimism enabled him to cross party lines and inspire Democrats and Republicans alike. During Reagan's presidency, state Sen.

MICHIGAN

Gold alumni bleed green

Though reunions are traditionally a time to focus on the past, when MSU graduates of 50 or more years convened on campus this past weekend, much of the conversation was focused on the future. While the tone of the 76th annual Kedzie Reunion was altogether positive, some alumni voiced concern over the future of the school amid the upcoming leadership change.

MICHIGAN

Pistons' success sells locally

The Detroit Pistons' recently earned Eastern Conference Champion title has had East Lansing businesses scrambling to catch up with the fan-based hype. Stores are expanding their selection of Pistons merchandise, while restaurants are adding TVs to handle the influx of fans expected for the NBA Finals, which started Sunday. "We have already sold most of what we have," said Jerry Collins, manager of MC Sports, 5002 W.

MICHIGAN

Student housing might be limited

Student housing in some East Lansing areas could be restricted or prohibited due to a new East Lansing rental housing ordinance. With signatures from two-thirds of property owners, community members can petition the City Council to turn their neighborhoods into rental overlay districts - which would limit or restrict new rental housing licenses from being issued in their areas. "With this ordinance people can keep the integrity of their single family homes, and the neighborhoods that are rental can keep their integrity," Councilmember Vic Loomis said. The ordinance will keep areas designated for university rental housing more separated from those designated for East Lansing families.

MSU

'U' students to meet Nobel winners

Because of their research and studies, two MSU graduate research students are getting the chance to mingle with Nobel Prize winners in Germany. Chemical engineering graduate student Dina Eldin and physical chemistry graduate student Deborah Davies, who are both working toward their doctorate degrees, will spend five days in Lindau, Germany with 498 other International graduate students and 58 American students at the 54th Lindau Meeting of Nobel Laureates and Students.

MICHIGAN

WEB ONLY: Rare tiger cub dies at Potter Park Zoo

The rare Amur tiger cub born May 24 at Potter Park Zoo in Lansing died Monday. The seven-day-old female cub, born amidst heavy rain that flooded the park entrance and parking lot, might have had an infection or brain damage, according to a zoo veterinarian, adding infant mortality in Amur tiger cubs is highest during the first week of life. Last year two Amur tigers, Kendra and Charley, were given to the zoo for breeding purposes through the national Tigers Species Survival Program.

MSU

WEB ONLY: 'U' professor to use grant to develop software

An associate professor in Michigan State University's Lyman Briggs School said he is hoping he can use a grant of more than $255,000 to transform a computer program about evolution into a teaching tool to show students how the process works. Robert Pennock will use funds he received from the National Science Foundation to create a new interface for the existing program to make it more visually stimulating and easier to understand.

MICHIGAN

WEB ONLY: Event to showcase area's gardens

Flower lovers can visit the Gardens Galore Tour 2004 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The event is sponsored by National City Bank, Great Lakes Capital Fund, and Local Initiatives Support Corporation to benefit the Greater Lansing Housing Coalition (GLHC). Ten area gardens are featured, including some in East Lansing, Okemos, Williamston and Lansing. Tickets for the event are $15, and are available at all area Beaner's Gourmet Coffee and Wild Birds Unlimited locations, Mole Hole, 234 S.