Lansing community center hosts lunch

The Cristo Rey Community Center is holding a benefit for its senior program from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today.

Lawmakers debate options for 'sin taxes'

As bills aimed at closing the state's budget shortfall by raising "sin taxes" make their way through the state Legislature, supporters for and against the bills are making their opinions heard. In the state House on Tuesday, a number of Republican legislators proposed amendments to the state's budget that would reduce spending, rather than raise taxes on cigarettes and liquor.

Community honors Chavez

Baldemar Velasquez, an ally and friend of Cesar Chavez for 27 years, spoke Wednesday of how he used to pick cherries in Traverse City and dreamt of organizing farm workers to fight for their rights.

City parking department budget expected to come up short; officials suggest creation of task force

After years of budgetary problems, the East Lansing Parking Department is bracing for another budget shortfall at the end of this fiscal year. At an East Lansing City Council work session on March 23, parking administrator Dan O'Connor asked that a special task force be created to find more efficient ways for the city to cut parking costs and increase parking revenue. O'Connor outlined a report of this year's budget as it currently stands and where the department expects to be when the fiscal year ends in June.

COGS could represent MSU-DCL

MSU-DCL College of Law students might soon receive both a voice and a vote in the Council of Graduate Students, if Provost Lou Anna Simon's proposed reorganization blueprint is approved. As part of Simon's proposal, which includes plans to further align programs between the university, the law school would act as any other college in the university, but would maintain financial independence.

ASMSU votes to increase budget for Funding Board

ASMSU's Student Assembly voted to increase Funding Board's budget by $10,000, echoing a similar move made in February when the same amount was given to Programming Board. "This really is one of the ways our constituents know we exist," said Patty Smith, College of Arts & Letters representative. Funding Board allocates up to $3,000 to registered student organizations.

Some 'U' computers infected by new virus

Academic Computing and Network Services was informed Wednesday by Merit, the university's Internet provider, that a few hundred on-campus computers might be infected by variants of the Gaobot virus worm, also known as Phatbot and Agobot. Only computers running Windows are susceptible to infection.

Police briefs 04/01/04

Group upset with recycling program

With just more than four weeks left in the semester, the Residence Halls Association and student environmental group Eco still are trying to iron out a plan to increase recycling in residence halls. Last semester, RHA Recycling canceled its contract with Waste Management under suspicion that the company was throwing away recyclables.

Students bring projects to state Capitol

Lansing - About 50 students from MSU, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University had an opportunity Wednesday to showcase their research projects at the Capitol. The first Michigan Undergraduate Research Forum brought the top-three research institutions in the state together to display the research conducted by undergraduate students. The program was opened with speeches from MSU Provost Lou Anna Simon, as well as university heads from U-M and Wayne State.

Carbon dioxide levels reach record highs

A greenhouse gas is showing up in the earth's atmosphere at record-high levels, and officials say global climatic patterns could be impacted in the future. According to a report released earlier this month by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's climate monitoring lab in Hawaii, carbon dioxide levels have reached record highs in the past year.

Grand Ledge McDonald's beefs up, supersizes image

Grand Ledge - Customers at a recently renovated area McDonald's restaurant might soon skip ordering at the drive-through window, opting instead to eat their fast-food meal inside, sitting on plastic wood-like chairs next to a roaring fireplace. After closing its dining room for one month of renovations, the McDonald's at 608 S.

U.S. grant to aid safety in schools

Despite the statewide and federal budget crises, federal money will come to aid Michigan public schools that wish to improve their emergency preparedness for a terrorist attack. Gov.

Faculty council addresses graduate mentors, benefits

Graduate and postdoctorate issues were the topics of discussion during Tuesday's Faculty Council meeting. Eric Crawford, chairman of the University Graduate Council, presented a set of four recommendations regarding research mentoring of graduate students. The first recommendation was for materials for graduate handbooks.

'Real' traveling

Randy from MTV's "Real World San Diego" shared his travel expertise with students Tuesday night at the Union. As part of STA Travel's Europe Night, the MTV cast member and STA representatives gave students looking to travel abroad tips on how to make their experiences worthwhile. "I don't think I've known anyone who has traveled to Europe or gone on vacation where it hasn't been a positive experience in their life," Randy said.

WEB ONLY: 60 James Madison College students attend same-sex marriage debate

When two state representatives didn't show up to Case Hall Tuesday night for what was supposed to be a debate on same-sex marriage, the evening turned into an open discussion on the issue. Rep.

Police briefs 03/31/04

ASMSU polls have small voter turnout, seats still open

In an election with less than one-third the participation of last year, 21 new ASMSU members were voted into MSU's undergraduate student government last week. Elections were held March 24-25 and about 5 percent of undergraduate students voted.

Man attempts armed robbery at Frandor shop; police search on foot

An armed man entered a tanning salon in the Frandor Shopping Center on Tuesday night and attempted to rob the establishment, Lansing police said. At around 8 p.m.

Darkest night

Five years after 10,000 revelers torched the streets of East Lansing and tainted MSU's name, the scars still are visible as a reminder of the college town's darkest night. March 27, 1999, signaled the beginning of a new era for MSU as the men's basketball team returned to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 20 years.