House Democratic leaders outline plan to promote family issues agenda

Leaders of the House Democratic Caucus outlined their ambitious 12-point agenda Thursday, which they intend to pass during the first 100 days of the 2001 session.The agenda, titled the “Family Fairness Guarantee,” will address what Democrats feel to be the most important issues for Michigan families - better schools, HMO reform, a cleaner environment and retirement security.House Minority Leader Michael Hanley, D-Saginaw, said the plan will happen because he expects Democrats to “take back the House” after the Nov.

State bill punishes online stalkers

People found guilty of harassing or stalking people through the Internet in Michigan could be punished with up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 through a bill the state House passed Wednesday. The new bill, introduced by Rep.

Falling gas prices please local businesses

Michigan motorists and small business owners were given a break for the third consecutive week as gas prices continued to drop statewide. Regular unleaded gasoline fell 5.7 cents per gallon this week, dropping the average price to $1.55 per gallon according to AAA Michigan. The drop in gas prices can be attributed to the recent release of crude oil from the Strategic Oil Reserve by the federal government, said MSU economics Professor Mordechai Kreinin.

Dot sex? New Internet domain names may be near

Everyone who uses the Internet is familiar with .com, .org and .edu.But how about .sex?That sultry domain name, along with a few that are more tame, could find their way onto the Internet as early as next year.The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, which assigns new domain names, will soon determine if the list of domain names will see its first major growth in more than a decade.“The applications were due on Monday, and approvals are expected on Nov.

Colleagues mourn professor

People who knew Dr. Joseph A. Papsidero say he’ll always be remembered and respected.Papsidero, a former professor and chairperson of the MSU Department of Community Health Science in the Colleges of Human and Osteopathic Medicine, lost his battle with cancer Monday in Lansing.

Children propose ideas to create safer schools

Grade school students from across Michigan gathered at the state Capitol on Wednesday to voice opinions about gun control, higher education and violence in schools.A panel of lawmakers and community officials listened to the students and made notes of possible solutions.Students traveled from several cities to speak at the Capitol, including Grand Rapids, Detroit, Lansing and Kalkaska.

Annual conference concentrates on development of students leadership skills

Hundreds of current and potential leaders will gather on campus this weekend for an annual seminar.The group of MSU and Lansing Community College students will attend the 18th annual MSU Student Leadership Conference in the Business College Complex on Saturday.“This gives students the opportunity to develop their leadership skills,” said Benardo Dargan, a graduate assistant in the office of Leadership Development and Campus Life Orientation.

Students protest labor conditions at job fair

Some corporate recruiters had a hard time doing their job at Wednesday night’s career fair at the Breslin Student Events Center.Students for Economic Justice, an MSU anti-sweatshop organization, stood in front of the Kohl’s Department Store and Target Corp.

Psychologist shares mind, body approach to womens health

More than 600 women gathered at Kellogg Center’s Big Ten Room to hear Dr. Joan Borysenko speak about a “mind-body” approach to health.Borysenko, who’s a psychologist and medical scientist, traveled from Colorado to give the annual Centerpoint 2000 lecture.

Bills tighten penalty for date rape drugs

Furthering the state’s war on date-rape drugs, two more bills passed in the state House Tuesday.One of the bills will outlaw the use, manufacture and possession of gamma-butyrolactone, or GBL.

NBC health reporter to speak to U

An NBC chief medical and health correspondent will be on campus next week to lecture students.Dr. Bob Arnot, who reports for the network’s “Dateline” and “Today” programs, will speak Tuesday at the Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre.Arnot was selected by the MSU College of Human Ecology’s Staff Advisory Council to participate in a series of programs designed to highlight issues such as nutrition and dietetics.

Hospital supports lecture series, focuses on womens health issues

In 1896, a group of more than 100 women founded Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital. Now, more than a century later, Sparrow is showing its commitment to women’s health by sponsoring the Centerpoint 2000 lecture series. This year’s lecture will be given at 7 p.m.

Bill may jeopardize family planning programs, abortion clinics

The State News A bill that would give pro-choice family planning programs a secondary priority when it comes to state funding is before committee.The bill, sponsored by state Rep.

Local park to be renovated

Residents of the neighborhood surrounding Valley Court Park voted Thursday on a renovation plan that will preserve the park as much as possible.

Guest lends advertising industry wisdom

The MSU Department of Advertising has a new face - well, this week it does.Rick Boyko, the high-profile president and chief creative officer of Ogilvy & Mather in New York, is instructing a class through Thursday this week.The department hosts two visiting professors each year in hopes to give students a new perspective into the advertising industry.“I think this will give students a broader perspective of what the business is really like,” Boyko said.

Police briefs 10/04/00

E.L. sees weekend violence, car chase

A 24-year-old man from Livonia is in stable but critical condition at Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital after being assaulted early Sunday outside an East Lansing establishment.Brandon D’Annunzio is suffering from severe head trauma with a fractured skull and has a blood clot in his brain, said friend Jennifer Martino, an MSU alumna.He is being treated for his injuries in Sparrow’s Neurological Intensive Care Unit.D’Annunzio is not an MSU student, but Martino said he had been in East Lansing for a friend’s bachelor party at BW-3, 220 M.A.C.

Akers forum centers on police complaints

Human biology junior Cynthera McNeill said she has often attended campus events where violent fistfights have broken out.

Vigil helps remember loved ones

General business sophomore Diana Yacob hasn’t spoken to her grandfather, who lives overseas in Palestine, for more than a month.And she worries that he may be in danger since violence has recently erupted between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.So Yacob, president of MSU’s Arab Student Organization, said she felt it was important to take time to remember her grandfather and others who live, or have died, in the area.“It saddens me that I’m way over here in the United States,” she said.

Campus unites for United Way charity

The university is lending a hand to United Way, pledging to raise $600,000 for the organization’s 2000 fund-raising campaign. Several different campus-oriented events have already been scheduled to help raise money. The campus-wide effort has benefited the charitable organization for several years, but this year brings about some changes. The leaders of the Capital Area United Way campaign are also leaders at MSU - President M.