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MICHIGAN

The gospel of C-SPAN

Lansing - For eight years, Doug Hemmig has been traveling the nation's highways covering politics and preaching the gospel of C-SPAN. When the C-SPAN Campaign 2008 bus arrived at the state Capitol Thursday as part of its "Road to the White House" tour, Lansing got a sermon. The tour promoted C-SPAN's coverage of the 2008 presidential race.

MSU

Local forum to improve leadership

The Mid-America Cooperative Council and MSU Product Center are hosting a two-day forum for Michigan cooperative board and management staff members. The 2007 Cooperative Education Forum for Directors and Senior Management will take place Aug.

MSU

MSU lets medical doctor research microbial ecology

It wasn't until he went to college at Massachusetts Institute of Technology that Vincent Young discovered his interest in research. And it wasn't until he came to MSU that he realized his interest crossed into departments many medical doctors wouldn't dream of studying. Young, an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine/Infectious Diseases at the College of Human Medicine and the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, is working on microbial ecology research, studying bacteria communities. However, Young is trained as a medical doctor, and the other researchers often work with bacteria in the soil, not in the human body. "We had to do a lot of convincing of the National Institute of Health that a person who is normally working in soil can contribute to medical fields," Young said about the struggle acquiring the grant he recently received from the institute. For Young, the idea of being a medical doctor originated growing up in Buffalo, NY. "When I was little, I was always thinking, 'You know, it would be kind of fun to be a doctor because you're going to help people,' and research wasn't anything I was exposed to when I was little," he said. So the idea to be both a doctor and a researcher came when he discovered the MD/doctorate programs that exist, which train students as both doctors and scientists, he said. "It's the idea that I learned both about the disease - and in medical school you have to learn a bit about the basic science of the disease - but I realized ? how did people find all this so we can try to design new therapies or have a new understanding of disease?" Young said, adding that he did an MD/doctorate program at Stanford University. For Young, the best part of the job is the social aspect. "If you just look at the type of research I do where I'm collaborating with people in crop and soil sciences and microbiology - for me, some of the best things about coming to work is when I get together with my colleagues and we get to talk about the science," he said. Basics of Research: For most of Young's career, he has been focusing his studies on disease-causing bacteria located in the human gastrointestinal tract.

MICHIGAN

House to establish policy task forces

Republicans in the Michigan House of Representatives announced Wednesday plans to create five task forces that would allow more direct contact and input from taxpayers. Starting this month, the task forces will travel across the state, holding public meetings for citizens and political experts to discuss issues facing the state for the Republican's new agenda.

MSU

Entry forms available for soybean contest

Farmers interested in improving Michigan's soybean crop and can enter the 2007 Michigan Soybean Yield Contest. Contestants will provide researchers with data on planting, harvests, and pest and crop management to help increase yields and profitability.

MICHIGAN

Michigan Supreme Court dedicates July to jurors

The Michigan Supreme Court has declared July to be Juror Appreciation Month in an effort to raise awareness about jury service. "It's an occasion that's been declared by the Michigan Supreme Court to recognize people who have served on juries and to recognize the importance of jury service and its role in democracy," said Marcia McBrien, public information officer for the Michigan Supreme Court. Forty-one courts in 28 counties will participate, including Lansing's 54-A District Court. "It's understandable (duty) is not the way people want to spend their time," McBrien said.

MSU

MSU takes 'Go Green' chant to new level

From how grass gets cut to what's being used to scrub toilets, some university departments are turning to more environmentally friendly ways to run MSU. In the everyday tasks to operate a major university, employees are making small changes to protect the environment, which also can end up saving money. Instead of using diesel gasoline, mowers now use biodiesel fuels when they mow grass on campus, said Gerry Dobbs, the grounds maintenance manager. Biodiesel fuels, which can be made from soybean oil, burn cleaner than diesel fuels, Dobbs said, adding that they also use biodiesel lubricants, oils and grease for other equipment. The department mows most areas every other week to save on fuel. "On a population-dense campus, we're especially concerned about carbon emissions," Dobbs said. Department workers mow highly visible areas of campus more frequently, such as the area near the Administration Building, and use a higher blade so grass doesn't need to be mowed as often, Dobbs said. Walking south of the Red Cedar River, some passers-by may even notice "no-mow zones" where the grass is tamed as little as once a year. "With the 'no-mow zones,' we're trying to create a habitat for birds, beneficial insects and other native species," Dobbs said. He said higher grass helps prevent runoff of fertilizers and other substances into the river. Other departments use substitutes to help clean up the environment. MSU custodial services use a "green" cleaner for tasks like washing the floors, said Gus Gosselin, director of building services. To see another way MSU officials make an effort to help the environment, look up. The university is experimenting with "green roofs" on top of the Plant and Soil Sciences and the Communication Arts and Sciences buildings. The flat roofs are covered with a membrane that decrease energy costs, protect the buildings from extreme weather and help hold storm water, said Brad Rowe, a horticulture associate professor. The larger, 3,500 square feet of roof atop the Plant and Soil Sciences building helps hold storm water.

MICHIGAN

State closes 20 Mich. campgrounds

In an effort to balance the state's budget, 20 of Michigan's 138 state forest campgrounds have been temporarily shut down Monday. The decision came after $75,000 was eliminated from the state's Department of Natural Resources Recreation and Trails Program. The cut means fewer camping spots and more canceled trips, which could hurt northern Michigan's economy, said Rep.

MSU

2007-08 SAF membership renewal

Students can renew their MSU Student Alumni Foundation membership for the 2007-08 school year and enter to win a $50 gift certificate to Spartan Bookstore in the International Center or Eastwood Towne Center, 3003 Preyde Blvd., in Lansing.

MSU

MSU day camp gets cameras rolling

As the camera captured her every move, Eileen Zimmerman walked toward a penny on the ground Tuesday afternoon. It was the opening shot of film as the 16-year-old acted in a short movie about a girl who finds a not-so-lucky penny during MSU's weeklong Digital Cinema Day Camp.

MSU

Mich. task force created to cope with hepatitis C

The list of celebrity victims includes Pamela Anderson, Naomi Judd, Mickey Mantle, James Earl Ray and Steven Tyler. But hepatitis C, a deadly virus which affects more than 4 million Americans, now will be tackled by a new Michigan task force. The Hepatitis C Advisory Task Force will advise the governor and Legislature on policies for reducing the risk of hepatitis C, said T.J.