Cher look-alike contest! This is your chance to win two free tickets to the Cher concert. To enter, just come to the Battle of the Bands on Oct. 11 at Club Paradise dressed like Cher. Find out more ways to win Cher tickets here.

Healthy Michigan Initiative: Should we entrust the
tobacco settlement to private hands?
by Kyle Melinn
Tobacco settlement money should go to health care.
It sounds so simple, doesn’t it?
The $300 million tobacco companies give Michigan each year for the next 20 years to reimburse the state for all the tax money it spent throughout the years on treating lung cancer and emphysema patients should go to the hospitals, nursing homes and hospices treating these sick patients, right? Or at the very least go toward efforts to stop Michiganders from smoking, right?
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Council candidates differ on financial disclosure
Kathy Pelleran and Brian Jeffries, the candidates for Lansing City Council in the Nov. 5 general election, are trying to demonstrate financial and interest-group transparency.
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Planning board maintains split over Sparrow
Lansing City Council members hoping to get more guidance from the Planning Board on the thorny Sparrow Hospital parking lot issue are going to be disappointed.
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Vigil at Capitol to mark the murder of Matthew Shepard
Four years ago on Oct. 6, Matthew Shepard was left tied to a fence on the Wyoming prairie. He was there for 18 hours before a passerby discovered him.
Six days later he died without regaining consciousness.
More...

Civil Liberties : Henry Silverman
Campus assaults on free speech escalating since 9/11

Media Muckraker
The Journal’s ‘New Media Department’: buyer beware

Guest Column : Bruce Nanasy
Media’s coverage of 9/11 attacks “heartfelt” but misses the real point




Live & Local:
Your guide to live entertainment in Lansing and the surrounding area!

Art:
1st Sunday Gallery Walk

Music:
Buh-bye Octoberfest; here comes BluesFest instead
Steppin’ In It is taking it one step at a time
Finally, let the band battles begin
Mike Doughty is solo now, opening for Rusted Root
Mystic Shake will warm you up with its sounds

Literature:
Local writer launches online zine Wednesday, Oct. 2

Poetry:
Alix Olson returns to Lansing
Local poet gaining attention, has stage at BluesFest

Theater:
Details make ‘Exact Center’ worth seeing
‘Les Misérables’ returns to Wharton on solid numbers
Theater community responds to LSJ’s shift in coverage

On Video:
‘Monsoon Wedding’




Advice Goddess: Amy Alkon
Who crowned your friend as Queen?

Restaurant Guide:
Previous restaurant reviews

Letters to the Editor