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Genetic tests may affect birth rate

By Laura Maxwell / ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR | February 25

Many inherited diseases seem to becoming less prevalent as a result of genetic testing, according to research by the Associated Press.However, an article about the research said this might be because many women terminate pregnancies when they discover their child will have a disease.A bill sponsored by Sen.

ComPlan2030 plans land use, transportation

By Laura Maxwell / ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR | February 25

"Great places are not created by accident" is the theme for CompPlan 2030.It was on a PowerPoint presentation at Tuesday's city council meeting.CompPlan 2030 is a plan for land use and transportation for Auburn.Right now, the project is in the "issues and needs identification" phase, meaning it is trying to gather input from the community and learn what problems need to be addressed.This is the first long range comprehensive plan in the area in more than 10 years.Input has been gathered from two public meetings and a focus group of students at Auburn High School.More than 120 people have contributed ideas for new and, hopefully, improved transportation plans for the greater Auburn area.Justin Steinmann, the project manager, overviewed the results of public input at the meeting Tuesday night.The top six categories citizens' imagined for the best possible Auburn fell under were transportation choices, workability, character, heritage, connectivity and parks and open space.Furthermore, Steinmann said potential challenges include planning and development, infrastructure, growth management, environmental sustainability, housing and the character of Auburn.

Strikes, spares benefit boys, girls

By Daniel Chesser / ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR | February 25

Adults gathered to roll some rocks and raise funds for charity Friday afternoon.Auburn Lanes bowling alley held the 3rd Annual Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Lee County Bowling Tournament Feb 19."Everybody does golf tournaments, 5-K's and 10-K's," said Alex Muncie, chairman of the event.

Sustainable beans brew in new venue

By Crystal Cole / STAFF REPORTER | February 25

Mama Mocha is now serving coffee to The Plains with a double shot of sustainability.Sarah Barnett opened Mama Mocha's beanery inside the Gnu's Room Saturday.

Witte molds minds, metal

By Ellison Langford / News Editor | February 25

The second Saturday of almost every month Jim Witte swaps his dry-erase board and textbooks and instead teaches his students with a steel hammer and anvil.As the anvil rings with every blow of the hammer, Witte, associate professor of adult education, demonstrates how to shape scorching red pieces of metal.But Witte has not always enjoyed the practical creativity of metalwork as he does now.Before he started blacksmithing, he spent his spare time working as a woodcarver."I've always avoided metalwork because trees lived at one point," Witte said.

$105 Million Grant Funds Railroad Hub

By Jessica Shaddix / WRITER | February 24

Plans to build a rail hub in McCalla have begun to unfold after a $105 million federal grant was given to the Departments of Transportation in Alabama and Tennessee.The area was selected for the project after an extensive site search of the Birmingham region.According to Norfolk Southern, the railway transportation company building the hub, the McCalla site is the only location that meets the necessary criteria for the hub.

Sasser Takes 2010 SGA Presidency

By Staff reports | February 22

In the SGA presidential runoff between Brad Cink and Kurt Sasser, Sasser is the president elect with 57 percent of the student votes. With a total of 5240 votes, Sasser had 3011 votes while Cink had 2229 votes.

Woman hit by SUV outside Plainsman Park

By Ellison Langford / News Editor | February 22

Woman hit by SUV outside Plainsman Park

SGA Announces Election Results

By Staff reports | February 18

Brad Cink and Kurt Sasser will participate in a runoff over the weekend for the SGA president position. Ashley Nichols was named vice president. Spencer Moore was named treasurer.

Auburn Celebrates Business Partnership with Germany

By Daniel Chesser / ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR | February 18

The City of Auburn hosted the 12th AlabamaGermany Partnership dinner and business forum at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center, Wednesday night.

Second in a Series: How Important Are Aesthetics?

By Ellison Langford / News Editor | February 18

Haluk Yapicioglu was released from a rehabilitation facility Wednesday and is doing well after being struck by a car two weeks ago, said Barbara Swanson of the College of Engineering.Yapicioglu is a post doctoral fellow in the College of Engineering. He was struck by a car while crossing Magnolia Ave at approximately 8:23 p.m. Feb. 4.Yapicioglu is the first victim of a pedestrian-vehicle accident in Auburn this year.

Semesters' days set to decrease soon

By Maxwell Newfield / ASSOCIATE CAMPUS EDITOR | February 18

n a move which few Auburn students are likely to object, the University Senate decided to shorten the length of spring and fall semesters. The proposed changes, which passed 2 to 1 in the Senate, will go into effect in the fall of 2010. The new semesters will have between 70 and 73 days excluding finals, whereas the current semesters always consist of 75 days of class.

The Plains celebrate Mardi Gras

By Maxwell Newfield / ASSOCIATE CAMPUS EDITOR | February 18

Although it may not be quite the same as Bourbon Street, the town of Auburn was filled with the spirit of Mardi Gras for Fat Tuesday, Feb.

PACT bills approved to save 45,000 contracts

By Daniel Chesser / ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR | February 18

Contracts for prepaid college tuition will be fulfilled after a period of uncertainty in a struggling and down economy.Two different but similar bills have been approved to go to the full House for debate on the issue of the Prepaid Alabama College Tuition Program.These bills will ensure college tuition the state of Alabama is paid for the 45,000 children whose parents bought contracts in the state's prepaid college tuition program."I think it is still going to be a tough battle," said Richard Huckaby, cofounder and V.P.

UPC spend student fees for 'free' movies

By Davis Potter / WRITER | February 18

While students are here at Auburn to receive a quality education, they also need occasional breaks from their studies.Whether it's music, sports, crafts, social events or any other activity, students are constantly looking for ways to escape the everyday stress of classes.The University Program Council is doing its part to provide students with more on-campus entertainment by increasing the number of movie showings this school year.After showing 16 movies last year, UPC is scheduled to show 22 this time around, including 11 in the spring semester.The quality and diversity of the movies played a large part in scheduling additional showings this year, said UPC President Sharne Rice.

The Auburn Plainsman receives Best College Newspaper award

By Lindsey Davidson / Editor | February 18

The Auburn Plainsman was named Best College Newspaper at the Best of South competition at the annual Southeastern Journalism Conference.Along with this regional honor, The Plainsman also received three other awards including Journalist of the Year, Best Web site and Best Press Photographer.Ellison Langford, news editor, placed ninth as Journalist of the Year.

VictoryLand venues close

By Jillian Clair/ Staff Writer | February 18

Attorney General Troy King said in a press release yesterday that the raid on VictoryLand by Gov.

Auburn schools rank 38th, 41st in toxin study

By Sarah Phillips / STAFF REPORTER | February 18

A USA Today Special Report published in 2007 on toxic air surrounding America's schools listed four local Auburn city schools in as low as the 38th percentile of national rankings.The report, titled "The Smokestack Effect," used a U.S.