Also, interview part 2 of 3 with Men's head basketball coach Tom Izzo.

WJR’s Frank Beckmann talks about being the youngest newscaster hired at the Great Voice when he was 22. He talks about his mentors in broadcasting and his career path to WJR. Frank tells us about his transition from news to sports and how he took over play-by-play duties for Bob Reynolds on Detroit Lions broadcasts and for Bob Ufer on University of Michigan football broadcasts.

MSU’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved Mark Hollis as the athletics director-designate, effective Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2007. Hollis will assume the role as MSU’s 18th athletics director on Jan. 1, 2008, succeeding Ron Mason, who previously announced his retirement, effective June 30, 2008.

Ron Calhoun of MSU Extension and the world-renowned MSU turfgrass program visits with lawn care tips for the fall season. Ron talks about the important things to do in the autumn to give you the best shot at a quality lawn next spring. And did you know you don’t have to pick up all those leaves that fall? Mulching the leaves instead saves you from bagging or burning them and provides nutrients to your lawn at the same time.

“Energy is one of the single most important issues facing us today,” says Eann Patterson, chairperson of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. MSU’s College of Engineering is set to lead the way toward more environmentally responsible and economical ways to power transportation and industry with the opening of the new Energy & Automotive Research Laboratories.

The One Book, One Community program encourages the East Lansing and MSU community to read the same book over a six-week period and to come together to discuss it in a variety of settings. The 2007 selection is Susan Carol McCarthy’s “Lay That Trumpet in Our Hands.” Susan talks about her father and how he inspired her to write the book.