News desk: 313-222-2533 Sports desk: 313-222-2260 Features desk: 313-222-2480 Business desk: 313-222-2738 1A SNAKES: Two people and a dog have been bitten in the last month by the Eastern Massauga rattlesnake, Michigan's only venomous snake. The rattler is particularly prevalent in Oakland County but also has been sighted in Livingston, Jackson and Washtenaw counties in southeast Michigan and in Allegan, Barry and Kalamazoo counties in southwest Michigan. While residents are freaked out, it is a protected species. DNR officials say the snakes migrate in the spring and fall, so joggers dog walkers and others are more likely to run across them. Officials say the no. 1 cause of bites is from folks picking up the snakes or poking at them. And it is against the law to kill them. By Jim Lynch. METRO ('a') BUSINESS ('f') RATTNER: Washington ? Former auto czar Steve Rattner said Friday he still expects ? eventually ? to visit Metro Detroit to tout his memoir 'Overhaul,' despite getting uninvited by the Detroit Economic Club. Rattner, whose book is an insider's look at the government's auto industry bailout, told reporters in Washington this week that he still planned visit to Detroit next week, as part of his book tour. Rattner was to speak at the prestigious Detroit Economic Club Oct. 26. But the invitation was withdrawn after reports surfaced that he is close to settling a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into a 'pay to play' scandal involving his former firm's solicitation of an investment from the New York State pension fund. By David Shepardson. AIRROUTE : U.S. Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow and Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, both D-Minn., are advocating an application by Sun Country Airlines for an available slot at Washington D.C.'s Ronald Reagan National Airport. The airline would use the slot to fly between Washington, D.C., and Lansing, Mich., with continuing service to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. By David Sh,epardson. LIFESTYLE ('l') ENTERTAINMENT ('e') SPORTS ('s') MSU: Evanston, Ill. - Michigan State's defense has seen plenty of different offensive attacks this season. It faced a power running attack and physical offensive line against Wisconsin then drastically changed gears the next week against Michigan's spread offense that looked to run the ball first with quarterback Denard Robinson. And last week against Illinois, it was a combination of spread offensive sets, pro sets and even some option plays with a running back lined up behind the quarterback in the shotgun. Today, No. 8 Michigan State faces another opponent and another approach. Northwestern has a spread offense that likes to keep up a frenetic pace. But it isn't exactly like anything the Spartans have faced to this point. By Matt Carboneau. 