Friday, April 10, 2026

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

Motorcycle safety emphasized

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in Michigan and the Secretary of State's office wants to make drivers of all vehicles respect each other on the road. Earlier this month, Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land also presented the Department of State's "Motorcycle Rider and Safety Education Program." The program is not new, but was recently moved to the Department of State from the Department of Education.

MICHIGAN

Veterans Day

Lansing- The Michigan branch of the Volunteers of America hosted an event to help serve those who had once, in turn, offered their own services to the country. "The sun has never shone brighter in Lansing all year long," state Rep.

MICHIGAN

Suspects set to stand trial

Two men charged with the murder of Joseph Lavon Parker outside an East Lansing 7-Eleven will next stand trial at the 30th Judicial Circuit Court. Eric Charles Gordy and Hatarie Deamont McCorkle, both of Detroit, will also stand trial for eluding police following Judge Richard D.

MICHIGAN

Cicadas to rise this month

What only appears in eastern North America every 17 years is about to appear in parts of Michigan this month, but the one place you won't see this rare phenomenon in is Lansing. Scientifically titled as the Magicicada Septendecim, and classified as Brood IX, cicadas bugs are due to rise out of ground in swarms after living there for the past 17 years. "This is a phenomenon that doesn't occur anywhere else in the world," said Dr. Thomas Moore, a University of Michigan expert on cicadas. The cicadas have the longest adult-to-adult life cycle of any known animal.

MICHIGAN

WEB ONLY: Local group goes door to door to unite residents and students

For Nicole Tompkins, knocking on neighbors' doors comes with the job. As a neighborhood resource coordinator, Tompkins works to bring permanent East Lansing residents and students closer in the Oakwood and Bailey neighborhoods, located north of Grand River Avenue. Along with nine other coordinators, the interdisciplinary studies in social science and community relations senior is organizing the first East Lansing Field Day & Barbecue to take place from 3 to 5 p.m.

MICHIGAN

Forestry bill might fund local fire departments

Lawmakers in the state House have proposed a method for funding local fire departments that is starkly different than an earlier proposal to raise the state liquor tax. Republican leaders in the House instead are advocating that local governments and certain school districts sell forest lands that the state claims when the property owners don't pay taxes. Under the proposal, half of the revenue would go to the local government unit and the other would go to the state. Keith Ledbetter, spokesman for Speaker of the House Rick Johnson, R-Leroy, said that the plan would produce about $28 million in revenue in its first year. According to Ledbetter, $12 million of that revenue would go to fully funding fire grants that the state provides to local fire departments for the protection of state-owned buildings.