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MICHIGAN

UPDATE: Jury begins deliberation in McCowan case

Katie Abdilla  and  Simon Schuster
October 14, 2013

Both sides began presenting their closing arguments in the trial of Okemos resident Connor McCowan Monday morning in Ingham County Circuit Court. McCowan is accused of stabbing and killing MSU student Andrew Singler after a text messaging argument between the two escalated to blows on Feb. 23. The jury will deliberate over whether McCowan is guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder or manslaughter.

MSU

Renovated Multicultural Center opens in Union

April Jones
October 13, 2013

After years of student organizations pushing to get a free-standing multicultural building on campus, the Union welcomed the new Mosaic Multicultural Unity Center on Friday with a ribbon tying ceremony emphasizing unity. For the past 14 years, the Multicultural Center was in the basement of the Union, making some students, such as communication senior Luis Zarco, think the space was too small and cramped to fit everyone.

MSU

Alumni, students tour Beaumont Tower during Homecoming event

Justine McGuire
October 13, 2013

One of MSU’s most recognizable structures, Beaumont Tower, was opened to the public on Saturday in honor of Homecoming and to raise money for the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities, or RCPD. Self-guided tower tours took place for six hours before and after the homecoming football game against Indiana.

MICHIGAN

McCowan's case focuses on blows to head in fight

Lauren Gibbons  and  Katie Abdilla
October 13, 2013

After reaching the door of MSU student Andrew Singler’s apartment on the morning of Feb. 23, Okemos resident Connor McCowan said his subsequent actions were a result of a series of blows to the head. Singler allegedly hit McCowan multiple times above his left eyebrow when McCowan saw a bright light and stumbled backward into the hallway, McCowan testified Friday in his trial in Ingham County Circuit Court.

MICHIGAN

Look inside Spartan Linen Services

Simon Schuster
October 13, 2013

Spartan Linen Services, located south of campus at 373 Service Road, might be the farthest thing from a laundromat. More of an industrial facility than laundry service, Spartan Linen Services washes almost all the linens used on MSU’s campus, from Kellogg Center tablecloths to employee uniforms. They also clean the linen packages that some on-campus students use.

MICHIGAN

Retired MSU dean honored by MSU Black Alumni Association

Casey Holland
October 13, 2013

A retired dean of the MSU College of Urban Development was honored by the MSU Black Alumni Association this weekend for his work in education and activism.? Robert L. Green, a dean emeritus and former associate of Martin Luther King Jr., was honored at an event in Lansing to celebrate Green’s 80th birthday and to help raise funds for the Robert L. Green Scholarship Fund. Green also received a “distinguished alumnus” award.

MICHIGAN

City sponsors comprehensive planning events

Casey Holland
October 13, 2013

The Plan and Design Kick-Off Week for East Lansing’s 18-month update to its comprehensive plan is set to take place Oct. 14 – 17. The comprehensive plan is a policy document for the physical, economic and social development of the city, reviewed for updates every five years to project land use planning 20 years in advance.

MICHIGAN

Update: McCowan concludes testimony in murder trial

Katie Abdilla
October 11, 2013

Discrepancies between the actions and testimony of Okemos resident Connor McCowan were questioned during the defense side of his trial Friday morning. McCowan, 19, was taken into custody by Meridian Township police just hours after he allegedly stabbed and killed MSU student Andrew Singler on Feb. 23. He called his mother, Judy McCowan, from the Ingham County Jail that morning, and testified Friday that he was “devastated,” when she told him Singler had died.

MICHIGAN

State bill could keep bars open later, but city officials skeptical

Ever go out for a few beers, stumble toward the clock and realize it’s already 2 a.m., but still need to pound a few more? A new bill could let patrons imbibe later into the night, but some East Lansing officials aren’t sold on the idea. A new bill from state Sen. Virgil Smith, D-Detroit, would allow bars to stay open two hours later — a move supporters hope would make Michigan cities more competitive with metropolitan areas such as Chicago or New York City.

MICHIGAN

Connor McCowan emotional in court during trial testimony

Simon Schuster
October 10, 2013

On the morning of Feb. 23, Connor McCowan recalled walking up the stairwell to MSU student Andrew Singler’s apartment, where he paused. According to his testimony in Ingham County Circuit Court, he took out the folding knife he had in his pocket and opened it, exposing the blade. He slid it back into his pocket before he entered his friend’s residence.

MSU

Living City- A page in the life

Julia Nagy
October 10, 2013

For Ryan Claytor, life is illustrated. Claytor, who teaches comics studio courses at MSU and University of Michigan-Flint, self-published an autobiographical comic book series, “And Then One Day.” He’s been producing the comic since 2004. “I think it’s interesting to see what other people experience in this world and what they have to say,” Claytor said.

MSU

ASMSU looking into building repairs for offices

Nolly Dakroury
October 10, 2013

The ASMSU finance committee approved a bill to allocate up to $45,000 for the refurbishment of the undergraduate students government’s wing in the Student Services Building. The bill will be put to a vote at the next general assembly meeting on Thursday. ASMSU College of Business representative Christie Teske said it has been 58 years since the offices have been updated, adding the matter was urgent since asbestos, a toxic material which has been shown to cause cancer, has become exposed on parts of the ceiling where the tiles have fallen off.

MICHIGAN

Connor McCowan begins testifying in his own murder trial

Lauren Gibbons  and  Simon Schuster
October 10, 2013

Okemos resident Connor McCowan took the stand in his own murder trial Thursday to defend himself against allegations that he stabbed and killed MSU student Andrew Singler. Defense attorney Chris Bergstrom began questioning McCowan in Ingham County Circuit Court Thursday afternoon. Much of the testimony centered around text messages sent between McCowan, his sister Shay McCowan and Singler on Feb. 23 before Singler died.

MSU

Students campout for first crack at houses next year

Justine McGuire
October 10, 2013

At least 50 people camped out Wednesday night on the lawn of Community Resource Management Co., or CRMC, to get the first crack at signing up for housing for the next academic year. People hoping to sign up for their top choices of houses or apartments had to arrive on Wednesday evening to put their name and house on a board to hold their choice.

MICHIGAN

Defense begins calling witnesses in Connor McCowan murder trial

Micaela Colonna
October 10, 2013

Connor McCowan’s murder trial continued Thursday morning in Ingham County Circuit Court. Ingham County Assistant Prosecutor John Dewane rested his case, and the defense began calling witnesses, including Judy McCowan, to the stand. Connor McCowan is accused of fatally stabbing MSU student Andrew Singler Feb. 23 after getting in a fight with him over text messages.

NEWS

Formula for FRIB's future

Justine McGuire
October 10, 2013

Despite the government shutdown, the federally– funded Facility for Rare Isotope Beams project, or FRIB, at MSU is going full speed, although construction has not started, officials said. Construction for the project’s building has not begun and won’t start until April 2014.

MICHIGAN

Face Time: East Lansing City Council candidate Sam Artley

Geoff Preston
October 9, 2013

Sam Artley isn’t far removed from the rigors of college life.? A 2012 MSU graduate with a bachelor’s degree in social relations and policy, Artley originally is from the Waterford Park area of southeast Michigan. She hopes to use her background as a young college graduate to bring a fresh perspective to the East Lansing City Council.