Thursday, January 22, 2026

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MSU

Cigarette sales decrease as tobacco sales increase

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released statistics on Thursday that show a decrease in cigarette sales and an increase in other types of tobacco sales since 2000. The report said cigarette sales decreased by 33 percent, and other kinds of tobacco increased by 123 percent over that time.

MICHIGAN

Benefit concert aids local musician

Many East Lansing residents recognize Greg Robertson as one of downtown’s prominent street performers, but few know his history and how his life led him to his spot outside the Peanut Barrel Restaurant, where he regularly serenades shoppers.

MICHIGAN

Pete Hoekstra leading over Republicans in recent poll

Heading into Tuesday’s primary, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Pete Hoekstra has the upper hand on his Republican opponents, leading his closest opponent by nearly 35 percent in a recent poll. Hoekstra is ahead of opponent Clark Durant 51 percent to 17 percent, according to a July 26 poll by Public Policy Polling.

MICHIGAN

Moving on

Recent advertising graduate Aaron Smith, of Lake Orion, Mich., stands with Shelby Charter Township, Mich., resident Alex Wolak near a mirror on the porch of a house on Bailey Street on Sunday. After living in this house for a year, Smith and his friends are moving out as they graduate from college.

MICHIGAN

Opticom Emergency lights help citizens, emergency vehicles

When emergency vehicles roar down East Lansing streets with sirens blaring, they receive additional help from up above. Attached to about 15 streetlights in the city and each emergency vehicle owned by the department, the Opticom system can override programmed streetlights, changing the light to green for emergency vehicles and red for traffic running perpendicular to the intersection.

MSU

Enthusiasts enjoy MSU's Garden Day

More than 270 garden enthusiasts traveled from all around Michigan and a few surrounding states to attend the 19th annual Garden Day on Friday, organized by the MSU Horticulture Gardens.

MSU

MSU study finds people don't read prescription warnings

Prescription bottles are covered with warnings and directions meant to inform the customer how to take the drug properly, but a recent MSU study looked at 32 prescription users and found 22 percent did not bother to examine any of the labels shown to them. The younger and older populations were both represented in the 32 people studied.

MICHIGAN

House race spending increases

Spending for House of Representative races across the state increased by 17.4 percent from the 2010 election, amassing more than $9.6 million statewide, according to the Michigan Campaign Finance Network. Republicans campaigning for state office raised about $1.5 million more than Democrats seeking office. Candidates were required to submit financial reports to the Secretary of State last week, prior to the upcoming primary election on Tuesday, stating their contributions and expenditures up to July 22. The candidates for the 69th district seat raised more than $250,000, most of which came from a battle between Democratic candidates Sam Singh and Susan Schmidt. Singh has raised $136,522 during the cumulative election cycle, to Schmidt’s $95,356.

MSU

Conrad's to open new location

After opening its first location in 2007, Conrad’s College Town Grill, 101 E. Grand River Ave., is expanding its horizons. The restaurant is opening another location on the other side of town in the former location of Papa’s Pizza and BBQ, 1219 E.

MICHIGAN

Cities don’t have right to overrule marijuana rules

In a court verdict handed down Wednesday, cities and townships are legally prohibited from banning the growth and use of medical marijuana. The Michigan Court of Appeals decided the state medical marijuana law pre-empts a local ordinance in Wyoming, Mich., and local ordinances do not have more authority than state law, the Detroit Free Press reported. The verdict stems from a case in which a patient using medical marijuana challenged a city zoning ordinance that prohibited the use or growth of marijuana.

MSU

Video game helps cancer patients

Patients recovering from lung cancer surgery and participating in a recent study conducted by a researcher in the MSU College of Nursing are being given video games to help with the recovery.

MICHIGAN

Face Time: Susan Schmidt

On Tuesday, Susan Schmidt — an East Lansing educator and former chief of staff to Rep. Mark Meadows, D-East Lansing — will challenge fellow Democrat Sam Singh in Tuesday’s primary to become the state representative for the 69th district. The State News talked with Schmidt about her biggest concerns for the state.

MICHIGAN

Living City: The Junior Olympics

In 2008, Beijing hosted the Summer Olympics for the world to see. The children at the Lil’ Olympians Sports Camp are too young to remember the games, but fast forward four years, and the Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road, is teaching children the Olympic basics.

MSU

MSU professor steps down from CATA board

Less than a year after his appointment by the Meridian Charter Township board of trustees, Thomas Maleck is resigning from his position on the Capital Area Transportation Authority, or CATA, board of directors and dealing with the controversy surrounding why.