Thursday, January 1, 2026

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FEATURES

MSU Pokémon Club draws players from across Michigan

Nostalgia for a distant childhood and familiar characters triggered a desire in three MSU students to turn an old hobby into a club to catch ‘em all. During the 2011 fall semester, a group of students decided to turn their game of trading and battling Pokémon cards into an official, registered MSU student group: the MSU Pokémon Club.

MSU

Blood donors needed by Red Cross

The American Red Cross recently declared an “urgent need” for blood donors, which coincides with a blood drive competition that pits MSU against rival University of Michigan.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Payne back for game against Penn State

After nearly a monthlong hiatus, Adreian Payne is back in action. The senior forward went from rehabbing on the treadmill to playing on the hardwood for Tuesday’s practice, making it his first contact since playing against Ohio State on Jan.

MICHIGAN

President Obama to sign farm bill in East Lansing

President Barack Obama plans to sign the Agriculture Act of 2014, often referred to as the farm bill, at the Mary Anne McPhail Equine Performance Center Friday afternoon. Students hoping to catch a glimpse of Obama when he visits MSU’s campus Friday will be sorely disappointed, however, as the event is closed to the public. The farm bill legislation was passed by both chambers of Congress on Tuesday. White House officials waited until the latest farm bill had been passed by Congress to release details about the event. MSU has a number of ties to the farm bill. The Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee is MSU alumna Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. The university was founded as the nation’s first agricultural college under the name Agricultural College of the State of Michigan. Agriculture stayed in the university’s name until 1964, when Michigan Agricultural College became Michigan State University. MSU President Lou Anna K.

MICHIGAN

I-96 shooter gets at least 6.5 years

During a trial in Livingston County last week, convicted I-96 shooter Raulie Casteel testified that he spent time in both Michigan and Kentucky practicing his shot in farm fields. But on Tuesday in Oakland County Circuit Court, it was the hours that he didn’t spend on his own shooting range that saved him years of prison time, according to Judge Denise Langford Morris. Although no one was killed in the shooting spree Casteel went on along the I-96 corridor in the fall of 2012, Langford Morris said that was nothing to be proud of. “Thank goodness you were a lousy shot,” Langford Morris said during sentencing. Casteel, a 44-year-old MSU alumnus, was sentenced to 6.5 to 10 years in prison on Tuesday on multiple assault and weapons charges, which he pleaded no contest to last October.

MICHIGAN

East Lansing Police update description of Cedar Street shooting suspect

The East Lansing Police Department has released several new images of the suspect wanted for killing one student and injuring another on the 200 block of Cedar Street Friday evening. Newly-released surveillance images show the suspect, who shot and killed hospitality business sophomore Dominique “D.J.” Nolff and injured another student, entering and leaving the complex on Friday evening. The updated police description indicates the suspect is a black male between 6-foot-1 and 6-foot-3 inches tall between 20-25 years of age who weighs about 170 pounds. At the time of the shooting, the suspect was wearing a black North Face jacket, tan pants and black shoes.

MSU

Student government presidential elections spark controversy

ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, will be holding its presidential elections this Thursday, despite allegations of current chief of staff Kiran Samra violating the student government’s election code by running for the position. Samra, a marketing senior, was found to be involved with the University Elections Commission, a group within ASMSU that oversees the election process, when she decided to run for president. Samra served as the commission’s chair until she resigned on Jan.

FEATURES

Silent auction to help give dogs homes

A new nonprofit organization in Ingham County is looking to give neglected and sheltered dogs a second chance with a loving family. Gone 2 the Dogs will be hosting a silent auction and wine tasting fundraiser from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday at Beggar’s Banquet, located at 218 Abbott Road.