Obama appoints MSU graduate to CFPB

After months of delays, MSU graduate Richard Cordray was appointed the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB on Tuesday with a 66-34 vote in the U.S. Senate. A 1981 legal and political theory graduate from MSU, Cordray went on to attend the University of Oxford, as well as the University of Chicago Law School. During his junior year, he had his first taste of politics, serving as an intern for U.S. Senator John Glenn. Cordray later went on to serve as the treasurer and later the Attorney General of Ohio until being picked by Obama to head up the CFPB.

Lions, Big Ten partner to host new bowl game in 2014

The Detroit Lions announced yesterday that they are embarking on a six-year partnership with the Big Ten conference for a new bowl game to be played at Ford Field in 2014. The inaugural game, tentatively scheduled for December 30, 2014, will be named once corporate partnership agreements are worked out.

Lansing studio houses up-and-coming hip-hop artists

In recent years, the Lansing area has slowly grown into a hub for up-and-coming hip-hop artists. Local producers such as Curshawn Terrell are working to keep the trend alive.

E.L. businesses prepare for Sidewalk Sales

Investigative journalism on trial in Snowden case

The condemnation of Edward Snowden by the United States government was predictable. After all, he leaked a wealth of information regarding the NSA’s efforts to spy on U.S. citizens, something which the government was less-than forthcoming about. But the fact many American’s believe Snowden should be extradited and charged with espionage or treated as though he is an enemy of the state is discouraging for journalists and watchdog organizations, chiefly because of the precedent this case might establish.

Young workers could help E.L. move forward

The city of East Lansing forever will be tied to the students that inhabit it. But in the foreseeable future, City Hall will be aiming toward a new crowd to engulf the city. And that’s for the best.

Video Story: Zeke the Wonder Dog, magician kick off E.L. weekly park event

Summer is in full swing and the month of July has brought on the heat. With the city of East Lansing’s Play in the Park series starting Tuesday, families have a new way to make the most of the summer. Play in the Park is an interactive children’s entertainment series that takes place at 7 p.m. every Tuesday in July at Valley Court Park, 280 Valley Court.

East Lansing celebrates 15th annual Stories in the Garden event

The scorching heat did not keep the little ones from East Lansing’s 15th annual Stories in the Garden event Tuesday evening, where teenagers and toddlers sat in MSU’s 4-H Children’s Garden for grassy story times.

Snyder speaks at Livestock Expo, gains support for agricultural agenda

Amongst the mooing and bawking, the hymning and hawing, Gov. Rick Snyder visited the 2013 Michigan Livestock Expo Sale-a-bration Tuesday evening, demonstrating his continued support for the agriculture industry throughout the state.

Local eateries Menna's and Conrad's College Grill share heated history

There’s a brewing food rivalry in downtown East Lansing, pitting two restaurants against one another for the hearts and the stomachs of the city’s many night owls.

MSU research discovers crucial link between peptide levels and Alzheimers

A team of MSU researchers might have found a crucial link between peptide levels in the brain and the escalation of Alzheimer’s disease. For the project, professor Christina Chan and MSU alumna Hirosha Geekiyanage experimented with mice, which were genetically altered to be more likely to develop symptoms of the disease. The team injected a compound called L-cycloserine into the mice and later found it decreased levels of peptides that have been shown to lead to the plaques on the brain associated with Alzheimer’s.

Lansing police respond to moped armed robbery Tuesday

Lansing police officers responded to an incident this morning on a weapons complaint. The victim, a female Lansing resident, informed the officers that she and others had been threatened by two subjects riding a stolen moped while armed, according to Lansing Public Information Officer Robert Merritt. When the officers arrived to the scene, they were able to locate the two suspects on the moped before a chase ensued on foot. One suspect threw the weapon and continued running, but was caught and placed into custody. The second suspect was not located by the officers. His identify currently is being investigated, Merritt said.

MSU community reflects on Zimmerman ruling

Saturday’s verdict of Florida resident George Zimmerman, who was found not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin has resulted in MSU students and faculty weighing in on the high-profile ruling.

E.L. officials are looking to create more diverse restaurant scene

Imagine it’s your birthday. You and your friends want to go out for dinner. The question is, where do you go? Peanut Barrel? Noodles & Company? Georgio’s Pizza? Somewhere else in downtown East Lansing? Maybe head out to P.F. Chang’s in Eastwood Towne Center? If it was any other night, a super dub from Menna’s Joint might be enough, but what about a special occasion when you’re willing to spend a bit more cash?

Six Spartans on preseason NCAA football award watch lists

Six MSU football players have been put on the preseason NCAA radar, racking in multiple “watch list” awards altogether for the 2013-14 season.

Lansing police report only two arrests during Common Ground Music festival

With the Common Ground Music Festival wrapping up yesterday evening, the Lansing Police Department, or LPD, was able to end the festival on a good note.

Local woman assaulted yesterday evening

Yesterday evening, a female victim was assaulted at the East Lansing Family Aquatic Center, 6400 Abbot Road, at approximately 5 p.m. The suspect, a male, was gone when the East Lansing police officers arrived on the scene. The police report has yet to be turned into the police department to be processed.

Man uses fraudulent credit card to pay fraud charge

A man was arrested for using a stolen credit card to pay off charges at the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office Central Records Unit last week. The man came into the office on July 11 to submit court-ordered fingerprints on a charge of fraud out of the 55th District Court.

Number One Spot

After an exciting week of intense American rock, melodic acoustics and new-age folk, Common Ground ended with a lyrically charged night of hip-hop that included Ludacris, Kid Ink and Michigan native Jon Connor.