Monday, May 25, 2026

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MICHIGAN

2 plan to run for empty seat

Candidates are emerging to fill the seat of state Sen. Virg Bernero, D-Lansing, as talks of holding a special election are still up in the air. Bernero was elected mayor of Lansing and will officially be sworn in after the first of the year.

NEWS

Dental practice is all smiles

Dr. Lauren Hall-Tate inherited her dental practice above Noodles & Company. After another dentist retired, she bought East Lansing Dental Associates and got the patients that came with it.

NEWS

DEQ says Graceland liable for pollution

Charles Brozofsky, a Benzie County farmer, fishes for brook trout in the seven streams that cross his property. But two of those streams on the west end of his farm no longer yield any fish. In 2003, Brozofsky contacted the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, or DEQ, after noticing an orange, rust-colored stain in one of the streams and what he described as a "nasty, awful smell" emanating from the water. DEQ investigators determined the contamination originated from blueberry-production waste products illegally dumped upstream from the farm. The waste came from Frankfort-based Graceland Fruit Inc., of which MSU Trustee Donald Nugent is president and chief executive officer. The DEQ's Office of Criminal Investigations sought felony charges against the company and Bonney Bros.

NEWS

Niche fuels 21st century

After having their storefront on the prime location of Grand River Avenue for four years, 21st Century Comics and Games moved upstairs in June 2004 to cut costs.

MSU

MSU searches for speaker

Since 2001, author and poet Maya Angelou, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Vice President Dick Cheney have passed on some of their knowledge and advice to graduating seniors at MSU. Now the search is on for someone to speak at May's commencement ceremony. MSU's commencement speakers must be motivational, nationally or internationally known and an exemplary role model, according to university officials, who are taking suggestions for the next commencement speaker. Angelou spoke at MSU's commencement ceremony in May.

SPORTS

Let's not engrave the Pistons' trophy yet

Every year in the NBA, there's a team that sprints from the starting line with its engine pumping on all cylinders. Two years ago it was the Lakers, last year it was the Suns, and this year it's the Detroit Pistons, who are playing better than anyone had any right to expect. So just how good are these Pistons?

NEWS

Ameriquest profits with online

In the four years Vito Mirra has worked at Ameriquest Mortgage Company, located at 325 E. Grand River Ave., he's only seen two people walk into the offices for mortgages.

COMMENTARY

Expensive flops

Bringing in a mediocre band with a big name doesn't mean good attendance or a profit. This is the lesson ASMSU learned — for the third time. Some members of the undergraduate student government admitted they "dropped the ball" on organizing concerts.

SPORTS

Don't judge hoopsters quite yet

If I have learned one thing from watching MSU sports this year, it is that the beginning of the season means absolutely nothing. Let's take a trip down memory lane with the football team. They opened the season 4-0.

VOLLEYBALL

MSU swept twice during weekend

The MSU volleyball team didn't get the magic it was hoping for on the road this weekend. Instead, Northwestern and nationally-ranked Wisconsin appeared to have borrowed Harry Potter's broom as both teams swept the Spartans. The Spartans' hopes of making it to the NCAA Tournament vanished as they dropped both matches on the road, giving them 11 losses in their last 14 matches. The Spartans (12-16 overall, 5-13 Big Ten) were hoping to win the remainder of their last four games but unfortunately it won't be happening this season.

MICHIGAN

Collection of leaves in E.L. to continue

The due date for bulk leaf collection for the city has been prolonged into early December due to inconvenient weather conditions and a behind schedule leaf drop. Residents should rake their leaves to the curb as soon as possible to have their leaves collected by the city.