Tuesday, April 21, 2026

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SPORTS

Youth to mature quickly for volleyball squad

The MSU volleyball team may have been picked to finish fifth in the conference by the league’s coaches, but the young, talented squad and head coach Chuck Erbe believe they can compete this year and for years to come.Erbe said the Spartans will settle for nothing short of a Big Ten Championship this year, led by Preseason All-Big Ten honoree senior Erin Hartley and a group of energetic, athletic youngsters.Of the 16 athletes on the squad, 11 are freshmen or sophomores.

NEWS

Bonior to visit campus Friday

U.S. Rep. David Bonior will be on campus at 10 a.m. Friday to talk of his candidacy for governor.The Mount Clemens Democrat will kick off a four-day, statewide tour at Detroit’s Cobo Hall today before appearing in East Lansing.Bonior will tour the Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic Center for Hazardous Substance Research through MSU’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, while saying Michigan’s environment is one of his top priorities.“There we have an example of scientists and engineers who are working to find solutions,” said Mark Fisk, Bonior’s campaign spokesman.The Democratic whip will discuss partnering with urban areas, neighborhood activism and diversity, as well as environmental issues.Bonior is seeking the Democratic nomination along with former Gov.

MICHIGAN

Senator aims to inspire young

U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s niece and daughter were at her side during her campaign. Since then, she continues to make a statement to young women, said Dave Lemmon, Stabenow’s communication director. “Debbie has talked about how she sees herself as a role model for young women,” he said.

NEWS

Music highlights weekend event

Behind the calm facade of Grand River Avenue, area residents were dancing in the streets this weekend.Downtown East Lansing was inundated with thousands of people who came to take advantage of a myriad of ethnic music, art and food that came hand-in-hand with the 63rd National Folk Festival, which ran from Friday through Sunday.

SPORTS

E.L. slips in ranking of best sports cities

Everyone has their own opinion about which city has the best sports atmosphere and top teams, and those who ooze Spartan spirit probably think East Lansing is the athletic mecca of the Midwest. But “The Sporting News” doesn’t think so in its 2001 edition of the nation’s Best Sports Cities. East Lansing tumbled from 35th last year to 60th this year, but is still the second-highest city in Michigan, behind ninth-place Detroit. “The Sporting News” has ranked the top sports cities since 1993 and this year’s winner is New York and surrounding areas.

FEATURES

Murrays talents wasted in sophomoric Osmosis Jones

Man eats poorly and gets infected by a horrible disease, so a heroic blood cell cop must save him and all other organisms from extermination. That’s the plot of the very mediocre “Osmosis Jones,” starring Bill Murray as Frank, the unhealthy eater, and the voice of Chris Rock as the title character. The movie cuts back and forth between live action and cartoon sequences, all detailing how Frank gets infected with a nasty virus (voiced by Laurence Fishburne) and how Osmosis attempts to save Frank’s body. Osmosis is a renegade cop inside the body, which houses a whole life system of organisms working to ensure the body’s running smoothly.

MICHIGAN

Council members strive for standard permit conditions

East Lansing City Council will discuss standard conditions to be used for Special Use Permits on Tuesday. Jeanne Rogers, community development analyst for the city, said the council wants to make a standard set of conditions that are put on bars and restaurants applying for the permits. “We keep trying to make a standard set but when we get into the middle of the discussion in the meeting people will have concerns,” she said. Rogers said the council could still add conditions if it thought it was needed. “If council had concerns they could change it,” she said.

COMMENTARY

Small change

The East Lansing City Council primaries were held last week and only 9.33 percent of registered East Lansing voters showed up.

COMMENTARY

The musics over

The National Folk Festival has come and gone, and was well-appreciated during its three-year stay. After the Michigan Festival’s recent flop, the Folk Festival was a new and exciting replacement, bringing thousands of visitors and excellent musical performances.Sadly, the festival is moving on next year to Bangor, Maine.

FEATURES

Buckcherry hits Lansing

After having already played in Philadelphia, Toronto and Detroit this month, Buckcherry’s summer tour is making a pit stop in Lansing. The nationally acclaimed rock band plays at 9 or 10 tonight, depending on opening acts, at Club Hot Shots 2, 3323 N.

NEWS

National Folk Festival success creates support for local version

The end of the National Folk Festival’s three-year stint in East Lansing is only the beginning of what city officials hope will become an annual celebration. The 63rd National Folk Festival ended Sunday, attracting a crowd during the three-day music gala that was just as big, if not bigger, than last year’s 120,000-visitor turnout, said Lora Helou, communications director for the MSU Museum. The MSU Museum will produce the Great Lakes Folk Festival starting next summer.

NEWS

Gridders scholarship provokes controversy

Spartan tight end Eric Knott completed his first collegiate practice Saturday morning, much to the enjoyment of MSU coaches and players.But not everyone at the university is excited Knott is now an official member of the Spartan family.Knott pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, a misdemeanor, and served 30 days in jail in June for an alleged July 1999 rape of a 13-year-old Detroit girl.After a two-year courtship, the Detroit Henry Ford High standout received a full-ride scholarship from MSU on Friday.MSU’s policy dictates any athlete convicted of a felony will be dismissed from the team, but because of the plea-bargain, Knott was able to stay eligible to play football for the Spartans.Head coach Bobby Williams said the decision was not his to make, but that of the university as a whole.“This is a university decision, basically,” Williams said after the first freshman practice of the season Saturday.