Monday, January 12, 2026

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NEWS

Voucher proposal shot down in landslide tally

Kelly Schwarzkopf is one happy mom today.Proposal 1, the initiative that would have granted state-funded private school tuition for students attending faltering public schools, failed miserably Tuesday night.And Schwarzkopf, an East Lansing resident with children in high school and middle school, is undoubtedly relieved.“I voted against it largely because I didn’t see it as a solution to a long-range problem,” she said, after casting her ballot at MacDonald Middle School, 1601 Burcham Drive.

NEWS

Murphy likely to take 69th District

It appears Michael Murphy will move across the street.Murphy, president of the Lansing City Council and the Democratic candidate for the 69th District state House seat will most likely be packing and moving his things in January from a 10th floor office in City Hall to the House of Representatives building to the north as one of Lansing’s new state House representatives.Murphy said he was pleased with the election’s results.

MSU

Debaters gain new members

Before the semester began, international relations junior Austin Carson didn’t know the slightest thing about the Greater Horn of Africa - much less whether the U.S.

NEWS

Experts were right: Byrum-Rogers race a doozy

LANSING - Around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, state Sen. Dianne Byrum made an announcement that she had won her battle for the seat in the 8th Congressional District. “We figured we’re ready to say we have a victory to bring home tonight,” said Byrum, D-Onondaga.

NEWS

Incumbents claim edge in close contest

In a race that remained close throughout the night, two incumbent trustees led early Wednesday morning in the race for two seats on the MSU Board of Trustees.Democrat Dorothy Gonzales and Republican Scott Romney hold a slight advantage over Democrat Cal Rapson and Republican Connie Binsfeld.

NEWS

Verdict on Supreme Court seats unknown

DETROIT - The race that wrapped up Tuesday for three seats on the Michigan Supreme Court turned unexpectedly bitter, costly and partisan, bringing the usually obscure contests into the limelight. The state’s highest court had a 5-2 Republican majority going into the election, and both sides came out swinging for control.

COMMENTARY

Cought it up

A verdict by a federal circuit court judge may provide Florida smokers with a breath of fresh air, but the $145 billion verdict against Big Tobacco is still an unreasonable amount to pay.Judge Robert Kaye said the award did not violate Florida law that prevents a punitive verdict from bankrupting a defendant.

NEWS

Spartans pound Cats with freshman talent

It was only an exhibition game, but the No. 3 Spartans apparently don’t believe in mercy rules.The defending national champion MSU men’s basketball team began its 2000-2001 season Tuesday with a 93-40 drubbing of Division II Northern Michigan in front of 14,759 at Breslin Student Events Center.MSU put the game away early by going on a 23-0 run in the first half, culminating with freshman center Zach Randolph’s layup at the 13:02 mark, giving the Spartans a 25-5 lead.Six Spartans scored in double figures, led by senior guard Charlie Bell with 15.It was a reverse homecoming of sorts for Tom Izzo.

NEWS

Team gets its kicks in Iowa

The art began 2,300 years ago in Korea, but the name has only been used since 1955. It literally means “the way of foot and fist.” Tae kwon do is a form of martial arts and it took 10 MSU students to Ames, Iowa, last weekend to compete in the National Collegiate Tournament. With the help of head coach Ron Southwick, an adjunct professor in the College of Education, the students learned the endurance and discipline needed for the competition. “Winning and losing are exactly the same as long as you do the best you can,” said Southwick, who took over for Master Jongoon Kim, a retired kinesiology professor, in 1984. Southwick has been a student of Kim’s for more than 19 years. “(The students) get more out of the experience by giving 150 percent,” Southwick said.

NEWS

Candidates stay busy to the end stumping for votes

It could be called the equivalent of Christmas Eve.However, instead of visions of overflowing stockings, candidates in today’s general election spent Monday - Election Day eve - trying to make sure the ballot boxes would be overflowing with their names.From opponents state Sens.

COMMENTARY

All people should attend U events

I am writing in response to a State News article (“Groups seek to limit attendance,” SN 11/1). I think it is a very bad idea to limit parties and activities to MSU students only.

MSU

Law school holds trial competition

Robin Cole was accused of involuntary manslaughter this weekend.The judgment comes after he plowed his Chevrolet Suburban into George Vanderlay’s Saturn Coupe on his way home from the Realto Bar and Grill where he had just watched the Spartans beat the Florida Gators in the NCAA tournament.But this decision has a twist.Robin Cole doesn’t exist - well, he did.

MSU

Speech stresses research university teamwork

MSU President M. Peter McPherson on Monday told a crowded house of the Economic Club of Detroit - one of the major forums in the state for discussing public policy issues - that the state should look to its major research universities and hold them accountable for driving the economy.“The three university presidents have worked closely together in the Life Science Corridor,” McPherson told The State News.