Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

News

MSU

WEB ONLY: Speaker to address diversity

Harold Strong, an executive board member from the Philadelphia Boys and Girls Clubs, will be holding an interactive discussion on issues of diversity in the workplace. "We will be talking about the business aspects of diversity and how small businesses are affected by diversity," Strong said.

MSU

Dance honors oldest black fraternity

Sporting their black tuxedos with gold ties, the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity stepped in a circle around the dance floor while Benzino's "Rock the Party" blared from the speakers. "Stepping," a combination of stomps, claps and chanting, was one of the many dances performed at the fraternity's third annual Black & Gold Ball Saturday night in the Union ballroom. Jhamal Swift, the fraternity's president, said the dance was unique among other social events held at MSU. "It's a different type of social atmosphere for African Americans, as well as providing a professional and formal event where students can interact in a business-like and adult manner," the chemical engineering senior said. Swift said the dance gave students the opportunity to network. "It's one of the most important things in college," he said. The dance closed out "The Deep Phreeze" week, which was highlighted by community service and social events held by the fraternity.

MICHIGAN

Stabenow's wedding is small, family affair

U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow kept wedding plans to marry her former staff member Tom Athans private. The small, family ceremony took place in Lansing on Sunday, a spokesman for Stabenow said. Stabenow will keep her last name and not hyphenate it.

MICHIGAN

City might shut down The Dollar Nightclub

Lansing - The Dollar Nightclub, 3411 E. Michigan Ave., may have to shut its doors at the end of the month if they don't pay their $80,000-$90,000 debt in back taxes to the city. "The bar will be up for sale if they don't pay their debt by the end of the month," Lansing City Council President Carol Wood said.

MSU

Ghost stories celebrate Chicano culture

White and red candles, laid out in a star shape on the floor, flickered in the dark Culturas de las Razas Unidas room, as no-preference freshman Maggie Pena told her story. "While my brother and I were admiring his car, in the corner of my eye I spotted a lady in white in the middle of the street, and he saw a lady in black run behind our house," she said.

MICHIGAN

Spring breakers get their tan on

For the next two weeks, it may not be so easy to schedule a reservation at a tanning salon.The two weeks preceding the annual pilgrimage to warmer destinations will clog East Lansing's tanning salons.

MSU

Club's dress code irks students

Autumn Boggues didn't expect to be surrounded by security guards during her first visit to Sparty's Night Club last month."When we started to dance, we noticed about 12 security guards watching us, and they would not leave," the political science and pre-law freshman said.

MICHIGAN

E.L. fire suspect violates parole

A man charged with setting fire to an East Lansing Ramada Inn, 1100 Trowbridge Road is being sent back to Virginia after he violated his parole with a trip to Michigan, police say.Sean McCoy, 35, was living in Virginia under probation for a 1993 grand larceny and forgery conviction and was not supposed to leave the state.McCoy, was charged for setting the fire to the hotel in November, causing enough damage to shut the hotel down.At the time of the fire, McCoy was working as a utility worker at the hotel."For all intensive purposes if Virginia wants him, they'll get him," said David Merchant, McCoy's former attorney.

MICHIGAN

Increased tension overseas causes gas hikes at home

Gasoline prices in the Lansing area have soared to some of the highest levels recorded in nearly two years, and a AAA spokesperson said it "seems unjustified." On Tuesday, a gallon of regular unleaded, self-serve gasoline sold for $1.79 in some area stations - one of the highest prices seen in 18 months, AAA Michigan spokesman Jim Rink said. The AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Index said the statewide average gas price rose to $1.67 this week. The index, which surveys 300 gas stations across the state, also reported the average price per gallon for self-serve, regular unleaded gasoline last February was $1.21. "Typically, this is the time of year when gasoline prices are at their lowest," Rink said.

MICHIGAN

Group warns about telemarketing scams

Telephone scam artists are taking advantage of telephone customers and illegally obtaining credit card information and Social Security numbers, AARP officials say.The AARP, formerly called the American Association of Retired Persons, is warning people about scam artists targeting those who wish to be put on a list to stop getting solicitation calls.A law passed in December by then-Gov.

MSU

Speaker encourages hope in pursuit of equality

The Rev. W. Franklyn Richardson said African Americans have a long way to go.The second speaker in the College of Osteopathic Medicine's Visiting Minority Faculty Lecture Series delivered the message of acknowledging all aspects of black culture and increasing opportunities for all disadvantaged people in the United States."We are a long way from where we should be," he said.

MSU

Trustees approve split of department

The breakup of the Department of Romance and Classical Languages was approved 7-1 at the MSU Board of Trustees meeting Wednesday.Trustee Donald Nugent voted against the proposal saying the project should be delayed for one year until the proposed $5-million state-funding cut can be resolved.The split restructures the current program into two new departments: one comprised of Spanish and Portuguese and the other of French, Italian and classical languages.MSU President M.