MICHIGAN

Top 25 Takers: These Michigan lawmakers accepted the most free meals, trips from lobbyists

Sarah Moore ,  Chloe Trofatter ,  Miranda Dunlap ,  Lily Guiney ,  Andrew Miller-Thomas  and  Jack Armstrong

January 9, 2025

Over the last 20 years or so, lobbyists reported spending more than $6.3 million on meals and travel for lawmakers and state officials. Eye On Michigan reviewed the 17,500 transactions that transpired between influencers and legislators from 2001, the first year for which data was available, to 2023, the last full year for which data is available. 

MICHIGAN

Michigan lawmakers feast and fly for free, but the system for tracking freebies is broken

Sarah Moore ,  Chloe Trofatter ,  Miranda Dunlap ,  Lily Guiney ,  Andrew Miller-Thomas  and  Jack Armstrong

January 8, 2025

Lobbyists spent millions wining and dining state officials in Michigan, but it is impossible to determine how many freebies lawmakers accepted because the state's system for tracking what influencers give to legislators is flawed, rife with loopholes and relies on the honor system, a year-long Eye On Michigan investigation reveals. 

MSU

President Biden honors MSU's Teresa Woodruff, Magic Johnson with national medals

Demonte Thomas

January 6, 2025

MSU men basketball and NBA legend Magic Johnson and former Interim President Teresa Woodruff honored with presidential awards over the weekend.

MSU

River, MSU DPPS comfort canine, dies after brief battle with terminal cancer

Demonte Thomas

December 19, 2024

River, the canine therapy dog for MSU Department of Public Safety and Police, died Monday after a brief battle of hemangiosarcoma, an aggressive form of terminal cancer.

MSU

MSU hockey player’s bodycheck left Adrian player severely injured, lawsuit says

Theo Scheer

December 17, 2024

Kathleen Droba, a member of Adrian Bulldogs Women’s Ice Hockey team, claims that MSU Spartans Women’s Ice Hockey-Division II Team player Sydney Crawford bodychecked her without warning at a Feb. 19, 2023 game at Munn Ice Arena.

MSU

MSU pitches new divestment deal

Alex Walters  and  Owen McCarthy

December 13, 2024

A year into contentious debates about endowment holdings tied to Israel, Michigan State University’s board has opted to create a bureaucratic process by which activists can voice concerns about the portfolio. Yet student advocates for divestment see the new committee merely as an attempt to placate students.

MSU

MSU trustees confirm new leaders on often at-odds board, two vote against

Owen McCarthy  and  Theo Scheer

December 13, 2024

Michigan State University’s Board of Trustees voted 6-2 to confirm Trustee Kelly Tebay as the board’s new chair and Trustee Brianna Scott as the board’s new vice chair.

MSU

MSU board reduces number of public meetings it holds per year

Theo Scheer

December 13, 2024

Michigan State University’s Board of Trustees voted to reduce the number of board meetings held each year from six to five. Two meetings would be held each semester and one over the summer under the new resolution, which was approved Friday to some consternation.

MSU

MSU board approves stadium upgrades, land purchase, funding for marching band

Owen McCarthy  and  Theo Scheer

December 13, 2024

At its Friday meeting, Michigan State University’s Board of Trustees approved renovations to Spartan Stadium, a purchase of 92 acres to support an expansion of the Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center, funding for the Spartan Marching Band and for an MSU Extension project aimed at supporting the mental health of farmers.

MSU

MSU doesn’t owe students for COVID limitations, court rules

Theo Scheer

December 9, 2024

Michigan State University doesn’t need to refund students for limiting in-person services during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled on Wednesday.

MSU

MSU investigated Larry Nassar in 1999 over gymnast blood testing

Alex Walters  and  Owen McCarthy

December 9, 2024

The previously unreported tale greatly challenges a narrative surrounding Nassar’s years of unchecked sexual abuse.

MSU

MSU won’t make statements on current events under new 'institutional restraint' guidelines

Theo Scheer

December 7, 2024

Guidelines released Wednesday attempt to position the university "as a forum for debates, not proponents within them." They advise against university departments, colleges, administrative units and individual employees releasing statements that appear to represent the university.

MSU

ASMSU advocates to save 'The Ducks' campaign, increase undergraduate assistant wages

Anish Topiwala

December 6, 2024

The Associated Students of Michigan State University held their final General Assembly meeting of the semester Thursday night, where they voted for bills in favor of retaining ‘The Ducks’ campaign and a $15 minimum wage for undergraduate learning assistants. They also debated a vote of no confidence for ASMSU’s Chief Diversity Equity & Inclusion Officer — a motion that was ultimately unsuccessful. 

MSU

MSU faculty ask board for ‘consultative process’ as it considers humanities consolidation

Owen McCarthy

December 4, 2024

As Michigan State University’s leadership considers consolidating two humanities colleges, a group of tenured faculty has called on the Board of Trustees to ensure the decision making process is "consultative" and considerate of options that would stop short of a consolidation.

MSU

Everything you need to know for MSU fall commencement 2024

Demonte Thomas

December 4, 2024

Michigan State University is preparing to celebrate its Spartans with this year’s fall commencements on Dec. 13 and Dec. 14 at the Breslin Center. From speakers to times of ceremonies, here’s everything you need to know before attending.

MSU

MSU president proposes fundraising for scholarships, 'institutional restraint' guidance

Alex Walters

December 3, 2024

In an interview with The State News, MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz suggested that the university will solicit donations for scholarships and other student success initiatives. His administration will also soon announce a guidance on “institutional restraint” governing official statements on political issues.

MSU

MSU says farewell to 'The Ducks' campaign

Satvik Shubham

December 2, 2024

MSU hosted a special event Monday, named "Farewell To The Flock," celebrating the end of its long-running Ducks campaign. A massive line of students queued at the event between 6 and 8 p.m., eager to grab the final pieces of beloved duck-themed memorabilia, including limited-edition T-shirts and stickers.

MSU

MSU planning strategic fundraising push following years of turbulence

Owen McCarthy

November 27, 2024

The last time MSU launched a major fundraising campaign was 2014, before it had weathered the host of perception-shaping incidents that have come to define the university’s difficult decade. Now, in a vastly different place than it was 10 years ago, MSU has confirmed it’s trying again, looking to donor support at a pivotal point in the university’s history.

MSU

Former grad student says pesticides in MSU research gave her cancer, court records show

Owen McCarthy

November 27, 2024

A former MSU graduate student intends to seek damages from the university, claiming that her recent cancer diagnosis was caused by the university’s failure to protect her from exposure to "hazardous pesticides and herbicides" during the course of field research she was required to conduct while pursuing her master’s degree.

MSU

MSU student in need of kidney donation after end-stage disease diagnosis

Hannah Locke

November 26, 2024

In October of this year MSU advertising junior Liam Clegg was diagnosed with end stage kidney disease. Since the diagnosis, his family has been determined to find him a living donor.