Thursday, December 18, 2025

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

News

MICHIGAN

City council discusses 7-bedroom apartments

The East Lansing City Council approved a moratorium at last Tuesday’s meeting to further discuss whether seven-bedroom apartments are a viable option for downtown development. In the past year, the city has received two applications for seven-bedroom, multiple-family-dwelling units. One is a set of townhouses, owned by Hagan Realty, Inc., 927 E. Grand River Ave., adjacent to Lot 11. The other is the space above the former Wanderer’s Teahouse, 547 E. Grand River Ave., owned by Perry Investment Group.

MSU

ASMSU looks forward to new semester

In the aftermath of a long-winded battle with the university, which came to an end this summer, ASMSU is looking forward to a fresh start. For the sake of its autonomy, MSU’s undergraduate student government avoided the prospect of moving all its funding into on-campus accounts after issues with a series of audits were taken up with university officials.

MICHIGAN

HopCat coming to E.L. Aug. 22

HopCat, 300 Grove St., will celebrate its grand opening in record-breaking style at 11 a.m. on Aug. 22. The Grand Rapids-based business has been collaborating with Short’s Brewing Co. to produce 100 varieties of beers that will be available on the 100-tap system, which will break the previous record set by Sierra Nevada and Cannery Row Brewing Co. in California last year.

MSU

Sparty's to offer bus passes, more this fall

Striving to better meet the needs of students and staff, Culinary Services will be rolling out additional food options at select Sparty’s Convenience Stores, as well as the ability to purchase Capital Area Transportation Authority bus passes at all locations across campus. Bill Kost, the associate director of retail food services, said the Division of Residential and Hospitality Services, or RHS, felt the retail atmosphere of Sparty’s would be the perfect place to sell passes.

MICHIGAN

DTN picked as developer for downtown Park District

DTN Management Co. is moving into downtown East Lansing, and no, it’s not just another student housing unit. By a unanimous vote Tuesday night at City Hall, 410 Abbot Road, the East Lansing City Council selected DTN Management Co. over Lurvey White Ventures as the preferred developer for the Park District project.

MSU

Whole new ball game

Among hundreds of athletes playing in the 2013 World Dwarf Games, Jeffrey Astrein stood out as the only MSU student playing on the field. “Not everyone gets to play in these stadiums,” Astrein said. “The fact that I played there, I was honored to play (in) this.”

MSU

Video Story: Wine and dine

Bottles upon bottles of Michigan wines were cracked open on Tuesday at the 36th annual Michigan Wine Competition to be ranked by judges from around the country. The competition, held in Kellogg Center, 219 S. Harrison Road, featured 450 wines from 56 different wineries. The winners of the competition will be announced tonight.

MICHIGAN

Plan B now available over the counter

Last week, age restrictions were lifted and Plan B will now be available for over-the-counter use. Women of all ages now will be able to purchase Plan B One-Step, an emergency contraceptive without any age descriptions or pharmacy visits. With health measures in mind, women’s reproductive health groups have been pushing for a more convenient way to receive Plan B since the early 2000s.

MICHIGAN

MSU police receives award from MADD

Among four other agencies, the MSU Police Department was recognized with the Outstanding Law Enforcement Agency Award, awarded by the Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or MADD. The award, which recognizes law enforcement agencies that excel at removing drunken drivers from Michigan roadways, was presented at the annual MADD Lifesavers Award Luncheon in Troy, Mich., last week.

MICHIGAN

Future of Farm Bill remains uncertain with month left

A brewing battle in the U.S. Congress over a re-imagined Farm Bill coupled with the expected conclusion of boosted funding for food assistance programs could mean fewer meals for millions of Americans. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate have sent proposed legislation back and forth for months, with no unified plan to speak of just one month from the present legislation’s expiration.

MSU

Local middle school students part of exchange program through MSU

Middle school students from Lansing and South Korea are swapping cities to understand and respect other cultures. “This program provides a learning experience that books and lectures don’t provide,” Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, or RCAH faculty member Joanna Bosse said. “Learning in a diverse community is an inherently valuable thing. It causes us to examine our values and not take anything for granted.”

MICHIGAN

Locals take part in new hybrid golfing event

With strike pads, golf clubs and birdies in hand, young athletes in the Lansing area are taking up a new sport. Meridian Township Parks and Recreation is hosting their first four BirdieBall events, each one at a different park, with North Meridian Road Park hosting the Meridian Open Championship on Monday.