MICHIGAN
Road closures scheduled for Homecoming Parade this weekend
The Homecoming Parade is set to roll through East Lansing once again this weekend, and with it comes several road closures.
MICHIGAN
Connor McCowan begins testifying in his own murder trial
Okemos resident Connor McCowan took the stand in his own murder trial Thursday to defend himself against allegations that he stabbed and killed MSU student Andrew Singler. Defense attorney Chris Bergstrom began questioning McCowan in Ingham County Circuit Court Thursday afternoon. Much of the testimony centered around text messages sent between McCowan, his sister Shay McCowan and Singler on Feb. 23 before Singler died.
MICHIGAN
Defense begins calling witnesses in Connor McCowan murder trial
Connor McCowan’s murder trial continued Thursday morning in Ingham County Circuit Court. Ingham County Assistant Prosecutor John Dewane rested his case, and the defense began calling witnesses, including Judy McCowan, to the stand. Connor McCowan is accused of fatally stabbing MSU student Andrew Singler Feb. 23 after getting in a fight with him over text messages.
MICHIGAN
Face Time: East Lansing City Council candidate Sam Artley
Sam Artley isn’t far removed from the rigors of college life.? A 2012 MSU graduate with a bachelor’s degree in social relations and policy, Artley originally is from the Waterford Park area of southeast Michigan. She hopes to use her background as a young college graduate to bring a fresh perspective to the East Lansing City Council.
MICHIGAN
'Glow Green' initiative goes dark, shipping problem to blame
The green glow that normally pervades East Lansing during Homecoming week could be dimmed after a holdup at customs prevented a shipment of green lightbulbs from reaching university officials.
MICHIGAN
Oswald Scott Wilder waives arraignment in sexual assault trial
A man accused of sexually assaulting four female MSU students waived his scheduled arraignment in Ingham County Circuit Court Tuesday. Vernon, Mich. resident Oswald Scott Wilder Jr., 26, recently was charged with one count of first degree criminal sexual conduct, two counts of second degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of third degree criminal sexual conduct, two counts of assault with intention to commit sexual penetration, one count of gross indecency and three counts of unlawful imprisonment.
MICHIGAN
University officials: Future of Spartan Village area remains unknown for time
The fate of Spartan Village, an apartment complex close to campus that houses a combination of graduate students and families with ties to the MSU community, remains up in the air at this point, officials said. The strategic plan for Residence Education and Housing Services, or REHS, slates the apartment complex for demolition as early as 2017 or as late as 2020 because the buildings are deteriorating.
MICHIGAN
Campaign finance spending limits challenged in U.S. Supreme Court
America’s most wealthy citizens could use more of their affluence to support politicians and political parties if the U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of scrapping certain limits on campaign contributions, and many advocates in Michigan are outraged over the possibility. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court heard the case of Shaun McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission. McCutcheon, a conservative Alabama businessman, challenged the limit on aggregate contributions to politicians and fundraising groups.
MICHIGAN
Officials to re-evaluate potential deer policy
Officials in East Lansing are looking to gather more information before opening fire on the city’s deer population, citing concerns over whether the population is in fact growing.
MICHIGAN
New bill could ensure pints are filled to brim
A bill going through the Michigan legislature could give bar patrons throughout the state a few more drops of beer in their mug. The bill, sponsored by Rep. David Knezek, D-Dearborn Heights, would mandate that all bars selling pints must serve patrons a full 16 ounces.
MICHIGAN
Screen printing business sets up shop in East Lansing
Screen printing business Michigan Shirt Works hopes to capitalize on the hustle and bustle of East Lansing with a new location on Grand River Avenue. Michigan Shirt Works, located at 1385 E. Grand River Ave., is a screen printing and retail company that now will call East Lansing its primary home. In addition to screen printing, the store also serves as a local retail outlet.
MICHIGAN
Pre-Medical Association collects books, funds to benefit needy kids
MSU’s Pre-Medical Association, or PMA, is hosting a book donation and blanket-making event Wednesday night in order to benefit underprivileged children in the Lansing area. From 7 to 9 p.m. in Room 111 in Erikson Hall, PMA will be accepting gently-used books during its Curl Up and Read event, while members of the organization make blankets to give to homeless and underprivileged children.
MICHIGAN
Albert Avenue closes for construction again
A portion of Albert Avenue that stretches from Gunson Street to Durand Street will be closed between about 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Wednesday while city crews repair a sewer. City officials say a detour is in place that will include Gunson, Ann and Durand streets.
MICHIGAN
Wilder to be arraigned in Ingham County Circuit Court Wednesday
A Vernon, Mich. man implicated in a string of sexual assaults will be arraigned Wednesday morning. Oswald Scott Wilder Jr., 26, is accused of sexually assaulting four MSU students earlier this year. He is set to be arraigned Wednesday in Ingham County Circuit Court.
MICHIGAN
Connor McCowan trial continues with testimony from father, crime scene investigators
The father of Okemos resident Connor McCowan continued his testimony during his son’s murder trial in Ingham County Circuit Court Tuesday morning. On the morning of Feb. 23, Randy McCowan said his son woke him at about 4 a.m., seeming “frantic and upset.” Connor McCowan then told his father about a scuffle with MSU student Andrew Singler, his sister’s boyfriend, saying he “feared for his life” and “cut” Singler.
MICHIGAN
Alleged murderer's sister, dad take stand as trial goes on
To Okemos resident Shay McCowan, her little brother is her best friend. She said her brother Connor McCowan, 19, became close with MSU student Andrew Singler after she began dating him in 2010. The group maintained a steady companionship until the early morning of Feb. 23, when an argument between the couple led to confrontation, culminating in Connor McCowan allegedly stabbing Singler to death.
MICHIGAN
New bill to encourage grads to stay in Michigan
A new bill proposed by Michigan Sen. Glenn Anderson, D-Westland, would offer tax credits to graduates from in-state universities who stay in the state.
MICHIGAN
Face Time: East Lansing City Council candidate Kathleen Boyle
East Lansing City Councilmember Kathleen Boyle is no stranger to mid-Michigan. Boyle was born in St. Johns and moved to East Lansing in 1985 after going to school and working in Syracuse, N.Y. She’s running for a partial two-year term on the East Lansing City Council this election season.
MICHIGAN
UPDATE: Stabbing victim's girlfriend, Connor McCowan's father testify in murder trial
The autopsy and toxicology reports of MSU student Andrew Singler, as well as testimonies from Singler’s girlfriend Shay McCowan, were brought forward Monday morning in the trial of Okemos resident Connor McCowan. McCowan is on trial in Ingham County Circuit Court for allegedly stabbing and killing Singler on the night of Feb. 23 after a disagreement between the two went awry. He was charged with open murder and could face life in prison if convicted.
MICHIGAN
Text messages, video continue to stand out in trial
In the early morning of Feb. 23, Okemos resident Connor McCowan received a text from his sister, Shay McCowan, saying her boyfriend, MSU student Andrew Singler, had broken one of her ribs. “I’ll beat the s*** out of him,” his reply read.