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MICHIGAN

I-96 shooter gets at least 6.5 years

Geoff Preston
February 4, 2014

During a trial in Livingston County last week, convicted I-96 shooter Raulie Casteel testified that he spent time in both Michigan and Kentucky practicing his shot in farm fields. But on Tuesday in Oakland County Circuit Court, it was the hours that he didn’t spend on his own shooting range that saved him years of prison time, according to Judge Denise Langford Morris. Although no one was killed in the shooting spree Casteel went on along the I-96 corridor in the fall of 2012, Langford Morris said that was nothing to be proud of. “Thank goodness you were a lousy shot,” Langford Morris said during sentencing. Casteel, a 44-year-old MSU alumnus, was sentenced to 6.5 to 10 years in prison on Tuesday on multiple assault and weapons charges, which he pleaded no contest to last October.

MICHIGAN

East Lansing Police update description of Cedar Street shooting suspect

Lauren Gibbons
February 4, 2014

The East Lansing Police Department has released several new images of the suspect wanted for killing one student and injuring another on the 200 block of Cedar Street Friday evening. Newly-released surveillance images show the suspect, who shot and killed hospitality business sophomore Dominique “D.J.” Nolff and injured another student, entering and leaving the complex on Friday evening. The updated police description indicates the suspect is a black male between 6-foot-1 and 6-foot-3 inches tall between 20-25 years of age who weighs about 170 pounds. At the time of the shooting, the suspect was wearing a black North Face jacket, tan pants and black shoes.

MSU

Student government presidential elections spark controversy

Kary Askew Garcia
February 4, 2014

ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, will be holding its presidential elections this Thursday, despite allegations of current chief of staff Kiran Samra violating the student government’s election code by running for the position. Samra, a marketing senior, was found to be involved with the University Elections Commission, a group within ASMSU that oversees the election process, when she decided to run for president. Samra served as the commission’s chair until she resigned on Jan.

NEWS

Obama to sign farm bill on campus Friday

Simon Schuster
February 4, 2014

President Barack Obama will be visiting MSU’s Mary Anne McPhail Equine Performance Center on Friday in the early afternoon to sign the recently passed farm bill into law, according to a Michigan Democratic source. The White House has not released further specifics about the visit. The Michigan Farm Bureau told MLive that the President will be meeting with area farmers. According to a representative from the bureau, immigration reform will be the topic of the President’s visit with the farmers.

MICHIGAN

Surveillance images of Cedar Street shooting suspect released by police

Lauren Gibbons
February 4, 2014

The East Lansing Police Department has released several new images of the suspect wanted for killing one student and injuring another on the 200 block of Cedar Street Friday evening. Surveillance images show the suspect, who shot and killed hospitality business sophomore Dominique “D.J.” Nolff and injured another 20-year-old student, entering and leaving the complex on Friday evening.

NEWS

I-96 shooter receives six and a half to 10 years

Geoff Preston
February 4, 2014

Pontiac, Mich. – Convicted I-96 shooter Raulie Casteel was sentenced to six and a half to 10 years in state prison Tuesday morning in Oakland County Circuit Court. The prosecution and defense agreed to a plea agreement, which Judge Denise Langford Morris allowed. Casteel pleaded no contest to assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and several felony firearms charges in October. The sentence included a felony guns charge of two years, for which Casteel was given 455 days time served. “You terrorized countless people,” Morris said during sentencing.

MSU

More than a furry friend

Kary Askew Garcia
February 3, 2014

Finding solace in times of stress is something many students struggle with daily. But for Kate Londy, comfort can be found in a rather unique way. Londy, an osteopathic medical student, finds that her cat offers her more than just companionship.

NEWS

Facebook celebrates 10-year anniversary

Sara Konkel
February 3, 2014

Tuesday marks the 10th anniversary of the social media site many young people know, love and use for hours on a daily basis — Facebook. Facebook has traveled a long way from Mark Zuckerberg’s Harvard dorm room.

MICHIGAN

I-96 shooter Raulie Casteel faces sentencing in Pontiac Tuesday

Geoff Preston
February 3, 2014

The possible motive behind a man who randomly shot at multiple cars on the highway might not be the most complicated thing about the Raulie Casteel trial. The MSU alumnus will be sentenced Tuesday morning in Oakland County after pleading no contest to assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder along with several felony firearms charges in October. Casteel, 44, shot at cars along the I-96 corridor in October 2012.

MICHIGAN

Snyder kicks off re-election campaign

Simon Schuster
February 3, 2014

LANSING, Mich. — On Sunday night, MSU students and voters across the state crowded around televisions to experience the sensory barrage of advertisements and football that is the Super Bowl. Midway through the game, they witnessed a wetsuit and snorkel-adorned Gov.

NEWS

One dead, one injured

Staff Reports
February 2, 2014

It was the shot that no one heard. At 8:48 p.m. Friday evening, police responded to the report of a shooting on the 200 block of Cedar Street.

NEWS

Friends remember Dominique Nolff as selfless

Geoff Preston
February 2, 2014

One word continues to come up in conjunction with hospitality business sophomore Dominique, or “D.J.,” Nolff as his friends remember the type of person he was. Selfless. “He’d give you the clothes off his back if you were in need,” friend and neuroscience sophomore Herve Nonga said. Nolff died early Saturday morning in Sparrow Hospital in Lansing from several gunshot wounds he sustained Friday night. He was shot in his apartment in the 200 block of Cedar Street around 8:45 p.m. The incident is still under investigation by the East Lansing Police Department, and the killer still is at large. Another student, a 20-year-old male from Grand Haven, was shot and sustained injuries in the incident as well. He was treated for his injuries at the hospital and was later released.

MICHIGAN

Obama plans East Lansing visit, few details available

Simon Schuster
February 2, 2014

When President Barack Obama last visited East Lansing in 2008, it was a month before he was first elected president. On Friday, he’ll return as a president with one term under his belt who is looking to secure his legacy as he enters his final three years in the Oval Office. Obama is coming to East Lansing for an event about the economy on Friday, according to multiple media outlets citing an unnamed White House official. Little else is known about the event. Both MSU and East Lansing officials said they had not received any information about the president’s visit during the weekend. White House officials told several media outlets more details on the scheduled visit would be announced early this week. East Lansing Mayor Nathan Triplett said he was excited to find out about the scheduled visit from the nation’s leader. “Obviously we’re honored and ecstatic to be hosting the president in East Lansing,” Triplett said.

MSU

Students escape cold through water polo

Juliana Moxley
February 2, 2014

In an attempt to beat the cold weather and get in the spring break mind set, MSU students came out to IM Sports-Circle on Friday evening to participate in the University Activities Board’s swimming and inner tube water polo tournament.