Monday, April 6, 2026

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

News

MICHIGAN

Students learn about justice in teen court

Lansing - At the Lansing Teen Court, juvenile offenders are given a second chance to redeem themselves with the help of their peers. The teen court is celebrating its first year of operation this month and allows teen-agers from Lansing area high schools to serve as jurors and decide on a punishment for the offenders.

MICHIGAN

Stock market takes 660-point plunge first day back

Investors clamored to sell when the stock market reopened Monday.The rampant selling sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average down more than 660 points.Airline, insurance and entertainment stocks took the worst of the blows.But Todd Lowrie, finance senior and president of the MSU Finance Association and the MSU Investment Club, said it could be a lot worse.“A 600-plus point drop is not surprising.

MICHIGAN

Tragic events cant stop Recruitment

Despite Tuesday’s tragedy, potential greeks were in no short supply during men’s Recruitment last week.“Overall, I think this was probably one of our best sessions since I’ve been here at MSU,” said Interfraternity Council President Josh Tudor.

MSU

Community breaks ground on Jewish student center

After a four-year campaign, one MSU student group will see its dream come true.A groundbreaking ceremony was held Sunday to kick off construction of a new Hillel Jewish Student Center, 402 Linden St., on the former location of the old structure.More than 75 people came to celebrate the beginning of the new structure.“A new Hillel building is extremely important to MSU,” said Andrew Bocknek, a finance senior who also sits on the Hillel board of governors.

MSU

Museum continues quilting series

Despite a canceled lecture Sunday because of flight problems, the MSU Museum still has a series of quilting events planned in the upcoming months. Kitty Clark Cole, an avid collector and creator of quilts, was unable to give her lecture, “It’s Better With Cheddar,” referring to the orange-colored quilt fabrics that she enjoys, because she couldn’t get a flight from Wisconsin to Michigan. Cole has greatly supported the museum and generously donated 13 quilts from her collection to the Michigan Quilt Project, which is housed in the MSU Museum.

MSU

New director says education the key to unity

As new director of the Julian Samora Research Institute at MSU, Israel Cuellar will focus on education as the key to rebuilding the Latino community.“People who are more well-educated have better jobs, and that reduces the income disparities that exist,” he said.

MSU

Hypnotist entertains U with mental powers

The soothing music.A calm voice speaking into the microphone. These things sent some MSU students into a state of deep relaxation during two shows presented by hypnotist Thomas Bresadola on Saturday at the International Center.About 50 people were in attendance for the first show, which featured students thinking they were at a racetrack or flying in an airplane.The event was sponsored by the University Activities Board.“I have been studying hypnotic powers since I was 17, and I became a full-time hypnotist when I was 27,” said Bresadola, who lives in New York.Bresadola has worked with people with high amounts of stress, those who are trying to quit smoking and athletes.“Athletes are basically the same when it comes to being physical, but the mental part is also important,” he said.

MICHIGAN

Eastern principals excellence honored

The Lansing School District wasn’t surprised to learn one of their own had won a Michigan Education Excellence Award.For them it was confirmation of something they already knew - Eastern High School Principal Reniero Araoz is a great educator.“We’re very pleased and honored and have great pride in Mr. Araoz because he’s always done a great job at Eastern High School,” district spokesman Mark Mayes said.The Education Excellence Award was given to Araoz, along with Christine Morgan, a social studies teacher in Imlay City Community Schools and Jamey Fitzpatrick, vice president of development and education policy for Michigan Virtual University during the seventh annual Governor’s Education Summit in Lansing on Friday.“It was a surprise and a nice one,” Araoz said.

MICHIGAN

Community responds to tragedy at public forum

Lansing - Concerns of how communities should react to the recent tragedy in New York City and Washington were posed to a 12-person panel at Lansing City Hall on Sunday afternoon. The forum began with Human Relations and Community Services Director Genice Rhodes-Reed telling the audience about her opinion on the attacks. “Our community is in pain.

MICHIGAN

City farmers market offers area residents wide variety of wares

Linda Pace set out her wares in a booth on the corner of Albert Avenue and Charles Street a little before noon Sunday. The Lansing resident was one of about 25 vendors selling their goods at a city flea market, held in conjunction with the weekend’s farmer’s market, from noon to 4 p.m. The event was sponsored by the city of East Lansing’s Community Events Department. “I like the atmosphere and accessibility of this place and the people are pretty friendly, which helps,” she said. Throughout the morning, a steady stream of people walked through both markets.

MICHIGAN

Price gougers may pay heavy fines

State Rep. Mike Kowall wants the state to impose stricter penalties on those who price gouge in a time of tragedy.Kowall, a White Lake Republican and assistant majority whip, unveiled legislation Thursday that would modify Michigan’s Consumer Protection Act to make profiteering a felony crime punishable by five years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

MSU

Local briefs

In response to Tuesday’s terrorist attacks, MSU will join the rest of the nation today in observing a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance.Classes scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

MSU

Student teachers cope in classroom

Katie Drury had to smile and pretend a national disaster didn’t happen while mentoring in a third-grade classroom Tuesday. “It was difficult to put on the happy face and represent the teacher model,” said Drury, a teaching intern at Whitehills Elementary School, 621 Pebblebrook Lane. Drury is one of about 550 graduates of MSU’s College of Education who have been coping with Tuesday’s terrorist attacks on the United States while interning in classrooms across the state. “For many of the interns, this is challenging because it was the first time they were looked to as adults by the children and teens who were seeking answers and support,” said Trudy Sykes, coordinator for the secondary education program. Cary Grimm, an MSU graduate who interns at Novi Meadows school in Novi, said the teachers decided against sharing the news with students. “It didn’t really hit me until the kids left,” Grimm said.

MICHIGAN

Group unites students with community

When relations between permanent residents and their student neighbors become tense, who are they going to call? Their neighborhood resource coordinator. The group, a project of the Community Relations Coalition, is in its second year helping to improve the relationships and overall appearances of neighborhoods around East Lansing.

MSU

Professors summoned to join New York forces

Two MSU professors have been called to New York City, where they are assisting in identifying victims of Tuesday’s terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.Norman Sauer, a professor of anthropology and adjunct professor of criminal justice, and Joyce deJong, an adjunct professor of anthropology and human pathology, left at 4:30 a.m.

MSU

Olin launches unity campaign

Kristen Manuel is sporting a ribbon on her backpack that she says represents compassion and freedom. Manuel, a family and community services senior, picked up her red, white and blue ribbon at the Student Book Store, 417 E.