Saturday, September 12, 2026

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

News

MICHIGAN

Politicians: Road funds unlikely to come through

Simon Schuster
November 19, 2013

At his State of the State address in January, Gov. Rick Snyder called for a $1.2 billion increase in funding to repair and maintain Michigan’s roads. But after a meeting last week between Snyder and legislative leaders, that goal seems no closer to completion than the day it was proposed. According to a Michigan Department of Transportation report released in May, the conditions of Michigan’s roadways will begin to decline without a significant increase in funding. To measure the condition of Michigan roads, the state surveys the roads and rates their condition on a scale of “good,” fair” and “poor.” According to data from the Transportation Asset Management Council collected between 2011 and 2012, 13.77 percent of roads in East Lansing are classified in good condition, 57.46 percent are in fair condition and 28.77 percent are in poor condition.

MICHIGAN

Insurance company opens on Grand River Avenue

Geoff Preston
November 18, 2013

One of East Lansing’s largest downtown business spaces is officially filled once again as Jackson National Life Insurance Co. opened its doors for business Monday, redesigning and taking over the former Barnes and Noble location at 333 E. Grand River Ave.

MSU

Fencing club works year-round, grabs laughs

Olivia Dimmer
November 18, 2013

Despite having the youngest team in decades, the MSU Fencing club is looking to their upcoming competition with confidence. Meg Green, the women’s sabre captain, described the season so far as “fantastic” despite the large amount of young players.

MICHIGAN

CD and record show draws music lovers to Lansing

Katie Abdilla
November 18, 2013

Upon arriving at Lansing’s CD and Record Show, Andrew Moore had no intention of leaving empty-handed. Saturday’s free show was the fifth time the MSU College of Law clinician has filtered through the tables of CDs and vinyls throughout the years, and for him the adventure never gets old. His choices for the day included Frank Zappa, Led Zeppelin and David Bowie.

MICHIGAN

Woman reported missing after fleeing East Lansing residence

Simon Schuster
November 18, 2013

A mother of three is considered a missing person after fleeing from a home in East Lansing Saturday night, according to the East Lansing Police Department. Sarah Jane Jackson, 23, reportedly left a home on Chartwell Dual Carriage Way Saturday at about 9 p.m. with the father of two of her three children, according to a statement from police.

MICHIGAN

Museum offers hands-on archaeology experience

Cayden Royce
November 17, 2013

Groups of families, ?children and members of the MSU Campus Archeology Program played in the dirt acquiring artifacts during a day filled with learning and fun on ?Saturday at the MSU Museum. The children learned through involvement with hands-on activities in a Dig the Past event, which included sifting through dirt to find real artifacts loaned by MSU’s teaching education collection.

MSU

Global Festival features many international cultures

April Jones
November 17, 2013

From flags of all colors to custom music featuring Korean hit “Gangnam Style,” Brody Complex Neighborhood was the home of the annual Global Festival on Sunday, weaving MSU into a cultural interactive melting pot. Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., approximately 3,000 attendees ranging from infants to students came out to the free festival, which dates back to the 1940’s.

MSU

ASMSU discusses veterans center, sales tax

Nolly Dakroury
November 14, 2013

ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, passed a resolution supporting the creation of an Office for Veteran’s Affairs on-campus during its general assembly meeting on Thursday. ASMSU President Evan Martinak announced at the start of the meeting that the office was inaugurated on Thursday and is located in the basement of the Student Services basement. “I’m glad we’re moving in the right direction,” Martinak said, noting that ASMSU has been previously advocating and supporting the establishment of the office. Introducer of the bill Evan Schrage said the office is still empty and in need of furnishing, adding that it still needed a lot of help to function. The general assembly also passed a bill to support and advocate for House Joint Resolution W, which would increase the Michigan sales tax by one percent. Schrage, who is the seconder of the bill, said the resolution is a chance for students to have lower tuition. “We’re here to advocate for students and (the resolution) is clearly directed towards benefitting students,” Business College representative Christie Teske said. Alliance of Queer and Ally Students representative Colin Weidbrecht was against the bill and said his main concern is the negative effect the tax increase would have on low-income families. “Sales tax is regressive, so it’s going to affect lower income families the most,” Weidbrecht said, explaining that the one percent increase would take up a large portion of their income. Schrage said the increase would on the long run have lesser effect on low-income families, since, if their kids go to college, they would graduate with a large student debt. The bill was introduced and initially passed during the ASMSU policy committee meeting on Oct.

MICHIGAN

Bicycle upkeep in winter weather

Simon Schuster
November 14, 2013

As the snow melts and weather warms each spring, campus is pockmarked by long-forgotten bikes, hitched to racks and corroded from a long winter of neglect. But with proper maintenance, bikes can be ridden throughout winter without significant damage, MSU Bikes Service Center Manager Tim Potter said.

MICHIGAN

DTN unveils design drafts for Park District project

Geoff Preston
November 14, 2013

A public meeting held Thursday evening gave community members and city officials a chance to see the first drafts of designs in a project that could drastically change East Lansing’s downtown landscape. DTN Management Co. hosted the third and final design charrette for the Park District Project, a massive overhaul of the west side of downtown that would incorporate a mixed-use space with dining, retail and hotel.

MICHIGAN

Expelled developer takes back key property in downtown redevelopment project

Geoff Preston
November 14, 2013

A key piece of private property included in the proposed Park District project currently is back in the hands of a company associated with the failed City Center II project, according to documents filed with the Ingham County Register of Deeds. The property is a central part of the proposed Park District project, a massive redevelopment plan aimed at refurbishing about two blocks of blighted buildings near the corner of Abbot Road and Grand River Avenue.

MICHIGAN

Student veterans, administrators dedicate space for resource center

A lounge area with comfortable chairs greets visitors as they walk in. Further down a hallway, there’s a room with a small sign indicating where a computer lab might someday be, and another that might be a study lounge with a tutoring room next to it. Students will be able to get advice on GI Bill benefits and other resources available to veterans, and maybe even grab a free cup of coffee if all goes according to plan. This is what the university’s Veterans’ Resource Center will look like when it has its grand opening sometime in January or February.

MICHIGAN

Living City- Thread by thread

Julia Nagy
November 14, 2013

For Lansing resident Elizabeth McMurray, her alteration shop is more than just a shop. It’s a platform to speak to the community. Liz’s Alteration Shop has been in the same spot for 35 years. Well wishes, thank you cards and customer photos line the walls of her shop.? “I consider them my friends, and I consider their kids my kids,” McMurray said.? McMurray considers her sewing skills a gift from God.