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Spartan Newsroom - News and information from student journalists at the Michigan State University School of Journalism

Spartan Newsroom (http://news.jrn.msu.edu/)

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Watch Focal Point: Text 911, the Polar Plunge came to Lansing, sorority delivers flowers on Valentine’s Day, and more.

By Focal Point News | February 15, 2019

On this edition of Focal Point, get an overview of why people took a cold plunge to raise funds for the Special Olympics. A sorority on campus made special deliveries for Valentines Day, and Lansing joins 49 other counties in Michigan in the text 911 service, allowing people to contact 911 via text if they are unable to call. In sports, MSU men’s basketball defeats Wisconsin, while the women’s team falls behind. Those stories and more this week on Focal Point.

Related: ‘Night to Shine’ event celebrates princes and princesses

Mason Schools reviewing bids on Phase One school improvements

Ron Drzewicki, superintendent of Mason Public Schools (photo was courtesy of Ron Drzewicki)

Mason schools improved safety on school buses in December and will soon decide on bids for some of the Phase One building projects from a $69.7 million 2017 bond issue.

Council remembers former City Manager Ted Staton

The East Lansing City Council recognized former City Manager Ted Staton, who died Feb. 12 at age 63 in Ohio. He was city manager for 16 years.

Ingham County introduces text 9-1-1

‘Call if you can, text if you can’t’ is the new motto at the Ingham County 9-1-1 Central Dispatch. Ingham County became the 49th county in Michigan to enact the new service. Residents can now text 9-1-1 if they are in an emergency situation where they are unable to hear or speak.

More Headlines

Lansing man faces Feb. 21 hearing in Holt homicide
He walked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., integrated East Lansing
Meteorologist calls polar vortex bounceback ‘remarkable,’

Focal Point News

‘Night to Shine’ event celebrates princes and princesses

Princes and princesses were crowned last Friday at the 5th annual ‘Night to Shine’ event. The dance was hosted at more that 655,000 churches from all around the world, celebrating more than 100,000 honorary guests. People were seen walking down the red carpet, getting their own crown or tiara and breaking it down on the […]

Also from Focal Point:
  • Troop 164 rewrites history
  • Watch Focal Point: Text 911, the Polar Plunge came to Lansing, sorority delivers flowers on Valentine’s Day, and more.
Complete Coverage

Spartan Sports Report

Spartan Sports Report: Mens hoops gets back on track, mens hockey takes on rival Michigan

Both mens and women basketball teams were in action at the Breslin Center this week. Also, MSU hockey traveled to Little Cesars Arena to take on in state rival Michigan. Finally, wrestling was home at Jenison field house to take on Cleveland State.

More from SSR:
  • Spartan Sports Report: Men’s Hoops Slipping, Wrestling Honors Alumni
  • Spartan Sports Report: Men’s Hoops Rolling, Women’s Hoops Struggles On The Road
Complete Coverage

Capital News Service

CNS BUDGET – Feb. 15, 2019

CNS Budget 2/15/2019   Feb. 15, 2019 – fifth file   To: CNS Editors   From: David Poulson and Sheila Schimpf http://news.jrn.msu.edu/capitalnewsservice/   For technical problems, contact CNS technical manager Tony Cepak at (517) 803-6841; cepak@msu.edu.   For other matters, contact Dave Poulson at (517) 432-5417 or (517) 899-1640 poulson@msu.edu.   HERE IS YOUR FILE: […]

More from CNS:
  • After 6 months: Voices from the Netherlands, Ireland and Thailand
  • Labor pain: Lack of infant care stymies economic growth
  • Trash Import Table
Complete Coverage

Campus

  • Dublin Square’s BIG Comeback

    Rumors of Dublin Square's closing and comeback have been swirling around East Lansing. Where will it come back, how will it come back?

More Campus News

East Lansing

  • Troop 164 rewrites history

    “Its hard to tell your children that they can’t do something," Troop 164 Scoutmaster, Marla Ekola, said. Marla Ekola is penciling in her daughter's future.

More East Lansing News

Bath-DeWitt

  • Bath Township fights for artists rights

    Blue rubber ducks have been popping up over Bath Township and it's making a difference within the art community. The Blue Loop is an art instillation in the backyard of Robert Park's house in Bath, Michigan.

More Bath-DeWitt News

Grand Ledge

  • Two decades later, this MSU fan hasn’t missed a single game

    It started with two tickets to a volleyball game 19 years ago. Two decades later, they haven't missed a single game.

More Grand Ledge News

Holt

  • The entrance to the Lansing Recycling Center on Cedar Street is pictured Dec. 12, 2018.
    Local action taken to challenge global climate change

    Every four years, it’s mandated by law that the U.S. Global Change Research Program provide a report to Congress on the state of global climate change. In November, the Fourth National Climate Assessment was published by the research program.

More Holt News

Lansing

  • Mayor being interviewed by man holding microphone as cameraman records.
    Growth, arts and vision top Schor’s state of Lansing speech

    Mayor Andy Schor used Wednesday's State of the City address to highlight development, jobs, the arts and a vision for the future. Performances from Lansing’s Above Hip Hop Academy warmed up the Riverwalk Theatre crowd and foreshadowed one of Schor's talking points.

More Lansing News

Old Town Lansing

  • Bringing Lansing to eBay

    With the help of online shopping, people from all over the world are able to shop and help support businesses. Now, people from all over the world can shop and help support businesses in the greater Lansing area through eBay.

More Old Town News

Lansing Township

  • WATCH: Man escapes from jail, plane crash, and more

    This week on the Spartan News Update: A man by the name of Michael Simon escapes jail from the eleventh floor. Additionally, a plane in Indonesia crashed and 189 people were killed.

More Lansing Township News

Mason

  • Joe Biden makes an appearance in Lansing before election

    The Democratic rally got started an hour and a half late, but local residents patiently awaited Former Vice President Joe Biden's arrival. "It's been a rough couple of months," Biden said.

More Mason News

Meridian Township

  • A Snow Emergency is not cause for an emergency in Meridian Township

    Winter arrived fashionably late this year when a snowstorm hit Meridian Township Sunday night, blanketing the community with six to eight inches of snow and causing a Snow Emergency, said Ken Plaga, the township’s police chief. A Snow Emergency might sound daunting, but don’t be alarmed, said Meridian Township Manager Frank Walsh, “it’s actually quite simple.” “We’ve certainly had six to seven inches of snow before so we don’t want to dramatize this,” said Walsh.

More Meridian Township News

Williamston

  • Williamston roads withstand polar vortex

    A polar vortex recently swept across the midwest, hitting the town of Williamston, Michigan last week. With record-breaking wind chills and multiple days of school cancellations, some residents did not need to worry about road conditions.

More Williamston News

Ingham County

  • Meridian Township Board paving the way for a $2 million road millage in 2020

    The Meridian Township Board continued to discuss the Transportation Commission’s recommendations—first brought up last month—to put a $2 million road millage up for a vote next year. Township Board Trustee Dan Opsommer said it’s time the township take action on the roads since the state or county hasn’t acted in several decades.

More Ingham County News

Clinton County

  • Watch Focal Point: Engler cancels Nassar survivor fund, Michigan new minimum wage and more

    On the last show of the semester, Interim President John Engler has put a halt to a fund dedicated to help Larry Nassar survivors. Plus, a easy way to get money in Michigan could soon not be possible.

More Clinton County News

MI First Election 2018 logo

MI First Election 2018

Joe Biden makes an appearance in Lansing before election

The Democratic rally got started an hour and a half late, but local residents patiently awaited Former Vice President Joe Biden’s arrival. “It’s been a rough couple of months,” Biden said. “Folks, we’ve gotta turn this around”. Democrats Gretchen Whitmer and Elissa Slotkin were among the candidates attending the rally at Lansing Community College. “I […]

Explore:
  • Crowds gather to see Obama before midterm election
  • Julie Brixie wins state House seat
  • Ingham Commission retains party split, most members
Complete Coverage

Schools of choice

Schools of choice: Change & challenge

It's been about two decades since Michigan adopted Schools of Choice. The program is one of several responses to funding and quality issues. See how Schools of Choice decisions are made in Ingham County, and how choices over 20 years have affected the county's 12 public school districts.

Explore:
  • East Lansing High School athletes earn high marks in academics
  • Lansing community seeks initiatives to promote school safety
  • Lure of East Lansing High School goes beyond academics
  • East Lansing breaks ground on Red Cedar Elementary, renovations to come
Complete Coverage

The Sound of Lansing

Promoting safe spaces in local music

Music promoters are looking for ways to combat sexual assault and other toxic behavior by providing a conflict-free area where community members can avoid harassment

Explore:
  • Lansing launch: small market, big dreams
  • Vincie D & The Sensations: one of Lansing’s most vibrant bands, live and in photo
  • Hometowns and Hip-Hop heroes
Complete Coverage

Capital expenditure

Inside of Inside 83’s campaign investigation

Get the scoop from the reporters who did the work.

Explore:
  • Inside 83 reporting gets statewide exposure
  • Michigan candidates pay for breaking finance rules
  • NRA influence stretches beyond direct contributions
Complete Coverage

About the Spartan Newsroom

News and information from the Michigan State University School of Journalism. Content is produced by MSU students under the guidance of journalism faculty.

In Case You Missed It

  • Meteorologist calls polar vortex bounceback ‘remarkable,’

    EAST LANSING — This year's polar vortex ransacked the Midwest Wednesday and Thursday, but by the weekend, was replaced with warm air and sunshine. In a span of just three days, East Lansing temperatures went from bitter to balmy in what meteorologists call a “remarkable” occurrence.

  • Growth, arts and vision top Schor’s state of Lansing speech

    Mayor Andy Schor used Wednesday's State of the City address to highlight development, jobs, the arts and a vision for the future. Performances from Lansing’s Above Hip Hop Academy warmed up the Riverwalk Theatre crowd and foreshadowed one of Schor's talking points.

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