Spartan Newsroom (https://news.jrn.msu.edu/author/chloepeter/)
Chloe Peter is a Senior in Michigan State University’s Honors College and Senior Producer of Focal Point. She is currently pursuing degrees in Journalism and Political Science with a minor in Religious Studies. After graduating, Chloe plans to work as a news producer in public broadcasting. In addition to working on Focal Point, Chloe currently works as a research assistant in MSU’s School of Journalism studying the role of media in the COVID-19 pandemic. She also contributes to the School of Journalism’s Bias Busters series, cultural competency guides designed to spark conversation between different races, ethnicities, and religious communities. She previously covered Meridian Township for HOMTV and East Lansing for the Spartan Newsroom.
Two years after a Facebook post inspired a statewide grassroots movement, Michigan voters approved Proposal 2. The proposal ends gerrymandering and will take effect in time for the 2020 elections. A long process is expected.
The East Lansing Public Schools sinking fund millage and operating millage were passed after the Michigan midterm election Nov. 6, securing the district’s funding for the next 10 years.
The polls may open at 7 a.m., but for election inspectors, Election Day begins much earlier. East Lansing Precinct 2 Captain Bob Ulrich is the first to arrive, typically getting to Martin Luther Chapel around 5 a.m. His fellow poll workers come at 6 a.m. and stay until the final ballot is processed, well after 8 p.m. In between, they assisted way more voters than usual.
Unlikely coalitions formed as the East Lansing City Council voted down an ordinance Tuesday night that would have allowed medical marijuana dispensaries within city limits. The ordinance, originally proposed in January, had been the subject of discussion and amendment throughout the year which culminated Tuesday night. The 10 members of the public who spoke all supported medical marijuana, but had concerns about the ordinance.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, the former Republican governor of California who also played the Terminator in movies, appeared Saturday at the Terminate Gerrymandering rally held by Voters Not Politicians in East Lansing.
East Lansing voters will see two millage proposals on the November ballot. If passed, these millages will put in place property taxes for the East Lansing Public School District. The operating millage and sinking fund millage are updates on current millages that have been in place since 2008. If passed, they will stay in effect until 2028 and generate $10.8 million a year for the district.
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Gretchen Whitmer spoke to the Michigan State University College Democrats at Wells Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 18, with running mate Garlin Gilchrist and the Democratic candidate for Michigan’s Eighth Congressional district, Elissa Slotkin.
Bob Ulrich says he will do “anything and everything to help people vote.” For the past 10 years, he has been doing just that by working as an election inspector for the City of East Lansing. Ulrich was one of roughly 140 election inspectors who worked the polls during the August primary, and East Lansing City Clerk Jennifer Shuster is in need of even more election inspectors to help with the Nov. 6 general election.
The East Lansing Public Library opened its doors Sunday afternoon to community members from all over the world for the 9th Annual “East Lansing Welcomes the World” event. An estimated 300 people attend every year, many of whom are bused in from Michigan State University’s campus.