East Lansing

‘The Bres’ hosts Michigan’s best high school basketball

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High school athletes converged upon East Lansing this weekend to play on the famed hardwood of the Breslin Center during the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s state basketball tournament. 

The semifinals were March 24 and 25, with the championship game on March 26. The tournament kicked off Thursday with Division 3 and 4 schools and moved to Divisions 1 and 2 on Friday. Fans from around the state are expected to attend to cheer on the 16 teams that will be competing in four divisions. Division 1 championship contender Belleville High School head coach Adam Trumpour, an MSU alumnus, said that bringing his team to East Lansing capped off a season of hard work, especially for student athletes who’ve missed playing time due to COVID-19 closures. 

“It really means a lot to me, my coaching staff, my players and to our Belleville community,” Trumpour said. “That’s kind of the pinnacle of high school hoops, is to get down to the Bres or to be Breslin bound.”

Trumpour said that his connections to MSU, including coaching MSU small forward Gabe Brown during his high school years, make the trip to East Lansing all the more meaningful and exciting. 

Pat Marsman, athletic director at Grand Rapids Northview High School, said, “Northview, like many other schools, has aspirations of reaching the Breslin Center.

Lansing Brewing Company logo, red on black
News

Lansing Brewing Company cancels “MAGA Mixer” after online backlash

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It isn’t often that a local business hosts drag brunch one week and conservative elected officials the next, but Lansing Brewing Company is known and often appreciated t for its bipartisanship. 

That appreciation turned sour this week when the brewery was announced as the host of a “MAGA Mixer” on March 26. The event was noted by local coffee shop Strange Matter, whose social media platforms urged the brewery to call off the event. Locals then expressed concern, outrage, and disappointment at the brewery’s decision to host the event and took to social media to push back. 

“What was upsetting to me is that Lansing Brewing Company is a space that has hosted lots of politicians from both sides,” said Lansing native Ty Forquer. “What struck me as different about this one is that it’s specifically about supporting former President Trump and really pushing an agenda that fundamentally undercuts trust in democracy and fair elections.” 

The mixer was the latter half of a two-part event put on by conservative organizations Grand Opportunity USA and Republicans for National Renewal. It was billed on fliers and social media as a “rally to support President Trump” and to support candidates endorsed by his  Save America PAC.