MSU has no immediate plans to rescind campus mask mandate

On Thursday, Ingham County rescinded two emergency orders that included a mask requirement for the county’s K-12 school districts.

However, those orders did not apply to MSU and according to a university spokesperson Michigan State has no immediate plans to rescind its own campus-wide mask mandate.

Spokesperson Dan Olsen said the university officials continue to converse with health experts to determine when it will be safe to lift MSU’s mandate.

Also Olsen said MSU will still take the measures they think are the most important to protect the Spartan community and they’ll try to stay close with our local and state health department leaders.

Tampon tax repeal officially goes into effect

Earlier this week, legislation removing the 6% sales tax on menstrual products went into effect after it was signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in November.

The bipartisan legislation had previously passed both congressional chambers in October.

Rep. Bryan Posthumus of R-Kent County, said he thinks this is a big win for families and individuals throughout the state of Michigan.

The sales tax that is being included, means that people who need the product are being charged a higher price for products that are essential.

Rep. Posthumus sponsored part of the legislation and also stated they’re giving back roughly $7 million to taxpayers throughout the state and this is a great opportunity to do so.

The tampon tax repeal was celebrated by Whitmer who tweeted, Michigan’s tampon tax is officially repealed. Michiganders will now save hundreds on the products they need.

Michigan State women’s tennis rallies, defeats Arizona

Michigan State women’s tennis overcame their deficit to rally and defeat the Arizona Wildcats at home on Wednesday evening.

The Spartans are now 4-1 on the season and are on a four game winning streak.

The match began smoothly with one doubles graduate student Mary Lewis and senior Maja Pietrowicz defeating Wildcats senior Kristen Prelle and graduate student Salma Ziouti and two doubles senior Nicole Stephens and sophomore Ayshe Can defeated freshman Parker Fry and junior Kayla Wilkins 6-3 as well.

The singles game during the match became interesting as it went on.

The one singles match was not close as Lewis dominated Wilkins in straight sets 6-0 and 6-1.

Lewis was happy with her winning result when asked. Especially after the long past couple of days the team had, Lewis said.

As the rest of the game was much closer, the Wildcats, who went up 2-0 earlier, stormed back to take the lead 3-2 as Pietrowicz and senior Lauren Lemonds, and Can all lost their single matches in straight sets to Ziouti, Fry, and freshman Midori Castillo-Meza.

This match was a very big win for the Spartans and it meant more for Lewis and Michigan State Head Coach Kim Bruno, both tied to Arizona.

Based on original reporting by Drew Goretzka, Dan Netter, and Nick Lundberg. Script by Shakyra Mabone.