Board of Trustees authorizes athletic improvements, speakers address swim and dive

The MSU Board of Trustees approved authorizations to proceed with renovations to the football complex and Spartan Stadium upgrades at its final meeting of the spring semester on April 22.

Phase I of the football complex renovation will include securing the site, relocating the weight room, installing temporary walls and utilities and demolition. Construction will begin this month with substantial completion in October 2023.

Vice President for Strategic Infrastructure Planning and Facilities Dan Bollman said this project is fully funded by donors. In June, he will come before the board again with a complete budget and design.

The board also approved upgrades to Spartan Stadium, including North and East Bowl restoration and audio upgrades.

These repairs include adding coatings to the treads and risers, adding expansion joints and replacement of the audio system.

‘Name a better illusion than the American dream:’ Rally for Patrick Lyoya held at Capitol

One day before Patrick Lyoya’s funeral, the Lyoya family, their attorney Ben Crump and hundreds of other protesters made their way to the Michigan Capitol building in Lansing.

The peaceful protest, hosted by Black Lives Matter Lansing, was held about three weeks after Lyoya, a 26-year-old Black man, who was shot and killed by a white Grand Rapids police officer after a traffic stop.

In footage released by the Grand Rapids Police Department, or GRPD, Lyoya was struggling with the officer over the officer’s taser. It was after the officer was on top of him that the fatal shot was fired.

Central to the demands of the protest leaders, as well as Lyoya’s family, is the demand of the GRPD to release the name of the police officer who killed Lyoya.

An organizer with Black Lives Matter Lansing, K.T. Saxon said the point of the protest was to demand justice for Lyoya, but that it extends beyond him. Lee Taylor led a libation ceremony during the rally, where a liquid was poured out for the deceased.

During this time, Taylor said the names of several Black people who have died at the hands of police, with the crowd responding “ashay,” which is the Yoruba word for “Amen.” In this ceremony, Taylor did not pour water on the Capitol steps because she said she would be fined for doing so.

Michigan Republican Party endorses Karamo, DePerno for state offices

At the Michigan Republican Party endorsement convention in Grand Rapids, two candidates for statewide office received the endorsement and nomination of the Michigan Republican Party.

Kristina Karamo and Matthew DePerno received the greatest number of delegates votes, winning the nominations for Secretary of State and Attorney General, respectively.

Karamo was the favored candidate to win the Michigan GOP nod for Secretary of State.

Karamo was endorsed as well by former President Donald Trump.

Karamo beat out two other candidates for the position, state Rep. Beau LaFave, R-Iron Mountain, and Chesterfield Township clerk Cindy Barry.

The attorney general race was much closer, with candidates DePerno and Tom Leonard both giving strong showings of support during their nominations and introductions at the convention.

It took two ballots of precinct delegates voting in order to determine a winner.

After confusion over the second ballot, DePerno won the vote 55%-45% over Leonard. Issues arose after voters became confused over the set up of the ballots and the list of candidates projected onto the screen.

Based on original reporting by Morgan Womack and Dan Netter. Script by Shakyra Mabone.