New week which means a new week for The State! Today’s weather forecast is predicting sunny with a high of 53 degrees and a low of 32 degrees.

FINAL: Shorthanded Michigan State survives to pull off 23-15 upset over Illinois

On a windy afternoon in Champaign, Illinois shorthanded Michigan State put in a gutsy effort against No. 14 Illinois, holding on for a 23-15 upset against the team atop the Big Ten West.

After throwing an interception on the very first play of the game, redshirt junior quarterback Payton Thorne rebounded with a strong performance. He finished with 182 yards, a pair of touchdowns and an interception.

After Thorne’s opening interception, Illinois started the drive at the Michigan State 41. MSU’s defense gave up a few chunk plays and the Illini found themselves within ten yards of the end zone.

The unit went three-and-out, sending the ball back to Illinois immediately. It took just two plays for the home team to move 59 yards and make the visitors pay for the ineffective offense. Following a rushing play that lost a yard, Illinois quarterback Tommy DeVito connected with wide receiver Isaiah Williams for a 60-yard catch-and-run touchdown.

After both offenses traded ineffective drives to start the second half, a special teams gaffe by Illinois handed the Spartans excellent field position. Illinois’ punter kicked the ball into a teammate and Michigan State pounced on it at the Illinois 29.

Yet again, Michigan State’s defense showed up in a critical situation. On fourth and short at the MSU 20 yard line, Illinois elected to attempt the conversion. However, the Spartans stuffed the Illinois rushing attempt and forced another turnover on downs.

The home team made the visitors sweat, moving deep into Michigan State territory. Ultimately, the Spartans were able to cling on for the upset.

MSU football will be back home this week at Spartan Stadium going up against the Rutgers at 12 P.M.

Mike Pence comes to 7th District to help Barrett “flip the house” ahead of Election Day

Attendees braved rain and wind in Charlotte on Friday to hear former vice president Mike Pence endorse congressional candidate Michigan Sen. Tom Barrett.

Barrett’s race against incumbent Rep. Elissa Slotkin has become the most expensive congressional race of the 2022 cycle, clocking in at over $27 million as of mid-October. In his speech, Pence emphasized the importance of the 7th District for Republicans hoping to regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Barrett and Slotkin’s race is predicted to be tight come tomorrow, Election Day. The 7th District, while leaning conservative, does not have a clear party allegiance. It voted for former president Donald Trump in 2016, but likely would have voted for President Joe Biden in 2020.

Barrett acknowledged the district’s unique nature and said that he’s used to the nail-biting side of election season.

In their speeches both Barrett and Pence called on the crowd to not only elect a Republican to the 7th District’s seat, but to “fire” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and restore a GOP majority to Congress.

“The progress we made under the Trump administration could not have happened without the support of the people of Michigan,” Pence said. “But how times have changed. We stand here today in the wake of the disastrous policies of the Biden-Harris administration at home and abroad.”

Michiganders uneasy about economy in new MSU-conducted poll

New polling from Michigan State University reveals Michiganders feel uneasy about the state of the economy, in addition to their economic prospects going forward.

The poll was conducted as a part of the most recent State of the State Survey, which has been conducted by the MSU College of Social Science’s Office for Survey Research and Institute for Public Policy and Social Research, or IPPSR, since 1994.

Economic data, observations about Michigan’s current political landscape and polling on support for reproductive rights were also measured.

Forty-three percent of polling respondents said their financial position was worse off than a year ago. Over 75 percent believed their economic prospects would worsen or stay the same over the next year, and 83 percent are expecting that the financial situation in their community will be worse off or the same in the coming year.

Most respondents said they disapproved of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and only 11 percent said abortion should be illegal under all circumstances.

Additionally, a majority of respondents said they supported Proposal 3 – a ballot initiative establishing reproductive rights, including abortion rights. Two-thirds either supported it or leaned towards supporting it.

MSU students and other Michiganders can find information on voting for the 2022 midterm election tomorrow at The State News website.

Based on original reporting by Alex Faber, Lily Guiney and Wajeeha Kamal.