Happy Valentine’s Day! Today’s weather forecast is predicting a mix of clouds and sun in the morning followed by cloudy skies during the afternoon with a high of 53 degrees and a low of 46 degrees.

FINAL: Michigan State suffers heartbreaking 4-3 overtime loss to Michigan in the Duel in the D

This past Saturday night, MSU hockey played in the annual Duel in the D matchup against Michigan.

While Friday night’s game saw its fair share of in-state rivalry tussles and brawls, the season finale rematch at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit was rather civil, with 13 total penalties compared to 28 the night before.

The first penalties of the night came at the 6:33 mark when senior forward Jagger Joshua and freshman forward Kienan Draper were sent to the box for unsportsmanlike conduct. Just over two minutes later, Michigan State earned the first power play when sophomore defenseman Luke Hughes was whistled for holding.

MSU and U-M had some good looks in the beginning of the first period, but both teams remained scoreless until the 15:47 mark when Hughes scored on a Wolverine power play after freshman forward Karsen Dorwart sat for roughing.

For the second night in a row, the story of the second period was penalties. At 17:11, Michigan was caught with too many men, handing MSU another opportunity on the man advantage. 40 seconds later, Jagger was assessed a 10-minute misconduct for abuse of officials. The final penalty of the frame was given to sophomore defenseman Ethan Edwards for slashing, so Michigan State skated 5-on-3 with 1:04 left.

Still tied 3-3 at the end of regulation, both teams entered a five minute, 3-on-3, sudden-death overtime period. Sophomore forward Dylan Duke was whistled for tripping at 2:14, handing the Spartans a 4-on-3 power play.

Both teams fought tooth and nail in the waning minutes of overtime, mustering all their strength to keep the opponent from scoring the game-winner. Michigan fired four shots on net after Duke entered the box, the last being Hughes’ game-winner and making the final score 4-3.

Pharmacy technician shortage causes strain in hospital and retail pharmacies

A national staffing shortage of pharmacy technicians has left retail and clinical pharmacies to struggle keeping up with demand.

Sparrow Hospital Pharmacy Director Todd Belding said the shortage began before the COVID-19 pandemic but was exacerbated by the fear of being exposed to the virus in a healthcare setting.

As a national staff shortage took hold of restaurants and retailers, pharmacy technicians watched as companies raised starting wages from the minimum legal amount – meanwhile, pharmacy technicians were getting paid a similar wage and having to undergo a higher amount of pressure in their workplace, Michigan Pharmacists’ Association CEO Mark Glasper said.

The decrease in demand for training programs leads to the schools struggling to stay open and provide trainings. Less availability in accredited programs means the pharmacy technicians that are starting out in the field will receive on-the-job training from their employers, director of the pharmacy technician program at Henry Ford College Keith Binion said.

When the pay is not justifying the stress nor presenting the opportunity for serious career advancement, the employees seek other opportunities, according to Glasper. This still leaves pharmacies with the demand to fill prescriptions.

As the pharmacy technician shortage continues, Binion endorses accredited training programs, like the one he runs at Henry Ford College, to show potential pharmacy technicians the career possibilities in the field. This helps students feel there is a future in being a pharmacy technician.

‘Love can be all kinds of things’; Broad Art Museum hosts Anti-Valentine’s Day event

This past Friday, the Broad Art Museum held an Anti-Valentine’s Day party. The “Love is a Monster” event invited people to express themselves and their thoughts on love through art.

The event took place in two areas: the conversation guide wing and the education wing. Registered attendees were able to customize their own free tote bag, create and write cards and take pictures in front of a decorated wall.

The conversation guide included a checklist of art that encourages people to talk with others. For example, one item on the list asks one to find a work of art that reminds them of a friend. Participants are then encouraged to call that friend and describe the artwork to them.

Museum director of education Michelle Word was excited to bring back the event for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the name of the event might make it seem like it’s completely against Valentine’s Day, Word said it serves as a way of “bringing people together around art,” to have conversations and relax.

Michigan State University alum and museum employee Cate Dombrowski said both the museum and the event, are great ways for people to see art in the community.

Dombrowski said Valentine’s Day shouldn’t just be about people who have partners, and she doesn’t think there’s one specific way to celebrate it.

Based on original reporting by Maddy Warren, Maggie George and PJ Pfeiffer.