In the news today: One of the men involved in the Whitmer kidnapping conspiracy case has been charged and the East Lansing Art Festival has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Man charged in Whitmer kidnapping conspiracy case: One of the men involved in the Gov. Whitmer kidnapping plot has plead guilty but also agrees to fully cooperate. Ty Garbin on Jan. 27 was the first to be convicted, in his hearing with U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker. He will not be sentenced until July 8, but according to a Detroit News Report he may be sentenced to life in prison.

East Lansing Art Festival postponed until summer: The 2021 East Lansing Art Festival has been postponed to Aug. 7-8. This decision has been made by the organizers due to them believing that artists will do better with an in person show rather than a virtual one. Art festival and Arts Initiative Coordinator Heather Majano said, “We remain committed to our artists and to the local businesses that benefit from the increased foot traffic that an in-person festival brings to the downtown.” Artists who are no longer interested or cannot participate anymore can request a refund through Majano through Feb. 15. If artists are still interested in joining the art festival, they can apply on the East Lansing Art Festival website, elartfest.com. The deadline for submissions are also extended to Feb. 15. Artists will be notified if the event goes virtual instead of in person and they can expect a reimbursement for both fees.

Script Writer: Chandra Fleming

The State is produced by The State News and Impact 89FM.