Michigan State University

Michigan's seat belt use has dropped sharply, and even though there were fewer vehicles on the road in 2020, there were nearly 100 more traffic fatalities on state roads.

WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with Kendall Wingrove of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning about the trend and the call to remember to buckle up!

It's a great time of year to get outdoors! But, there are some potentially harmful critters waiting for you. Ticks have expanded their habitat in Michigan, and there is a major increase in the populations in Washtenaw County and Southeast Michigan. WEMU's David Fair checked in with Michigan State University entomologist Howard Russell to find out why that is and what we can do to keep ourselves and our pets safe. 

Spring is in the air, and it's tempting to clean up the yard.  Yet, starting too early, or cleaning too thoroughly, can be devastating to our pollinators, including bees, birds and butterfiles.  On this week's "Issues of the Environment," WEMU's David Fair spoke with Lisa Denys, a seasonal environmental program assistant for Washtenaw County, about some tips for maintaining a clean and environmentally friendly yard. 

Character artists, animators, sound designers, programmers, and coders are just a few of the team members it takes to design and launch a video game.  It takes a lot of hard work and time.  Jeremy Gibson Bond, game designer and professor of practice, game design, and development at MSU, tells Deb Polich and David Fair all about this industry that has evolved exponentially since the days of Pong and Pac-Man on this edition of "creative: impact."  Listen here.

Slowly, the economy is beginning to reopen.  All businesses will be required to conduct more stringent cleaning and sanitizing protocols to protect works and the public from COVID-19.  And, we will continue to use more of these products in our homes.  That means far more chemical exposure for all.  That, too, is a threat to public health.  In this week's "Issues of the Environment," WEMU's David Fair speaks to Dr. Kenneth Rosenman, chief of Michigan State University's Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, about the dangers, and measures we can take to mitigate health impacts.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s expanded stay-at-home order has passionate supporters and ardent critics.  It’s being challenged in federal court.  And foes of the order are planning a rally today at the state Capitol.  Their plan is to have a caravan of cars and trucks drive around the four blocks that surround the building.  That will allow them to register their objections without violating the order.  We have more from Michigan Public Radio’s Rick Pluta. 

The weather this year has been unfavorable for the corn and soybean harvest in Michigan.  Farmers have faced colder and wetter-than-normal conditions in the spring, and that delayed planting.  Now, an early freeze could devastate the harvest this fall.  In this week's "Issues of the Environment," WEMU's David Fair discusses problems and solutions with Roger Betz, farm business management educator with Michigan State University Extension.

Over the past 30 years, there has been more than a 90-percent decline in the numbers of monarch butterflies, and much of that can be attributed to loss of habitat.  There is ongoing consideration of adding them to the endangered species list, and, in "Issues of the Environment," 89.1 WEMU’s David Fair explores what that means to humans and our ecology in a conversation with the David Clipner, the Director of Education and Wildlife at the Leslie Science and Nature Center in Ann Arbor. 

Michigan State University has agreed to three years of federal oversight.  As Cheyna Roth reports, the US Department of Health and Human Services on Monday announced a resolution to a civil rights investigation.

Washtenaw County is home to the only organic, U-pick farm in the state.  Kim Bayer is the owner of Slow Farm in Ann Arbor and serves as Slow Food Governor for the state of Michigan.  In this week's 'Issues of the Environment, she shares her personal passion for organic farming and discusses why the Slow Food movement is vital to our health and our future. 

The former dean of Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine was found guilty Wednesday of misconduct.  Cheyna Roth reports.

A jury is expected to begin deliberations today in the trial of former Michigan State University Dean William Strampel.  As Cheyna Roth explains, Strampel is accused of two felonies and two misdemeanors.

Opening statements and first witnesses were called yesterday in the criminal trial of the former dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Michigan State University.  Cheyna Roth was in the courtroom for the case of The People versus William Strampel.

Former Michigan State University president Lou Anna Simon was in court today and will return to continue the hearing today.  A judge is deciding whether Simon should stand trial for charges that she lied to law enforcement.

Finding the right Christmas tree for your home is always a big part of the holiday season.  But which type of tree is better for the environment--real or artificial?  In this week's "Issues of the Environment," WEMU's David Fair tries to settle this debate with Michigan State University horticulture professor Dr. Bert Cregg.

A package of bills in the state House would classify 17 year-olds as juveniles, rather than automatically treating them as adults.

Gypsy moth caterpillars have completely stripped the leaves of trees in portions of Chelsea and caused significant defoliation in portions of Ann Arbor.  In this week's "Issues of the Environment," WEMU's David Fair talks about the infestation with Bob Bricault,  horticulture educator for Michigan State University Extension in Washtenaw County.  

Attorneys for convicted serial sexual predator Larry Nassar were back in court Thursday.  Nassar is the former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics sports doctor who sexually assaulted his patients under the guise of treatment for decades.

The judge who told Larry Nassar she signed his death warrant when she sentenced him says there is no reason for him to be resentenced.  Nassar is the former Michigan State University sports doctor who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting multiple young patients.

Larry Nassar’s attempt to have a new judge consider his appeal in Ingham County has been denied.  Nassar is the former Michigan State University sports doctor who sexually assaulted his patients for years.

Michiganders will head to the voting booths today.  This is when Democrats, Republicans, and Libertarians will choose who they want to see represent their party in various races come November.  There could be a higher turnout this year than in the 2014 primary.

After a marathon sentencing hearing, Larry Nassar wants a do-over.  Nassar is the former Michigan State University sports doctor who sexually assaulted his patients for years.  He wants to be resentenced; but first, he wants a new judge.

Michigan State University’s interim president will appear before a US Senate subcommittee today.

Details of a proposed settlement between Michigan State University and survivors of Larry Nassar have come to light.  Nassar is the former MSU sports doctor who will likely spend the rest of his life in prison for sexually assaulting his patients.  It's a condition of the settlement has upset some state lawmakers.

Michigan State University interim president John Engler is facing fallout from e-mails he sent regarding the Larry Nassar scandal.  A new redistricting proposal is heading to the November ballot.  Plus, Planned Parenthood is facing major cuts due to the next state budget.  WEMU's David Fair and the Michigan Public Radio Network's Rick Pluta discuss these issues in this week's "The State of Politics."

Survivors of sexual assault want Michigan State University interim president John Engler gone.  More than 100 survivors of disgraced MSU sports doctor Larry Nassar are calling for Engler’s termination.  This stems from emails between Engler and an aide published by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Members of Michigan State University’s Board of Trustees want interim president John Engler to step down.  Trustees Brian Mosallam and Dianne Byrum released statements Friday.

A new law extends the statute of limitations for victims of sexual assaults to file lawsuits and for suspects to face prosecution.  It was signed Tuesday by Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley while Governor Rick Snyder is out of the country.

Former Michigan State University President Lou Anna Simon delivered her first public comments since resigning in January under the hot lights of a US Senate hearing room.