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In the news today- At board meetings, full in-person attendance of trustees is uncommon. MSU's Formula Racing Team builds the future of racing from scratch, Sophia Piotrowski follows her mother’s path while shaping her own. Student concerns rise after river fatality near Cedar Village.
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What is The State - A Podcast from The State News + Impact 89FM?
The State is a daily rundown of the headlines that matter to the East Lansing, MI community.
Hi, and welcome to The State. I'm your host, Rebecca McAvoy. Today's date is 11/13/2025. The forecast predicts there'll be a cold day with a high of being 48 and a low of being 33. The state brings you the stories that matter.
Speaker 1:At board meetings, full in person attendance of trustees uncommon. The Michigan State University Board of Trustees public meeting late last month represented the first opportunity of the academic year for students and faculty to address the institution's overseers face to face. Community members, during nearly two hours of public comments at the meeting's end, took the opportunity to communicate their swelling unease around a range of issues. The impacts of sweeping budget cuts, disciplinary charges against a student protester, ICE presence in areas surrounding campus, among others, while urging trustees to take their concerns to heart. By the time the tense period had finished, though, two board members had left the room and rejoined the meeting via Zoom.
Speaker 1:Their cameras were switched off, So displayed on screens behind the in person attendees were their names against a black backdrop. Sandy Pierce and Renee Neig Jefferson, it was an uncommon occurrence for MSU's governing body, which is made up of eight trustees who view for partisan nominations and run-in statewide races for eight year terms on the board. MSU's Formula racing team builds the future of racing from scratch. Picturing formula racing is easy. Think of 20 sleek cars drowning through glittering cities, drivers in crisp suits, champagne showers, and podiums that glisten under the European sun.
Speaker 1:However, what we don't usually end up picturing are the engineers behind those racing beasts, building the cars bolt by bolt, fussing over suspensions and tire durability. At Michigan State University, a group of students are living that unseen story. Inside a garage that smells faintly of motor oil, the MSU Formula racing team is a microcosm of Formula One's world. Except here, the engineers are also the drivers. In the garage space, sparks flicker from a welding torch on the left while another student runs simulations inside their presentation room.
Speaker 1:This team of 20 might not wear fireproof suits every day, but they share the same obsession as any professional pit crew. Sofia Pitotrosky follows her mother's path while shaping her own. Michigan State junior midfielder Sofia Pitotrosky wearing the Spartan uniform isn't just about representing her school. It's about continuing a legacy that started with her mom almost three decades ago and making her own. Her mom, Kristen Chris Petrosky, was a four year letter winner for Spartan soccer from 1993 to 1997.
Speaker 1:She passed down not only a love for soccer to her daughter, but also a love for Michigan State. Sofia's path ultimately led her to the same green and white her mom once wore. Now Sofia is carving out her own legacy in East Lansing. Since Sofia committed to MSU, she and her mom started a healthy competition of who would score more goals for the Spartans. Student concerns rise after river fatality near Cedar Village.
Speaker 1:On October 22, the East Lansing Police Department released an update regarding the body recovered from the Red Cedar River near Cedar Village Apartments earlier in the semester. The deceased has been identified as Megan Turner, a 32 year old doctoral candidate from Canada studying at Michigan State University. Authorities confirm that her family has been notified and current findings do not suggest foul play. The incident has sparked concern among students, especially about the safety of the river. The Red Cedar spans 51 miles and is a defining feature of MSU's campus, flowing past residence halls, lecture buildings, and popular gathering spots.
Speaker 1:While it's often admired for its scenic presence, its risks are not always fully understood. Thank you for joining us for The State Today produced by The State News and Impact eighty nine FM. You can find us online at thestatenews.com and impact89fm.org. We'll be back tomorrow with more.