🌱 MSU Faculty, Students Work With NASA + Capitol Prepares For Gun Ban

Hello all. I'm back in your inbox this morning with your fresh copy of the Lansing-East Lansing Patch newsletter, fresh off the presses. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: Warmer with periods of rain. High: 62 Low: 39.
• Sunday: Cloudy with showers around. High: 50 Low: 37.

Business owners and marketers in Lansing-East Lansing: Do you want to build awareness with local customers? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top three stories today in Lansing-East Lansing:

1. Michigan State University (MSU) professors and undergraduate students have been working with NASA on several projects, including helping to confirm the success of the Double Asteroid Redirect Test, which successfully diverted an asteroid. The faculty and students used the MSU Observatory to monitor the effects of the NASA test, which used a type of spacecraft called an Impactor to hit an asteroid named Dimorphos about seven million miles away from Earth. The team's findings will be included in upcoming papers detailing the research. (Subscription: Lansing State Journal)
2. The Michigan State Capitol Commission is beginning the process to purchase and install weapon detection towers as the state prepares for the implementation of a firearm ban at the Capitol. The weapon detectors will be installed at five of the building's main entrances. The commission is still determining whether or not the ban will only apply to inside the building or if it will also apply to the Capitol's grounds. (Subscription: The Detroit News)
3. Lansing police officer Gregory Tracy is currently facing charges related to retail fraud. Tracy was arraigned on Thursday and is accused of allegedly defrauding Meijer of an estimated $10,000 through a scheme that involved switching the price of sports cards at Meijer with prices of cheaper items and then attempting to resell the cards at a higher price. Officials reported that they have reports and evidence related to more than 65 price-switching reports in multiple counties. (WZZM13.com)

From our sponsor:

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Today and tomorrow in Lansing-East Lansing:

Saturday, April 29

• Star Wars Brunch At Lansing Shuffle (11:00 AM)
• CADL 25th Anniversary Kids Celebration At Downtown Lansing Branch Library (1:00 PM)

Sunday, April 30

• Community Drum Circle At Keys To Manifestation (1:00 PM)
• Human Rights Commission Coffee & Conversation At PappaRoti (1:00 PM)

In partnership with T-Mobile:

Do you know a Lansing-East Lansing student who’s making a difference in the community? We want to hear about them! Click here to nominate a student to be featured on Patch.

From my notebook:

• Meet Rocket, the Pet of the Week at the Capital Area Humane Society. This adorable, fun-loving pooch is waiting for his new forever home. Stop by to meet him today! (Capital Area Humane Society via Facebook)
• Don't forget to submit your taxes if you haven't done so already! The deadline for Lansing individual income taxes is this Sunday, Apr. 30. If you have questions, learn more here. (City of Lansing, Michigan - Government via Facebook)
• Attention drivers! Starting May 3, the Mt. Hope Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue intersection will be closed for construction that is estimated to last through the end of May. Learn more about the traffic advisory here. (City of Lansing Public Service Department via Facebook)

That's it for today! I'll see you around.

— Michelle Paul

About me: Michelle Paul is a Utah-based writer and photographer with a professional background in content management and registered nursing. When not working on projects ranging from photo editing to copywriting, they enjoy traveling, video games, and expanding their skills.