News highlights from the last 7 days

Ana Elizalde, 51, of Lansing, won $1 million from a Powerball ticket purchased at Sav-Way Food Center on West Michigan Avenue. She plans to use the winnings from the Feb. 6 drawing for bills and her children’s education and save the rest. “Me and my husband buy a Powerball ticket for every drawing, and we always knew we would win big,” she said.

The first of five MSU students hospitalized after the Feb. 13 mass shooting has been discharged, while efforts continue to raise money for those still recovering. Troy Forbush spent 10 days at Sparrow Hospital, including a week in the ICU. All were first admitted in critical condition. Of those still there, one is in fair condition, two are in serious but stable condition, and one remains critical. The Journal reported that over $1.46 million has been raised for victims’ medical bills, funeral expenses and other related causes. A GoFundMe for Nate Statly, who is hospitalized, has raised more than $285,000; another for John Hao, who is paralyzed from the chest down, has raised more than $412,000; and a third for Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez, who will require “months of care and subsequent rehabilitation,” has raised more than $475,000. The Spartan Strong Fund, sponsored by MSU, has raised more than $346,000 to help with any additional medical fees not covered by the GoFundMes and other fundraising efforts, the Journal said.

 

Tom Barrett’s campaign strategist told the Journal he will run for Congress again in 2024, and Rep. Elissa Slotkin announced she will run for U.S. Senate. Meanwhile, big-name Democrats such as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens have announced they won’t run for the Senate seat. GOP candidates Nikki Snyder, a member of the state Board of Education, and Michael Hoover, of Jackson, have announced their plans to run. (Will former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers run for the Senate? See this week's Kyle Melinn column.)

Sanjay Gupta, former dean of MSU’s business school, is suing the university for defamation and contract violation. He was forced to resign in August after he failed to report an incident of sexual harassment by a professor at a business school gala. He said he was told about the incident by other deans, who said they would report it to the Office of Institutional Equity, and re-reporting from him was not required. The lawsuit claims interim President Teresa Woodruff “interfered with his contract and business relationship with MSU” and “defamed him in a power scheme to ensure Gupta would not be named successor to outgoing former President Samuel Stanley, Jr., and to enhance Woodruff’s personal ambition to become president.” The suit also names six other defendants from the school. Gupta, a professor, seeks reinstatement as dean, reimbursement for attorney fees and “any additional equitable relief that appears appropriate at the time of judgment.”

 

Strange Matter Coffee closed its downtown and eastside locations after receiving a threatening, 10-page letter. The business, which is LGBTQ-owned, said the letter contained “specific dates, images of hate and threatening phrases.” Detroit’s The Gathering Coffee Co., also LGBTQ-owned, received a similar letter. The FBI and Lansing Police Department are investigating the threats. “While several of the dates identified in the letter have already passed, we are opting for caution for the sake of our staff and customers. We will update our Instagram account when we have more information about reopening,” Strange Matter said. 

 

Also: The Rev. David Rosenberg, who is charged with seven felony counts for allegedly embezzling about $830,000 for his charity from three other priests who were close to death, aims to prove in court that the men knowingly and willfully donated the money, according to the Lansing State Journal. … Tubtim “Sue” Howson, 57, who is accused of fatally hitting an MSU student with her car on New Year’s Day, returned to Michigan from Thailand to face a federal charge of interstate flight to avoid prosecution and a state charge of failure to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in death. … Michael Anthony Granado, 32, a founding member and leader of the Lansing gang “Shake Da Bag,” was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison and three years of supervised release afterward for possessing a handgun as a convicted felon. … Last week’s ice storm had mild effects in the Lansing, toppling trees and power lines and causing some car accidents and power outages that have been largely resolved.