East Lansing Police Identify Woman Found in Red Cedar River; MSU Faces Budget Cuts and Ford Issues Major Recall
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Authorities have identified the woman found dead in the Red Cedar River last week as 32-year-old Megan Turner, a Canadian doctoral candidate at Michigan State University (MSU).
Turner’s body was discovered on October 13, according to the East Lansing Police Department. Officials said her family has been notified, and while they await toxicology results, no foul play is suspected in her death.
MSU Confronts Financial Challenges and Staff Cuts
In a letter to faculty and staff, MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz acknowledged the university’s ongoing financial challenges. Although state funding for the university increased by 2.1% this year, the gains were offset by previous reductions that began with the start of the fiscal year in July.
As of last week, nearly 100 staff positions have been eliminated, part of broader cost-saving measures to stabilize the university’s finances.
Jackson County Man Re-Sentenced in Fatal Overdose Case
A Jackson County man, 28-year-old Uriah Hale, has been re-sentenced to five years in prison after initially receiving a seven-year term. Prosecutors say Hale delivered fentanyl-laced drugs that caused the 2019 overdose death of 19-year-old Gabby Sheffer.
A state appeals court later determined the original charges were inaccurate, leading to the revised sentence.
Michigan Trooper Cleared in Fatal Detroit Shooting
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that a state police trooper involved in a May 2024 fatal shooting in Detroit has been cleared of wrongdoing.
Nessel’s office concluded that the officer acted in self-defense when he shot Stephen Wengara-Mason, who reportedly reached for a firearm during a traffic stop on M-10.
Man Sentenced for Double Voting in 2024 Primary
A 69-year-old man from St. Clair Shores, Frank Prisato, has been sentenced to six months of delayed probation after pleading guilty to voting twice in the August 2024 primary election — once absentee and once in person.
Michigan Mourns Former Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick
Funeral services were held Wednesday for former Michigan Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 80.
Kilpatrick served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1997 to 2011 after a long career in the Michigan House of Representatives (1979–1996).
Ford Issues Recall of 1.5 Million Vehicles
Ford Motor Company has announced a recall of nearly 1.5 million older vehicles across the U.S. due to rearview camera malfunctions.
The Dearborn automaker released the recall notice on Wednesday, just ahead of its third-quarter earnings report. Analysts predict Ford could take a $1 billion hit to fourth-quarter profits due to an ongoing aluminum shortage.
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