Michigan

Michigan university targets $25M for packaging expansion

Published

1 year ago

November 27, 2024

Michigan university targets M for packaging expansion

Students gain a solid foundation in science and business, preparing them for careers in the fast-paced packaging and consumer goods industries. / Credit: MSU School of Packaging

Michigan State University’s School of Packaging is entering the next phase of its evolution as it seeks funding for a $25m expansion.

This effort comes just over a year after the completion of a $10m renovation of its existing facilities, a project that modernised laboratories, classrooms, and collaboration spaces.

The proposed expansion would double the size of the school’s current building, allowing for more research capabilities, advanced technology, and increased capacity for students and faculty.

According to university representatives, the expanded facility will be designed to support the school’s focus on sustainable and innovative packaging solutions.

Founded in 1952, the School of Packaging is recognised as a pioneer in the field, educating 40% of packaging professionals in the US The school’s network of over 10,000 alumni remains deeply involved in global packaging industries.

Focus on sustainability and innovation

The School of Packaging has maintained a strong emphasis on addressing environmental challenges in packaging. Its research spans a variety of areas, including biodegradable materials, food preservation technologies, and solutions for hard-to-recycle plastics.

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Dr. Rafael Auras, a leading voice in packaging sustainability, continues to explore alternatives to traditional plastics through his work on bio-based and biodegradable materials.

Auras’s research team has collaborated on notable projects, including the development of packaging solutions for space missions with NASA.

Another ongoing project involves the use of cellulose nanomaterials to create recyclable single-layer films, led by associate director Dr. Laurent Matuana. This research could significantly impact the recyclability of flexible packaging, which currently poses major challenges for the industry.

Growth in research funding and collaboration

The school has seen a surge in funding from industry, government agencies, and commodity groups over the past year. Projects led by researchers such as Dr. Eva Almenar, who focuses on extending the shelf life of fresh produce through sustainable packaging, exemplify the school’s collaborative approach.

Almenar has partnered with international institutions to tackle food waste issues, a key concern for both industry and consumers.

New faculty members are also driving innovation. Dr. Qiang Yang, a recent addition to the team, has made significant strides in improving the energy efficiency of pulp processing and developing cellulose-based packaging materials.

The road ahead

While MSU’s School of Packaging is in the early stages of its $25m fundraising effort, its ambitions reflect a broader trend in academia: addressing global challenges through interdisciplinary research and education.

If realised, the expanded facility will position the school to further contribute to sustainable packaging solutions and meet growing industry demand.

For now, the school remains at the forefront of tackling issues like plastic waste, food security, and the circular economy. As packaging continues to evolve, the institution’s role in shaping the future of the field is likely to grow.

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Michigan

Michigan State Police patrol car damaged in hit-and-run on Lodge Freeway in Detroit

Published

5 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Michigan State Police patrol car damaged in hit-and-run on Lodge Freeway in Detroit

Nick Lentz

Updated on: March 1, 2026 / 11:08 PM EST
/ CBS Detroit

The Michigan State Police is looking for the driver of a Jeep that the agency said hit one of its patrol cars on Lodge Freeway in Detroit Sunday night.

According to officials, the incident happened at 7:50 p.m. on the northbound side of the freeway near Shaefer Highway. The agency said a trooper was investigating a crash and had the patrol car parked on the right shoulder of the freeway with its emergency lights on when it was rear-ended by the Jeep.

“The impact forced the patrol car to strike the concrete wall on the right shoulder,” according to the agency.

A damaged Michigan State Police patrol car on the side of Lodge Freeway in Detroit on March 1, 2026, after it was hit by a Jeep.

Michigan State Police

The Jeep then went across three lanes of the freeway and hit a median wall, officials said. The driver, identified by law enforcement as a 29-year-old Detroit woman, left the vehicle and fled the scene.

Michigan State Police First Lieutenant Mike Shaw said that while the trooper was evaluated and cleared at the scene by medical personnel, he was still taken to the hospital as a precaution.

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Michigan

Indiana extends Big Ten streak to five as the Michigan women win for the first time since 2018

Published

17 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Indiana extends Big Ten streak to five as the Michigan women win for the first time since 2018

The Indiana men didn’t just win, they secured a fifth straight conference championship, continuing a swimming and diving dynasty in Bloomington. Michigan’s women surged to the top of the league, capturing the title with authority and balance across the lineup.

Records fell left and right throughout the week as this year’s Big 10 championships featured some of the best performances in conference history in the pool.

Here are the main takeaways from this year’s Big 10 swimming and diving championships:

Indiana breaks away from Michigan to win fifth straight title

The Indiana men continued their dominance in the pool in 2026, extending their Big 10 dynasty.

From start to finish, the Hoosiers demonstrated experience and elite talent. Indiana won ten different events, including two relays and eight individual wins from six different athletes.

Indiana dominated the distance events this week, winning the 400-yd IM, the 500-yd freestyle, and 1,650-yd freestyle. Senior Zalan Sarkany won both distance freestyle events while freshman Josh Bey started off his Big 10 career with a win in the 400-yard IM.

Owen McDonald was the second highest scorer in the meet behind Michigan senior Tyler Ray, who was named Big 10 Swimmer of the Championships. The senior won the Big 10 title in the 100-yd backstroke and 200-yd IM.

Senior Kai Van Westering and junior Dylan Smiley closed on the week with wins on the last night of competition for the Hoosiers. Van Westering grabbed the win in the 200-yd backstroke and Dylan Smiley won the 100-yd freestyle before leading Indiana to a win in the 400-yd freestyle relay to close out the meet.

Beyond individual stars, the Hoosiers stacked swims in the top eight of each event, showcasing balance across not only distance, but sprint and mid-distance events as well. Indiana’s performance combined consistency and poise, placing swimmers in the establishing control from the first event individual event to the final relay.

The win marks Indiana’s 32nd Big 10 title overall, which is second all time behind Michigan. Head coach Ray Looze won his ninth men’s Big Ten title, moving him into the top five all time in conference history.

The Hoosiers have once again positioned themselves as one of the nation’s elite teams, ready to challenge for another top-three finish at the NCAA Championships in March.

Michigan women continue building momentum

The Michigan women left Minneapolis with its first Big 10 title since 2018 and the Wolverines’ 18th all-time, the most in conference history.

The Michigan women started the season ranked tenth in the CSCAA Top 25, one spot behind Big 10 rival Indiana. Since December they’ve moved into the top four and have cemented themselves as one of the best teams in the country.

“We had a really great team this year,” senior Devon Kitchel told Yahoo Sports. “Throughout the season we consistently worked hard and continually improved. By the time B1Gs came we were ready to go.”

As a team Michigan won eight individual events, took first in four of the five relays and medaled in five additional events.

Bella Sims lead the charge for the Wolverines. The junior transfer won two out of her three individual swims and was named Swimmer of the Championships, the first for Michigan since Maggie MacNeil won it three times between 2020-22.

As a team, Michigan put eight athletes of a possible 17 on the All-Big 10 First Team. Along with Sims, eight-time Big 10 champion Stephanie Balduccini, eight-time Big 10 champion Brady Kendall, five-time Big 10 champion Letitia Sim, and five-time Big 10 champion Hannah Bellard led the way for the Wolverines.

Michigan will now turn its focus to the NCAA Championships in March, where the team will attempt to improve on its ninth-place finish in 2025.

Welcome to the Big 10, Bella Sims

Bella Sims is finding her groove in Ann Arbor.

Sims swam in seven Big Ten finals, which included the 200-yd and 400-yd IM’s, the 100-yd backstroke, and four relays. She finished the meet with five gold medals and two silvers.

In her first two years of collegiate swimming Sims was a three-time NCAA champion, thirteen time All-American, and nine time SEC champion. However, all three of her NCAA titles came during her freshman season at Florida.

The Las Vegas native has represented the United States at the Olympics and World Championships and transferred to Michigan to finish her collegiate career.

Now approaching her third NCAA championship meet, Sims has momentum on her side. Although she is yet to go a personal best this season, Sims is leading the Michigan women to new heights in 2026.

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Michigan

Woman accused of driving at the bottom of an Oakland County ski hill near guests

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Woman accused of driving at the bottom of an Oakland County ski hill near guests

Nick Lentz

February 28, 2026 / 11:18 PM EST
/ CBS Detroit

A 58-year-old woman is accused of driving a vehicle at the bottom of a ski hill near skiers and snowboarders in White Lake Township, Michigan, the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office said Saturday.

Prosecutors allege the Bingham Farms, Michigan, woman drove near guests of Alpine Valley Ski Area, including children, on Tuesday.

According to the prosecutor’s office, witnesses said they saw the woman smoking what appeared to be marijuana before the incident and wearing ski boots while driving. Officers attempting to perform sobriety tests reported that she “exhibited poor balance, slurred speech, and open hostility.”

Online court records show the woman is charged with operating while impaired for the third time. If convicted, she faces up to five years in prison, a maximum fine of $5,000 and “mandatory vehicle immobilization” for one to three years, the prosecutor’s office said.

“This defendant endangered children with her irresponsible actions,” Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said in a written statement. “There is no excuse to drive impaired, even once. If you’ve had too much to drink or are under the influence of marijuana or other drugs, call a friend, call an Uber, just don’t drive.”

The woman is scheduled to appear at a probable cause conference on March 12.

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