Mike Ellis

Where Congress’s Cuts Threaten Access to PBS and NPR The loss of federal funding threatens scores of public TV and radio stations across the United States.

New: I teamed up with @elenashao.bsky.social
and nytgraphics to map more than 100 public TV and radio stations that are at risk of closing as a result of tonight's vote:

www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

This is a time bomb that will go off in the fall, when the last federal grants run out.

Single slice pizza box and a pop (soda) on a parking lot ledge overlooking a construction site for a skyscraper.

From a 5 story parking lot ledge overlooking a construction site for a skyscraper as heavy equipment digs next to a river.

Lansing, let’s hang out at our new lunch spot.

It is Friday and the store is open until 3:30pm! Need to take an MRI of a mouse or other small animal? The EchoMRI Whole Body Composition Analyzer is available in-store for $2,000.

Textbook out of office message, no notes.

An excellently tight marching band AND Scouting in downtown Lansing?

Love the nice weather season!

And it’s ripe for typos!

Michigan State hires J Batt as athletic director during pivotal moment in college sports Michigan State University made the hiring of new athletic director Jason "J" Batt official on Monday, June 2.

‘J Batt’ is a gift to headline writers.
Balls and Batts, Batts in the belfry, flapping Batts, J makes a hit, Battman, hang tight, Batt-le for coaches, winging it, AD Butt pushes for night games, etc.

This was a sportswriter pick.

www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports...

Map of local National Weather Service office "areas of responsibility" modified (using polygons with black outlines and red fill) to indicate where recent/expanding cuts to NOAA/NWS have resulting in understaffing so extreme that some offices can not longer operate on a 24/7 basis.

I just created a quick map depicting which portions of the United States are now (as of today) or will imminently be (by early June) without 24/7 local National Weather Service coverage (per Washington Post reporting). #CAwx #CAfire #CAwater #ORwx #AKwx #WYwx #KSwx

Please enjoy these shelter pups reacting to getting a kiss. Some are bashful, some have butterflies, and all deserve approximately 10 million more. 14/10 for all

I wish there was a more clear distinction - typographically - between Al and AI

By electing Pope Leo XIV, some see Vatican making very American political play (RNS) — ‘The election of an American Pope, the first American Pope … there’s a signal here that the church is taking a side in what’s happening around the globe,' said Steven Millies, a professor at C...

NEW: By electing Pope Leo XIV, some see Vatican making very American political play.

Electing Leo, one expert told me, is "a signal here that the church is taking a side in what’s happening around the globe" — namely, against Trump and authoritarianism. religionnews.com/2025/05/08/b...

Most Garfield movies have been disappointing

We have only received 1/4th of the move-out material, so there will be plenty more coming in the following weeks.

Want a one-of-a-kind man cave treasure? Portions of Spartan Stadium scoreboards up for auction Go Green. Go White. Go big and get this nearly house-sized Spartan logo.

Go Green!
Go White!
Go big and cover the side of your house with a single piece of MSU Michigan State University memorabilia.

www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/l...

That Subway has been Ope for years
They’re not buying another N, it’s gone!

Summer apartments for sale: $40k, land not included.

Vaughn Drake, oldest known surviving veteran of 1941 Japanese surprise attack, dies at 106 Vaughn P. Drake Jr., who at 106 was believed to be the oldest surviving veteran of the 1941 Japanese surprise attack on Hawaii, died this week in Kentucky. His death leaves just over a dozen veterans ...

Vaughn P. Drake Jr., who at 106 was believed to be the oldest surviving veteran of the 1941 Japanese surprise attack on Hawaii, died this week in Kentucky. His death leaves just over a dozen veterans who survived the attack known to still be living. (from @wyattwolson.bsky.social)

Tweet from @A_B_morgan: My seven-year-old asked for a dictionary this week. We went to the bookshop today to buy one. She walked home hugging it, pausing every so often to look up a word, grinning as though she had been given a book of spells, the key to wonders. Merriam-Webster QT: The kids are alright.

You had us at "a book of spells, the key to wonders."

There’s an alternate lead: They’ve found a whole new organ in your body!

Easter Fools' Day: Did ya hear? Jesus pranked the devil Easter falls on April Fools' Day this year. The theology behind "Jesus pranked the devil" is a bit more complicated than it appears.

Did you hear about the time Jesus pranked the devil?

I wrote this when April 1 was Easter but the ‘prank’ works every year, it doesn’t require a fool’s day.

www.independentmail.com/story/news/2...

Bathroom tales:

Someone sat in stall next to me. Third man comes in, at urinal.
3: So hey Bill, what did you
2: Steve. I’m trying to take a shit now.
3. Sorry, man I was just
2. For the love of …

Some of our ideas should probably be kept quiet.

New today! We have 3 pieces of the MSU Basketball practice floor and a wall mounted Spartan head from the MSU Football practice facility up for auction.
msusurplusstore.com/collections/...

A reminder that the Voluntary Statewide Tornado Drill takes place today at 1:00 PM. Municipalities may set off their sirens and you may also hear a tone on your NOAA Weather Radio with a special message for the drill.

But on the other side, it didn’t say nothing.
That side was made for you and me.

Terry Braverman, voice of MSU's 'It's a beautiful day for football,' dies Terry Braverman was a key figure in MSU Athletics for decades as the voice of football and basketball and as the school's chief athletic fundraiser.

“It’s a beautiful day for football”

The MSU public address catchphrase, used in Big 10 commercial, will outlive its creator, Terry Braverman, who died last week.

The story of the not-so beautiful day, and the man, that inspired it.

www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/l...

The Okemos Social Security office DOGE is closing? For starters, it's not in Okemos A Social Security Administration building in Ingham County is closing but it's not clear when it was even last open.

The Okemos Social Security office that DOGE is closing?

It’s not technically in Okemos and its 1.5 year lease was set to expire soon anyway.

www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/l...

The Okemos Social Security office DOGE is closing? For starters, it's not in Okemos A Social Security Administration building in Ingham County is closing but it's not clear when it was even last open.

"It kind of sucks to get DOGE'd,” said the landlord of a Michigan Social Security office that is being shuttered.

The lease? It was ending anyways.

www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/l...

Even the old mattresses are green and white.

Commit to your bit.