Seven Brew Coffee opened in South Lansing at 6206 Cedar. St on March 3. Like other locations, the stand is drive-through only. The Seven Brew website describes the drive-through experience as “fast, fun, friendly and perfect for coffee lovers.”
Business & Economy
Thrifting stores pop up in East Lansing
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As a student trying to keep up with constantly changing fashion trends, Michigan State University nursing freshman Payton Harp sees investing in second-hand clothing as a smart consumer decision. “You know, I’m not made of money,” Harp said. “I can’t just go buy like-new clothes all the time. So thrifting would definitely be like a smart choice for me to do.”
Harp said she has noticed her perception of how expensive everything is now that she is in college, making her more aware of her spending habits. Prices rising from tariffs influence the cost-conscious shopper by pinching consumers financially enough to shift to finding alternative ways to save, such as thrifting.
Lansing
Brewitt Cafe & Bakery builds business on creative waffles
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Erin Witt owns and operates Brewitt Cafe & Bakery out of Allen Neighborhood Center’s Rathbun Accelerator Kitchen. Erin runs her business with the help of her mom, Donna, and countless community members. After going through an assortment of menus and food items, Erin landed on selling waffle sandwiches.
East Lansing
Taekwondo prepares students to move through life with respect
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Students at the Hannah Community Center gather on Sunday mornings to learn from taekwondo national champion and grandmaster Richard McDowell. Throughout his class, McDowell focuses on each student’s individual abilities. He encourages his students achieve their personal goals as he emphasizes discipline and respect through his teachings.
Arts & Entertainment
Maternal Instinct brings the noise to East Lansing’s house show culture
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The underground music scene in East Lansing has been making waves for some time, and local band Maternal Instinct has made an impression on the scene since 2024.
Education
Mich. school cellphone ban has benefits, challenges for students
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On Feb. 10, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law two new bills that aim to limit cellphone use in classrooms. While the state law is new, classrooms in Lansing have attempted to curb students’ distraction on their own for a few years. J. W. Sexton High School (JWSHS) in Lansing has had a no-phone policy since 2024.
Construction & Development
New state funding barely fills gaps for Lansing’s road repair needs
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For every pothole in need of a fresh patch of asphalt along Lansing roads lies a math problem that doesn’t add up. The city has an estimated $300 million in road needs, according to Public Service Director Andy Kilpatrick. But the city’s proposed budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year allocates only $41.4 million across the Major and Local Street Funds. This amount, even with new state funding, leaves a gap between what the city needs and what it can spend.
Health
Overpopulation, bait piles contribute to spread of CWD in Michigan deer herds
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Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a contagious prion that has been found in deer, elk, and moose. A prion is not a virus or bacteria, it’s a misfold in protein that infects brain tissue. It creates little holes in the brain until the animal can no longer function. There has been no cure found for CWD, making it 100% fatal.
Arts & Entertainment
Studio de Danse teaches women to dance through life’s ups and downs
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On Mondays and Wednesdays, Marcia Olds teaches ballet to adults ages 60 and older class called Studio De Danse at the Hannah Community Center. Ballet brought together the group of women that attend Old’s dance lessons under various circumstances. Some were looking to reignite their passion for something they stopped at a young age. Others were just curious to try dancing for the first time. And some were looking for a sense of community.
Agriculture
Solar farms, housing projects are largest threats to Michigan land preservation
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Farmland in Michigan is facing increasing development pressure from housing, solar and other expansion projects. For rural farmland, large-scale solar projects often require hundreds to thousands of acres of land, meaning large areas of rural farmland are increasingly being considered for development. Meanwhile in urban and suburban areas, housing expansion is the primary concern for farm and green space preservation.
Greater Lansing Community News
Parents navigate opportunities, challenges of high school sports NIL shift
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Following the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s (MHSAA) decision to allow high school athletes to participate in name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities, families around the Lansing area are starting to feel the impact. While the idea of student-athletes earning money from their talents is exciting, many parents say the reality is more complicated than they expected. At East Lansing High School, junior wide receiver Jayden Brooks has started gaining attention on social media after a strong football season. With that attention has come early NIL interest, something his mom, Danielle Brooks, said she wasn’t fully prepared for. “I think it’s a blessing, but it’s also a lot to handle,” Danielle Brooks said.