Women of East Lansing were recognized and honored on March 21 for their contributions to the community. City Council approved a resolution recognizing March as Women’s History Month at their regular council meeting.
Elections & Politics
Michigan works to pass new laws surrounding juvenile justice system
|
JUVENILE JUSTICE: Michigan is poised to change the rates at which it reimburses counties for juvenile justice services. That means more state funds for county-run residential and mental health services. The legislation passed the House and Senate and is awaiting the governor’s signature. Sponsors are from Detroit, West Bloomfield, Warren, Northfield Township and Taylor. We hear from the Michigan Center for Youth Justice in Ann Arbor, the Prosecuting Attorneys Association president, from Kalamazoo County, who supports the measure and an Oakland County senator who voted against it. By Stephanie Rauhe. FOR DETROIT, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.
Campus News
Community college trustees want right to vote remotely
|
OPEN MEETINGS:The state’s 28 community colleges want the Legislature to make it easier for their elected trustees to vote remotely at board meetings, but pending Open Meetings Act legislation by a UP senator wouldn’t accomplish that. We talk to the senator, from Vulcan, the Michigan Community College Association, a Glen Oaks Community College trustee in St. Joseph County and the Michigan Coalition for Open Government. By Liz Nass. FOR THREE RIVERS, STURGIS, LANSING CITY PULSE, MARQUETTE, IRON MOUNTAIN, SAULT STE. MARIE, ST. IGNACE AND ALL POINTS.
Business & Economy
Community college students struggle with affordable housing
|
COMMUNITY COLLEGE HOUSING: Community colleges are urging the Legislature to make it easier for them to afford to build housing for their students, many of them already hard pressed financially to attend. Their association wants $40 million in grants to help pay for construction of housing at about eight campuses. Twelve of the 28 public colleges offer housing, including Monroe Community College, Northwestern Michigan College, Southwestern Michigan College, Kirkland Community College, North Central College, Gogebic COmmunity College and Bay College.We hear from the Michigan Community College Association, and the presidents of Alpena and West Shore community colleges. By Kenzie Terpstra. FOR ALPENA, ALCONA, MONTMORENCY, TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU, MONROE, ADRIAN, BLISSFIELD, LUDINGTON, LAKE COUNTY, OCEANA COUNTY, MARQUETTE, IRON MOUNTAIN, DETROIT, SAULT STE. MARIE, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, CLARE, CRAWFORD COUNTY AND ALL POINTS.
Government
Two simultaneous protests at Michigan Capitol rally for their causes
|
Two protests simultaneously occurred at Michigan’s capitol building on Nov. 8. The east side of the building hosted Michigan’s March for Life Rally, a pro-life event hosted by the Right to Life of Michigan, while the west side hosted The Rent is Too Damn High, who advocated for passage of the state House’s Renters’ Bill of Rights and an increase to the state budget for social housing aid.
Local Government
East Lansing School Board exploring equity issues
|
The East Lansing School Board on Oct. 9 discussed the continuation of equity issues in the district. Three years ago, ELPS announced a series of changes to improve its DEI efforts. The district proceeded to try and increase diversity in the faculty and staff and create programs to increase inclusion. In September at MacDonald Middle School, a teacher was suspended for the second time in four months for using racial slurs and inappropriate language.
Education
Residents concerned after multiple car accidents outside Okemos Schools
|
After two car accidents involving children occurred outside of Okemos schools at the start of the school year, parents reached out to the school board to voice their concerns.
The first accident on Sept. 15, outside of Chippewa Middle School on Kinewa Drive, left one student in a wheelchair with a broken ankle and concussion. The second accident on Oct. 4 involved a child walking at the intersection of Kinawa Drive and Okemos Road. This prompted Superintendent John Hood to send out an email to parents reminding them about street safety.
“It’s really disappointing because myself and some others in the room have spent a lot of hours and effort into putting together recommendations that would make it safer for our students to walk and bike to school, and it’s just going nowhere,” said Tim Potter while addressing the school board during its Oct.
Campus News
MSU Board of Trustees meeting split between advocates for and against Rema Vassar
|
At the Michigan State University Board of Trustees meeting held on October 27, the public voiced their opinions to the members of the board in regards to whether Rema Vassar should or should not be removed from the board.
CNS Budget
Grant aimed at improving health care for LGBTQ+ patients
|
LGBTQ+ HEALTH: $10 million in new state aid will help local organizations improve health services for LGBTQ+ residents of Michigan. We learn more from a Benton Harbor advocacy group and Transgender Michigan. Lawmakers from Livonia and Southfield championed the grant program. By Brandy Muz. FOR DETROIT, THREE RIVERS, HOLLAND, STURGIS, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.
Business & Economy
Charter boat captain faces prison for unlicensed vessel
|
UNLICENSED BOAT: A Detroit man faces prison and a fine when sentenced early next year for violating a Coast Guard order to stop his illegal charter boat business on Lake St. Clair. On one occasion, investigators found an insufficient number of personal flotation devices aboard Benjamin Jones’s unlicensed 39-foot PWR TOWER, and on another occasion the vessel caught fire, its passengers were rescued and the boat had to be towed to shore. For news and outdoors sections. By Eric Freedman. FOR DETROIT AND ALL POINTS.
Diversity Issues
East Lansing School Board exploring equity issues
|
At a recent East Lansing School Board meeting, parents discussed diversity, equity and inclusion efforts within the district. Three years ago, ELPS announced a series of changes to improve its DEI efforts. The district proceeded to try and increase diversity in the faculty and staff and create programs to increase inclusion. In September, a teacher at MacDonald Middle School was suspended for s second time in four months for using racial slurs and inappropriate language. Following these events Brandy Branson, representative for the East Lansing Parent Advocacy Team (ELPAT), proposed a question:
“Are the sessions being looked at from an equity lens?”
“I heard no definitely, everyone skirted around all of that, and I tried very hard on parent perspective,” Branson said.