A new report from a criminal justice research organization calls for Michigan to take steps to reduce the length of prison sentences. The Corrections Department notes that the prison population is declining. By Cristian Vazquez.
News
Lansing lawyers, activists explain tenants’ rights for lost property due to flooding
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LANSING, Mich.– During Easter weekend, East Lansing was hit with intense storms – some areas even saw over three inches of rainfall, causing flooding throughout the city. One spot that faced especially severe flooding was The Quarters apartment complex, west of Abbot road.
Many residents woke up Saturday morning to partially submerged and totaled cars.
But this isn’t a new issue. The Quarters parking lot not only flooded back in 2024, it was also the site of nearly two dozen destroyed cars in 2021.
When you lose your car, your personal belongings, thousands of dollars — it’s easy to feel small or helpless. However, you actually have lots of options to explore that put the power back in your hands.
Listen to various housing attorneys and tenant advocates walk through tenant rights, how to take advantage of them and what young renters can do when faced with emergency situations like last month’s flooding.
Public Safety
National traffic death numbers down but Michigan experts worry about driver safety
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Traffic fatalities nationally have trended down. In Michigan, not so much. The number of fatalities in Michigan was virtually unchanged between 2023 and 2024, and 2025 figures aren’t out yet. The Office of Highway Safety Planning and Michigan Sheriffs’ Association discuss. By Karlee VanAntwerp.
Public Safety
Proposed legislation would hold gun sellers liable for selling to people prohibited from owning guns
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Some lawmakers, including ones from Holt and Pontiac, want the state to require gun dealers to maintain at least $1 million in liability insurance to cover personal injury and property damage from selling a gun to a buyer who is legally prohibited from possessing one. An East Lansing lawyer with the Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners says the proposal would unnecessarily drive up gun dealers’ cost of doing business. By Georgia Hill.
Local Government
ELIPOC report highlights racial disparities in use-of-force incidents
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Newly released data from the East Lansing Independent Police Oversight Commission (ELIPOC) indicates that people of color were involved in a disproportionate amount of use-of-force incidents in 2024 in comparison to the city’s population demographics. The data, which was published in December 2025, comes after criticism of Police Chief Jen Brown following remarks linking minority groups to higher crime rates.
East Lansing
EL residents voice homelessness solutions after City Council vetoes one camping ordinance, passes another
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After the six-hour council meeting that ended at nearly 1 a.m., East Lansing City Council reached a decision on ordinances designed to address public camping after postponing the vote for nearly three months. The council voted down Ordinance 1566—which would have introduced jail time for temporarily living in a public space—but approved Ordinance 1565, making the use of parking structures for shelter a civil infraction with up to $100 in fines.
Legislature
Bills would provide tax credits for volunteer firefighters, EMS personnel
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Lawmakers from Vassar and Battle Creek want to provide a $2,500 annual income tax credit to volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel as a recruitment and retention incentive, especially in rural and small communities. We also hear from the Michigan Association of Ambulance Services. Cosponsors include legislators from Clare, Ann Arbor, Cedar River, Farmington Hills, Portland, Quincy and Howell. By Sonja Krohn.
East Lansing
Glencairn neighborhood sees traffic safety issues resolved
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The Glencairn neighborhood is just one of many neighborhoods in East Lansing that have experienced increased traffic safety issues over the last several years. It is also the first that has seen significant improvements to traffic safety thanks to the work of local residents.
East Lansing
East Lansing City Council postpones vote on public camping ban for second time
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On Feb. 17, council members voted to postpone the consideration of ordinance 1565 and 1566 — amending East Lansing’s disorderly conduct ordinance to add restrictions for “camping” and redefine the term “public space” to include city-owned facilities like parking lots. The vote was postponed until March 17 as the council decided they needed more time to consider alternate wording and amendments after a divisive public comment period.
Public Safety
Proposal would let road commission agents carry firearms
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A Clare lawmaker wants to allow county road commission agents to carry firearms on the job, even if they are not trained law enforcement officers. The Michigan Road Commission Association says the change is unnecessary. A Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners board member said that he doesn’t foresee many problems with the bill. By Georgia Hill.
Public Safety
Deteriorating jails worry sheriffs
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Many county jails are deteriorating and need replacement, but voters are sometimes reluctant to approve property tax increases to pay for new facilities, as in Jackson County where millage proposals have died at the polls. We also talk to the sheriff in Marquette County, which doesn’t have enough cells for all its inmates, the sheriff in Branch County where voters OKed a new jail and the Michigan Sheriffs Association. By Bauyrzhan Zhaxylykov.