News

East Lansing City Council discuss resolutions for creating a temporary police oversight commission

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The East Lansing City Council discussed public safety and police reform that led to lively four-hour council meeting on June 23 which was conducted via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. East Lansing councilmembers discuss new resolutions for new temporary overnight commission with input from the community. Issues ranging from an East Lansing Police Officer Andrew Stephenson, who was accused of using excessive force on a black man back December has been a controversial topic from Lansing citizens calling into the meeting. Police reform, public safety, and defunding the police were among many other issues that have no solution that was discussed in the meeting. https://soundcloud.com/cera-powell-538569031/east-lansing-citizen-response-to-andrew-stephenson-case

“The agenda item is certainly not the whole solution but it’s part of it, it’s an idea,” City Councilwoman Lisa Babcock said.

News

Tattoo shops ready for fall rush of students

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It’s been three months since Ink and Needles West has opened its doors to the public after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer enacted the Stay-at-home order to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in Michigan. Ink and Needle west tattoo shop practicing social distancing throughout its shop to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Amber Watson, 23, a student at Michigan State University, said “I was really excited that Ink and Needles were opening up after being closed during COVID-19, three months is a long time to get a new tattoo.”

Ink and Needless tattoo shop closed on March 22 and was allowed to open their business on June 15. The state requires tattoo shops to have guidelines to reopen and to service customers including; wearing gloves, everyone being serviced have on a mask, social distancing of 6ft apart or more and cleaning the stations after every use. Moya Maffett, artist at Ink & Needles West and East in Lansing said, “It’s nice to get back in the groove of things, because we get to meet people and interact with them and see why they get the tattoos they get.”

She said, “we’ve marked everywhere six feet proximity so that clients can social distance, we have been using shields or face masks when we tattoo and speak to our clients to make sure everyone is safe.

News

What’s next? Protesters get to work when marching ends

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Cera PowellProtesters march down Capitol Avenue for justice for the murder of George Floyd and police reform on Sunday, March 31. Sharron Reed-Davis wants the protest in Lansing and around the country to continue. Davis, 21, a member of the Black Student Alliance at Michigan State University, is protesting in Lansing fighting for justice of black people who have been a victim of police brutality. She can’t stop, she says, protesting means fighting for her rights and the rights of her people, she knows that protesting has brought awareness like never before. Police brutality hasn’t stopped but has shown clear racism and brutality from the police to the world.

Arts & Entertainment

East Lansing aims for greeting card mural by summer

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East Lansing may become the latest in a string of cities to commission the creation of a mural designed to attract tourists if a proposal from the Arts Commission is approved. The mural, which would be part of the national Greetings Tour, would feature a postcard-like design using classic lettering, bright colors and depictions of the city’s icons. So far, 41 Greetings Tour murals have been installed in 20 states. Wendy Longpre, assistant director of the East Lansing Parks, Recreation and Arts Department, said the murals have a following of their own and could increase traffic to the city. “Once you found one of these murals you kind of look for them, then, as you’re traveling,” Longpre said.

East Lansing

East Lansing Farmers Market is important to local farmers

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The East Lansing Farmers Market has an estimated 1000 visitors each Sunday during its operating months. Phil Throop, owner of Wildflower Eco Farm, has been a vendor for the East Lansing Farmers Market since its opening, 11 years ago, but he has been farming for market much longer, close to 16 years. One thing Throop has found after over a decade of farming for market: “You don’t get into this unless you’re obsessed… it’s more of an addition in any case.”

Another thing Throop has found: “It’s not a very profitable business.”

New technology regarding various types of greenhouses and sources of heating make it possible to grow year-round. However, his ability to produce 12 months a year has little impact on the ability to turn a profit during all those months. Instead, the root of the problem is something else entirely.

East Lansing

March Madness: Spartans cheer from bars of EL

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MSU’s men basketball team went on the road to Des Moines, Iowa for the first round of March Madness against Bradley University on Thursday. But not every Spartan drove across the country to watch them play. While some fans prefer to fly or drive to away games, some prefer their favorite chair at the bar. Spartan fan Tim Courser said he sits in the same spot and orders the same food at the bar of Buffalo Wild Wings every week. This week he arrived a little bit earlier than usual to beat the crowd and catch the game.