In this edition of Ask ELi, we bring you answers on tax assessments, the sewer system, ELPD social workers, and unpaid parking tickets.
Emily Joan Elliott and Al Hargrave Jackson discuss Covid 19 and continuing efforts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in East Lansing Public Schools. Give a listen!
![Two ELPD Officers Involved in Shooting at Lake Lansing Meijer on Monday Evening [UPDATED]](https://eastlansinginfo.news/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/2021-_-ELI-_-ELPD-06-768x384.jpg)
It’s unclear from a City press release if one or both officers fired shots at the individual, who was transported to a local hospital. The two officers involved are currently on paid administrative leave as the Michigan State Police investigate.
Mark Wood, an original member of the group Trans-Siberian Orchestra, will perform with ELHS and MMS students this Friday. Al Hargrave Jackson reports on the concert and partnership.
The seniors program, which started as a joint venture between the City and East Lansing Public Schools, offers a bevy of services and programs for local seniors. Emily Joan Elliott reports as the program turns 50.
Prices for parking at meters and City-owned ramps and lots may increase this summer. City staff is also calling for Council to consider a hike in fines for parking meter violations. Clay Oppenhuizen and Emily Joan Elliott explain why.
As East Lansing Info considers how to best serve the community, we are asking for your help. Do you mind sharing your thoughts with us?
In the latest Ask ELi to Investigate, Emily Joan Elliott explores how the marshy environment of East Lansing can affect local homes.
![Ask ELi: A Fence on Campus, Basketball Hoops Unlocked, and Construction On Burcham Drive [UPDATED]](https://eastlansinginfo.news/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Schools-on-Burcham-768x429.png)
ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott brings a few pieces of news and a noteworthy PSA about construction on Burcham Drive.
A series of Freedom of Information Act requests from ELi show how some changes in the City’s workforce mean women are more represented as the highest earners. Emily Joan Elliott reports.
The contract approval comes after a months-long search for new legal representation for the City of East Lansing. Emily Joan Elliott reports.
Several ELHS students recently attended the Mid-American Model UN Conference in Kalamazoo. How did they do?
The City announced yesterday that beginning on Mar. 14, masks would be optional inside City-owned buildings with some exceptions, including public meetings.
The election applies to the small number of East Lansing residents who live within the boundaries of the Lansing School District. Emily Joan Elliott reports on that and the bond proposal they’ll be voting on.
One of the proposed locations for a development of affordable housing geared toward creatives is Valley Court Park. Emily Joan Elliott digs in to what else is in the feasibility report and what we can learn.
![Located: East Lansing Teen Missing [UPDATED]](https://eastlansinginfo.news/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Smith_Erica-Lane.jpeg)
Seventeen-year-old Aireona Alexis Smith has been located.
A letter sent to East Lansing High School families, staff, and students from the administration notified families that local law enforcement would be present at the school this morning, Feb. 25, following a concerning social media post made last evening.
The City currently has 64 fewer employees than it did on Dec. 31, 2019 — and the departures have been most prevalent among Black employees. What else did ELi find out about changes in the City’s workforce?
Following the winter storm on Feb. 2, 2022, ELi created a survey to gauge how well streets had been cleared after several reader questions. What did we find out?
![What Does the Attorney General’s Opinion On the Open Meetings Act Mean for East Lansing’s Public Bodies? [UPDATED]](https://eastlansinginfo.news/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Lahanas-and-Leyko-OMA-opinion-768x431.png)
The ELPS School Board weighed the benefits and setbacks of increasing options for public comment at its Feb. 14 meeting.
During the ongoing national blood shortage, ELi revisits a story about giving blood during the pandemic. Here’s why it’s still important.
After the record snowfall last week, some East Lansing residents are still waiting for their streets to be plowed. Take ELi’s survey on the progress of the snow removal and learn more!
How did ELi find out both were intending to run? What else do we know about the 54B District Court elections? Emily Joan Elliott reports.
ELPS will remain closed on Thursday. ELPL will not open until 12 p.m. tomorrow.
Get the inside scoop on ELi’s revenue, expenses, and accomplishments for the calendar year 2021 in our latest annual report to readers.
The City of East Lansing’s deer cull has come to an end, resulting in the removal of 79 deer over the course of four evenings in January, according to a press release from the City.
A 911 call was placed yesterday concerning the behavior of a school bus driver. Here is what ELi found out from ELPS, ELPD, and Dean Transportation.
What safety precautions are being taken for using rifles? What metrics are being used to determine if the cull was successful? We bring you answers to those questions and more.
The team of up to 25 medical staff will arrive on Feb. 7, making Sparrow the sixth Michigan hospital to receive such assistance. The news comes as Ingham County reports some if its highest daily case counts, over 200 people hospitalized, and 18 deaths last week.
UPDATED: ELPD identified the individual who died on West Road early Tuesday morning. The incident is still under investigation.
ELi brings answers to a series of questions about how ELHS is handling Covid-19 after reports in early January that hundreds of students were absent.
Food trucks and a continued suspension of meetings for the City of East Lansing’s boards and commissions: we bring you a quick rundown of some things we’re keeping an eye on.
Some East Lansing residents are interested in keeping livestock, but the City may continue to limit livestock to feathered-friends only.
Ingham County has hit its highest caseload for one week, but rates of vaccination remain static. The Health Department will pivot at some point to approach Covid-19 more like the flu. But right now, 28 people here are on ventilators because of the coronavirus.
What happens to the deer that are culled? Have any deer had wasting disease? We answer these questions and more in this Ask ELi Grab Bag!
We want to give a big thank you for all the moral and financial support we received so we can keep bringing the news in 2022!
The Supreme Court will hear arguments regarding the federal Covid-19 vaccine mandate today. What does this mean for workers employed by the City of East Lansing and East Lansing Public Schools?
With the arrival of Omicron, how will the district balance protecting students from both Omicron and the detrimental effects of social isolation, just as students were adjusting to in-person learning?
Your donations and monthly commitments will allow us to rely on local people to bring meaningful news to our community. There is still time to donate to our Sustainability Campaign!
What can residents do to prevent their mail from being stolen? And what can residents affected by the Comcast outage do to get a refund for loss of service? We bring the answers in this Ask ELi Grab Bag.
We are SUPER excited to bring you this fundraising update and to thank the 24 new donors who stepped up this week to unlock a $1,000 bonus for ELi!
MSU announced today that it will require students, faculty, and staff to get a Covid booster for the upcoming semester. On Wednesday, the Parks and Rec Commission drafted a letter to the City Manager and Council, asking for the City, which has no plans for a vaccine mandate of its own, to change course on the issue.
A local donor has stepped up to maintain a fundraising bonus ELi received in years past. Now, ELi Managing Editor Emily Joan Elliott shares her gratitude to those who have given already and explains ELi’s newest mini-goal: a total of 100 new donors for this campaign! Reach it, and we unlock a $1,000 bonus!
We bring you an update and tell you about our Weekend Warrior campaign to keep ELi going throughout 2022!
Before Farah Stockman became a world-traveling, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and book author, she grew up in East Lansing and graduated from East Lansing High School in 1992. How has her life in East Lansing influenced her work?
Mark your calendars and get your tickets! ELi will be holding its first ever Spelling Bee and Gift Auction this Thursday, Dec. 9, starting at 7 p.m. at FieldHouse!
Thank you to everyone who has made Giving Tuesday and our entire campaign a success! Consider coming to our spelling bee and gift auction on Dec. 9!
Mark your calendars! ELi will be holding its first ever spelling bee and gift auction on Thursday, Dec. 9, starting at 7 p.m. at FieldHouse, located at 213 Ann St. in downtown East Lansing. Buy a ticket or sponsor a word!
Today is Giving Tuesday, and ELi can double any gift you give us! Did you know that ELi is a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit public service organization, which means your financial contribution to support our work is tax deductible?
Why would we be happy that ELi has become history? Find out!
East Lansing, including Michigan State University, occupies the Lands of the Anishinaabeg, and Indigenous faculty at MSU are drawing attention to that with a Land Acknowledgement statement. The City has sometimes adapted and used the statement, too. What is the history of this Land Acknowledgment? What might it mean moving forward?
The local healthcare infrastructure is showing signs of extraordinary stress, as Covid numbers here are surging upward, the flu is spreading, and Sparrow Hospital healthcare professionals –exhausted by the pandemic experience – are seeking better working conditions. Emily Joan Elliott reports.
Managing Editor Emily Joan Elliott reflects on how ELi has grown as a community institution, including a four-fold growth of “Ask ELi to Investigate” in just one year.
Will fabric recycling return to East Lansing? Why is it so dark at Valley Court Park? How can you mitigate the risk of car break-ins? Find out the answers in this Ask ELi Grab Bag!
ELi is your local 501(c)3 nonprofit “news brigade.” Like an old-fashioned bucket brigade, we put out fires by making sure our community remains informed and connected. Can you help us make that possible?
The City of East Lansing has already received half of its $12.2 million in Covid relief funds through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, but how will it spend that money? Fill out our survey to provide your input.
Impact 89FM | WDBM-FM has won the 2021 College Media Association Four-Year College Radio Station of the Year Pinnacle Award. Impact produces ELi’s podcast among other quality work.
We have $50,000 in matching funds available right now so you can double your donation today. Read on to have your questions about our fundraiser answered.
ELHS temporarily sheltered in place this morning due to a medical emergency. The shelter in place order has ended.
After parent pushback and national media attention, Monday night’s School Board meeting focused on the decision to end in-school Halloween and Valentine’s Day celebrations. What did the Board and Superintendent say about the issue?
Ashana Lamise Smith was last seen on Oct. 17 on the 100 block of North Harrison Road. She was wearing a red jacket, blue jeans, and blue Tommy Hilfiger sandals.
The controversy surrounding MSU’s request for faculty and staff to volunteer their personal time to work in dining halls is only the tip of the iceberg locally in terms of tensions between employees and management. What else is happening around town?
Emily Joan Elliott and Heather Brothers discuss City Council’s debate over a new labor contract for command officers in the East Lansing Police Department. The two then provide a weekly news round up.
Find out about candidates’ positions, campaign finance analysis, links to videos of the candidates, and so much more in this nonpartisan guide from ELi!
The person who was injured “had either fallen or purposely jumped from the first floor” of the parking garage in East Lansing’s downtown, according to Deputy Police Chief Steve Gonzalez.
Listen to Andrew Graham speak on WKAR about the upcoming East Lansing City Council elections on the air today at 4:44 p.m. or online!
When will the access point to the Northern Tier Trail at Colorado Drive be complete? How does East Lansing handle dog attacks? How can you attend Council member Babock’s flooding town hall tonight?
The City of East Lansing now prohibits hair-based discrimination, and the next City Council will see a slight increase in their pay. Lisa Babcock also reminded the community about her flooding town hall on Thursday. Find out about all this, the City’s litigation update, and more!
According to teachers’, administrators’, and families’ anecdotal reports, aggressive behavior among students has been on the rise. What has caused this uptick? How is it being handled?
Irene Cahill, who serves the East Lansing Community as a board member on the Bailey Community Association and commissioner on the Housing Commission, is used to public service and being busy. She hopes to educate her community on what the County Commission can do to help them.
ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott speaks with East Lansing Public Schools Superintendent Dori Leyko about the pandemic and the school district’s commitment to equity and social justice. Give a listen!
The Elementary Principal Team at ELPS sent a letter to families, saying that they had examined the unintended consequences of celebrating the holidays. Here’s what informed the decision.
The Human Rights Commission had previously reviewed policing and complaints about policing in East Lansing, but now the new Police Oversight Commission will take over that task. How is the HRC reimagining its place in the community with less on its plate?
On this episode, Managing Editor Emily Joan Elliott speaks to City Desk Reporter Andrew Graham about his recent reporting on flooding, including his investigative reporting and what comes next.
Are the kindergarten classrooms at Marble smaller or the class sizes bigger? What’s going on with bus routes, bond money, and Burcham Drive? We answer your questions about East Lansing Public Schools in this Ask ELi Grab Bag.
With Election Day drawing near, ELi is asking candidates for East Lansing City Council to answer readers’ questions. Here is one of those answers!
The Downtown Development Authority purchased the properties in 2009, hoping to sell them for downtown development projects, but over a decade later, the DDA still owns the properties. Alice Dreger shares the long history with Emily Joan Elliott.
With Election Day drawing near, ELi is asking candidates for East Lansing City Council to answer readers’ questions. Here is one of those answers!
The Lansing Area League of Women Voters used ELi readers’ questions for their Council candidate forums, and now you can see the responses. Also: find out more about the live candidate debates coming up, hosted by ASMSU.
The relatively high Covid numbers at Glencairn Elementary dominated discussions, but the School Board trustees also discussed how to use remaining bond money, a financial audit, and more. We bring you a round up.
On Friday, Sept. 24, the City of East Lansing and East Lansing Public Schools honored Dr. Robert L. Green, a nationally-recognized civil rights leader and one of the first Black homeowners in East Lansing.
Supporters at the library workers’ rally included fellow librarians from MSU, LCC, and CADL, plus several East Lansing citizens, including one candidate for City Council.
Alice Dreger, Emily Joan Elliott, and Andrew Graham cover some of the most recent Ask ELi’s that they have investigated. Give a listen to learn more about flooding, drains, construction, schools, and more!
Judge Molly Hennessey Greenwalt expressed her excitement about serving her community, particularly in her capacity overseeing District 54B’s sobriety and drug courts.
A significant portion of ELi’s readership uses Facebook to access the news we bring the community, but there is something we want to tell you about that.
What renovations are coming to the East Lansing Public Library? What programs are being offered? What is happening with contract negotiations with non-supervisory workers? Emily Joan Elliott reports.
Was that a warplane overhead? What’s happening with the old QD on Trowbridge? We bring you the answers to that and more!
ELi’s Publisher Alice Dreger and Managing Editor Emily Joan Elliott explain why we don’t post letters to the editor, even though we do carefully read what you send us!
While the meeting largely focused on excitement about returning to school on the heels of the district’s unusually intensive summer offerings, a debate emerged during public comment about the district’s work related to equity and social justice. We bring you a round up of the Aug. 23 School Board meeting
In 2019, Quality Dairy announced that it would outsource production of its French Onion Dip to another family-owned producer, but promised the recipe would be exactly the same. Since then, some in the community claim the dip tastes different. Can the recipe be exactly the same and still taste different? Managing Editor Emily Joan Elliott set out on a mission to find out the answers.
On Tuesday, Aug. 17, several readers wrote to ELi to ask why three mature honey locust trees in front of ELPL were about to be cut down. What were the readers’ concerns? Why did ELPL move forward with the removal?
Klaudia Burton, who had previously taught science at ELHS, will take on the new position. What inspired her to apply? What does she envision for the district’s future?
Anaiis Rios-Kasoga, Laila Lloyd, and Liyu Mesay discuss their work with the Black Student Union at ELHS, how the 2016 presidential election shaped their high school years, and what ELHS could do – and in some cases, has already done – to build a more inclusive environment
What issues are guiding who you will vote for in the November 2021 East Lansing City Council race? We would love to hear from you as we develop questions to be used in our election reporting and in public candidate forums.
In today’s Ask ELi to Investigate, ELi Managing Editor Emily Joan Elliott digs into questions we’ve received about the East Lansing Public Library since her report on Monday regarding the library labor dispute.
Employees in non-supervisory roles at the East Lansing Public Library (ELPL) rejected a contract offered by the City because it did not include stipulations that the workers are fighting for. What are the workers hoping to receive? What happens next?
ELi’s Managing Editor talks to Alex Hosey, a local civil rights activist and youth reporter for ELi. Hosey spoke about his decision to sit for the national anthem during a basketball game several years ago, his experience as a Black young man in East Lansing, and his future plans.
All students, staff, and faculty must be vaccinated against Covid-19 before the start of the fall semester – a move that has effects for not only MSU but also the wider East Lansing community.
The ELPS Board of Education held a public hearing about changing the name of Pinecrest Elementary to honor Dr. Robert L. Green, a local civil rights leader. Others called in to voice concerns over possible Covid-19 protocols. We bring you the meeting roundup.
The lawsuit that Country Mill filed against the City of East Lansing for allegedly targeting the owner’s religious beliefs is now being tried in federal court. We explain how we will be covering it and recap the story as it has evolved thus far.
Hennessey Greenwalt, an East Lansing resident who serves as a commissioner with the Michigan Supreme Court, will fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Andrea Larkin.
What’s with those cell phone towers popping up in residential neighborhoods, dirty water coming from faucets in the Glencairn neighborhood, and a closed bike rack near the downtown Marriott? We answer all this plus one bonus-round question!
Tags The Managing Editor is currently working to tag all stories that have been published on our new domain (eastlansinginfo.news), which came into being in April 2020. Make sure to search terms on our website to find all relevant work we’ve published, including older articles from our old domain, eastlansinginfo.org, September 2014-April 2020. Some stories…
The application is available online now through Aug. 1. Council intends for the Commission to represent the diversity of the community and plans to appoint 2 non-residents and 2 social workers or psychologists to the 11-person Commission.
The Honorable Wanda M. Stokes sided with the City Attorney’s argument that the request was too broad but encouraged ELi to file a new request with more specific language. What else did Stokes have to say about the case?
Alice Dreger and Emily Joan Elliott interview Mark Meadows who had served as Mayor and later as a Council member before resigning in July 2020. Meadows shares who he is endorsing in the upcoming Council elections, why he resigned, and his role in the community now.
Emily Joan Elliott and Alice Dreger talk to Brian Wassom about freedom of the press. Elliott and Dreger then discuss how Dreger used the Freedom of Information Act to report on a major gas leak that occurred near her home.
Read on to find out why! You can join them by donating today!
The staff of the ELHS newspaper called for a more inclusive and equitable district, but the town hall they called for didn’t happen. So what did? How might renaming Pinecrest Elementary honor local civil rights history?
After an ELi reader pointed out that ELPD was ticketing cars on Juneteenth when holiday parking rules should have been in effect, Mayor Aaron Stephens explained at last week’s Council meeting how those affected can appeal. How might the City honor Juneteenth in future years?
ELi’s Publisher and Executive Director Alice Dreger and Managing Editor Emily Joan Elliott discuss complaints made to East Lansing’s City Council about noise created by cars and motorcycles. Elliott also interviews ELPD’s Neighborhood Resource Specialist Tonya Williams.
To put it bluntly, ELi could not deliver the quality news you rely on without the work of our youngest reporters. Help us reach our youth journalism fundraising goal today!
East Lansing Insider is available online and airs at 9 a.m. on Sundays on 88.9 FM. This week, Alice Dreger and Jack Timothy Harrison discuss the 2021 East Lansing City Council elections.
Will Pinecrest get a new name? Will school be in-person or virtual in the fall? When will food distribution happen? Is the track open to the public? Find the answers to these questions – and more – in the School Board round up.
After holding its first Juneteenth celebration in 2020, the Pinecrest Neighborhood Association will do the same this year on Saturday at 2 p.m. What will the event include? What is its significance to the community?
East Lansing Insider is available online and airs at 9 a.m. on Sundays on 88.9 FM.
Talifarro served as ELFD Fire Chief since 2001 and McCaffrey as Parks and Rec Director since 1999. ELi provides a look back at the tenure of the two directors.
Expungement allows those convicted of crimes to remove the offense from their records. Free financial help seminars are also being made available to those who have criminal records. Learn more from ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott.
MSU switched the insurance it provides for its retirees, causing some to face serious billing issues. International students are left to navigate a healthcare system very different from the ones that they are familiar with. What can those in our area do if they are facing large medical bills?
Marking the one year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, what plans does the district have to continue its work on racial equity and social justice? How might changes made during the pandemic improve future years?
ELPD Deputy Chief Steve Gonzalez provided ELi with a brief update on how the investigation is going after readers asked ELi for the latest information.
Who will replace Tim McCaffrey as Director of Parks & Rec? What else is going on in Parks & Rec? Emily Joan Elliott reports.
ELPD announced that Shirley Baughan has been located and thanks volunteers for their help with the search.
Resources for mental health are available in our community: Community Mental Health Crisis Services: (800) 372-84600 The Listening Ear Crisis Hotline (2pm to 2am): (517) 337-1717 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-TALK (8255) Trojan Mental Health Matters provides a list of local resources, particularly for children and youth.
For those who have experienced sexual assault or relationship violence, the following resources are available in our community: MSU Center for Survivors 24-Hour Sexual Assault Crisis Hotline: (517) 372-6666 End Violent Encounters (EVE) 24-Hour Crisis Hotline: (517) 372-5572 MSU Safe Place offers shelter and other services: (517) 355-1100 or noabuse@msu.edu. National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline:…
The ELPS Mental Health Advisory Committee partnered with a team at MSU to create a new website that provides mental health information and resources. It is part of a multi-pronged approach to help students.
Matthew Christians, the MMS teacher who had been put on non-disciplinary administrative leave, returned to the classroom today. Superintendent Dori Leyko provided families with other updates from the district’s investigation on how slavery had been taught.
The clinic is open to everyone in the community, age 18 and older, at no cost to recipients. Stop by with your photo ID, consent form, and insurance card (if applicable.)
A former patient shares his experience of being hospitalized for Covid, and a Sparrow physician shares what it’s like to work with Covid patients. Both want to see more people get vaccinated.
The superintendent says that in addition to a thorough investigation, the district is reviewing the curriculum and keeping other promises made following the murder of George Floyd. ELi’s Emily Elliott reports.
The assignment asked students to imagine themselves as enslaved persons. How did ELPS teachers come to this assignment? What is the district doing to address the issue?
Anyone over age 16 in Michigan can now make an appointment directly with the Ingham County Health Department for a vaccine. Sparrow has walk-in hours for vaccines, and we provide you with information on other local vaccine providers.
Have you had ideas about how the City of East Lansing might save money or increase revenues? Curious what others have to say? Join us Monday evening!
Our area is a national Covid-19 hotspot. How are schools and local government responding? How is the vaccine rollout going?
We will be taking a much needed publishing break that coincides with a week of ELPS Spring Break and fewer governmental meetings.
Despite paying nearly $20,000 for the survey conducted by a private firm, the City did not receive the raw data collected. Council expressed concern over the way survey results were analyzed and presented. What were the issues? How might the results be used moving forward?
What do you need to do? What are the deadlines? We bring you the details.
Anti-Asian violence has been on the rise in some of the nation’s largest cities, but Asian and Asian-American students at MSU reported an uptick in anti-Asian sentiment in February 2020, associated with the spread of Covid-19. A town hall and vigil on Thursday will provide space for discussion and support.
How is the district identifying and handling the few positive Covid cases that have emerged? How many students will return after Spring Break? How’s the new Marble looking? We bring the answers.
Covid-19 has been present in East Lansing for over a year. How has it changed our community? Where does our community stand now in terms of the virus?
Managing Editor Emily Joan Elliott reports on the virtual art classes she has taken through the MSU Broad Art Museum. Did she get a passing grade?
You can make appointments through the MySparrow portal now. Read on for more information about that and the arrival of the U.K. variant on campus.
MDHHS announced on Friday that all Michiganders 16 and older with underlying conditions will be eligible for vaccine beginning Mar. 22. All Michiganders will be eligible on April 5.
Did the deer cull result in meat being delivered to local food banks? What’s up with parking at Bailey Park? What will happen with the Biggby lot on Grand River Ave? We bring some updates.
The plan for bringing students back changed in January. Some look forward to the return, particularly as students feel the effects of isolation. But some families feel frustrated with communication and fear increased community spread. Emily Joan Elliott takes a look at what various stakeholders have to say.
Some ELPS students will return to in-person learning on Mar. 1. The Board provides some details on safety protocols, and Curriculum Director Glenn Mitcham reviewed the district’s professional development focused on social and racial justice.
Aislinn Callahan-Brandt tells ELi the problem is twofold: drivers aren’t used to seeing kids, and kids aren’t used to walking or biking to school. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott reports.
Is it a comment on the topography? A reference to the middle school’s name? A tribute to a beloved educator? What we know is that people in East Lansing love their sledding hill!
Elementary school children were set to return on Feb. 22 and middle and high school students on Mar. 1. Vaccine distribution delays due to snow have reset the start date to Mar. 1 for all students returning to school.
The Ingham County Health Department canceled vaccination appointments today due to the snowstorm overnight. Those with appointments on Feb. 16 will be contacted by either phone or email to reschedule over the next three days.
Checking for appointments and waiting for emails has begun to feel like a full-time job, filled with anxiety and confusion. Emily Joan Elliott reports on what seniors have to say what has caused some of the confusion.
Chambers sat down with our Managing Editor. She shared why she is passionate about school policy and how she approaches her position serving on the School Board.
After several marathon meetings in a row, the School Board held a short meeting, discussing some details of the upcoming return to in-person learning, building construction, and recognition of some achievements in the district.
East Lansing Info is making publicly available the register of all payments made by the City of East Lansing in fiscal years 2019 ad 2020. Tell us what you would like us to examine further.
A Girl Scout troop from Whitehills Elementary is asking the community for help to give ELPS teachers and staff cookies.
Managing Editor Emily Joan Elliott sits down with Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail, discussing the pandemic and more. Listen on.
Those eligible may soon receive links to register for appointments in February, but vaccine supply is still low. ELi provides details on the process.
The new plan has several key differences from the one improved in December. Emily Joan Elliott reports on the changes, the safety measures being put in place, and various input provided by the public and the Board during the meeting.
The City and school district held several important meetings this week. The ELi team brings you the updates.
The City announced that the cull has been completed, resulting in the removal of 65 deer over the course of two evenings.
We bring information on how you can register and what the vaccination process through Sparrow will look like.
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan will host an event on television this evening. This morning, ELi reflects on covering news related to racial equity and justice.
Ingham County Health Department is vaccinating 2,000 people a week and could increase this number if it were to receive more vaccines. Emily Joan Elliott reports on the initial rollout of vaccinating Phase 1B and what to expect next.
The ELPS School Board addressed concerns about return to in-person learning and celebrated having the most diverse Board to date. Terah Chambers was elected President, the first Black woman to hold the position.
Here is how you can sign up to receive the vaccine through the Ingham County Health Department.
Our staff compiles the top stories we expect to cover in 2021. But we can never know all that will happen — like, a pandemic — and that’s why we need your financial support.
What were the biggest stories in East Lansing for 2020? ELi’s Publisher and Managing Editor bring you the top 10 list.
East Lansing is averaging three deaths a week from Covid-19 as the number of individuals needing ventilators seems to be rising. Emily Joan Elliott reports on this and the arrival of vaccines in the area.
The School Board voted 5-2 to approve a plan that will permit elementary school kids to return in February and middle and high school students in March. But space may be limited. Emily Joan Elliott explains.
How can you use your gift-giving dollars to focus on saving local businesses and jobs. We ask some of our community members for advice.
Your carbon monoxide detector goes off. What do you do? ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott walks you through how you can prepare in advance after her own recent experience.
Maysa Sitar, Secretary of ELi’s Board of Directors, won a Mitchell Scholarship to study at Queen’s University Belfast. We explain why Maysa is so deserving of this honor.
Ingham County now has more than 10,000 recorded cases of Covid-19. How is the pandemic playing out in East Lansing? What might we expect in the upcoming weeks?
Want to support local families and local businesses at the same time? ELPS is putting out a call for donations of food and gift cards to local businesses to help some district families over winter break.
The clear consensus is that remote learning is difficult, and 60 percent of families would like to return in January if it is safe to do so. Several parents share their hopes for both virtual and in-person learning come January.
Art supplies, delights for writers, stocking-stuffers, and Spartan-branded everything. That’s why SBS makes a surprisingly great option for gift shopping.
Keep investigative and informative local news coming in 2021 for East Lansing! Give today and we will get a full MATCH for your donation!
Looking for something fun to do? Come play trivia, hosted by the ELi staff. First-place winner gets a Crunchy’s gift card courtesy of our Publisher Alice Dreger!
Know someone who is tired of staring at a computer screen? Pick up some supplies from Wild Birds Unlimited to so they can observe some feathered fauna as they take a screen break.
ELPS families provided more than 500 bags of food to some students’ families for Thanksgiving. They hope to do so again for Christmas with the community’s help.
Black Friday is this week and local small business owners are reconsidering what the day might look like in 2020.
After hearing about the resolution from Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Administrator Elaine Hardy, Council voted to approve the resolution. Emily Joan Elliott reports.
The ELPS School Board met on Monday night for a relatively short meeting where it took action on return to in-person learning and construction at Whitehills and Pinecrest.
It’s time to give up on the idea of the perfect gift and buy the gift that will save your local economy. Alice Dreger and Emily Joan Elliott explain why ELi is launching its new series “SPEND LOCALLY”!
The City told ELi that its efforts to “go green” involved the use of GPS for route optimization. Documents received through the Freedom of Information Act suggest the GPS units were also used to monitor worker performance. Emily Joan Elliott reports.
Join the ELi staff Sunday at 7p.m. for “Fun with FOIA,” a live conversation about our work using documents provided through the Freedom on Information Act and a workshop on developing your own FOIA request.
Retired MSUPD Police Chief Jim Dunlap spoke with ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott about his participation in the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine trial.
Covid-19 cases are surging locally. What does this mean for hospital capacity, testing, and contact tracing? Who is most vulnerable? ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott reports.
New restrictions go into effect on Wednesday to curb the spread of Covid-19. Andrew Graham and Emily Joan Elliott explain what this means for East Lansing.
Want to weigh in on cultural arts grants, a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis, money problems in Parks & Rec and in the parking system, and traffic on Highland Ave.? ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott tells you which East Lansing City meetings will cover what this week.
ELPS continues to consider reopening in January and looks to what metrics to consider. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott reports.
Want to have your questions about the community answered? Join us on Zoom Thursday evening!
Why should you support ELi? Managing Editor Emily Joan Elliott explains why she loves working here.
School rankings don’t determine goals for development and improvement at ELPS, but they highlight and provide opportunity to celebrate the district’s strengths.
Debbie Walton, Elizabeth Guerrero Lyons, and Monica Fink will replace Erin Graham, Hillary Henderson, and Nichole Martin on East Lansing’s Board of Education.
The Human Rights Commission will consider the disorderly conduct ordinance again this Wednesday, coming on the heels of couch burnings and mass gatherings during the pandemic. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott recaps the HRC’s concerns and this weekend’s events.
Over 9,000 East Lansing residents have already voted. Do you have a plan for voting in the November general election? ELi provides you with some useful information.
Curious where ELPD is issuing citations for alleged violations of public health orders? ELi’s Nathan Andrus helps you visualize it.
Ingham County further restricted the size of outdoor gatherings to 10 in student-heavy parts of East Lansing ahead of Halloween and the MSU-UM showdown. Emily Joan Elliott reports.
The East Lansing School Board approved the proposed plan that allows for students to return to in-person learning as early as January, but the return is not a guarantee. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott explains.
What did game day look like in East Lansing look like on Saturday? And what will happen to students who violated public health orders? ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott and Heather Brothers report.
Is the HUB adding more retail? Who gets the nicer side of a fence? When can I use the track at ELHS? Find the answers to all that and more in this week’s Ask ELi Grab Bag!
With Election Day just two weeks away, the City Clerk’s satellite office at the Hannah Community Center is open. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott outlines what services they offer.
ELPS Superintendent Dori Leyko and Director of Curriculum Glen Mitcham presented a plan for students to return to in-person learning in January. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott provides the details ahead of the Board’s vote next week.
One woman received mail saying her Aug. 4 ballot hadn’t been counted, but the City Clerk was able to confirm that it had. So why did she receive the notice? The possible answers are surprisingly simple.
Council passed an ordinance that makes it a civil infraction to violate state and county public health orders. The City’s attitude toward enforcement is much different than its approach to the mask ordinance. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott reports.
Once a cash cow, parking fines and citations have fallen dramatically in 2020. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott takes a look at how those numbers have changed, now costing the City more money than it makes in fines.
“The Supreme court didn’t eradicate Covid,” new City Attorney Mike Homier said last night. He explained some of the regulatory confusion, as Council voted to extend a special mask-mandatory zone.
Interested in voting in the Nov. 3 election ahead of time? ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott brings you some helpful tips from poll inspectors.
Has the Michigan Supreme Court decision really changed COVID-19 requirements here? Are hospitalizations on the rise? Is testing down? ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott turned to Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail for answers to our readers’ questions.
ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott reminds you where you can find mental health support and resources in the area.
MSU College of Human Medicine to offer free flu vaccines and explains the importance of the flu shot during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ELPS will continue online for October, but the Board would like to see a plan for returning to in-person instruction as parents explain why they have removed their students from the district’s schools.
For National Voter Registration Day, ELi got in touch with City Clerk Jennifer Shuster to help answer questions from our readers.
Dr. Jane Turner and ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott interviewed the 8 school board candidates. Watch the interviews here.
ELPS School Board Vice President Terah Chambers, who is also an MSU professor, has been working to lower costs for dual enrollment.
The Board heard more from the Superintendent about when kids will return to school and got an update on the free-meals program. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott reports.
Neighborhood members came to the public hearing to explain why they wanted to have the boundaries changes. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott reports.
Following up on a tip from a City employee who thinks East Lansing’s vehicle policies waste tax dollars, ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott provides a look at the spending.
Reform of East Lansing’s disorderly conduct laws involve a tangled web of concerns regarding policing, civil rights, and crowd control in a university town where students have a penchant for burning couches after big games. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott reports.
Says the Health Department: “more stringent and mandatory restrictions will be imposed if students do not comply and break the transmission cycle.” ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott reports.
City Manager George Lahanas chose 24 employees to rate his job performance, and they rated him highly. Now he’s a finalist for the City Manager position in Mankato, Minnesota. Emily Joan Elliott reports for ELi.
Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail is now plainly calling on students to stop partying, warning that “Sicker, older people will get it and die.” ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott reports.
The data made available so far show just how dramatic the spike is. The recent surge of cases appear to be tied to multiple parties in the area. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott reports.
With the MSU student population pushed off campus and into town, new approaches to public health messaging, academic support, and discipline are emerging. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott reports.
“He was the conscience of our board,” recalls Dr. Peter Graham “We get jaded. He never did. He never took ‘oh well’ as an answer.”
Why are these eight people running? What issues do they see as urgent? We asked to bring you the answers.
What happens at ELPS is tied to what happens at MSU. But what’s happening with MSU undergrads remains uncertain.
Rinard Pugh has been named the new Principal for ELPS’ Red Cedar Elementary School. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott spoke with him about his background and vision.
Who are the eight people running for three open seats on East Lansing’s School Board? Emily Joan Elliott reports for ELi.
Mask enforcement in East Lansing is turning out to be tricky. Emily Joan Elliott brings the details.
What other jobs do your East Lansing City Council members hold? ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott reports.
Wear a mask in the Downtown Development Authority district or face a polite ambassador. Persist in not wearing a mask and face a $25 fine from the police.
“I don’t see plan for bringing students back, just a plan to make a plan later,” said School Board member Chris Martin. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott reports from the meeting.
Confusion over complex and rapidly-changing Executive Orders from Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office contributed to the Covid-19 outbreak at Harper’s. What else has been learned?
Starting Monday, Aug. 10, masks will be required in all public spaces in the DDA district under a new order by Mayor Aaron Stephens.
Now we know: Younger people infected older people. The outbreak reached 18 counties in Michigan. And many were infected before the cluster was identified.
What’s the Elder Persons Millage on the Aug. 4 Ingham County ballot about? ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott explains.
City Manager George Lahanas’s contract is worth over $200,000 per year. Mayor Aaron Stephens wants to extend it now, without a performance review.
During public comment and the board’s discussion, the stress of the situation was often palpable. Emily Joan Elliott reports for ELi.
Expect to see signage around town encouraging students to be personally responsible in order to “stay safe to stay open.” ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott reports.
Superintendent Dori Leyko will offically tell the East Lansing Public Schools Board tonight that classes need to start remotely for the next school year. ELi brings the details.
East Lansing’s civil rights commission is pushing to learn more about use of force incidents by ELPD officers. This and other policing issues were discussed at the group’s recent meeting.
The HRC is also working on advocating for people with Down Syndrome who may be denied organ transplants on the basis of having a developmental disability.
At the City of East Lansing, men hold two-thirds of the full-time jobs, and five departments employ only white people. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott reports.
As the Harper’s cluster count hits 85 (with no hospitalizations), graduate Teaching Assistants are questioning the wisdom of on-campus teaching this fall. Emily Joan Elliott reports for ELi.
In the midst of plunging public revenues, East Lansing Parks & Rec is moving forward with various projects by pulling together funds from various sources. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott reports.
Elaine Hardy tells ELi she’s ready to speak truth to power in City Hall when it comes to issues of diversity, inclusion, and equity. “Otherwise, the position is unnecessary.”
What happened at School Board this week? ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott brings you the story.
Readers are asking what we can expect when MSU starts in-person classes back up in the fall. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott reports what we know so far.
The Policy Committee of the Board discussed several major changes under consideration. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott attended the meeting and reports back.
ELi brings you the results of the school district’s survey of elementary, middle, and high school parents. What did they report back about the stay-at-home learning experience?
The DDA supported the idea of live entertainment downtown geared towards families with kids. They also discussed the issue of noise coming from some bars.
The district’s seventeen employed administrators, almost all of them white, are committing to changes. How did School Board members react?
Rane, the leader of yesterday’s event, told those assembled the conflict “is not Black versus White. Let us be clear about that. It is racism against America. It is inequality against America.”
Outdoor lockers will help with 24/7 contactless delivery. What else will be changing at the library?
ELi’s staff has been spending a lot of energy trying to find out when and where the East Lansing School Board and its committees are meeting.
About 56% of ELPS students are white, while about 96% of the teachers are white. Students, parents, and School Board members talked to ELi about why this matters.
A reader asked: What’s the jurisdiction of ELPD versus MSUPD?
Three members of East Lansing’s School Board pushed for movement on a fall plan at a meeting with the Superintendent last week. What’s happening now?
Vincent Watson has been a true hero through his 47 years of service in East Lansing Public Schools, positively influencing the lives of thousands of children and young adults.
The reopening of MSU has major implications for East Lansing in terms of the economy, public health, business survival, housing, neighborhood cultures, policing, and more.
Want to reduce your household carbon footprint? Here’s an easy way.
The impact of the pandemic on MSU is shaping the individual and collective lives of the greater East Lansing community.
The Policy Committee of the East Lansing School Board met on Friday to consider recommendations to the full Board about the districts’ policies.
A lot of worrisome news from Monday’s East Lansing School Board meeting.
The ELPS School Board unanimously passed a resolution not on the agenda, encouraging the banning of weapons at the Michigan State Capitol.
Stressed out in the midst of all this? Lonely? Feeling down? Here is what you need to know about people who can help in our area.
East Lansing resident Kelli Ellsworth Etchison centers her life on helping people feel that they belong. She has some advice for those who want to provide community service.
Erin Graham thinks ELPS students may be left at a serious disadvantage under the district’s policy. The administration believes equity is at stake.
Natalie Rose is taking over the role ELi founder Alice Dreger has played until now. The changes come with unanimous support of ELi’s Board.
Advocacy coordinator Erica Schmittdiel tells ELi what’s happening amid the Stay-at-Home orders for relationship abuse and sexual assault survivors.
Schools of choice numbers, graduation cancelled, ELHS ranking, elementary school construction delays, and much more in our School Board report.
MSU’s Dr. Nigel Paneth gives an update on the project he’s leading to bring antibodies from recovered people to those who might be saved.
Trustees of the East Lansing Public Library met to talk about the tough times now and the tough times ahead.
The City of East Lansing is working on how to hold public meetings without allowing disruptions that are seen as inappropriate.
Internal emails give a glimpse into what led up to the Continuity of Learning plan that begins Week 1 today for East Lansing Public Schools.
Blood is needed to help people facing emergency surgeries and birthing mothers. Find out how you can help.
We bring the latest data from Ingham County, including about age, race, and geographic distribution.
A resident and an employee have tested positive for COVID-19, but the cases are unrelated.
East Lansing’s public health during COVID-19 is being shaped by our demographics and complex health insurance system.
With work halted under the governor’s orders, it’s unclear what East Lansing’s elementary schools’ populations will be facing next year.
Superintendent Dori Leyko gave more details last night on the district’s plan to restart teaching, and announced free meal distribution would start again.
Haslett Public Schools have geared back up. But East Lansing’s still haven’t. The School Board meets tonight.
No more recreational fire permits for now. This and numerous other measures are being taken to protect police and firefighter-paramedics in East Lansing.
Health concerns for those working on meal distribution are significant, and the number of people being fed through the system suddenly doubled.
When will life in East Lansing return to normal? And what’s happening to faculty and international students?
What could earn you a thousand-dollar fine in East Lansing under the stay-at-home order? ELi explains.
Under a new executive order, school buildings will remain closed for the rest of this school year. But what about the education of East Lansing Public Schools’ kids? Emily Joan Elliott reports.
What to do – if anything – about there being no parks in East Lansing named after women or people of color? The debate continues.
Today, ELi brings answers to readers’ medical questions about the coronavirus: Are our area hospitals ready? What if they are overwhelmed? Will donated blood be safe? And more.
A local nurse tells ELi she is afraid “that people are not taking this seriously and putting our lives at risk” as healthcare providers. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott reports.
Should you get tested if you have symptoms of the coronavirus? And if so, how do you go about it here? ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott explains.
What’s it like being an international student at MSU during the rapid changes caused by the pandemic? ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott spoke with Ramya Swayamprakash and Liao Zhang to find out.
Why do death rates tell us more than test results can? What will save lives as the virus spreads? ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott brings you the latest important information from MSU epidemiologist Nigel Paneth.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer isn’t the only East Lansing Public Schools parent who wishes kids could keep learning for credit during the public health emergency. What’s going on?
The shift to online learning happened with little warning at MSU. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott brings this inside look at the rapid and monumental change at East Lansing’s core institution.
At Burcham Hills, elimination of communal activities is one of the protections in place during the coronavirus emergency. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott spoke to residents about their concerns.
MSU has confirmed two more cases of COVID-19 in the university community. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott brings the latest numbers.
An MSU epidemiologist and resident of East Lansing tells ELi he has never seen such a public health threat in his life. And he’s worked in public health for over 40 years. Read why Dr. Nigel Paneth is alarmed.
MSU is taking further action to try to get its undergraduate population in particular to stop hanging out in large groups that might spread the coronavirus. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott reports.
Michigan Flyer will suspend its service to DTW for a month starting Monday, March 16. The decision will alter the plans of MSU students who use airplane travel to get home. Emily Joan Elliott reports.
ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott spoke with East Lansing’s deputy police chief and an MSU epidemiologist to help you prepare, in case you’re stuck at home.