Ask ELi: Taxes, Sewers, Social Workers, Parking Tickets
In this edition of Ask ELi, we bring you answers on tax assessments, the sewer system, ELPD social workers, and unpaid parking tickets.
Author: Emily Joan Elliott
Emily Joan Elliott is ELi's Acting Executive Director and Publisher. She reports for ELi on everything from public health to City Council decisions to East Lansing Public Schools. Her reporting for ELi frequently covers issues of community disparities. Click here to read more about our staff.
East Lansing Insider: Two Years of DEI Efforts and Covid at ELPS
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)
Two ELPD Officers Involved in Shooting at Lake Lansing Meijer on Monday Evening [UPDATED]
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 of Trans-Siberian Orchestra to Perform with ELPS Students
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.
‘Prime Time,’ A Staple Among EL Seniors, Turns 50 This Year
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.
Parking Meter Rates Set to Increase in July. Violation Fines May See Hike Too.
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.
ELi Wants to Hear From You as We Envision Our Future Together
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?
Ask ELi: How Does East Lansing’s Geography Affect Home Maintenance?
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)
Ask ELi: A Fence on Campus, Basketball Hoops Unlocked, and Construction On Burcham Drive [UPDATED]
ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott brings a few pieces of news and a noteworthy PSA about construction on Burcham Drive.
More Women Among City’s Highest Paid Employees Due to Promotions, Retirements of Men
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.
Council Approves Contract for City Prosecutor in 4-1 Vote As The Mayor Called Out A Bungled Process
The contract approval comes after a months-long search for new legal representation for the City of East Lansing. Emily Joan Elliott reports.
ELHS Students Recognized for Representing Ukraine at Model UN Conference
Several ELHS students recently attended the Mid-American Model UN Conference in Kalamazoo. How did they do?
City Lessens Masking Requirements Starting Mar. 14
The City announced yesterday that beginning on Mar. 14, masks would be optional inside City-owned buildings with some exceptions, including public meetings.
Government | News | Schools
Small Number of East Lansing Residents Have Special Election Coming in May
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.
What Artspace’s Feasibility Report Tells Us About Downtown East Lansing
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)
Located: East Lansing Teen Missing [UPDATED]
Seventeen-year-old Aireona Alexis Smith has been located.
News | Public Safety | Schools
Concerning Social Media Post Results in Police Presence at ELHS Today
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’s Workforce Shrunk In the Last 2 Years, With Notable Attrition of Black Employees
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?
What Did ELi Learn from Its Snow Removal Survey?
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)
Government | News | Schools
What Does the Attorney General’s Opinion On the Open Meetings Act Mean for East Lansing’s Public Bodies? [UPDATED]
The ELPS School Board weighed the benefits and setbacks of increasing options for public comment at its Feb. 14 meeting.
One Pint is Worth Three Lives
During the ongoing national blood shortage, ELi revisits a story about giving blood during the pandemic. Here’s why it’s still important.
Has Your Street Been Plowed?
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!
Council Member and School Board VP Running for City’s 54B District Court Judgeship
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.
No Street Parking Until Friday, ELPS Closed Again on Thursday: Winter Storm Updates
ELPS will remain closed on Thursday. ELPL will not open until 12 p.m. tomorrow.
East Lansing Info’s Annual Report for 2021
Get the inside scoop on ELi’s revenue, expenses, and accomplishments for the calendar year 2021 in our latest annual report to readers.
City Says Cull Complete, 79 Deer Removed
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.
News | Public Safety | Schools
ELPS Bus Driver on Administrative Leave Following Incident Yesterday
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.
Ask ELi: What’s Going on With the Deer Cull?
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.
Federal Medical Team to Help Sparrow with Covid Staffing
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 Seeks Information Regarding Incident on West Road
UPDATED: ELPD identified the individual who died on West Road early Tuesday morning. The incident is still under investigation.
Ask ELi: Covid at East Lansing High School
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.
This Week’s “East Lansing News We Don’t Know Where to Put”
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.
Will East Lansing Residents Be Permitted to Keep Goats, Sheep, and Ducks?
Some East Lansing residents are interested in keeping livestock, but the City may continue to limit livestock to feathered-friends only.
New Year Sees a New View of the Coronavirus by Ingham County Health
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.
Ask ELi: What Is the Deer Cull Costing Taxpayers?
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!
Raising Over $160,000, ELi’s 2022 Sustainability Campaign Was the Most Successful Yet!
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!
Ask ELi: Vaccine Mandate for ELPS and City Workers, Including ELPD and Paramedics?
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?
As Pandemic Drags Out, ELPS Grapples with Balancing Student Emotional Wellbeing and Physical Health
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?
Thank You! Your Support Has Brought Us 76% Toward our Goal!
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!
Ask ELi: Mail Thieves and Comcast Refunds
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.
Ding, Ding, Ding! We Have Hit TWO-THIRDS of Our Goal!
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!
Government | News | Schools
MSU to Require Covid Booster Shots While Parks & Rec Chair “Irritated” by City’s Lack of Mandate
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 Thousand Dollars in Support Rests on Us Finding 13 More NEW ELi Donors!
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!
Chappelle Is Filing an Appeal – And Our Team Will Keep Working for You
We bring you an update and tell you about our Weekend Warrior campaign to keep ELi going throughout 2022!
Pulitzer Prize-Winning ELHS Alum Speaks to ELi About Her New Book
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?
Join Us at ELi’s Fun Spelling Bee and Gift Auction!
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!
Where Does ELi Stand in Its 2022 Sustainability Campaign?
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!
ELi to Hold Spelling Bee and Auction Fundraiser
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!
Support ELi on Giving Tuesday and We Will Give You Our All
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?
ELi Becomes History (But in a Good Way!)
Why would we be happy that ELi has become history? Find out!
Ask ELi: What’s Behind the Land Acknowledgment of the Indigenous History of East Lansing?
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?
Covid Is Surging, Flu Is Spreading, and Alarmed Sparrow Hospital Nurses Are Voting on a Possible Strike (UPDATED)
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.
Why I Report for ELi
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.
Ask ELi: Car Break-Ins, Fabric Recycling, and Streetlights
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!
Can You Fill These Buckets for ELi?
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?
How Do You Want EL City Government to Spend Covid Relief Money?
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.
Beloved Local Radio Station Impact 89 FM Wins National Award
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.
ELi Launches Campaign with Largest Match Fund in Its History
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.
Government | News | Public Safety | Schools
ELHS Temporarily Sheltered In Place Today
ELHS temporarily sheltered in place this morning due to a medical emergency. The shelter in place order has ended.
ELPS Board, Administrators Explain and Support Decision on Halloween, Valentine’s Day
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?
ELPD Searching for Missing Woman (UPDATE: Located)
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.
Tensions Between Workers and Management Visible in East Lansing
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?
East Lansing Insider: Council and Policing Round Up
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.
ELi’s Voter Guide to the 2021 East Lansing City Council Election
Find out about candidates’ positions, campaign finance analysis, links to videos of the candidates, and so much more in this nonpartisan guide from ELi!
Person Hospitalized After Fall from Parking Garage on Albert Avenue
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.
ELi’s Andrew Graham Appears on WKAR to Discuss Council Race
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!
Ask ELi: Sewers, Trails, Dogs, and Door-to-Door Salespeople
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?
Hair-Based Discrimination, Raises for Council Taken Up at Last Council Meeting Before Election
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!
ELPS Grapples with Student Misconduct, Masking
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 Replaces Erin Graham on County Commission
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.
East Lansing Insider: Superintendent Talks Pandemic, Equity in Schools
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!
ELPS Elementary Schools No Longer Celebrating Halloween, Valentine’s Day
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.
EL Human Rights Commission Looking to Concerns about Seniors, LGBTQ+ People, Environment, Housing
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?
East Lansing Insider: Flooding and Sewers in East Lansing
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.
Your ELPS Questions Answered
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.
EL City Council Candidates’ Views on Financial Management
With Election Day drawing near, ELi is asking candidates for East Lansing City Council to answer readers’ questions. Here is one of those answers!
East Lansing Insider: East Lansing’s Evergreen Development Problem
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.
EL City Council Candidates Weigh In on City Manager’s Performance, Contract Renewal
With Election Day drawing near, ELi is asking candidates for East Lansing City Council to answer readers’ questions. Here is one of those answers!
City Council Election Forums Now Show Voters Differences in Candidates’ Views
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.
Twenty Covid Cases at Glencairn, Outdoor Learning Spaces, Financial Audit All Discussed at School Board
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.
Government | News | Schools
EL Honors Civil Rights Leader Dr. Robert Green with School Renaming, Historical Marker
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.
EL Library Workers Rally, Press Trustees to Hear Their Side of Contract Dispute
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.
East Lansing Insider: Ask ELi to Investigate
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!
New District 54B Judge Introduces Herself to the Community
Judge Molly Hennessey Greenwalt expressed her excitement about serving her community, particularly in her capacity overseeing District 54B’s sobriety and drug courts.
Your ELi: All the ELi News Facebook Shows You
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’s Happening Administratively at the EL Public Library?
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.
Ask ELi Grab Bag: Biggby, Schools, F-18s, and a Snapping Turtle
Was that a warplane overhead? What’s happening with the old QD on Trowbridge? We bring you the answers to that and more!
Why Doesn’t ELi Publish Letters to the Editor?
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!
Debate over Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at School Board on Eve of New School Year
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
Ask ELi: The Mysterious Case of the Quality Dairy French Onion Dip
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.
Why were those trees cut down in front of the ELPL?
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?
ELPS Hires First Director of Equity and Social Justice
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?
East Lansing Insider: ELHS Black Student Union Leaders Share Their Experiences
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 questions do you have for East Lansing’s City Council candidates?
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.
Could East Lansing Join the Capital Area District Libraries? Your ELPL Questions Answered
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.
East Lansing Public Library Workers Reject Contract, Continue Call for Better Conditions
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?
East Lansing Insider: Alex Hosey Talks Civil Rights
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.
MSU to Require Covid-19 Vaccines for Students, Faculty, Staff
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.
Debates Over Renaming Pinecrest and Covid Policies at School Board
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.
Your ELi: The Country Mill Lawsuit
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.
Molly E. Hennessey Greenwalt Appointed by Whitmer to 54B District Court Bench
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.
Ask ELi: Cell Phone Mini-Towers, Dirty Drinking Water, and Bike Racks
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!
List of Tags for Reporters
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…
City of East Lansing Accepting Applications for Independent Police Oversight Commission
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.
Judge Throws Out ELi’s FOIA Case Against City of East Lansing
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?
East Lansing Insider: Meeting Mark Meadows
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.
East Lansing Insider: Freedom of the Press
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.
UPDATE: Why are your neighbors donating to this fundraiser?
Read on to find out why! You can join them by donating today!
What ever happened following that open letter from the ELHS newspaper? And will Pinecrest be renamed?
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?
East Lansing Moves to Remove Restrictions on Parking and Fireworks and Give Workers a Paid Holiday for Juneteenth
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?
Development | Government | News | Podcast
East Lansing Insider: Neighbors and Noise in East Lansing
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.
ELi’s Youth Journalists Generate the News You Read – And We Can MATCH Your Support for Them If You Act TODAY!
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: Who Is Running for City Council?
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.
EL School Board Round Up: Reflecting on the Year Past and the Year Ahead
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.
Pinecrest Neighborhood Association to Hold Juneteenth Celebration
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?
Development | News | Podcast
East Lansing Insider: Apartment Leasing in East Lansing
East Lansing Insider is available online and airs at 9 a.m. on Sundays on 88.9 FM.
Two Long Time Directors for the City Retire: Randy Talifarro and Tim McCaffrey
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.
54B Court To Hold Conviction Expungement Clinic; Several Resources Offered to Formerly Incarcerated
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.
ELi Hears from Readers about Big Medical Bills – and Investigates Help for Those Suffering
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?
