Live News Updates for Oct. 2-8
Court will be closed Monday for Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
East Lansing 54B District Court Chief Judge Molly Hennessey Greenwalt has announced that the 54B District Court will be closed to the public on Monday (Oct. 9) in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
Court offices will not be open for walk-in arraignments or payments. All in-custody arraignments and emergency matters (including emergency filings) will be conducted while the court’s business offices are closed to the public.
Drop boxes for filings and payments are available at the East Lansing Police Department’s police desk, 409 Park Lane; East Lansing City Hall’s north parking lot, 410 Abbot Road; and the corner of Park Lane and Linden Street. Payments can also be made online at www.54bdistrictcourt.com.
Reported by Julie Seraphinoff (Friday, Oct. 6, 2023)
Artwork from MSU Broad Art Museum is being featured in downtown East Lansing.
The City of East Lansing has unveiled a new art exhibit on the 400 block of Albert Avenue on the northside of the Division Street Parking Garage. The exhibit features some of the artwork from the Michigan State University (MSU) Broad Art Museum’s new project, The Center for Object Research and Engagement (The CORE).
The exhibit continues the usage of four double-sided panels, which were established by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) in 2021. Since the development of these panels, various groups of artwork have been displayed.
According to a city press release, residents are encouraged to see the new artwork for themselves.
The CORE has over 10,000 pieces that have been brought out of archives, which will be put in rotation on the first floor of the Broad Art Museum beginning Nov. 10.
Reported by Eli Taub (Friday, Oct. 6, 2023)
Meet new City Manager Robert Belleman during Thursday meet and greet.

The City of East Lansing is hosting a meet and greet Thursday (Oct. 5) to introduce community members to new City Manager Robert Belleman.
The event will be held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the café of the East Lansing Public Library (ELPL), 950 Abbot Road. Community members are invited to stop by during that time to meet Belleman in an informal setting. Light refreshments will be provided.
Belleman officially began his city manager job with East Lansing on Sept. 25.
According to a city press release, Belleman brings to the role 30 years of professional experience as a municipal administrator, including having served as the City Manager of Bay City from 2003-2013 and most recently as the chief administrative officer and controller for Saginaw County for 10 years. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University and a master’s degree from Oakland University. Belleman grew up in the City of Detroit, one of 10 children. He and his wife, Amy, have three children and two rescue dogs.
“I am beyond thrilled to have been selected to serve as the City of East Lansing’s next City Manager and I am eager to begin meeting community members,” Belleman said in the press release. “Together with our dynamic staff, we are committed to providing quality services for a quality community.”
See ELi’s ongoing coverage of the interviewing and hiring process of City Manager Belleman.
For those who have questions or comments, please contact the City Manager’s office at (517) 319-6920 or by email at rbelleman@cityofeastlansing.com.
Reported by Julie Seraphinoff (Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023)
Video of Sept. 14 City Council candidates forum is now available.
The League of Women Voters of Lansing Area released its video of the East Lansing City Council candidates forum held Sept. 14 at the Hannah Center. The two-hour event, cosponsored by ELi, featured the eight candidates responding to questions based on a survey of ELi readers and note cards provided by the audience. The candidates were not allowed to debate or criticize each other by name.
The eight candidates vying for the three open seats in the Nov. 7 election are Erik Altmann, Dan Bollman, Kerry Ebersole Singh, Noel Garcia, Rebecca Kasen, Mark Meadows, Joshua Ramirez-Roberts and Chris Wardell.
See ELi’s ongoing elections coverage and voter guides here.
Reported by Julie Seraphinoff (Monday, Oct. 2, 2023)
Thursday panel will discuss benefits of Assisted Outpatient Treatment.

In observance of Mental Illness Awareness Week (Oct. 1-7), the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Lansing is hosting a panel of speakers in order to discuss the benefits for Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT).
The panel event will be 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 4) in the Hannah Community Center Auditorium at 819 Abbot Road, East Lansing.
Speakers will include Christy Granger, community/court liaison coordinator; Jeramie Hall, certified peer supports specialist with 55th District Court and NAMI Michigan Advocate of the Year; Judge Milton Mack, state court administrator emeritus; and Julia Stewart, project coordinator.
The panel will aim to strengthen AOT in mid-Michigan, which allows “civil courts and mental health systems to work collaboratively to help individuals with serious mental illness to prevent or stop a cycle of repeat hospitalizations, homelessness and incarcerations,” according to the event’s press release.
Reported by Mya Gregory (Monday, Oct. 2, 2023)
MSU enrollment numbers are record breaking this fall.
If the waits at local restaurants have seemed longer, traffic heavier down Grand River and the city busier overall, it could be due to Michigan State University’s (MSU) record-breaking enrollment numbers this year.
MSU’s fall semester enrollment totals 51,316. The enrollment accounts for 40,4083 undergraduate students and 10,833 graduate and professional students.
According to the university, there is an increase in diversity from last year with students coming to campus and the city from a variety of places. Students represent over 130 countries, all 50 U.S. states and each of Michigan’s 83 countries.
“Strong enrollment reflects students’ and families’ confidence in the value of an MSU degree and in the quality of the college experience provided by our world-class faculty and staff,” Interim President Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D., said. “With our strong in-state incoming class, our overall enrollment shows that MSU is truly Michigan’s state university.”
Reported by Mya Gregory (Monday, Oct. 2, 2022)
ELi Now Saturday Mailer: What Happened and What’s Ahead in East Lansing.
Fall is here and it was evident this week as temperatures plummeted and the trees are beginning to change color.
While there were only a couple meetings in the city this week, there were some key developments in East Lansing schools.
On Thursday (Sept. 28), City Desk Editor Luke Day reported that MacDonald Middle School physical education teacher Dennis Petrowitz was suspended for an “unprofessional verbal interaction” with a student and staff member. While the suspension was initially for five days, it was extended following backlash from the community. Last May, Petrowitz was placed on leave after using the N-word when addressing sixth graders.
Then on Friday (Sept. 29), Reporter Dustin DuFort Petty broke the news that Monica Fink has stepped down from the East Lansing Board of Education. The district held a special meeting at 12:30 p.m. that day to discuss filling the open seat. Reporter Mya Gregory was at the meeting and will be providing a report.
Here’s some information to help you prepare for the Nov. 7 election.

Election season is officially upon us, and to help residents be prepared as they head to the ballot box, Investigative Reporter Alice Dreger put together a guide on the ballot initiatives voters will decide on. There are three ballot initiatives this year: One to increase the size of Council from five to seven members, another would push back the swearing-in date of new Council members and the third would install ranked choice voting in city elections. Read more about the ballot initiatives and their potential impact here. You can also see more voter information in ELi’s voter guide.
A final candidate forum ahead of the November City Council election will be held this week. The Associated Students of Michigan State University (ASMSU) will host a “debate/forum” 7-8 p.m. Tuesday (Oct. 3) at the International Center on the campus of Michigan State University (MSU).
Sticking with the theme of elections, the East Lansing Public Library (ELPL) will be hosting “Precincts, Pollbooks and Proposals; an East Lansing Community Conversation around Elections” on Monday (Oct. 2) from noon to 2 p.m. and Thursday (Oct. 5) 7-9 p.m. The events, which will be run by Interim City Clerk Marie Wicks, will look at election administration over the last decade, recent changes to voting laws and more. ELi has more information about the events in its ELi Now Live News Updates column.
Meetings and more meetings.
Looking ahead, October will kick off with a packed week of city meetings. On Monday (Oct. 2) the Transportation Commission will meet. Tuesday (Oct. 3), the Downtown Management Board and City Council will each hold meetings. Finally, on Wednesday (Oct. 4), the East Lansing Independent Police Oversight Commission will hold its monthly meeting. When agendas for the meetings are posted, they can be found here.

ELi Now was a busy live news feed this week with details about such events as today’s Salaam Peace Festival and activities at the East Lansing Public Library. There was also coverage of breaking news events like the East Lansing Police Department (ELPD) responding to a man who had reportedly been carrying a long gun and a request for information on a suspect involved in an apparent road-rage shooting incident.
Don’t forget – East Lansing Insider members get these updates directly to their emails before they hit the ELi website. Become an Insider member and support ELi’s public service journalism! Here are details on how to become an East Lansing Insider member.
