East Lansing Info (https://eastlansinginfo.news/series/covid-19/)
Since early February 2020, East Lansing Info (ELi) has been bringing original, important reporting on the local impact of the coronavirus pandemic, including economic, cultural, and medical effects on our community. Here’s a full run-down of our COVID-19 reporting for the people of East Lansing.
Emily Joan Elliott | Michigan will begin vaccinating people 50 and older with underlying conditions and caregivers for children with special needs on Mar. 8. On Mar. 22, vaccines will be available to people 50 older without underlying conditions. Here’s where to register!
Alice Dreger | Visitors to the market will find a wide array of food, including pies, pastas and sauces, goats’ milk and cows’ milk cheeses, fresh eggs, jams, fancy cocktail mixes (just add liquor), and much more. Plus handmade winter hats and gloves, dresses, and aprons.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Brooklyn Peppo | Looking to enjoy what downtown East Lansing has to offer? Check out the Weekend Warriors project, which is funding through the Place Project. ELi’s Sarah Spohn reports.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Sarah Spohn | Massage & Wellness offers many spa and wellness services for pampering and promoting health and well-being. Their gift shop also allows you to bring these joys home. Sarah Spohn reports.
Andrew Graham | The East Lansing Public Library will allow building entry for up to one hour to patrons starting Mar. 1. Library Director Kristin Shelley hopes the reopening will help those who rely on the library to file taxes and apply for benefits.
Anaiis Rios-Kasoga | The decision came in the midst of remote learning. Some miss the in-person newsroom, but the team continues to deliver news and opinion pieces to their community. ELi’s Anaiis Rios-Kasoga reports.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Sarah Spohn | Place your orders by Sunday night! Groovy Donuts will have apple, blueberry, cherry, chocolate cream, cream, custard, lemon, prune, raspberry, and un-filled paczki. Sarah Spohn spoke to Groovy Donuts’ owner to deliver this sweet report.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Sarah Spohn | Looking to celebrate this weekend? ELi’s Sarah Spohn brings you a variety of ideas from delicious takeout meals to sweet treats to painting to yoga.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Sarah Spohn | The City believed May was too soon for an in-person event. The August festival will most likely be held in person, and the festival is still accepting artist applications until Feb. 15.
Andrew Graham | The City’s parking system and some of the businesses that rent retail space from the City have been hit hard by pandemic-related shut-downs. A Freedom of Information Act response gives a window to some of the numbers.
Heather Brothers | The library has tentative plans to reopen on Mar. 1. In the meantime, staff are implementing public health protocols and conducting a cultural diversity audit on the library’s collections. Heather Brothers reports.
ELi Staff | Our latest East Lansing Insider podcast, recorded today, focuses on the science of Covid-19, including the vaccines and variants. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott interviews Dr. Aron Sousa of MSU’s College of Human Medicine.
Alice Dreger | Starting at midnight, on-campus MSU students will be required to stay in their dorm rooms with few exceptions for at least two weeks. What’s the context for the new decision?
Sarah Spohn | The City has launched a series of projects to support local businesses, particularly downtown ones. Sarah Spohn reports on these efforts and how you can participate.
Alice Dreger | Ordinance 1496, which makes violations of public health orders punishable by a fine from the City of East Lansing, expired on Dec. 31, 2020, and Council forgot to renew it. They met today to fix that.
Emily Joan Elliott | Managing Editor Emily Joan Elliott sits down with Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail, discussing the pandemic and more. Listen on.
Emily Joan Elliott | Those eligible may soon receive links to register for appointments in February, but vaccine supply is still low. ELi provides details on the process.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Andrew Graham | Area restaurant owners and managers are appealing to Gov. Whitmer, who is from East Lansing, to consider how to better mitigate the spread of Covid-19 without putting restaurants in dire financial straits.
Alice Dreger | We bring answers to lots of questions about East Lansing’s income tax, including how working from home may change what you owe.
Emily Joan Elliott | We bring information on how you can register and what the vaccination process through Sparrow will look like.
Adan Tomas Quan | The Interfaith Clergy Association of Greater Lansing will be releasing a video on Inauguration Day. Adan Tomas Quan reports.
Sarah Spohn | The City hopes the photo contest will both foster a sense of community and support local businesses. Sarah Spohn reports on that and the prizes for winners.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Emily Joan Elliott | Here is how you can sign up to receive the vaccine through the Ingham County Health Department.
Emily Joan Elliott and Alice Dreger | What were the biggest stories in East Lansing for 2020? ELi’s Publisher and Managing Editor bring you the top 10 list.
ELi Staff | From ELHS closing due to Covid-19, to volunteers sewing masks to donate, to the Harbor Bay dealings, our reporters highlight stories they enjoyed bringing you in 2020. At this page, you can click on “play” buttons to hear individual recordings of the articles read by their own reporters!
Ann Kammerer | Dottie Hoopingarner has sewn nearly 2,000 masks during the pandemic. Ann Kammerer brings you this story after a reader first brought it to ELi’s attention.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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?
Andrew Graham | The team at ELi brings you the regular weekly pod and a special edition from Alice Dreger and Emily Joan Elliott on the refinancing of the Center City District bonds. Listen on.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Adan Tomas Quan | Social distancing has been a key component of keeping safe during the pandemic, but ELPD and ELFD personnel often work in groups and interact with the public. What precautions have they been taking?
Jack Timothy Harrison | In October, Residential and Hospitality Services at MSU furloughed student employees, who then looked across Grand River Ave. for employment. Jack Timothy Harrison reports for ELi.
Alice Dreger | “I’m from the working class, and when you grow up with working class people, they never think of retiring,” said Richard Liscombe, owner of Footgear. But then came the pandemic.
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.
Alice Dreger and Emily Joan Elliott | 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”!
Andrew Graham | Speaking to ELi on Wednesday, the head coach hoped that the new Covid restrictions work and his team can get back on the field in December. Andrew Graham reports.
Andrew Graham | Watson joins the podcast for an interview with Andrew Graham, where they discuss a number of pressing topics in East Lansing. Listen for more.
Emily Joan Elliott | Retired MSUPD Police Chief Jim Dunlap spoke with ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott about his participation in the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine trial.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Emily Joan Elliott and Andrew Graham | 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.
Emily Joan Elliott | ELPS continues to consider reopening in January and looks to what metrics to consider. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott reports.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Nathan Andrus and Emily Joan Elliott | Curious where ELPD is issuing citations for alleged violations of public health orders? ELi’s Nathan Andrus helps you visualize it.
Nathan Andrus | Confused about what’s legal where in the various parts of East Lansing when it comes to Covid-19? We have you covered!
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Emily Joan Elliott and Heather Brothers | 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.
Adan Tomas Quan | Want to celebrate Halloween while keeping safe during the pandemic? ELi’s Adan Tomas Quan provides you with some ideas (including a Glencairn parade) and safety precautions.
Sarah Spohn | Local musician Jonathan Townley released his first album yesterday. Sarah Spohn tells us what inspired him and where to find his music.
Andrew Graham | Big Ten football comes backs to East Lansing this Saturday, Oct. 24. The return is bringing on a mix of excitement and apprehension. ELi’s Andrew Graham reports on what is expected and what it all means.
Andrew Graham | The letter asks for the conference to work with local health officials to monitor community positivity prior to games and to play games earlier in the day. Andrew Graham has the details.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Alice Dreger | How come the School Board meeting was cancelled, but the City Manger held an East Lansing government meeting last night? ELi’s Alice Dreger explains what’s been happening.
Sarah Spohn | The Friends of the East Lansing Public Library is continuing its mission of supporting the East Lansing Public Library. Sarah Spohn explains how you can join in this Sunday.
Emily Joan Elliott | “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.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Andrew Graham | Last weekend, four bars were observed by ELPD and officials from the Ingham County Health Department possibly breaking Covid-19 public health orders. No citations were issues. Read on to find out why.
Emily Joan Elliott | ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott reminds you where you can find mental health support and resources in the area.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Heather Brothers | Has recycling in East Lansing changed recently? No, but it may soon change for the better. Heather Brothers brings us the answers to your questions.
Alex Hosey | Players and coaches have been hoping for the chance to play since the season was canceled in August. Now they’ve got their shot.
Andrew Graham | See ELi’s map that includes the locations being quarantined, type of residence, and length of quarantine.
Alice Dreger | ELi brings you the list of houses now quarantined. We also explain what some critics have to say about the local approaches being used.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Alice Dreger | East Lansing has got young people desiring freedom, police who have been told generally to back-off enforcement, public health experts who are wary of using sticks instead of carrots, a relatively new university administration, and a very new City Council. And numbers that are rising. ELi’s Alice Dreger reports.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Alice Dreger | While many Michigan cities and schools are slashing budgets in response to the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic, East Lansing’s City Manager tells Council he has “actually some pretty good news.”
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Alice Dreger | East Lansing businesses with low-income employees can now apply to receive up to $10,000 in grant assistance.
Adan Tomas Quan | How does the show go on during a pandemic for the ELHS Trojan Marching Band? ELi Summer Youth Journalism Program graduate Adan Quan brings us the story.
Sarah Spohn | Sign up to have all the virtual workshop materials delivered to your door from the MSU Broad Art Lab.
Andrew Graham | The total number of undergrads living off-campus could even be higher than normal because of tens of thousands of students displaced from the dorms moving into off-campus housing.
Emily Joan Elliott | What happens at ELPS is tied to what happens at MSU. But what’s happening with MSU undergrads remains uncertain.
Andrew Graham | The dorms are closing to protect health. What about what’s happening in off-campus, party-prone housing?
Andrew Graham and Alice Dreger | MSU announced late Tuesday afternoon that it is suspending in-person learning for undergraduate courses for the fall semester. The impact on East Lansing will be significant.
Emily Joan Elliott | Mask enforcement in East Lansing is turning out to be tricky. Emily Joan Elliott brings the details.
Alice Dreger | Outdoor parties will be limited to 25 people under a new County Health rule applied to part of East Lansing. How will this work in practice?
Alice Dreger | School Board Member Chris Martin is looking at other districts’ plans and thinks that ELPS is too far behind. ELi asked the rest of the School Board and the Superintendent to respond.
Ann Kammerer | “We’ve always including reducing isolation and loneliness among the older population in our annual goals,” Prime Time Seniors Director Kelly Arndt told ELi’s Ann Kammerer. “The pandemic really pushed it to the forefront.”
Amalia Medina | East Lansing’s recycling center on State Road is back open, and residents can now buy yard waste stickers online. Amalia Medina reports for ELi.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Chris Root | UPDATE: Rental and mortgage assistance is now available on a first-come, first-serve basis for East Lansing residents whose income is at or below the area median income. ELi’s Chris Root explains the programs.
Emily Joan Elliott | “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.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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?
Emily Joan Elliott | Starting Monday, Aug. 10, masks will be required in all public spaces in the DDA district under a new order by Mayor Aaron Stephens.
Emily Joan Elliott | Now we know: Younger people infected older people. The outbreak reached 18 counties in Michigan. And many were infected before the cluster was identified.
Alice Dreger | With Harper’s still closed after the COVID-19 outbreak, the owners are now defending themselves against recent accusations of unsafe conditions and failure to fully compensate workers.
Emily Joan Elliott | During public comment and the board’s discussion, the stress of the situation was often palpable. Emily Joan Elliott reports for ELi.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Aaron Applebey and Alice Dreger | Harper’s owner Pat Riley warned today that COVID-19 is “a silent invisible thief” who steals your business’s reputation. He made his case to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission for reopening Harper’s.
Sarah Spohn | From expanding outdoor seating to making hand sanitizer, ELi’s Sarah Spohn describes how two local spots are contending with COVID-19.
Aaron Applebey | The Michigan Liquor Control Commission has scheduled a hearing on Thursday to look into the COVID-19 outbreak linked to Harper’s. What could happen?
Andrew Graham | Could municipal regulation of food delivery services help local restaurants survive?
Aaron Applebey | East Lansing’s downtown barbers are working to keep it all safe. “I lost some family due to COVID-19,” one local barbershop employee tells ELi’s Aaron Applebey. “It’s definitely been an eye-opener.”
Andrew Graham | Many restaurants and bars downtown will now refuse service to anyone not wearing a mask. What else is happening to prepare for fall?
Alice Dreger and Andrew Graham | Council member Lisa Babcock strongly objected to handing over to the Mayor wide and unspecified powers during declared States of Emergency.
Aaron Applebey | Managers of East Lansing restaurants and bars tell ELi they’re doing what they can to keep their employees and customers safe.
Alice Dreger | The new order will reduce capacity in 19 East Lansing establishments. We tell you which and bring reactions from City Council members and one restaurant owner.
Andrew Graham and Alice Dreger | What’s closed, what’s opening, what’s happening along East Lansing’s main strip? The latest from ELi.
Christopher A. Wardell | Beloved East Lansing record store Flat, Black & Circular has reopened and is bringing relief and joy with fresh tunes. Chris Wardell brings the story of what’s been happening.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Alice Dreger | Cases of the coronavirus tied to people who visited Harper’s are now up to 76. None of those people have been hospitalized.
Ken R Sperber | The East Lansing City Clerk’s Office needs election workers for the upcoming August Michigan primary and the November presidential election. ELi’s Ken Sperber tells you what the job entails.
Sarah Spohn | Now’s your chance to take a break from everything and cast your vote in an art contest sponsored by a local business.
Alice Dreger | According to Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail, the 22 cases include one employee. What can government officials do to compel masks and other interventions?
Alice Dreger | As Harper’s closes for cleaning, ELi hears from the owners about what they say the City has done wrong. What’s going to happen here come fall?
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Ann Kammerer | Some local residents used the recent time at home to bring new pets into their families. ELi’s Ann Kammerer brings the story of three pet adoptions.
Amalia Medina | The weather is beautiful for strolling downtown, and lots of businesses are back open. ELi’s Amalia Medina reports.
Alice Dreger | Slotkin said she favors police reform, not defunding police, and that she hopes to see MSU and East Lansing’s leaders work together on the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Chris Root | During June and July, 97 full- and part-time City of East Lansing employees are working reduced hours, but with little impact on their income.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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?
Alice Dreger | Tables will be available 11 am to 10 pm for people who want to sit and enjoy food and drink purchased from restaurants within a 3-block radius.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Alice Dreger | A day after ELi’s Patty Bonito reported it’d be a long time before playgrounds and the dog park would reopen, the Parks & Rec Director changed his mind.
Patty Bonito | East Lansing playgrounds will remain off-limits until at least July 13, and the dog park until August 3 according to Tim McCaffrey, Parks & Rec Director.
Ann Kammerer | Joe Natoli and Greg Bonito share a garden in the Oakwood neighborhood of East Lansing. There, the friendship grows.
Alice Dreger | Expect fresh eggs, bread, herbs, spring onions, rhubarb, honey, syrup, greens, cheeses and meat, mushrooms, jams, fermentations, and more.
Emily Joan Elliott | Outdoor lockers will help with 24/7 contactless delivery. What else will be changing at the library?
Alice Dreger | The filing of Chapter 11 bankruptcy by HopCat’s parent company speaks to the level of distress in the bar and restaurant industry. The City of East Lansing is trying to help out.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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?
Ann Kammerer | “We didn’t realize how much puzzles were in demand until we needed more.”
Natalie Rose | What’s it like getting tested? Where can you get tested? And why does everyone we hear from in our area seem to come back negative?
Alice Dreger | “It’s going to be scarier for the city than I think it is for campus,” Beier said about MSU’s decision to reopen in the fall.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Alice Dreger | A rep for Barrio’s says that restaurant will reopen if Albert Ave. is closed off for outside take-out dining. But Jolly Pumpkin won’t open before Labor Day.
Sarah Spohn | ELi’s Sarah Spohn talks with Foster Coffee co-owner Nicholas Pidek about how that company is managing reopening.
Amalia Medina | Various local organizations are stepping up to help people who need no-cost food to live without hunger.
Alice Dreger | Chris Martin wants open conversations about what to do with regard to the start of the next school year. The entire School Board will talk about the superintendent’s evaluation on Tuesday.
Alice Dreger | Housing Administrator Annette Irwin told a city commission last night that all bets are off in terms of when we might see that long-awaited housing study.
Ann Kammerer | In our continuing series on small joys during the stay-at-home orders, we bring you the story of one teenager’s basement quest to build a pipe organ from scratch.
Chris Gray | As long as the state presents no barriers and the weather cooperates, the culture of drinking and dining in East Lansing will change for at least a few months.
Alice Dreger | Parking revenues have taken a steep dive. Fees and fines are way down. The shortfall in the Parks & Rec budget looks to be $300,000. And with MSU shuttered, the income tax can’t save us now.
Emily Joan Elliott | The impact of the pandemic on MSU is shaping the individual and collective lives of the greater East Lansing community.
Chris Gray | City staff are looking into ways to enable people to enjoy food and drink (including beer and wine) from local restaurants outside, in public spaces set up with picnic tables.
Chris Gray | Only 57 applicants were deemed eligible for the 100 grants. Now, those who have been late on tax payments will be able to try again.
Alice Dreger | Marcy Gillespie Kinzer of the Playmakers team updates us on the store’s “fit at home” and virtual injury clinic help. And this Sunday, you can move to share the 517 love.
Sarah Spohn | While it won’t be the same without the 3-D strolling experience, the show will go on for the East Lansing Art Festival.
Emily Joan Elliott | A lot of worrisome news from Monday’s East Lansing School Board meeting.
Emily Joan Elliott | The ELPS School Board unanimously passed a resolution not on the agenda, encouraging the banning of weapons at the Michigan State Capitol.
Alice Dreger | What’s fair to charge bars and restaurants in East Lansing? And should liquor licenses be more heavily regulated here?
Mark Meyer | East Lansing’s Environmental Services Administrator Cathy DeShambo has some suggestions about what to do while your house is overflowing with recyclables.
Alice Dreger | We bring news on how the Peppermint Creek fundraiser did for the local volunteer sewing army and also provide a general update on the homemade production of masks.
Ann Nichols | “It is really the grocery store in East Lansing that many of us have wanted for years. The owners are local, the service is excellent.”
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Mark Meyer | This year’s market will look a lot different, but will still open on June 7 and run on Sundays in Valley Court Park.
Emily Joan Elliott | Erin Graham thinks ELPS students may be left at a serious disadvantage under the district’s policy. The administration believes equity is at stake.
Sarah Spohn | Here’s how you can help keep your favorite East Lansing-area coffee shops, restaurants, and bakeries alive!
Alice Dreger | It’s a good thing the East Lansing Public Schools district has saved millions of dollars to prepare for economic declines.
Chris Gray | How did the Downtown Development Authority ultimately decide to judge applications for one hundred grants of $2,500 each?
Alice Dreger | Gotcha says scooters can be helpful during a pandemic. The City replies, “Wash your hands!”
Ann Kammerer | Kit Carlson describes herself as “a total Monty Python fan” and someone in need of a little fun. Who isn’t?
Emily Joan Elliott | Advocacy coordinator Erica Schmittdiel tells ELi what’s happening amid the Stay-at-Home orders for relationship abuse and sexual assault survivors.
Alice Dreger | The DDA will meet Thursday to decide on criteria for $250K in grants to local businesses. We explain what’s been decided so far.
Mark Meyer | Customers can come back to Van Atta’s starting today, and can call Hammond Farms for delivery. Here’s what you need to keep in mind.
Emily Joan Elliott | Schools of choice numbers, graduation cancelled, ELHS ranking, elementary school construction delays, and much more in our School Board report.
Chris Gray | The DDA is diverting $250,000 to help 100 local businesses, as City Council will discuss other possible aid mechanisms.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Sarah Spohn | Ray Walsh has owned and operated Curious Book Shop for fifty years. He’s hoping the community will help his employees.
Alice Dreger and Natalie Rose | We have now lined up $6,300 in match commitments from local donors, and so far we’ve brought in $1,356 in additional donations.
Mark Meyer | City staff are looking into whether East Lansing’s market could follow the style of the Allen neighborhood market in Lansing.
Mark Meyer | A reader asked if East Lansing’s recycling is being treated as trash during the pandemic. We bring the answer.
Alice Dreger | The credit union is going ahead. But the City’s Planning Director says they’ve put the housing study on hold. Why?
Mark Meyer | East Lansing’s Summer Solstice Jazz Festival has been added to list of coronavirus casualties.
Ann Nichols | In her latest column, Ann Nichols explores the cooking options enabled by one farm-to-table restaurant’s inventive approach.
Sarah Spohn | East Lansing Library Teen Services Specialist Beth Scanlon is not letting the pandemic get in the way of her work supporting area youth.
Emily Joan Elliott | Trustees of the East Lansing Public Library met to talk about the tough times now and the tough times ahead.
Sarah Spohn | Love working with paint, carving, vinyl decal, wood burning, stain, or some other application? Apply now to participate in an art contest being held by High Caliber Karting.
Alice Dreger | Mayor Ruth Beier says virtual meetings are not a good way to conduct the public’s business. The other four members of Council say the show must go on.
Emily Joan Elliott | The City of East Lansing is working on how to hold public meetings without allowing disruptions that are seen as inappropriate.
Emily Joan Elliott and Alice Dreger | 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.
Mark Meyer | Bad time to have a communication to loyal customers go to spam! But Audrey Yonkus shares beautiful photos with ELi.
Emily Joan Elliott | Blood is needed to help people facing emergency surgeries and birthing mothers. Find out how you can help.
Emily Joan Elliott | We bring the latest data from Ingham County, including about age, race, and geographic distribution.
Emily Joan Elliott | A resident and an employee have tested positive for COVID-19, but the cases are unrelated.
Emily Joan Elliott | East Lansing’s public health during COVID-19 is being shaped by our demographics and complex health insurance system.
Alice Dreger and Emily Joan Elliott | With work halted under the governor’s orders, it’s unclear what East Lansing’s elementary schools’ populations will be facing next year.
Ann Kammerer | “We’re just stepping back and listening, and hearing the sounds of spring.”
Chris Root | Emergency federal legislation means the City of East Lansing will soon receive almost $300K in funding. What can it be used for?
Alice Dreger | Which City of East Lansing government meetings are starting up again, and which have yet to resume?
Emily Joan Elliott | Superintendent Dori Leyko gave more details last night on the district’s plan to restart teaching, and announced free meal distribution would start again.
Anaiis Rios-Kasoga | Rev. Jennifer Tafel says the idea for the local interfaith service, centered on “hope,” came from a community member.
Alice Dreger | A wave of layoffs speaks to the massive financial challenges faced by the government and businesses of East Lansing.
Chris Gray | Every month MSU employees work from home means significant lost revenue for the City of East Lansing’s new income tax.
Emily Joan Elliott and Alice Dreger | Haslett Public Schools have geared back up. But East Lansing’s still haven’t. The School Board meets tonight.
Alice Dreger | Our publisher pauses to answer the question, “How is ELi doing?”
Ann Kammerer | “All that’s been perfected over a billion years is right in your own backyard,” says Peter Carrington, the curator of Beal Garden.
Sarah Spohn | The need and the challenges are high, but this ever-growing community of sewists keeps making masks, headbands, gowns, and more.
Emily Joan Elliott | No more recreational fire permits for now. This and numerous other measures are being taken to protect police and firefighter-paramedics in East Lansing.
Emily Joan Elliott | Health concerns for those working on meal distribution are significant, and the number of people being fed through the system suddenly doubled.
Alice Dreger | Tenants for The Abbot signed leases expecting a summer move-in. The developer thinks work should be allowed to continue.
Mark Meyer | Trail usage is way up as people get out for mental and physical health. So what should we be remembering as we (and our dogs) travel along?
Mark Meyer | This Saturday, Playmakers’ race participants will spread out to run, walk, and roll worldwide at three different distances.
Sarah Spohn | Good news: you can continue to enjoy the work of local artists who gather around Blue Owl Coffee’s open mic night. And if you are an artist, you can join in.
Chris Gray | The East Lansing Public Library’s doors are closed but its online treasure chest is open! Find out what’s available and how things are going financially.
Emily Joan Elliott | When will life in East Lansing return to normal? And what’s happening to faculty and international students?
Mark Meyer | In an effort to prevent homelessness, the Cities of East Lansing and Lansing are making extraordinary contributions to Haven House and other charities.
Emily Joan Elliott | What could earn you a thousand-dollar fine in East Lansing under the stay-at-home order? ELi explains.
Mark Meyer | When word of the season cancellations became known, athletic director Nikki Norris was thankful to be able to immediately connect with her staff. ELi’s Mark Meyer files this report.
Mark Meyer | The City of East Lansing has issued a new list of cancellations and closures, including the 2020 Art Festival, the 2020 Aquatic Center season, and the softball and soccer complexes. Mark Meyer files this report for ELi.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Ann Kammerer | The latest in the Little Local Joys series – stories shared by ELi readers and contributors about little things and positive moments that bring us joy and hope during the coronavirus outbreak.
Alex Hosey | ELi reporter and ELHS student Alex Hosey reports on what East Lansing High students have been experiencing in the last few weeks. What have been our teens’ activities and concerns?
Ann Kammerer | For our continuing “Little Local Joys” series, ELi’s Ann Kammerer spoke with East Lansing resident Nancy Cuddeback about the movement to honor medical professionals with candles tonight.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Last week’s “Ann About Town” column on Charlie Kang’s brought a heartwarming letter from Mr. Kang’s daughter, Yuni Yi. We share her note with you.
Chris Gray | Various groups in this region, including the Capital Area Housing Partnership, are working to help people avoid eviction, foreclosure, and homelessness.
Anaiis Rios-Kasoga | A group called “EL Neighbors and Communities Help Each Other” has been working to serve the needs of vulnerable populations during the pandemic.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Amalia Medina | Caitlin Hegg is concerned about the community she left behind two weeks ago when Peace Corps officials told her she had to return to the U.S. Amalia Medina files this report for ELi.
Alice Dreger | Data are showing conclusively that coronavirus has been spreading in Ingham County. Local experts say the real numbers are definitely above the official counts.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Christopher A. Wardell | Smitty Smith, known to folks in East Lansing from the Pump House Concert series, shares a view of the pandemic from Taiwan, where he currently resides with his wife.
A milestone in life amid emergency conditions: a time to celebrate, albeit a bit more quietly.
Alice Dreger | The crane is no longer moving at The Abbot. But there’s some good news from the project. ELi’s Alice Dreger reports.
Marie Adele Grosso | A tech-savvy team is running a 3-D printing operation out of East Lansing High School to supply emergency face masks. Marie Adele Grosso reports for ELi on how you can help.
Ann Nichols | When sheltering in place and staying safe, one must rely on the tried-and-true. For ELi’s Ann Nichols, that means a hearty helping of Korean and Chinese cuisine delivered from Charlie Kang’s.
Chris Gray | There are plenty of outdoor paths and exercise opportunities to explore in East Lansing, Meridian Township and throughout the tri-county area — while still practicing social distancing. ELi’s Chris Gray brings us this tour.
Ann Kammerer | What’s keeping you positive during the pandemic? We want your little stories of joy, hope, and kindness.
A milk door in the Bailey neighborhood brings a resident joy — and now candles from Massage and Wellness, too!
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Alice Dreger | What’s it like reporting during a pandemic? ELi reporter Emily Joan Elliott and photographer Gary Caldwell share their experiences.
Alice Dreger | The East Lansing schools-based system for emergency food distribution is changing starting now, and meals will be available for seniors on Wednesday.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Alice Dreger | East Lansing Mayor Ruth Beier is angry that the federal, state, and county governments did not act much sooner on COVID-19. ELi spoke with her just after the Governor’s stay-at-home order.
Alice Dreger | People who owe the City of East Lansing an income tax return for 2019 now have until July 31 to file. But what’s the outlook for the City’s finances now?
Chris Root | Doubling of state’s coronavirus cases prompts Whitmer to take decisive action. ELi’s Chris Root provides an update.
Noa Kuszai | In downtown East Lansing, Campbell’s Market Basket is keeping its shelves stocked with groceries. ELi’s Noa Kuszai files this report.
Alice Dreger and Emily Joan Elliott | 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?
Sarah Spohn | Organizer Jessy Gregg calls this community of sewing volunteer ‘crisis crafters.’ They are now making fabric masks to help with the worsening COVID-19 crisis. ELi’s Sarah Spohn reports.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Amalia Medina | A virtual group effort is creating a community healing event for the whole family. Amalia Medina files this report for ELi.
Greg Ballein, owner of East Lansing’s Student Book Store (SBS), has closed the store for COVID-19. He tells Eli’s Noa Kuszai why he thinks the City should be giving small businesses financial assistance.
Alice Dreger | East Lansing’s emergency services providers are now taking special measures to reduce the odds that they will be exposed to COVID-19. ELi spoke with the police and fire chiefs to learn more.
Alice Dreger | City Council met today to extend East Lansing’s State of Emergency. ELi’s Alice Dreger donned a mask to attend and report for you what happened.
Emily Joan Elliott and Alice Dreger | 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.
Emily Joan Elliott | MSU has confirmed two more cases of COVID-19 in the university community. ELi’s Emily Joan Elliott brings the latest numbers.
Mark Meyer | When will the high school athletic seasons — winter and spring — resume, and in what format? ELi’s Mark Meyer files this report.
Alice Dreger | Many businesses are offering by-appointment help but make sure to call ahead. There are college students willing to help, if you need it. ELi’s Alice Dreger helps by filing this rundown.
Alice Dreger | Friday morning 3/20/20 at 10 a.m., East Lansing’s City Council will meet partly electronically to vote whether to extend our local State of Emergency.
Chris Gray and Alice Dreger | The Census Bureau is saying students who normally attend school here should be counted as living here for the census. But will they be?
Sarah Spohn | In observance of federal, state and local orders to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, many businesses have scaled back their hours and services. ELi’s Sarah Spohn provides the details.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Natalie Rose | There’s a new resource to help people in East Lansing figure out which restaurants are doing take-out and delivery. ELi’s Natalie Rose reports.
Alice Dreger | Mayor Ruth Beier has declared a state of emergency in East Lansing. We tell you in practical terms what that means.
ELi Staff | ELi is getting lots of “small” questions related to life in the East Lansing area under the public health emergency. Send us your questions and we will keep answering them at this page.
Amalia Medina | ELHS students were caught off guard with all the uncertainties facing them as Michigan schools were closed. Amalia Medina brings ELi the story.
Alice Dreger | Even before Ingham County Health issued a new order, some East Lansing bars and restaurants were moving to help “flatten the curve.” All face grave economic uncertainty.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Alice Dreger | East Lansing City leaders are working steadily to try to figure out a way to reduce or eliminate bar crowds in East Lansing to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus. ELi’s Alice Dreger reports.
Alice Dreger | The East Lansing Public Schools administration has announced plans for feeding children during the public health emergency now ongoing. Here are the details.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.
Natalie Rose | An update from ELi leadership on how we plan to cover all facets of East Lansing news during this unprecedented public health crisis.
Alice Dreger | “Social distancing even one day sooner will save lives,” says the dean of Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine. What does that look like for people in East Lansing?
Mark Meyer | UPDATE (4:30 p.m. Thursday 3/24/20): Tonight’s MHSAA girls basketball regional championship game between East Lansing and Holt has been postponed indefinitely, as has Friday’s boys district championship game between East Lansing and Grand Ledge. The boys state swimming and diving finals, as well as the girls gymnastics finals, and state hockey finals, have also been suspended.
Alice Dreger | East Lansing Public Schools’ superintendent told district families this afternoon, “We are in the process of making plans for if/when we are directed to close.” ELi’s Alice Dreger reports.
Emily Joan Elliott | 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.