Catch Up On Our Reporting From This Week
It was a busy week for the ELi team.
City government slowed down this week as March nears its end, but the ELi team stayed busy, bringing important reporting on the people and places of East Lansing.
Start your Saturday by catching up with our work from this week.
From WWII to Vietnam dissent, Bill Root's century of service ends at 102.
Last month, Bill Root departed this world after three acts, serving his country and its people in each: in the Pacific theater of World War II, more than three decades in the U.S. State Department, and more than 40 years as a champion for peace. He helped usher the U.S. through the Cold War and was the only American diplomat serving in Vietnam to protest the war’s expansion into neighboring Cambodia at the time. Read more about Bill and his 102 years of service in Reporter Dustin DuFort Petty's story.
East Lansing police to deploy a Flock camera, a "phenomenal" but controversial law enforcement tool.
East Lansing has purchased, but not yet deployed, a Flock camera. The camera snaps a photo of the back of each vehicle that passes by, creating a database of everyone using the roadway. A law enforcement expert ELi spoke with said Flock cameras are a "phenomenal" tool for police, but groups like the ACLU say the cameras raise serious privacy concerns because they collect data on people who have done nothing wrong. Managing Editor Luke Day reported on the debate around the camera.
From campus labs to river rescues, East Lansing firefighters train for it all.
While the profession of firefighting will always conjure images of teams putting out burning buildings, in East Lansing firefighters must be prepared to respond to a broad range of emergencies – including water rescues and hazmat responses. Reporting Intern Kennedy DeMars spoke with East Lansing Interim Fire Chief John Newman about how the profession has evolved over his 25 years of service, and the many trainings East Lansing firefighters take on.
Bright new chapter: RJ's Burgers and Ice Cream Co. opens in East Lansing.
Bright neon lights, pink-striped walls and gleaming white counters set the tone inside RJ’s Burgers & Ice Cream Co., where a vibrant interior mirrors Robert and Yvette Wilkie’s journey toward building something joyful in the wake of an unimaginable loss. The Wilkies' named their business after their son, RJ, who passed away just days after he was born. Arts and Culture Reporter Sarah Spohn wrote about the new East Lansing business' origins and what customers can expect.
Cold weather, rate hikes combine to push Lansing-area energy bills up.
If it seems like your electric bill is up this winter, it isn't your imagination. Previously, the Lansing Board of Water & Light approved a pair of rate hikes to go into effect in October 2024 and October 2025. The already rising rates were made worse by an especially cold winter, forcing people to use more energy to heat their homes. City Government Reporter Ayah Imran wrote about increasing energy costs.
The East Lansing Jim built.
After graduating from East Lansing High School in 1964, Jim Hagan founded Hagan Realty, a premier rental company in the city. Jim died earlier this month after a lifetime of hard work, quiet kindness to those down on their luck, and imparting his ethos of responsibility and commitment to those he left behind. Dustin spoke with three of Jim's children, who remember an old school landlord who loved the city he helped build.
East Lansing Planning Commission discusses fee-in-lieu program.
Currently, there are two large apartment buildings proposed for downtown East Lansing. The city has a requirement that 25% of units in new apartments downtown be affordable, owner occupied or fill some other role to help diversify the area's housing stock, a rule developers say makes projects prohibitively expensive. This week, the Planning Commission began discussing ways to amend the city's policies to make development downtown more palatable for businesses, while still helping the city carry out its housing goals. Luke recapped the discussion.
East Lansing parks and rec director talks deer management.
For years, the city has grappled with a hard-to-manage deer population that has ruined landscaping and caused dangerous car collisions. For the last six years, East Lansing has managed its deer through an annual cull. But Parks, Recreation and Arts Director Justin Drwencke thinks more steps are necessary. Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols brings the full story.
East Lansing Insider Podcast: A conversation with MSU Hillel.
On this week’s episode of the East Lansing Insider podcast, Anna talks with Robyn Hughey and Jonathon Koenigsberg of MSU Hillel in East Lansing about the widespread impact of the March 12 attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. Hughey and Koenigsberg speak about why Temple Israel has a personal connection to so many in East Lansing and how communities can respond to incidents of antisemitism. The podcast can be listened to here or on streaming services like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
There are four city meetings next week.
It's a slow week ahead in city government, as there are four meetings scheduled, all on Thursday (April 2). The Downtown Management Board will hold two meetings, the Financial Health Review Committee gathers and the Housing Commission will convene. When agendas are posted, they can be found here.
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