Catch Up With Our Reporting From This Week

It was another eventful week for the ELi team. Start your Saturday by catching up with our reporting on local finances, a trailblazing local figure and more. 

Pioneering judge Carolyn Stell opened doors for women in Mid-Michigan law. 

When Carolyn Stell, Ingham County’s first female circuit court judge, started practicing law in the 1970s, she was one of just four female practicing attorneys in the county. Stell became known as a judge who commanded preparedness and adherence to the rules of the court. She was also a mentor for many women who entered the legal field in Mid-Michigan. Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols wrote about Stell. 

MSU plans to expand business offerings on campus. Will it have an impact on downtown East Lansing?

While plans for Michigan State University’s Spartan Gateway District are still being put in place, it does seem likely MSU will add retail businesses, restaurants and more to its campus. Could the university putting new businesses next to busy university venues, like sports arenas, draw customers from existing downtown businesses? Reporter Ayah Imran found out. 

Financial Health Team charts course for the remainder of review period.

During the first half of its six-month review period, a committee appointed by the East Lansing City Council to do a deep dive on city finances heard presentations on city department budgets, employee benefits and other components of the city’s budget. Over the next three months, the committee will use the information it has gathered to recommend adjustments. Managing Editor Luke Day breaks down what the team is considering. 

MSU preschool with play-based curriculum to add third location. 

The Michigan State University Child Development Laboratory preschool provides a unique environment where lead teachers are also professors at Michigan State University who teach courses in human development and family studies. Other teachers often hold bachelor’s or even master’s degrees. Soon, MSU will open a third Child Development Laboratory location on the Lansing’s east side. Ayah reported on the preschools. 

Goodbye Bruegger’s, hello Einstein Bros. 

While the Bruegger’s Bagels downtown recently closed, a different breakfast destination will soon take its place. Einstein Bros. Bagels is owned by the same company as Bruegger’s, and will open a location on Grand River Avenue once the storefront that previously hosted Bruegger’s is remodeled. Reporter Dustin DuFort Petty reported on the business coming to East Lansing. 

East Lansing Insider podcast: Mental health in college and East Lansing. 

This week on the East Lansing Insider podcast, Dustin spoke with Michigan State University student Andelina Storm Grossi who recently published her first book, Sanity in the Storm: Faith, Healing, and Hope for the Anxious Soul.  He also spoke with City Councilmember Kerry Ebersole Singh about what has spurred an increase in mental health issues in our communities. The podcast can be listened to here, or on streaming services like Spotify and Apple Podcasts. 

There are eight city meetings next week. 

After a couple quiet of weeks, city government picks back up next week. Monday (April 6), the Seniors Commission, Transportation Commission and Human Rights Commission will meet. Tuesday (April 7), City Council and the University Student Commission will each gather. Wednesday (April 8), the Police Oversight Commission and Planning Commission will each convene. Then on Thursday (April 9), there is a Historic District Commission meeting. When meeting agendas are posted, they can be found here. 

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