Catch Up With Our Reporting From This Week
Read our reporting on the city's Flock data-sharing habits, overcrowded school buses and more.
It’s Saturday! This past week was the final lull before the East Lansing city government picks things back up for fall meetings.
Before you (hopefully) take off for a long Labor Day weekend, catch up with ELi’s reporting from this week.
Thousands of weekly searches tap into ELPD’s Flock data. Few come from local police.
A lengthy investigation by ELi shows that tens of thousands of searches from dozens of police departments around Michigan tapped into the city’s Flock database over a 30-day stretch in July and August. Fewer than 200 came from local police. Adan Tomas Quan broke down what he found in East Lansing’s Flock data, and what it tells us about broad data sharing by police departments around the state.
MacDonald Middle School parents say bus overcrowding is leading to kids sitting in aisles
Parents of MacDonald Middle School students said their children are riding on overcrowded buses that sometimes do not have enough seats for children. Parents who spoke with ELi said this is an issue that goes back years and they worry there are safety risks. Reporter Dustin DuFort Petty brings the full story.
East Lansing is waiting for a charging decision before releasing videos of controversial arrest
It has now been more than a month since a video made rounds on social media showing an ELPD officer repeatedly striking a restrained Black woman, and even after most City Council members called for transparency at a meeting weeks ago, there still has not been video of the incident released. A council member confirmed to ELi that the city is waiting on a decision from the county prosecutor about whether or not to charge the woman involved, but the plan is still to release footage. Managing Editor Luke Day reported on what is happening.
From East Lansing to Lansing’s eastside, ELFCO faces another fight for survival
During its half-century of existence, the Eastside Lansing Food Co-Op has seen its share of success and times of struggle. Right now, the food co-op needs to increase its sales, or it could soon close permanently. Dustin spoke with past and current managers of the store, which has long brought a unique blend of food options and strives to be much more than a grocery store. Read Dustin’s reporting here.
In the age of screens, local preschools are embracing the outdoors
As parents and experts worry about the consequences over-consumption of media and screens can have on children, local preschools are making a point to bring young kids outside and keep devices away. Reporter Ayah Imran spoke with local preschools about why it’s important that kids get time outdoors and have lessons centered around playing.
East Lansing Insider Podcast: Understanding the cyclospora outbreak
This week on the East Lansing Insider podcast, Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols talks to Joan Rose, a public health water microbiologist and the director of Michigan State University’s Water Alliance, about the cyclospora outbreak and how the parasite can enter water and food systems. Listen to the podcast here or on streaming services like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Six meetings are scheduled next week.
There are a few meetings scattered about the calendar next week, with much of the action happening at the City Council level. Tuesday (Sept. 9), the council will have a regular meeting and a special meeting to speak with attorneys. Wednesday (Sept. 10), there is another City Council meeting, where the body is slated to meet in closed-session with attorneys. There is also a Planning Commission meeting. Thursday (Sept. 11), the Historic District Commission and Housing Commission will each meet. Meeting agendas can be found here.
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