Catch Up With Our Reporting From This Week
It was a busy week!
Lights are going up and most of the leaves have fallen down, as the holiday season finally settles in East Lansing.
For the ELi team, it was another busy week of reporting on the schools, local government and community. Start your Saturday by catching up with our work!
MSU football victory sparked more than 50 nuisance fires
The East Lansing Fire Department had to respond to more than 50 nuisance fires last Saturday night and Sunday morning, after the Michigan State University Spartans football team upset rival University of Michigan Wolverines. Public safety officials warned at a press conference Friday that a tradition after MSU sports victories where fans burn couches is putting a significant strain on the area's emergency response capabilities and posing a threat to public safety. Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols covered the press conference.
City weighs six-figure fine against real estate agent who cut down trees
A local real estate agent could face a six-figure fine after he was accused of cutting down more than two dozen trees without a permit near Coleman Road. While the real estate agent says a miscommunication led to the tree removal and he is not responsible for all the stumps on the property, a city report says cutting down the trees has serious environmental consequences. For the full story, read Reporter Dustin DuFort Petty's reporting.
Nonprofit leader urges East Lansing to expand support for unhoused residents
The director of a local nonprofit organization that works to aid the area's homeless population presented to the East Lansing Human Rights Commission on Monday. Punks With Lunch Executive Director Kelsea Hector urged the city to support a care model that meets unhoused people where they're at and to support a pause on encampment sweeps. Reporter Ayah Imran wrote about the presentation.
Scientists are excited about the research opportunities last weekend's pissing contest brought
A contest that saw University of Michigan and Michigan State University students donate their urine reached the pages of the New York Times and set of late night comedian Seth Meyers. But behind the jokes and headlines, the urine collected offered an opportunity to advance exciting plant research. Read how scientists plan to use the pee in Dustin's story.
East Lansing Kiwanis Club reflects on local projects and global impact
The Kiwanis Club has become known locally for its many service project and volunteer-led initiatives that benefit local schools and the community at-large. Recently, the president of Kiwanis International met with members of the local Kiwanis Club for a reception. Managing Editor Luke Day wrote about Kiwanis' work in the community and how one East Lansing woman's participation in the local club led to global volunteer work.
For East Lansing band students, the lessons go beyond music
With teachers everywhere scrambling to find ways to keep students from using technology to take shortcuts on homework, band is one of the last classes where perseverance might be a student's most important attribute. Dustin spoke with East Lansing band teachers about their successful programs and why band class might be more important than ever.
East Lansing Insider Podcast: Election Day in East Lansing
On this week’s episode of the East Lansing Insider podcast, Anna and Luke talk about the results of the midterm election which proved to be a sweeping victory for Democrats across the country. Michigan had some of the most competitive races on the ballot, with East Lansing voters having a say in the highly watched race for Michigan’s 7th U.S. Congressional District.
Listen to the podcast here or on streaming services like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
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