Catch Up With Our Reporting From This Week
It was a busy start to the new year for the ELi team!
The ELi team slowed down our publishing schedule to close out 2025, giving our reporting staff a much needed break. But we’re all the way back and 2026 got off to a fast start.
Start your weekend by catching up with our reporting from the week.
2025 in review: What happened in East Lansing last year.
Before we get to 2026 news, it’s a good time to look back at what has happened in East Lansing in the last year. Managing Editor Luke Day recapped our coverage from that last year, including important events in the city and some of ELi’s best feature stories from 2025. Read Luke’s story to get caught up on what happened in East Lansing last year.
Five big questions for 2026.
There are several ongoing and emerging storylines in East Lansing that we’re eager to follow as they develop. How will the city navigate financial headwinds? Is there more collaboration between Michigan State University and East Lansing leaders on the horizon? Will City Council release the investigation into the East Lansing Police Department? We’re looking forward to getting answers to these questions – and more – over the next year.
East Lansing High School students protest ICE with walkout.
Days after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and killed a Minneapolis woman, East Lansing High School students staged a walkout to protest ICE actions. Reporter Dustin DuFort Petty took photos of the event and spoke with an organizer.
Up to a dozen Sheetz locations could come to the Lansing area.
The first Sheetz restaurant and gas station proposed for the Lansing area has been making its way through the East Lansing approval process in recent months. The Sheetz discussed at recent city meetings could just be the tip of the iceberg, as the company would like to add six to 12 locations in the Lansing area. City Government Reporter Ayah Imran has the details.
East Lansing City Council delays vote on camping and loitering ban.
Members of City Council pushed back a decision on ordinance amendments that would ban public camping and loitering in parking areas. Residents have raised concerns about the proposal at city meetings, saying the action would criminalize homelessness. Some concerns about how broadly the new ordinance could be enforced emerged during council’s discussion. Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols reported on the meeting.
East Lansing repeals loud exhaust portion of pretextual stops ordinance, to consider rolling back other provisions.
Just over a year ago, the East Lansing City Council passed a new ordinance instructing ELPD to not pull drivers over to conduct pretextual stops, with the goal of reducing bias in policing. This week, the city repealed one section of the ordinance to allow ELPD to pull drivers over for loud exhaust once again. While discussing the ordinance amendment, council opened the door to repealing more sections of the ordinance later on. Find out more in Luke’s story.
East Lansing will look to address car noise through police-led education initiative.
Prior to the meeting, ELi reached out to City Manager Robert Belleman to find out more about ELPD’s plans if the “loud exhaust” provision was repealed. ELPD and police departments around the state struggle to enforce noise ordinances on cars because of challenges associated with picking up decibel readings on moving vehicles. Belleman explained ELPD doesn’t plan to issue tickets to loud cars right away, but will educate motorists about noise laws. We also spoke with a state lawmaker's office that is looking to make it easier to enforce noise ordinances on cars. Get the whole story in Luke’s reporting.
Pizzawala’s to have soft opening next month.
After being approved to open last summer, Pizzawala’s, a full service Indian-style pizza restaurant planned for downtown East Lansing, has experienced a series of delays. The business’ owner told ELi Pizzawala’s is getting closer to opening, and will have a soft launch with reduced hours in February. Ayah reported on what’s to come for Pizzawala’s.
There are seven city meetings scheduled for next week.
City government business has ramped up to start 2026, and there will be seven city meetings next week. On Monday (Jan. 12) the Human Rights Commission meets. On Tuesday (Jan. 13), there is a discussion-only City Council meeting. On Wednesday (Jan. 14) the city’s Police Oversight Commission and Planning Commission will each gather. Then on Thursday (Jan. 15) the Financial Health Review Team, Arts Commission and Community Development Advisory Committee will each convene. When meeting agendas are posted, they can be found here.
Additionally, the East Lansing Board of Education will meet on Monday (Jan. 12). That meeting agenda can be viewed here.
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