Catch Up On Our Reporting From This Week
It was a busy week in East Lansing!
It'll be a busy weekend in East Lansing, as the Summer Solstice Jazz Festival returns for its 30th annual event.
Before joining in on the festivities, catch up with our reporting from the week.
East Lansing received second complaint about Belleman; to tell future employees of his “satisfactory” performance.
East Lansing will pay former City Manager Robert Belleman more than $200,000 and tell future employees of his satisfactory performance that led his contract to be renewed in September 2025, according to the agreement the city reached with its previously top employee. ELi obtained the agreement and a second complaint that was levied against Belleman through a series of records requests. Get the details in Managing Editor Luke Day’s reporting.
From Wells Hall to Pinecrest: Preacher’s disciple brings anti-LGBT message home.
An anti-LGBT sign that went up in front of a Pinecrest Neighborhood home at the start of June’s Pride Month drew the attention of neighbors, who said it does not represent values held by the community. Reporter Dustin DuFort Petty spoke with the homeowner who put up the sign and discovered he has ties to the well-known Wells Hall Preacher. Read Dustin’s story here.
City Council defers votes on large apartment, graduate rooftop bar expansion.
The fate of a couple of large downtown proposals are set to be decided in July. The City Council delayed votes on an expansion to the rooftop bar at The Graduate Hotel and on a 12-story apartment planned for downtown. Luke and Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols reported on why the votes were delayed and what the projects would bring downtown.
Summer Solstice Jazz Festival celebrates 30 years of tradition and timeless music.
For three decades, the Summer Solstice Jazz Festival has brought music lovers to downtown East Lansing. The festival returned this weekend, and Arts and Culture Reporter Sarah Spohn wrote about what to expect at the event and how it has grown over the past 30 years.
East Lansing parks budget cut questioned after year-end surplus.
Members of the city’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission were irked by nearly $400,000 in cuts to the city’s parks department that were added to next fiscal year’s budget late in the process. Now, with the city finishing the fiscal year with a surplus – despite projections of a deficit – some commissioners question if the cuts were necessary and if more funding constraints will be put on the commission in future years. Reporter Ayah Imran wrote about the parks budget.
Know the ballot: Transportation services for the elderly and disabled persons.
Voters will decide whether or not to renew a millage at the Aug. 4 election that pays for transportation services for elderly people and people with disabilities. A county official explained the different services funded by the millage and how transportation services are needed for some to continue to live independently. Dustin reported on the millage.
East Lansing Insider podcast: East Lansing parts ways with City Manager Robert Belleman.
On this week’s episode of the East Lansing Insider podcast, Anna and Luke go over the timeline of events that led the City of East Lansing to part ways with City Manager Robert Belleman after a city employee accused him of sexual harassment and abusive workplace behavior. Listen to the podcast here or on streaming services like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
There are three city meetings scheduled next week.
City government slows down as June turns over to July, but there are still three meetings on the docket. Tuesday (June 30), the City Council will hold a special meeting to speak with attorneys. Wednesday (July 1), the Police Oversight Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals will each meet. When agendas are posted, they can be found here.
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