Ingham County Circuit Judge Rosemarie Aquilina told Lansing homeless camp residents she visited a day earlier, north of Old Town near Dietrich Park, that they need to vacate the land and find a safer place to live before winter. She added that she doesn’t support bulldozing people out of the area, but rather that they should take advantage of existing resources. Aquilina also instructed the city to provide portable toilets, potable water and portable sinks to the camp and to retain the receipts. She added that she’s willing to open her courtroom at 1 p.m. every Wednesday until each of the approximately 60 residents has found safe temporary housing.
The Eaton County Board of Commissioners approved a $40.6 million general fund budget for the 2025-‘26 fiscal year, which includes $8.4 million in staff reductions and service cuts. A $6.4 million reduction in personnel expenses includes the elimination of 29 positions, resulting in a decrease in the size of the county’s staff from 418 to 389 positions. However, most of those are vacant, the Lansing State Journal reported. The budget eliminated the Sheriff’s Office road patrol for non-contracted areas, such as Delta Township, and MSU Extension funding, which supports the county’s 4-H programs. It also reduced funds to Clinton-Eaton-Ingham Community Mental Health and the Barry-Eaton District Health Department. County voters twice rejected tax increases over the past year.
WKAR Public Media, facing budget contraints, announced that the 11th season of “Curious Crew,” its original show for kids, will be its last. The first of five new episodes premieres at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Since “Curious Crew” debuted in 2014, 96 episodes have been produced and broadcast through this final season. “’Curious Crew’ has helped WKAR develop an integrated approach to our children’s educational programming,” said Ashlee Smith, WKAR senior director of content and education. Communications Manager Beth Young told the Lansing State Journal, “We carefully evaluate all programming to ensure the mission impact and audience needs align, especially during this time of financial upheaval for public media.”
Superintendent Bill Barnes told attendees at Monday’s Grand Ledge Board of Education meeting that high school teacher and City Council member Dave Logel would not lose his job for comments he made on his Facebook account after the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Twenty-eight individuals shared their views on the issue during the public comment portion of the meeting, with some advocating for Logel’s dismissal and others supporting him. Barnes said his interpretation of board policies, handbooks, collective agreements, and applicable laws was that “they do not prohibit teachers from exercising their First Amendment rights.” Logel, who did not attend the meeting, sent an apology for his comments.
GTZ Property Group, a Chicago-based company, will redevelop more than five acres of property along South Cedar Street, just north of Interstate 96, that has been vacant since University Motor Mall closed in 2015. The company said it will invest more than $5 million to revitalize it. It will demolish three buildings there and then construct a Chick-fil-A, a fast-food chain known for years of financial support of organizations with anti-LBGTQ+ views. GTZ is marketing the remaining four acres to national and regional restaurants, as well as other retail companies.
East Lansing police arrested two people after a violent attack on a store employee at the 7-11 convenience store at Grove Street and Albert Avenue. Security video showed individuals attacking a store employee after a confrontation about theft, then the same employee getting sprayed with a substance by another group. Police charged a juvenile with felonious assault, resisting and obstructing and issued an adult male a citation for disorderly fighting. Store owner Ali Haider told Fox 47 News that he is asking the city to reinstate a loitering ordinance.
Judge Kristen D. Simmons has arraigned Montez Hopkins (pictured), 30, in 54A District Court on a charge of homicide and six related firearm charges in the July 20 shooting of 36-year-old DeAndre Campbell, who died the same day from his injuries. The charges included carrying a weapon with unlawful intent, carrying a concealed weapon, being a prohibited person (felon) in possession of a firearm, and three counts of felony firearm. The judge also charged him with being a habitual offender. He was arrested and returned to prison on a parole violation. Simmons has scheduled a probable cause conference for Montez Oct. 2…