Read Our Reporting From this Week

It’s the weekend! Start this chilly December morning by catching up with what has been going on in East Lansing this week. 

Council continues to search for a solution to noisy cars in the neighborhoods, mulls gas-powered leaf blower ban. 

For months, the East Lansing City Council has discussed loud cars that residents say are interrupting sleep and are a nuisance downtown. At the Dec. 10 discussion-only City Council meeting, some members of council seemed optimistic that city ordinances can be used to punish people driving loud cars. However, an understaffed police department may struggle to find the personnel to enforce the ordinances. 

Also at the meeting, council discussed a potential ban on gas-powered leaf blowers in the city. Read Managing Editor Luke Day’s recap of the meeting here. 

ELPS mental health coordinator presents to school board. 

At its Monday, Dec. 9 meeting, the East Lansing Board of Education heard from the district’s mental health coordinator, Heather Findley. Findley gave updates about the programs and initiatives the district has taken on to help improve students' mental health. Additionally, the East Lansing Educational Foundation presented a check for more than $60,000 that teachers will use to improve learning experiences. Read Luke’s story on the meeting here. 

ELi to host first holiday lights contest. 

For the first time, ELi is hosting a holiday lights contest! Nominate a neighbor whose light display catches your eye or yourself for a chance to win a $100 downtown East Lansing gift card. Get your nominations in soon, they’re due at the end of the day tomorrow, Sunday, Dec. 15. For more information, read Reporter Dustin DuFort Petty’s article on the contest here. 

Five city meetings are scheduled for next week. 

Looking ahead, five city boards or commissions will meet next week, before city meetings have a two week hiatus for the holidays. Monday (Dec. 16), the Commission on the Environment meets. Tuesday (Dec. 17) there is a Library Board of Trustees meeting. Then on Thursday (Dec. 19) the Downtown Development Authority, the Arts Commission and the Building Board of Appeals each gather. When agendas are posted for these meetings, they can be found here. 

ELPD to host Citizens’ Police Academy. 

Want to learn more about policing in our community? Sign up for the Citizens’ Police Academy!

The 11 week course will see participants learn about a different aspect of policing on Wednesdays from Jan. 29 through April 18. Topics covered will include response to resistance, patrol procedures, criminal investigations, Neighborhood Watch, emergency management and disaster preparedness, active shooter, the history of civil disturbances and alcohol in East Lansing.

Additionally, East Lansing police will talk with participants about issues in the community to increase the department’s awareness about concerns. To find out more about the citizens’ academy, read the city’s full press release here. 

Fire Department gives tips on how to stay safe during winter storms. 

The snow was coming down this past week and to help residents stay safe, the East Lansing Fire Department put out some winter safety tips. These tips include keeping an emergency kit in your car, staying away from downed wires, where to keep your generator and more. Follow this link to view ELFD’s full list of safety tips. 

Thank you for supporting our work. 

ELi is a nonprofit news service that is able to operate due to the generosity of our readers. To support our work, consider subscribing to an East Lansing Insider membership. Subscribers have stories emailed directly to them even before they are published to our website. Here is a list of ways you can help ELi continue our work.

Your donations this December are especially impactful. As we wind up the year, Newsmatch will match all donations up to $15,000. Last week, ELi Publisher Beth Peck wrote a letter about how important ELi’s year-end fundraising campaign is, and what it means when you contribute. Read Beth’s letter here.