Rewind the news, week of August 19, 2026

The University of Michigan’s Board of Regents announced its choice for new university president Tuesday, picking C. Cybele Raver, currently the provost at Vanderbilt University. The Board is expected to vote whether to approve her during its Sept. 1 meeting, and if approved, Raver would start on Dec. 1, according to the University of Michigan’s Record publication. U-M is currently led by President Domenico Grasso, who was appointed as interim in 2025 when President Santa Ono left in a botched attempt to lead the University of Florida. Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud was expected earlier this year to be named as U-M’s president, but he withdrew due to health issues and U-M’s board then removed “interim” from Grasso’s title. Grasso is expected to help Raver during the transition, according to the Record.

Michigan State University has named its new athletic director, Dan Bartholomae, who is currently the vice president and director of athletics at Western Michigan University, where he has been since 2022. Bartholomae is expected to start on Aug. 31, with the MSU board expected to formally approve his contract during a Sept. 11 meeting. The university did not release any details of Bartholomae’s contract, but he was paid at least $750,000 a year at WMU and The State News reported Tuesday that MSU may need to pay millions to WMU to release Bartholomae from his contract there. 
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In a statement, Bartholomae said, “It is a dream come true and a tremendous honor for my family and I to join the Spartan community! Michigan State Athletics has everything required to thrive in this new era of college sports: top-level student-athletes, outstanding coaches, a global alumni network and a university leadership team committed to excellence.” J Batt, the university’s former athletic director, left in June on the heels of MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz’s short-lived departure. The athletic department recently launched Spartan Ventures, its name-image-licensing enterprise and received a $400 million athletic-focused donation, one of the largest gifts in the country and MSU’s largest single donation.

LG Energy Solution Michigan-Lansing officially opened its new $2.6 billion battery plant on Davis Highway in Delta Township Tuesday. The facility, located near the GM Lansing Delta Township Assembly plant (which previously owned the site), will make large batteries for vehicles and significant energy storage systems for customers like DTE and Consumers Energy. According to Solar Power World, the plant will make both lithium-iron phosphate batteries for utility-scale uses as well as nickel-manganese-cobalt batteries for a Toyota campus in Kentucky. The site has seen investments of more than $2 billion since 2022, covers 226 acres and employs around 900 people, which is expected to grow to 1,700 employees at full-scale production.

General Motors said it plans to lay off 350 workers at its Lansing Grand River Assembly and Regional Stamping plants. The layoffs are part of a previously announced $1.25 billion transition to making a new Cadillac sedan, according to Automotive News. GM filed WARN (layoff) notices with Michigan, saying it planned a mass layoff in January. Most of the affected workers are team members, leaders or stamping team members, and impacted employees may be eligible for other opportunities with GM.

A developer is suing the City of East Lansing after a string of rejected proposals for the Bailey Street Parking lot, according to East Lansing Info. The publication reviewed court filings from Minnesota-based Tareen Development Partners, which had most recently proposed a 10-story building on the site of the current Bailey Street Parking lot. The lot is operated by the city, but the city has indicated it wants to get rid of it, according to East Lansing Info.

The City of Mason has scheduled a town hall meeting with council members and city staff for Sept. 14, at its City Hall to discuss the latest developments in a developer’s quest to build a data center in town. The developer, which Mason officials have not identified, wants to construct a facility on 400 acres at the intersection of College and Columbia roads, in Vevay Township west of town — property which may be annexed into Mason. City officials have created a “Mason Connect” strategy and a Mason Data Center Facts volunteer group to try and educate residents about the data center proposal. A No Data Centers in Mason group opposes the proposal. The State Boundary Commission is reviewing the proposal and potential annexation as well.

The number of cyclosporiasis cases continues to slow in Michigan, and experts are telling the public that the worst may be past and that lettuce is back on the menu. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) said earlier in August that residents can return to routine washing of lettuce and salad greens because new cyclosporiasis cases and ER visits are declining. “As new data has emerged, our guidance has evolved to reflect the best available evidence, helping ensure that prevention recommendations are accurate, actionable and responsive to the changing situation,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state’s chief medical executive, in a statement. The state has had 13,909 reported cases since June with most exposures in late June to early July. The majority of the contaminated produce is likely no longer available, according to the state.

An Ionia County resident and swine exhibitor at the Kent County Youth Fair has tested positive for swine flu, according to Michigan officials. People who may have been exposed to influenza from infected pigs have been contacted by state and county health officials. “While the risk to the general public remains low, we want visitors who attended the Kent County Youth Fair to be alert to symptoms and take appropriate precautions,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executive, in a statement. “Anyone who develops flu‑like symptoms after possible exposure should contact their health care provider and let them know about their recent contact with pigs at the fair. Individuals who are sick should stay home until they have fully recovered.” The fair took place Aug. 3-8 in Lowell. The swine flu case was confirmed last week by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Bridge Street Bridge in Portland, in Ionia County west of Lansing, was closed last week to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic after a routine bridge inspection began a few weeks ago, according to a post on the city’s Facebook page. The preliminary results indicate the bridge can’t be confirmed to safely support travel, according to the city. The bridge was previously identified for repairs planned for 2028 and the city is working to see if that timeline can be accelerated. “Public safety is the city’s highest priority,” the city said in the statement. “The City understands that this closure may cause inconvenience for residents, businesses, and visitors and appreciates the community’s patience and cooperation while this evaluation is completed.”