Rewind: News from the last 7 days

The Lansing City Council has unanimously approved a new four-tiered tagging system to identify residential properties that are considered in violation of city codes or unsafe to occupy. Council approved the measure, 7-0; council member Ryan Kost was absent. Pink tags, which have indicated a rental property is not compliant with city rules but where existing tenants can stay, will be replaced with either white and yellow tags — with white meaning the city has not certified the rental and yellow meaning the property failed the city’s rental inspection, lost its certification and can no longer be leased or advertised to new tenants. Red tags will continue to indicate the property is not fit for human occupancy and must be vacated and new black tags will classify a property as dangerous and could lead to demolition. As of March 12, the city was tracking 616 red and 327 pink tags. The retagging process will begin on March 23.

A McDonald’s restaurant could be constructed at the former location of Jon Anthony Florist at 809 E. Michigan Ave., according to the Lansing State Journal. First, the fast-food chain, under contract to purchase the property, must resubmit a proposal in hopes of getting a zoning change after a December planning commission denial in a 6-1 vote. City officials said the request would require half a dozen variances to Lansing’s zoning ordinance. Todd Kosta of Woodworth Commercial is representing the property’s current owner in a pending sale, and told the newspaper that the restaurant has been trying to acquire the property for about a year and is working with the city to meet its requirements by submitting a new proposal. If the plan is approved, the original 15,000-square foot building at the site would be demolished. 

REO Town is set to get a $5.3 million boost with a placemaking and revitalization grant. The money for Lansing, in collaboration with MSU, is one of six placemaking grants from the Michigan Talent Partnership Program, administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The grant is for $4.35 million, plus $1 million committed by Lansing. The Reo Town-Flowing with Innovations efforts is being led by the Lansing Talent Partnership Consortium, made up of area groups, businesses and stakeholders and organized by the city and the Lansing Economic Development Corporation. State Sen. Sarah Anthony was instrumental in arranging the partnership between the consortium and MSU as they developed a proposal. About 60 people came to vision workshops to develop the proposal. The initiative focuses on strengthening local economic activation, legacy and learning, placemaking and identity, creative mobility, and community anchors. Planned improvements include many projects around the River Trail, Elm Street, and Washington Avenue. Part of the project includes integrating students into the area. 

Sam A. Davis gave a shout-out to Potterville, and his parents, during his Oscar acceptance speech this weekend. Davis, a 2011 Potterville High graduate, is director of the short film “The Singers,” with producer Jack Piatt. The Oscar was a rare tie, presenter Kumail Nanjiani prepared the audience (“calm down”) as he announced “The Singers” and then “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” by Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata. “First off, I want to thank my parents, who convinced a kid from Potterville, Michigan, that this was a viable career avenue,” Davis said. “Thank you, mom and dad.” He thanked producers, the cast of first-time actors and singers and he urged people to sing. “The power of music and art to bring us together in a moment where we live in an increasingly isolated world, may we keep looking for beauty in unexpected places and may we all be brave enough to keep on singing,” Davis said. He also was nominated for “Nai Nai & Wai Po,” in 2024, for Best Documentary Short Film, and was the cinematographer for “Period. End of Sentence.,” a 2019 Best Documentary Short winner.

Electric vehicle maker Tesla Inc. and LG Energy Solution have inked a supply agreement to ‌build a $4.3 billion lithium iron phosphate (LFP) prismatic battery cell manufacturing facility in Lansing, expected to be ready to begin production in 2027, according to a release from the U.S. Department of the Interior. Read LansingCityPulse.com for more on the major economic announcement. LG Energy Solution, a South Korean company, is one of the only producers of LFP batteries in the U.S.

A 36-year-old Lansing man faces an attempted murder charge following a shooting Thursday on the 4700 block of Lowcroft Avenue on the city’s south side. Ingham County Prosecutor John J. Dewane’s office charged Matthew Husse with assault with intent to murder and felony firearm in connection with the incident, according to a news release. The victim, a 57-year-old man, suffered a gunshot wound and was in critical but stable condition. “It’s alleged that the defendant assaulted the victim and that he had a rifle in his possession at the time,” said spokesperson Scott Hughes. Lansing Police Department officers, dispatched after reports of gunfire, detained a person of interest at the scene. Investigators then submitted a warrant request to the prosecutor’s office Friday, leading to the felony charges. Husse was subsequently arraigned in 54-A District Court and records indicate he is scheduled for a probable cause conference March 26, followed by a preliminary examination April 2 — both before Judge Cynthia M. Ward. The police have not yet released information regarding the updated condition of the victim or a potential motive for the shooting. 

A 37-year-old man was critically injured in what police called a shooting involving “chaos” near a bar in Lansing Township around 2 a.m. on March 13, according to a statement from Lansing Township Police. Officers arrived to find people fleeing and forensic work found evidence of at least 30 bullets in buildings and cars in all directions. The shooting is being investigated by the township along with Lansing Police Department, the MSU Police Department and the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office. The shooting happened near 2700 E. Michigan Ave., the site of MAC’s Bar.

A pedestrian was killed when he was struck by a semi-truck on Tuesday on I-96 near Okemos Road, according to WLNS News. Michigan State Police troopers responding to the location said the 2016 Freightliner semi-truck with trailer, driven by a Westland man, was traveling eastbound when a 35-year-old man from Okemos entered the roadway. They said the crash may have been an “intentional act by the pedestrian,” but the investigation is ongoing.

A fire on Monday destroyed a Dansville building that was home to Rustic Roots, as well as an upstairs rental unit. Ingham Township Fire Chief Brandon Whipple told the Lansing State Journal that the building was a total loss, but that no one was injured. A tenant who was sleeping in the rental unity, he added, survived due to his operational smoke detector. The business, at 1370 Mason St., was known for its curate gift baskets, fresh flowers and for sourcing a variety of local goods.