City Pulse News Rewind: Two fire chief finalists in Lansing

Two fire chief finalists in Lansing

Lansing Mayor Andy Schor could hire a new chief at the Fire Department as early as this week after the Board of Fire Commissioners recommended Battle Creek Fire Chief Brian Sturdivant (above right) and Sterling Heights Assistant Fire Chief Edwin Miller (above left). Nineteen applied. This will be the sixth Lansing fire chief in the last four years.

Early voting begins for May election

The South Washington Election Unit at 2500 S. Washington Ave. has opened to Lansing residents for voter registration and voting on a $130 million bond proposal for the Lansing School District that’s on the ballot May 3. Walk-in early voting is available 8 a.m. t 5 p.m. weekdays and until 7 p.m. Wednesdays through April 29. Walk-in absentee voting is also available at City Hall 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.. Absentee ballots were mailed last week. Drop boxes are also available at both locations. Visit lansingvotes.com to request an absentee ballot or find additional ballot dropbox locations.

Teenagers charged in roadside shooting

Two unidentified Lansing teenagers — ages 14 and 16 — were charged in juvenile court with second-degree murder in the shooting death of 20-year-old Tomaz Shessia. Authorities said Shessia was shot and killed near a bus stop along the 4200 block of South Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard on Wednesday (March 23) morning. Five local teenagers have now been charged with murder in juvenile court in the past year, the Lansing State Journal reported.

Lansing Schools to fill board vacancy

The Board of Education at the Lansing School District is set to review applications, schedule interviews and vote this month to appoint a new board member to replace outgoing Vice President Nathan Burroughs. The choice will serve through November and then can run in November.

Whitmer: ‘Michigan is on the move’

Gov. Gretchen Whtimer announced that the state has added jobs for 10 straight months with a low unemployment rate of 4.7% — down from a decades-long high of 20.7% reported last April. The latest state statistics show that 172,000 more jobs compared to last February.

Lansing rakes in weed cash

The tax revenues collected from Lansing’s dispensaries led to a $900,000 payday for the city after the state distributed its second revenue sharing payment. Last year’s payment was $280,000. Ingham County netted more than $1 million from 19 licensed facilities, 16 in Lansing. East Lansing collected about $169,000 from three dispensaries.

Cops: Stray bullets strike homes

Two homes along the 4000 block of Bowline Court in Delhi Township were struck by bullets at about 7:20 p.m. Sunday (March 26), the Ingham County Sheriff’s Department said. Residents reported hearing three gunshots. Tips can be reported at (517) 244-1895.

Northern Tail Dog Park reopens

The park, at 6400 Abbot Road, will reopen Friday (April 1). Admission is free and the park will be open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. through the late fall.

Council condemns Russian invasion

The Lansing City Council unanimously passed a symbolic resolution on Monday (March 28) to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The resolution labeled the Ukrainian response as “strong and courageous” and denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “years-long aggression” against Ukraine.

Action on ex-firefighter’s suit

A federal judge dismissed a portion of a longstanding lawsuit against the Lansing Fire Department that was levied by former firefighter Michael Lynn Jr. in 2019, finding that Lynn could not prove that he suffered an adverse employment action from racial discrimination, reports the Journal. Lynn billed the move as a “win” because another unresolved portion of the suit — a claim of a hostile work environment — can now continue on to a trial.

Schor rolls out new budget proposal

Lansing Mayor Andy Schor, who recently recovered from a COVID-19 infection, returned to City Hall on Monday (March 29) to submit his fifth annual budget proposal to the Council. The plan focuses on “priorities for Lansing’s future growth” and includes “strategic investment” in neighborhoods, parks and commercial corridors; community service needs; public safety; infrastructure; and continued racial justice work, Schor said in a press release.

Read more detailed coverage at lansingcitypulse.com.