News Highlights from the Last 7 Days

Bishop David W. Maxwell, former director of the Office of Faith-Based Initiatives for the city of Lansing and pastor at Eliezer Temple Church in south Lansing, died Thursday at 66. Maxwell, who retired as director in August after 17 years, was instrumental in creating a response to the neo-Nazi National Socialist Movement’s 2006 rally at the State Capitol. He also advised former Flint Mayor Karen Weaver on responding to the city’s water crisis. A “celebration of life” is set for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Eliezer Temple, followed by a “homegoing celebration” at 10 a.m. Friday at Mount Hope Church on Creyts Road.

Michigan State University Trustee Pat O’Keefe resigned Wednesday, citing transparency issues. “Knowing the institution’s history,” he wrote Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, “I can no longer serve on a Board that purports to promote cultural change yet struggles itself to be transparent.” He cited as a serious concern the forced resignation of Sanjay Gupta, the former dean of the MSU Broad College of Business who allegedly failed to report an incident of alleged sexual misconduct by an MSU business school staff member. O’Keefe and other board members pushed to investigate Gupta’s resignation and the university’s handling of Title IX reports, which led to numerous votes of no confidence from faculty and student groups. 

Lansing Township is taking steps toward avoiding bankruptcy. Its trustees were scheduled to vote Tuesday night on a financial-solvency proposal that includes a new tax-sharing plan with Ingham County. Also, the township anticipates reaching a deal with the successors of Heights developer Mike Eyde, who are owed $2.5 million. Meanwhile, Treasurer Kathy Rogers said the township has repaid $3 million in overcharged taxes to Eastwood Towne Center tenants. For more on the story, see www.lansingcitypulse.com.  

 

Facing controversy, Lansing’s  Board of Education reversed itself and voted 6-1 to approve J-Dubbs as J.W. Sexton High School’s new mascot, named for the late educator Jay Wesley Sexton. Out of four choices, J-Dubbs won the school’s student mascot poll with 29.7% of the vote, but the school board first picked the Scorpions. The district hopes to have a new logo selected by spring and fully roll out the new mascot and logo by the 2023-‘24 school year. J-Dubbs replaces Big Reds.