News highlights from the last 7 days: May 25, 2020

Preservationists replace Malcolm X marker 

A historical marker that once designated the childhood home of Malcolm X in South Lansing was replaced (and refurbished with some new memorial language) after an errant driver reportedly plowed down and destroyed the metallic tribute sign last March. State and local politicians and members of Malcolm X’s family unveiled the new sign at a ceremony Friday. 

Lansing man arrested after police chase 

Prosecutors are reviewing criminal charges against an unnamed 27-year-old Lansing man after authorities said he was “causing a disturbance” Thursday at a business on the 2300 block of North Cedar Street in Delhi Township. The man, who reportedly had several felony warrants, gave a fake name to cops before running away toward Midway Early Learning Center, which went on lockdown during the incident. The man eventually barricaded himself inside a garage on Spahr Avenue and then holed himself up inside another home on North Aurelius Road. Deputies eventually entered the home, arrested him and hauled him off to be detained at the county jail. 

Few tenants qualify to buy public housing 

Only eight Lansing residents have so far qualified to buy their homes from the Lansing Housing Commission while the public authority moves toward selling over 200 properties to an out-of-state real estate investment firm. Tenants will have one last chance to qualify to purchase their homes before the deal is finalized this fall.  

Laingsburg woman dies in five-car crash 

Kathryn Hunnicutt, 54, of Laingsburg, was killed and a 20-year-old woman was injured following a crash that involved at least five vehicles on eastbound I-496 near Walnut Street on Sunday. Authorities closed the highway to clean up the mess. The crash remains under investigation. 

Park bench honors antigay murder victim 

Family and friends of Kevin Wirth, a gay man who was brutally murdered in Lansing five years ago, gathered Saturday in Lou Adado Riverfront Park to unveil a remembrance plaque on a bench. At the ceremony, Wirth was remembered as the life of the party who “loved Lansing.”  

Schor seeks to allow felon on boards 

A proposed charter amendment that Mayor Andy Schor sent to the City Council aims to erase restrictive language that prohibits anyone with a felony conviction from serving on dozens of the city’s volunteer boards and commissions. If  the Council approves the plan this summer, it could be on the ballot Nov. 8. 

Siemon named ‘Peacemaker of the Year’ 

The Lansing Area Peace Education Center honored Ingham County Prosecutor Carol Siemon with its annual “Peacemaker of the Year” award for prosecuting with “fairness and compassion.” Six others were also honored to for their efforts to “promote peace and justice”: Lynn Bartley, Efren Parades Jr., Lauren Beck, Jake Lasceski, and Jerry and Shannon Norris. 

 No parole for East Lansing serial killer 

The Michigan Parole Board has again voted to reject parole for convicted serial killer Don Miller, who admitted to killing four women in East Lansing in the late 1970s, the Lansing State Journal reported. Miller’s next parole eligibility date is Aug. 29, 2027.  

Zap Zone plans to relocate to Lansing Mall 

The indoor amusement center will move from Mall Drive East to a now-vacant building at the Lansing Mall, the Lansing State Journal reports. A self-storage facility is set to take its place. 

Pollinator gardens open at R.E. Olds Museum 

A new garden featuring a variety of colorful, native plants such as bergamot and lanceleaf was planted on Friday at the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum  to help create a valuable new habitat for pollinator species like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Educational signage to help identify the plants (and a picnic table) will be installed this summer. 

Happy birthday, Claude Browne! 

The Lansing City Council honored Lansing resident Claude Browne, who is set to celebrate his 100th birthday Friday (May 27). Browne is the oldest male member of Trinity AME Church and still does a whopping 150 push-ups every morning, according to the Council resolution. 

School staffer fired after racism incident 

Holt Public Schools fired Sandra Smith and reassigned another employee, Megan Rodriguez, following a month-long investigation into a physical altercation between them and a group of students, reports FOX 47 News. One staffer and a student reportedly exchanged racial slurs. The district’s investigation showed that Smith used “inappropriate communication” at the time. 

Fire captain builds beds for kids 

Lansing Fire Captain Rahshemeer Neal was among several dozen volunteers who helped to build more than 100 beds for Lansing area children through the nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Peace program. City officials said more than 40% of Lansing’s children live in poverty. Neal said he was comforted to know that 100 more local kids won’t be sleeping on the floor this week.