News Highlights from the Last 7 Days: Oct., 12 2022

A shuttered space in downtown Lansing that most recently was the Hookah Lounge will be redeveloped as an all-purpose venue. Originally built in 1926, 224 S. Washington Square — formerly known as Club Paradise and then Club X-Cel, a popular gay hangout in the 1990s and 2000s — is being remodeled and turned into Hall 224 by RBM Management. The venue — under the guidance of 224Entertainment, which ran Common Ground —  can accommodate concerts, weddings, corporate conferences, charity events and trade shows. “I am so excited that this long-blighted building will now be revitalized and activated,” Mayor Andy Schor said. “This is great for downtown and for Lansing and our entire region. My administration and our Lansing economic development team worked hard with the owners to ensure this project will happen.  

A Lansing couple recently awoke to find politically charged graffiti painted on vehicles and their home’s driveway. According to the Lansing State Journal, the words disparaged former President Donald Trump and his supporters. It purported to be from Antifa — shorthand for anti-fascists — and signed in spray paint, “Antifa Targeting All Trump Nazi Scum” and “Antifa Revenge.” The staunch Trump supporters said it’s not the first time their home has been vandalized. Lansing police are investigating the graffiti, and anyone with information about the incident should call (517) 483-4600. 

Lansing Police Department officials said “relevant video footage” of the fatal police shooting will be released by week’s end. A Facebook post by the department read in part, “We are currently gathering & downloading multiple angles of video footage from this incident with respect given to the privacy of witnesses as well as ensuring the Michigan State Police investigation is not impeded.” Two Lansing police officers killed Terrence Robinson, 31, Oct. 4, outside a home in the 2000 block of West Malcolm X Street after officials said he fired at officers, according to police. 

East Lansing and Meridian Township developer Scott Chappelle was sentenced Tuesday to 38 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jane Beckering in Grand Rapids. The federal government said Chappelle used “sophisticated tactics” to avoid paying taxes for at least eight years while maintaining an upscale lifestyle that included a 62-foot yacht and a vacation home in Harbor Springs, the Lansing State Journal reported. Chappelle is an attorney and former certified public accountant who operated Terra Management Co., Strathmore Development Co. and Terra Holdings LLC, all of which were connected to the tax evasion case. Strathmore was involved with multiple proposed redevelopments of property in the 100 block of downtown East Lansing. Chappelle, however, was never able to secure financing for the work. 

A jury sided with Lansing activist and former firefighter Michael Lynn Jr. on his claim he was subjected to a hostile work environment by the city of Lansing. The verdict followed a five-day trial in U.S. District Court in Kalamazoo. Lynn has been a leader of Black Lives Matter Lansing and a vocal critic of Mayor Andy Schor’s administration. He has alleged racial discrimination in lawsuits against the city and was fired from the Lansing Fire Department in 2021 after city officials said he violated department policies. Lynn’s attorney, Scott Batey, said the verdict was $1 million, and he planned to seek additional fees and court costs. The city disagrees with the verdict and will work with outside lawyers to review a potential appeal, city attorney Jim Smiertka said in a statement. 

The Michigan State University Faculty Senate’s top leadership sent a scathing letter to the Board of Trustees demanding it stop interfering with the academic management. As reported by the Detroit Free Press, the letter also said it would soon take a nonbinding vote on whether it has confidence in the board’s ability to lead the school. The letter was one of three sent to board members. Also sending strongly worded letters were Provost Teresa Woodruff and embattled President Samuel Stanley Jr. All the letters concern an investigation into the forced resignation of Sanjay Gupta as business school dean. The board has hired an outside firm to conduct the investigation. 

The Lansing School District has received a $14.9 million federal grant it will use to help create a fourth high school for career and technology training. The district plans to convert its Career and Technical Education Program, which has grown quickly in popularity, into a standalone career and technology education high school at the Hill Vocational Center. The district had about 66 career and technology students last year, and more than 200 this year attend career technical classes in the mornings or afternoons. The district had already announced plans to create the fourth high school with or without the federal funding. 

A man shot by police officers earlier this year in the parking lot of an East Lansing Meijer store was ordered to stand trial on seven felony counts and one misdemeanor charge. As reported by the Lansing State Journal, 54A District Judge Richard Ball ruled there was probable cause to believe DeAnthony VanAtten resisted and obstructed police and committed several weapons offenses, including receiving and concealing a stolen firearm and felony firearm possession. Ball rejected arguments from VanAtten’s attorney, Stephen Milks, that officers lacked probable cause to stop VanAtten at the store in April after a citizen called 911 to report seeing a man retrieve a handgun from a vehicle and run inside.