Rewind: News from the last 7 days

Robert Backus was named Lansing police chief by Mayor Andy Schor. Backus, 45, is a 24-year LPD veteran who served as interim chief since Ellery Sosebee retired in June. An assistant chief for two years, Backus started his law enforcement career with the LPD at age 15 as an Explorer. He graduated from MSU’s criminal justice program and holds a master of science degree in criminal justice administration from Ferris State University. Backus was hired as an LPD cadet in 1999 and sworn in as a police officer after completing the 67th Mid-Michigan Police Academy in 2000.

Investments of up to $1.4 billion from GM ($900 million) and the Biden administration ($500 million) to remake the Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant to make electric vehicles are expected to save 650 jobs. U.S. Energy Secretary — and former Michigan governor — Jennifer Granholm told plant employees that the Biden administration has announced more than $1 billion in grants to help retool or reopen 11 auto plants nationally. The plan also calls for adding 50 new hires locally. Mayor Schor wrote to the Energy Department in January to support GM’s application for the Manufacturing Conversion Grant in anticipation of the end of Camaro manufacturing there.

The state Attorney General’s Office announced that Lansing police officers Donovan Moore and Jeff Kurtz will not face criminal charges in the December 2023 shooting of Stephen Luis Romero, 33, of Lansing. The Michigan State Police investigation concluded the officers were justified in their use of deadly force in self-defense and only fired upon Romero when his hand was on his pistol. The police had been called to respond to a domestic violence incident involving a fired gun west of Bancroft Park in Lansing between Lake Lansing Road and East César E. Chávez Avenue following 9-1-1 calls from Romero’s wife.

Elijah Klages, 19, of Mason, was sentenced Monday to consecutive terms of five to 15 years for separate counts of operating under the influence in an August 2023 crash that caused the deaths of his sister, Lillian Klages, and Amanda Blue, both 16. The girls were students at Mason High School. Klages had pleaded guilty in May to two counts of operating under the influence causing death, a maximum 15-year felony, while prosecutors dismissed two counts of careless driving causing death. The consecutive sentences mean Klages will have to serve the terms consecutively, with a minimum of 10 years in prison.

The Michigan State Police is investigating 15 incidents of gunshot damage to transformers, regulators and other equipment owned by Portland-based HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative in Clinton, Eaton and Ionia counties. The incidents have occurred over the past year and caused more than $250,000 in damage. The co-op is offering a reward of $9,999 to anyone providing information that leads to the apprehension and conviction of those responsible through Crime Stoppers at (517) 483-STOP or https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=903#

More than 3,300 rural Clinton County homes, businesses and institutions will receive internet services from a $15 million grant award that Frontier Communications gets as part of a $25 million project by Michigan Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure Networks. The work is expected to be finished by August 2025.

An unidentified 24-year-old Lansing man was arrested after allegedly holding a woman and an infant hostage for more than six hours at a home on the 1500 block of King Street. Police said he threatened to set the house on fire, prompting Lansing police to have Consumers Energy turn off the gas to 55 residences nearby. Police recovered a firearm from the home but did not say what charges the man might face.

Eaton County District Judge Julie O’Neill has resigned, effective July 22. O’Neill was elected in 2016 and served for seven and a half years. She was on medical leave when she submitted her resignation to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer but did not indicate a specific reason for her decision. Whitmer will appoint a successor.

Public safety

Shots were fired on a home on the 3200 block of West Holmes Road Tuesday. There were no injuries, and no information regarding a suspect was reported. … Heaven Davies, 14, of Lansing, was found safe Tuesday after being reported missing Monday. Lansing police asked for assistance in the search process on Monday.