Rewind: News from the last 7 days

Democrat Rebecca Bahar-Cook of Lansing claimed the second MSU Board of Trustees seat, joining Plymouth Republican Mike Balow. Bahar-Cook received 24.24% of votes, beating Novi Republican Julie Maday by 4,012 votes. Maday had originally appeared to have won, but Bahar-Cook found a reporting error that left out 20,000 votes for her in Allegan County.

MSU said in a legal filing that it does not owe attorneys for Trustee Rema Vassar $281,745 in legal fees because the school had legally terminated a contract with them. The costs were incurred past the point MSU agreed to cover them, rebutting a claim by Rochester-based Miller Law, which represented Vassar during an investigation into bullying and misconduct allegations.

The Michigan Attorney General’s Office has sued to dissolve the FaithFirst Foundation of Eaton Rapids for its connection to retired priest David Rosenberg, convicted of embezzling more than $500,000 from other retired priests. He was sentenced in March to four to 20 years in prison for stealing as a foundation agent between 20218 and 2020. FaithFirst’s attorney, Gary Mouw, asked a judge to dismiss the action because the foundation is a separate legal entity from Rosenberg and had acted in good faith.

Lansing Promise officials announced a new Lansing Promise Guarantee Scholarship. It allows Lansing School District students enrolled for at least a year to access up to $10,000 to attend Lansing Community College, the Douglas J Aveda Institute or an approved skilled trades program in Michigan. Previously, only students attending four years were eligible. The latter will receive additional benefits.

Turkish-based Norm Fasteners has canceled plans to build a 365,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Bath Township off Webster Road. Lansing Economic Area Partnership President and CEO Bob Trezise said the company, which did not state a reason, is considering two other locations, one in the Lansing area. The company makes screws and bolts and other fasteners for the auto industry and others. General manager Koray Gurbuz said the company’s board of directors has decided to investigate the due diligence and look for alternative sites. The company has a non-manufacturing office in Dimondale.

A 63-year-old Lansing man was found dead Tuesday next to his vehicle in the Michigan State Police parking lot in Lansing on North Canal Road. The man died of an apparent suicide, said spokesperson Rene Gonzalez. The post was closed several hours. The man had contacted MSP and said he was in the parking lot and intended to harm himself.

Downtown Lansing’s former Walter Neller building, at Grand Avenue and Allegan Street, will be demolished if the city gets authorization at a Dec. 2 City Council hearing. Mayor’s Office spokesperson Scott Bean said the building’s owner and the Council are pursuing demolition, and the city will ensure it happens. Lindsay Leblanc of the Granger Group., the parent company of building owner Summit Associates II LLC, said Granger expects demolition in March. Bean said the city would bill its owners through taxes. No immediate plans were reported for the site. The city had considered the site for a new city but rejected it as too costly.

Public safety

Two people on board a Cessna 140 aircraft were uninjured after it tipped over upon landing Monday at Jewett Airport in Mason. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating. … A 21-year-old Lansing man was wounded in a shooting Thursday on Coachlight Common Street, between South Waverly Road and South Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. No suspects have been identified. … A Lansing firefighter suffered a non-fatal injury while responding to a garage fire on the 3200 block of Raynell Street Nov. 20. No residents were home.