Rewind: News from the last 7 days

The Lansing City Council voted 7-1 to approve brownfield tax financing for the five-building New Vision Lansing project for downtown and Old Town, including the city’s tallest skyscraper. The tax credits are expected to total millions in reimbursements for developers over 30 years, with at least $15 million benefiting the city. The cost estimate for the project is more than $300 million, including the tax plan, private investment and $40 million from the state. The project includes 575 housing units.

The Michigan attorney general released a 345-page report with allegations of sexual abuse and other sexual misconduct in the Lansing Diocese since 1950. It lists 48 priests, three religious brothers, an apparent former religious brother and four deacons. The information comes from a search warrant executed against the diocese in 2018 and an attorney general-operated tipline. The document includes information from the tip line, victim interviews, police investigations, open-source media, paper and computer documents taken from the diocese and reports of allegations they disclosed.

A review committee including city staff has recommended the Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority be released from running the Lansing Center, Jackson Field and Groesbeck Golf Course so Los Angeles-based ASM Global can assume responsibility. LEPFA has relied on city subsidies for years. The new management team is expected to be in place by July 2025, when the next budget year for the three facilities begins. The LEPFA board will vote Jan. 21. The move could potentially subsidies that amounted to $1.5 million last year. LEPFA would continue to oversee the properties no matter which management group the city chooses, but its role would be reduced.

Unionized nurses and healthcare professionals voted to authorize a strike against University of Michigan Health-Sparrow, with 98.7% of about 2,000 members in favor if the Michigan Nurses Association deems it necessary. They have been working without a contract since Oct. 30. The association said, “In more than 300 hours of negotiations since August, the employer has failed to offer competitive wages, health care without concessions, and measures to keep caregivers, patients and visitors safe.” Negotiations are scheduled to continue through Thursday (Dec. 19).

The MSU Board of Trustees voted 8-0 to approve a $28 million, three-phase plan for Spartan Stadium renovations. The plan includes replacing the videoboards and renovating the West Tower by the 2025 season, paid for by internal loans, repaid by revenue from naming rights, sponsorships and donations. Other modernization includes improving the concourse, concessions and toilets and making repairs and upgrades, but there was no timeline assigned.

Three Lansing men were arrested after allegedly attempting to evade police in a stolen vehicle on I-96 in Brighton. A Livingston County Sherriff’s Office deputy spotted a 2016 Nissan Maxima reported stolen in East Lansing while patrolling on east I-96 near Grand River Avenue. Each possessed a handgun at the time of their arrest and were taken into custody without incident. Stop sticks were deployed on I-96 near Mason Road to stop the driver. The vehicle crashed into a concrete support and was halted after it attempted to avoid the sticks by going through a ditch. Charges will be requested on the 24-year-old driver for fleeing and eluding, possession of a stolen vehicle, carrying a concealed weapon and operating while intoxicated. The 19- and 20-year-old passengers will see requested charges of carrying a concealed weapon.

Sheri Lynn Schoenfield, 62, of Fowlerville was killed when she was struck by a vehicle on Elm Road in Leroy Township after she had stopped abruptly to avoid hitting a deer. Police said she was driving north between Holt and Van Ordan roads when she stopped and got out of her van to re-secure her cargo. Then a 44-year-old Webberville woman’s car struck her while trying to drive around the stopped van. The driver of the vehicle that struck the woman and a child traveling with her were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.