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Rewind: News from the last 7 days

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The city of Lansing has denied that former wastewater treatment plant employees Kenneth Davis and Joshua Brown faced a racially hostile work environment, as they alleged in a federal lawsuit. Davis and Brown resigned in 2021 “to escape the racially hostile and retaliatory work environment” that included comments about the Ku Klux Klan, they said. While the city denied the racial discrimination and a retaliatory work environment claim, it admitted in its response to the court that plant supervisor Scott Kelosky made comments about the KKK around March 2020 during a conversation with Davis and another employee.

The Professional Employees Council of Sparrow Hospital-Michigan Nurses Association approved its three-year contract with U-M Health Sparrow, with 95% of its 2,000 members supporting the new deal. The contract runs through Oct. 30, 2027. “A great agreement for our members is a win for all of us,” said union negotiating team co-chair Leah Rasch. “It will help make sure Sparrow can attract and keep enough nurses and health care workers to take excellent care of our community.”

The Lansing School District denied claims former Everett High School teacher Danelle Hovenkamp made in a lawsuit regarding its handling of accommodations for students with disabilities. The district denied that it failed to address issues regarding the Individualized Education Program accommodations. It said that “to the extent any student experiences academic or behavioral difficulties, those issues are addressed in a timely and appropriate manner.” Hovencamp named the district, its Board of Education and Everett principal Amy Boyles as defendants in the suit. The district also denied Hovencamp’s claims that it retaliated against her after she filed a complaint with the U.S. Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights.

MSU Athletics had a budget deficit of more than $16.7 million in the 2023-‘24 fiscal year, documents provided to the Detroit Free Press and USA TODAY Network via the Michigan Freedom of Information Act said. It was the fourth time in five years that the department has operated at a financial loss, with a debt of $91 million. It issued severance payments of $3,854,791 to former football staffers after firing Mel Tucker with cause during the 2023 season and $585,071 to former women’s basketball employees following Suzy Merchant’s retirement in March 2023.

The Delta Township Board of Trustees appointed Fonda Brewer as supervisor, replacing Ken Fletcher, who resigned after being charged with accosting a child for immoral purposes and using a computer to commit a crime. He received 89% of the vote in the November election but didn’t take the oath of office. Brewer was appointed by a 4-2 vote, receiving support from Karen Mojica, Beth Bowen, Dennis Fedewa and herself. Trustee Andrea Cascarilla and Clerk Mary Clark voted no because they disagreed with the process, Clark said. She will serve through the 2026 midterm elections. Township Manager Brian Reed said the board will discuss filling Brewer’s trustee seat in February. Brewer was a manager with the Michigan Education Special Services Association before retiring in 2015.

East Lansing police are seeking tips about the assault of Caleb Alan Shermoe of Fowlerville, 20, who died Thursday at U-M Health-Sparrow after being assaulted in the 300 block of East Grand River Ave. Jan. 18. Police said they would ask the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office to authorize charges against a suspect whose name, age and gender were not released. Shermoe’s family has a GoFundMe page, which has raised more than $40,000.

The Capital Area Transportation Authority has launched a pilot program, Rydz, an on-demand ride service with five Chrysler Pacifica vans funded by state grants. It’s intended for the “last-mile, first-mile” stretch of a journey, including loops in areas previously without service between MSU and the Capital Region International Airport in DeWitt Township and from downtown to a Delta Township region primarily between or near interstates 496, 69 and 96. The Delta Township route offers transportation to warehouse and factory jobs, including Amazon’s warehouse, which is several miles from CATA’s nearest Delta Township stop. Rydz service is free through Feb. 27. For more info, visit https://www.cata.org/Rider-Information/Microtransit.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources officials are trying to determine whether geese in a pond in Williamston died from a virus such as highly pathogenic bird flu. Officials collected two of the dozen geese for testing at MSU’s veterinary diagnostic testing lab. If any samples test positive for the H5N1 virus, officials will send them to a federal lab in Iowa for confirmation.

Michigan lottery officials said a 66-year-old Clinton County woman, who has remained anonymous, won $1 million in the Major Cashword scratch-off game. She purchased the winning ticket at Ox’s Smoked Meats in Westphalia while buying others as Christmas gifts for family members. She plans to use her winnings for a few trips and save the rest.

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