Rewind: News from the last 7 days

There were no homicides in Ingham County for the first quarter of 2024, said Prosecutor John Dewane in a statement Monday. He added that the number has declined from seven homicides in the first three months of 2021 and four each in 2022 and 2023. He called it evidence Lansing and the county are bringing gun violence under control after a peak during the COVID pandemic.

Ted Stewart, 56, owner of Metro Retro in Old Town, died in his sleep Saturday, friends said. His shop, at 304 E. Grand River Ave., celebrated its eighth year of business last month. The Old Town Commercial Association’s Facebook page’s announcement of Stewart’s death garrnered nearly 100 comments and 200 shares in fewer than 24 hours. Stewart was known as a thoughtful and inclusive member of the Old Town business landscape and an outspoken supporter of Greater Lansing’s LGBTQ community who readily promoted his business as a safe space. Funeral and memorial information is forthcoming.

The Lansing area is expected to get about $3.5 million from the new MI Neighborhood grant program to help homeowners and developers repair an estimated 7,500 badly damaged homes and build new ones. Individuals cannot apply directly apply the funds but can do so through local housing agencies. The application process for the $60 million available statewide opened Monday for 15 eligible regions. Lansing Mayor Andy Schor was among leaders who gathered Monday at the Neighborhood Empowerment Center to announce the program.

Beverly McCallum, 63, was found guilty Monday of second-degree murder and disinterment and mutilation of a body for a 2002 cold case killing of Roberto Caraballo in Charlotte. Caraballo’s burned remains were found near an Ottawa County blueberry field in 2002.  McCallum’s oldest daughter, Dineane Ducharme, and Ducharme’s friend, Christopher McMillan, were previously convicted on murder charges in Caraballo’s death. Eaton County Circuit Judge Janice Cunningham set a May 23 sentencing date for McCallum, who faces up to life in prison.

Construction began on Michigan Avenue Monday as part of the city of Lansing’s Michigan Avenue Rehabilitation project. Michigan is closed to through traffic from Pennsylvania Avenue to Mifflin Avenue, with no traffic from Mifflin to Howard Street until May 31. The dates of further so-called hard closures will be announced as the project advances westward.  Detours will be provided. The project will include road reconstruction and reconfiguration, tree removal, sidewalk replacement, traffic signal modernization and upgrades to utilities such as sewer and water main work. The city projects the project will last till fall 2025, barring delays.

Attorneys for MSU Trustee Rema Vassar asked the Faculty Senate in a March 18 letter to postpone any votes on the board’s decision to censure her and Trustee Dennis Denno and refer them to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for removal. The Rochester-based Miller Law firm wants the Faculty Senate to wait until the firm releases its review of the report that found Vassar and Denno had broken several of the board’s bylaws and codes of conduct, including committing personal attacks against Faculty Senate Chair Jack Lipton. Lipton said Senate members perceived the letter as threatening and concerning.

Eric Tanner, 38, of Lansing, has been accused of coordinating a retail crime ring targeting area home improvement stores. He was arraigned March 27 in Charlotte on nine felony counts, including conducting a criminal enterprise and eight counts of organized retail crime. The theft ring employed individuals to steal a variety of merchandise from primarily Home Depot and Lowe’s stores to be sold on a social media platform, the Attorney General’s Office said. A hearing to determine whether Tanner should stand trial was set for April 15.

The MACOTTA Club food incubator project to bring six restaurants and 10 food concepts to the Knapp’s Centre has been delayed, but it is expected to begin next month, the Lansing State Journal reported. Ensuring proper venting in the kitchen space and getting the design right has taken extra time, said Julie Reinhart of Downtown Lansing Inc. The incubator will provide operational space to startup eateries and food-based businesses for two years, plus the vendors will receive business and marketing education. The project’s cost is estimated at $7 million, about $3 million more than nonprofit originally projected. Officials hope to open the club during the 2024 holiday season.

Public Safety

A fire heavily damaged a two-story home in the 1200 block of East Cesar Chavez Avenue Monday. The Lansing Fire Department said no one was injured and estimated $155,000 of damage was caused. … A 32-year-old woman and 34-year-old man were stabbed Sunday on Waverly Road near Grand River Avenue. Neither sought treatment at a hospital for minor wounds, but a 15-year-old boy known to police who was accused of the attacks was not taken into custody. … A man fatally shot a dog on the 1000 block of North Cedar Street March 27 after it broke away from its leash and attacked him. The man was bitten and shot it in self-defense, police said.