Rewind: News from the last 7 days

The Lansing City Council passed Mayor Andy Schor’s proposed $271.4 million budget for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. The overall budget is up 4% from this year. It includes the General Fund budget of $165.8 million, a 2.8% bump. The budget includes a proposal to add a new office of neighborhood safety and 15 police officers, but the latter will be approved only if the state Legislature creates a new funding mechanism that would bring the city an extra $3 million or more a year. The Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority, which runs the Lansing Center, Groesbeck Golf Course and Jackson Field, was cut $700,000, but a proposal to start the process of selling these properties failed. Budget details can be viewed at www.lansingmi.gov/mayorbudget.

Ashley Marie Monroe, 35, of Perrinton, was charged Monday with 11 felonies from an alleged hit-and-run crash Saturday on South Wacousta Road in Watertown Township that killed two and injured 14 members of a single family. The charges were two counts of operating while intoxicated causing death, two counts of failing to stop at the scene of crash causing death, six counts of OWI causing serious injury and one count of failure to stop at the scene of a crash causing serious impairment or death. Monroe, who allegedly had a blood-alcohol level of 0.183 at the Clinton County Jail, is being held on $1 million cash bond. Johnathan Esch, 30, of Grand Haven, and Daniel Harris, 42, of Grand Ledge, were killed. Another victim was hospitalized in critical condition, while the others had non-life-threatening injuries.

The Lansing School District will be one of just 13 nationwide to receive the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2024 Efficient and Healthy Schools program award, Superintendent Benjamin Shuldiner announced. The program, which has 202 participants from schools in 45 states, “recognizes and provides technical assistance for schools seeking to implement high-impact energy efficiency and indoor air quality improvements in their buildings,” The U.S. Energy Department’s website said. Kristina Tokar, the district’s chief operating officer, and a group of students will accept the award at a sustainability conference in Denver next month.

Three men charged in the May 12 murder and dismemberment in Lansing of Zacarri Marquise Taylor, 25, of Battle Creek, were on parole or probation. Marcus Lee Hayes, 35, of Lansing, and Leonard Felton Hayes III, 42, of Eaton Rapids, were charged with murder and mutilation of a body, while Terrance James Jones, 37, of Lansing was charged with mutilation of a body and accessory to a felony after the fact — all as fourth-time habitual offenders. It was Lansing’s sixth homicide this year, all since April 10.

The British Broadcasting Corp. will bring its “World Questions” program to the Lansing Center June 4, when local panelists will debate questions on national issues submitted by a live audience. Panelists will include state Sens. Sarah Anthony, D-Lansing and John Damoose, R-Harbor Springs, MSU public policy Professor Matt Grossmann, Kaitlyn Buss of The Detroit News and Jennifer Root, executive director of Michigan’s branch of the Service Employees International Union. BBC anchor Anu Anand will moderate the session, which begins with a reception at 6 p.m. Pre-registration is available at https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/world-questions-4jun24#. The debate will make its broadcast debut on June 8 through the BBC’s World Service English program at www.bbc.com/worldserviceradio.

Basil, a 2-year-old lab and golden retriever mix who will serve as an emotional support animal, was sworn in May 15 at the Veterans Memorial Courthouse in Lansing. “Basil will support survivors when they are at their most vulnerable — when they have to come into this courtroom, take that witness stand, tell their truth and face their attackers,” Chief Judge Joyce Draganchuk said. Basil is the second dog to fill the emotional support dog role for Ingham County, following Kory. Basil’s work will include assisting survivors of sexual assault and child abuse.

Elijah Matthew Klages, 19, of Lansing, pleaded guilty May 15 to two felony counts of operating under the influence and causing death in a crash that killed his sister, Lillian, and Amanda Blue, both 16, last August. The Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office dismissed two counts of careless driving causing death. Sentencing is set for July 15. The OWI charges carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

A 17-year-old Dewitt boy was sent to Sparrow Hospital Saturday with life-threatening injuries after a two-car crash in which his car was struck by a commercial vehicle in Riley Township in Clinton County. While traveling eastbound on Pratt Road, he drove into the path of a northbound commercial vehicle from Francis Road. The 26-year-old driver of the commercial vehicle, from Grand Rapids, was treated at the scene with minor injuries.