Lansing Unveils South Side Redevelopment Plans; State Debates SNAP Funding and Education Standards

Lansing city leaders have announced new redevelopment plans for the south side, targeting blighted property on Miller Road for renovation and new business development. City officials joined the Novi Properties Development Group this week to reveal plans for event space and businesses including a brunch restaurant and laundromat. Mayor Andy Schor said the project will receive $1 million from the city’s revitalization and placemaking grant, along with a brownfield plan unanimously approved by City Council to provide $380,000 in future tax support.

“We were proud to put a million dollars from our revitalization and placemaking grant that we received into this project,” Schor said during the press conference. “We also provided to City Council…a brownfield plan…to ensure that the city can provide about $380,000 in future taxes”.

Also on the south side, officials will break ground today on a new Chick-fil-A restaurant on Cedar Street at the former University Motor Mall site. The city plans to use the event to highlight growth along the Cedar and Pennsylvania corridor.

In legal news, an Ingham County jury convicted Xavian Soto of Jackson on second-degree murder charges for the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Braylon Shepherd last November on Sadie Court. Soto faces a potential sentence of up to life in prison.

A recent child sexting investigation has led U of M Health Sparrow to terminate a resident physician identified as Dr. Syed Alvi, one of three men arrested and charged last week. The other suspects, Gregory Jordan III and Kalil Brown, are accused of attempting to meet a teenager for sexual purposes.

Meanwhile, a Hmong refugee pardoned by Governor Gretchen Whitmer last week remains in ICE custody. Liu Yang, who served 10 months for breaking and entering as a teenager and later founded the Hmong Family Association of Lansing, was arrested in July. ICE officials said the pardon is still under review.

At the state level, the Michigan House Oversight Committee rejected proposed updates to health education standards that would include new sex-education guidelines. Chief Deputy Superintendent Dr. Sue Carnell argued the changes would support student safety, saying gender-diverse students face harassment and bullying. Opponents, including State Rep. Gina Johnsen, testified that academic fundamentals—not what she called “highly controversial ideology”—should take priority.

With federal SNAP benefits expected to lapse this weekend due to the government shutdown, House Democrats introduced a five-bill package aimed at providing food access and support to affected residents. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed suit against the USDA and Secretary Brooke Rollins, alleging the department is unlawfully halting benefits despite access to contingency funds approved by Congress for emergencies.