MSU Names Pat Fitzgerald as New Head Football Coach; Lansing Redevelopment and Statewide Updates

Michigan State University made it official Monday, announcing the hiring of former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald as the Spartans’ new head football coach. Fitzgerald will be formally introduced this afternoon, stepping in to replace Jonathan Smith, who was dismissed on Sunday.

 

Lansing Launches $8 Million Redevelopment in Stadium District

A major redevelopment effort is now underway in Lansing’s Stadium District. City leaders joined the Gillespie Group for a ceremonial “wall-breaking” on Monday to kick off Brick Row, an $8 million project aimed at revitalizing six historic buildings in the 600 block of Michigan Avenue—formerly home to the City Rescue Mission. Plans call for 15 new housing units and nearly 7,000 square feet of commercial space.

 

CATA and EATRAN Cutting Delta Township Services

Public transit agencies CATA and EATRAN announced they will scale back services in Delta Township next month following the failure of a key millage vote in November. About 30 bus stops west of the Lansing Mall will be eliminated along Route 3, with additional reductions affecting Spec-Tran and CATA Rydz starting January 12.

 

East Lansing Police Close Investigation into Meagan Turner’s Death

East Lansing police have closed the investigation into the death of Meagan Turner, a 32-year-old MSU doctoral candidate from Canada, whose body was found in the Red Cedar River near Cedar Village last October. Authorities found no signs of foul play. Toxicology results showed a blood alcohol level of 0.32 percent.

 

New Vision for Historic Detroit Packard Plant Site

A major redevelopment concept has been unveiled for the long-vacant Packard auto plant site in Detroit. The proposed Packard Park would feature an indoor skate park, affordable housing, community programming spaces, and an electronic music museum. The original plant structure was demolished in 2022.

 

Michigan Lottery Issues Holiday Scam Alert

The Michigan Lottery is warning residents about a rise in lottery-related scams, which tend to increase around the holidays. Scam tactics include individuals falsely claiming they will share winnings if the victim pays upfront, or impostors posing as lottery officials charging “processing fees.” Officials stress that all prize claims are free and require a valid winning ticket.

 

HIV Diagnoses Declining Statewide

Michigan has seen a steady drop in new HIV cases over the past decade, with the state health department reporting a 1.6% decline annually since 2015. However, data shows Ingham County ranked fourth in new diagnoses between 2022 and 2024.