Homeless Encampment Agreement Reached

An Ingham County judge announced that the City of Lansing has reached an agreement to temporarily house approximately 50 people currently living in an encampment near Dietrich Park. Under the plan, individuals will be relocated to the Causeway Bay Hotel for up to six weeks, beginning Monday.  Officials say anyone who remains at the encampment beyond that date could face trespassing citations. The city has also filed lawsuits against property owners tied to the encampment, citing health, safety, and sanitation concerns.

In addition, Lansing officials have identified a sixth potential location for modular “pod” housing aimed at addressing homelessness. The proposed site is the southeast parking lot of the Ingham County Human Services Building. A public meeting originally scheduled for this week to discuss the site has been postponed until next month due to a lack of quorum.

 

Code Blue Activated Amid Cold Weather

With overnight temperatures expected to drop, the City of Lansing has once again activated its Code Blue cold weather emergency plan. The policy will remain in effect through Wednesday morning.  Under Code Blue, additional shelter resources are made available to protect vulnerable residents from dangerous cold conditions. The plan is activated weeknights from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., and on weekends from 6:30 p.m. to 6 a.m.

 

School Lockdown Threat Deemed Hoax

Eaton County authorities confirmed that a threat which prompted a lockdown at Waverly Middle School and Waverly High School on Wednesday was a hoax, commonly referred to as “swatting.”  Officials say no explosive devices or other credible threats were found. As a precaution, high school students were dismissed early while the investigation was conducted.

 

Former Legislative Aides Accept Plea Deals

An Ingham County judge has accepted plea agreements for Robert and Ann Minard, former aides to ex-Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield. Chatfield is scheduled to stand trial next year on more than a dozen charges, including embezzlement, conspiracy, and larceny.  The Minards, who had faced similar embezzlement charges, were sentenced Wednesday to 36 months of probation. They could face up to six months in jail if they violate probation terms and are expected to testify against Chatfield at trial.

 

AG Intervenes in Consumers Energy Rate Request

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced plans to intervene in Consumers Energy’s latest request to raise natural gas rates. The utility filed a request Tuesday with the Michigan Public Service Commission seeking a $240 million annual increase.  If approved, gas customers could see rates rise by 10 percent, with residential customers facing an additional 8 percent increase. The request comes just three months after regulators approved a separate $157.5 million natural gas rate increase for Consumers Energy.

Nessel also moved to halt the release of a Jackson County man sentenced more than four years ago for stalking two individuals. Parole had been granted last month to 51-year-old Trenton Solomon, who has a criminal history involving stalking and domestic violence.

 

Local Win on ‘Jeopardy!’

On a lighter note, a Lansing resident and Michigan State University professor earned a victory on national television. Filmmaker Pete Johnston won his semifinal matchup in the “Second Chance Tournament” on Jeopardy! Wednesday night.  Johnston finished with $12,800, edging out the runner-up by just $100 to secure first place in Group One of the semifinals.