Winter Weather Advisory in Effect for Lansing Area

Drivers in the Lansing area are being urged to use caution as a winter weather advisory remains in effect through 4 p.m. today. Forecasters warn of freezing rain and the potential for up to a quarter inch of ice accumulation, which could create hazardous travel conditions.

In preparation, Consumers Energy, the Lansing Board of Water & Light, and other utility providers are on alert for possible power outages. Road crews are also treating highways, bridges, and overpasses to reduce icing and improve safety.

Government Offices Reopen Following Holiday

City of Lansing and Michigan state government offices reopened today after the Christmas holiday. However, some local government offices remain closed or are operating remotely. Residents are encouraged to check directly with their local jurisdictions for the latest updates.

Federal government offices are closed today, and there will be no mail delivery. The closure follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump granting federal employees a five-day break from Christmas Eve through Sunday.

Michigan Joins Lawsuit Over Gender-Affirming Care

Michigan has joined 18 other states and Washington, D.C. in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The legal challenge targets actions by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that allegedly seek to limit access to gender-affirming care for minors.

The lawsuit claims the department is bypassing legal requirements to pressure healthcare providers into discontinuing certain treatments. HHS has not commented on the lawsuit.

State Faces Separate Legal Challenge from Vrbo Parent Company

In a separate legal matter, the state of Michigan is being sued by HomeAway, the Texas-based parent company of vacation rental platform Vrbo. The company is contesting an $18.7 million tax assessment following a state audit covering unpaid use taxes from 2020 through 2022.

HomeAway argues that the responsibility for the six percent use tax on short-term rentals—those lasting 30 days or less—falls on property owners rather than the platform itself.

$1 Million Powerball Ticket Sold in Howell

A Michigan lottery player is celebrating a major win after purchasing a $1 million Powerball ticket in Howell. The ticket matched all five white numbers in the Christmas Eve drawing. The Powerball jackpot, worth $1.8 billion, was claimed by a ticket holder in Arkansas.