A Republican state lawmaker is seeking a new role tied to his alma mater. State Sen. Roger Victory, the minority whip representing Michigan’s 31st District, announced Wednesday that he is running for a seat on the Michigan State University Board of Trustees. Victory, who is term-limited in the Legislature, is the owner and operator of Victory Farms in Hudsonville.

 

Meanwhile, a Livingston County judge has sentenced 24-year-old Reese Hammie to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the fatal shooting of Michigan State University student Wede Okagbare. Hammie was convicted of first-degree murder and additional charges stemming from the 2023 killing at a home on West Street near Grand River Avenue in Howell. Authorities say the shooting was the result of a love triangle.

 

In Eaton Rapids Township, longtime Fire Chief Robert Herig has been terminated. The township board voted unanimously to remove Herig, who served as fire chief for 15 years and had been with the department since the 1990s. Township officials have not publicly disclosed the reason for the decision.

 

Lansing residents are being invited to weigh in on the city’s upcoming fiscal year budget. A public meeting is scheduled for Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lansing Elections Office on Jolly Road. Mayor Andy Schor, along with city leaders and community partners, will discuss major priorities ahead of the release of the mayor’s proposed budget, which is expected in late March.

 

Two men were seriously injured in a crash Wednesday morning in Locke Township, according to the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies say a 42-year-old man from Owosso was driving northbound on M-52 when his vehicle crossed the center line and struck a southbound pickup truck driven by a 29-year-old man from Laingsburg near Bell Oak Road. The investigation remains ongoing.

 

At the state level, the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) announced $73 million in grants for out-of-school time programs. The funding will be distributed among 298 organizations to expand before-school, after-school, and summer learning opportunities. Supported programs include mentoring, leadership development, physical fitness, visual and performing arts, literacy, and STEM education.

 

Attorney General Dana Nessel has also issued a formal opinion declaring unconstitutional a law that allowed the Michigan House to cut $645 million in state spending last month. Nessel said the law violated the separation of powers clause. House leaders have stated they plan to challenge the opinion in court. Several programs in the Lansing area would have faced significant reductions under the spending cuts.

 

Health officials are warning of a sharp rise in flu activity across Michigan. During a Wednesday press conference, State Chief Medical Executive Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian said flu-related hospital admissions are up 40 percent compared to this time last year, calling the increase “exponential”.