East Lansing Approves New Budget Amid Deficit; Local Incidents Keep Authorities Busy

By Owen Brooks | 1320 WILS News

EAST LANSING, Mich. — The East Lansing City Council has approved the city’s new 2025 budget, a move made necessary after a ruling from the Michigan Supreme Court struck down the city’s BWL franchise fee, resulting in a $3 million deficit.

The 32-page budget includes notable changes, particularly for future city employees. Retirement benefits will no longer be guaranteed for new hires, excluding those in the police and fire departments.

In other local news, a crash late Tuesday night shut down the entrance ramp to US-127 near Grand River and Homer Roads for nearly three hours. Two vehicles were involved, but the cause of the crash and any injuries have not been confirmed.

Meanwhile, a violent altercation at Everett High School on Tuesday led to two arrests and the seizure of a handgun. Lansing police responded shortly after 12:30 p.m. following reports of a fight involving a knife and a person seen fleeing with a firearm. Officers arrested a 17-year-old student from whom school staff had already confiscated a handgun. A 50-year-old woman was later arrested at a home on Osmond Avenue in connection with the incident. Both face weapons-related charges.

At the state level, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced new police reform legislation in the Michigan Senate. The bills aim to restrict the use of no-knock warrants, reclassify chokeholds as deadly force, and mandate de-escalation training for officers. A similar effort passed the Senate in a prior session but stalled in the House.

Disturbing news also emerged from Jackson, where animal remains—including dead dogs—were found frozen in a garage behind the Jackson Ice Cream Shop. The building's new owner, Scott Pienta, discovered the remains in a cooler believed to belong to a former worker who had long ignored requests to clear out the space. Jackson County Animal Control has launched an investigation.

Finally, a Walmart in Blackman Township was evacuated Tuesday evening following a bomb threat. The store, located on the 1700 block of West Michigan Avenue, received the threat by phone just before 7 p.m. Authorities closed the store overnight while canine units searched the premises. No explosives or suspicious items were found, and the building was declared safe early Wednesday morning.