MSU Hosts Emergency Drill, Power Restored After East Lansing Outage, and BWL Lawsuit Settlement Moves Forward

EAST LANSING, MI – July 8, 2025 –
If you see a large law enforcement presence around the Michigan State University campus this morning, don’t be alarmed. MSU, East Lansing Police, Ingham County Sheriff's deputies, and other agencies are participating in a full-scale emergency preparedness drill. The exercise, which began early Tuesday, is scheduled to wrap up by 11:30 a.m.

Meanwhile, many East Lansing residents experienced a temporary power outage Monday evening. The Lansing Board of Water and Light reported that nearly 5,300 customers lost electricity shortly after 7 p.m., with full power restored by around 9 p.m. The cause of the outage has not yet been disclosed.

In related East Lansing news, a judge has given preliminary approval to a settlement in a lawsuit involving the city’s electricity franchise fee. Earlier this year, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled the fee—collected by the Lansing Board of Water and Light—was unlawful. As part of the settlement, nearly $8 million will be transferred to a class council trust account for reimbursement to plaintiffs. The agreement was approved by Ingham County Circuit Judge Wanda Stokes.

In Other Mid-Michigan Headlines:

• Traffic Advisory: A lane closure begins today in Delta Township on Saginaw Highway at Carrier Creek for culvert maintenance. One lane will be closed in each direction through August 15.

• Lansing Shooting Update: Police continue investigating a weekend incident in Lansing’s Old Town. An 18-year-old woman was shot early Sunday morning on the 200 block of Cesar Chavez Avenue, while a man—believed to be the intended target—was struck by a vehicle. No life-threatening injuries were reported. No arrests have been made.

• Tragic Accident in Oceana County: Cindy Lewis, 56, owner of Lewis Adventure Farm and Zoo, died Friday morning after being struck by a vehicle driven by an employee in the farm’s parking lot. Authorities believe the driver did not see her while entering. The case has been turned over to prosecutors for review.

• Eaton County Fair Continues: The Eaton County Fair is in full swing at the fairgrounds in Charlotte. Day two of festivities is highlighted by the popular bump and run derby, set to take place tonight at 7 p.m. at the Grandstand.