Lansing News Roundup: Air Quality Alert, City Hall Smoke, Road Closures & Weekend Events

LANSING, MI — An air quality alert for the Lansing area has been extended through Friday due to lingering smoke from Canadian wildfires. Much of mid-Michigan, including the capital city, recorded "unhealthy" levels on the Air Quality Index Thursday. The advisory, initially set to expire, now remains in effect until further notice.

The smoky skies weren’t the only haze in Lansing Thursday. Crews were dispatched to City Hall after reports of smoke inside the building. Lansing Fire Department responded with multiple units, including two ladder trucks—one of which extended to the side of the building.

The sixth floor of City Hall was evacuated as a precaution, while the fifth and seventh floors were advised to shelter in place. According to a report from Lansing Fire Chief Brian Sturdivant, the smoke was caused by an overheated HVAC pipe. No injuries were reported, and maintenance crews are working to address the issue.

Road Closures & Traffic Alerts

Several significant road closures are in effect across the region for weekend events and maintenance:

• Old Town Lansing: Roads closed Friday morning for Jazz Fest; expected to reopen Sunday night.

• Downtown Lansing: Washington Square from Shiawassee to Ionia closed Saturday morning through Monday morning for the Moneyball 3-on-3 Tournament.

• East Lansing: Grand River Avenue’s 100 block partially closed Friday morning through noon for HVAC installation at Rally House.

• Ingham County: Eastbound I-96 business loop ramp to I-96 closed Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for high-friction surface treatment.

Ballot Proposal Stalled

In state politics, the Michigan Board of Canvassers reached a 2-2 deadlock Thursday over the language of a ballot initiative proposed by the group Invest in My Kids. The measure seeks to increase public school funding by imposing an additional 5% tax on joint filers earning over $1 million annually. The deadlock stalls the measure’s path to the November ballot.

Weekend Event Highlights

• Ingham County Fair (Mason):

  • Friday night: Big Air ATV Show at 6 p.m.

  • Saturday: Motocross wraps up the fair’s grandstand events.

• Jazz Fest in Old Town:

  • Friday performances start at 5:30 p.m.

  • Saturday includes children's programming and music starting at 1:30 p.m.

For continued updates on local news, weather alerts, and weekend happenings, stay tuned to 1320 WILS.