Multiple Mid-Michigan Updates: I-96 Detours, Environmental Concerns, and More

LANSING, Mich. — Lansing-area commuters and residents are seeing several major updates this week, from highway closures to public safety investigations and growing environmental concerns over proposed infrastructure projects.

Traffic and Transportation
Drivers traveling along westbound I-96 should be aware that Exit 101 to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard is now closed. Commuters will be detoured further west to the Lansing Road exit before looping back to MLK via eastbound I-96. The Michigan Department of Transportation expects the closure to last through November 7th.

Public Safety
East Lansing police have released new details on a body discovered earlier this week in the Red Cedar River near Michigan State University’s campus. The individual has been identified as a middle-aged white female, though authorities are still working to confirm her identity. Investigators say no foul play is suspected at this time.

Federal officials also confirmed that three individuals accused of being in the country unlawfully were detained during a U.S. Customs and Border Protection operation in Meridian Township last week. The incident was initially reported as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) action.

Environmental Concerns and Development Projects
Lansing residents are raising concerns about a Consumers Energy natural gas pipeline planned to pass through wetlands at Evergreen Cemetery and Fenner Nature Center. Consumers says the pipeline will be installed using directional drilling rather than open excavation to minimize environmental impact. While about two dozen trees will be removed, most will be replanted after construction, which is scheduled from June through September 2026. The Nature Center and nearby businesses will remain open during the work.

In Summit Township, residents are also voicing environmental concerns after the Planning Commission unanimously approved a proposed 13-acre battery storage facility near a Consumers Energy substation. The project would store power for use during periods of high demand. The Township Board of Trustees will make the final decision in the coming weeks.

Cybersecurity and Community Health
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has issued a consumer alert warning residents about the dangers of ransomware, a type of malware that can lock users out of their devices or data. Her office advises residents to keep software updated, avoid clicking links or attachments in unsolicited emails, and back up important data on an external hard drive.

Finally, for those looking to safely dispose of old medications, Delta Dental and the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office are hosting a drive-through drug drop-off today from 3 to 6 p.m. at Delta Dental on Okemos Road in Meridian Township. The event accepts prescriptions and pharmaceuticals—no questions asked.