LANSING, Mich. — The Lansing City Council is set to begin the new year Monday night with its annual election of officers, while the region sees students returning to classrooms, falling gas prices, and a sharp rise in flu cases across Michigan.  City council members will gather at City Hall at 7 p.m. to elect a council president and vice president for 2026. Ryan Kost and Tamera Carter held those leadership roles last year. The meeting will also mark the first for newly elected council members Clara Martinez and Deyanira Martinez.

 

Meanwhile, winter break has come to an end for many K–12 students across Mid-Michigan. Major school districts, including Lansing and East Lansing, are resuming classes Monday following a two-week holiday break. College students, however, are enjoying a longer pause, with Michigan State University and Lansing Community College both scheduled to begin their spring semesters next Monday.

 

Police are investigating a shooting that occurred Sunday morning on Lansing’s southwest side. Authorities say a woman was shot around 8:30 a.m. at a home in the 3100 block of Sunderland Road. She is expected to recover, and no arrests have been announced at this time.

 

Drivers are seeing some relief at the pump as gas prices continue to drop. AAA Michigan reports the average price in the Lansing area was $2.69 per gallon as of Sunday, about 17 cents cheaper than one week earlier. The statewide average sits at $2.70, down roughly 10 cents over the same period.

 

Health officials are also warning residents about a surge in flu cases. Michigan is currently one of 19 states classified by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as experiencing very high levels of influenza-like illness. Corewell Health reports flu-related hospital visits have nearly doubled in a single week, while University of Michigan Health Sparrow says emergency rooms are reaching capacity. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is urging everyone six months and older to receive an annual flu shot.

 

On the national stage, Michigan lawmakers are reacting to U.S. airstrikes involving Venezuela and the removal of leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Republican Congressman Tim Walberg praised the action, saying President Donald Trump acted decisively to combat drug trafficking. Congressman John Moolenaar also expressed gratitude to U.S. military forces involved in the operation.  Democratic leaders, however, voiced concerns. Senator Elissa Slotkin criticized the move as a distraction from economic issues affecting Americans, while Senator Gary Peters warned against becoming involved in another prolonged conflict overseas.