The Lansing School District has officially selected its next superintendent, making Jessica Benavides' leadership role permanent after serving as interim superintendent since February.

The Lansing School Board approved a contract for Benavides, who stepped into the interim position after former Superintendent Ben Shuldiner left the district to accept a new position in Seattle. Under the agreement, Benavides will earn more than $280,000 annually, with the contract running through June 2029.

Fowlerville Man Killed in Howell Crash

A 69-year-old Fowlerville man died Wednesday following a single-vehicle crash on Mason Road in Howell. Livingston County authorities believe the driver may have suffered a medical emergency shortly before the crash. His identity has not yet been released pending notification of family members.

Michigan Continues Expansion of EV Charging Network

Michigan is continuing to grow its electric vehicle charging infrastructure, according to a report from East Lansing-based Anderson Economic Group.

The report notes three primary types of charging stations: Level 1 chargers, which can take multiple days to fully charge a vehicle; Level 2 chargers, which typically require four to ten hours; and DC Fast Chargers, which can recharge most vehicles in as little as 20 minutes to an hour.

Michigan currently has more than 1,700 Level 2 charging stations and 596 DC Fast Charging stations, with many of the faster chargers located in urban areas across the Lower Peninsula, including Lansing.

Senate Democrats Reintroduce Vetoed Legislation

Michigan Senate Democrats have reintroduced nine bills that Governor Gretchen Whitmer vetoed earlier this month following a lengthy legal dispute.

Supporters argue the vetoes undermined democratic principles, while Whitmer has maintained that implementing the legislation retroactively would have created significant administrative burdens.

Cyclospora Cases Continue to Climb

Michigan health officials are reporting more than 10,000 confirmed cyclospora cases statewide, including nearly 350 new cases reported in the latest daily update. Officials continue to monitor the outbreak as investigations into its source remain ongoing.

Youth Livestock Scholarship Fund Awards Nearly $1 Million

The Michigan Youth Livestock Scholarship Fund has secured nearly $1 million in scholarships and educational awards for students who have participated in premier livestock exhibitions.

More than 41 students across Michigan received over $60,000 in scholarship funding, including eight recipients from the Lansing tri-county region.

Michigan Native Wins $1 Million for Charity

Michigan native and Grosse Pointe North High School graduate Jamie Ding teamed up with actor Ben Affleck on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? to win $1 million for charity.

The victory came after the game resumed following a pause due to time constraints during a previous episode. Ding previously gained national recognition earlier this year with a 31-game winning streak on Jeopardy!, earning more than $882,000 in prize money.