Friday, Jan. 7 — The state attorney general filed a motion today with the Michigan Court of Appeals that seeks to remove recently appointed Judge Hugh Clarke Jr. from the 54-A District Court.

Veteran political analyst Bill Ballenger sits in the living room of his Waverly Road house, the first house north of the bridge over the Grand River in Lansing Township.Outside of his living room window, there is controversy brewing about whether the city and Lansing Township should undergo a $1.3 million sidewalk project.

Thursday, Jan. 6 — At least one Lansing-area business that supports animal rights has vowed not to sponsor the annual Caravan Circus.

Thursday, Jan. 6 — Shortly after the Lansing City Council unanimously re-elected Council President A’Lynne Robinson and Vice President Kathie Dunbar to their respective positions, a few members touched on the first controversy of the new year: a proposed sidewalk project along Waverly Road.

On Dec. 11, an unidentified man walked through the downtown Capital Area District Library with a shotgun strapped to his shoulder. After an alarmed patron called the police, the man was asked to leave and he did.

O’Dell estimates 1,000 jobs could result in a downtown gaming facility. He is quick to point out that his aim is a “gaming facility” (casinos have a negative stigma, he said) without a hotel, restaurants and entertainment ' that will come later if necessary, he said.

Monday, Jan. 3 — Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero defended a proposed $1.3 million sidewalk project along Waverly Road in the city and Lansing Township today against an attack by state Sen. Rick Jones, who called it a “sidewalk to nowhere.”

The wonderful experience of seeing the state and meeting people from all over the state. I had incredible grassroots support and the support of my family, of course. It was an unbelievable, incomparable experience that can only come from actually running for statewide office.

How has medical marijuana, in your perspective, changed Lansing over the past year? It has definitely been a rocket for businesses and employment. I truly believe it has helped the community. I am excited for the moratorium because it’s going to help us revamp and get some leadershi...

How have you been impacted by the recession? I live in Leslie and have been unemployed for about a year. How was the transition from working to being unemployed? The transition didn’t go real well. I do office-type, management work. I was really sick, and they let me go at the tim...