News Highlights from the Last 7 Days

The Michigan State University Department of Police and Public Safety released more information about the Feb. 13 shooting. The investigation preliminarily determined that Anthony McRae, 43, had no conclusive motive for targeting the school. Investigators searched his electronic devices and believe he acted alone. McRae was found with two weapons at the time of his death: a Hi-Point C-9 9mm handgun and a Taurus G3 9mm handgun. The Taurus was loaded with 13 rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber, and the Hi-Point was loaded with nine rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber when they were recovered. Both were legally purchased but unregistered. McRae only used the Taurus handgun on the night of the shooting. Police also recovered an extra loaded magazine for the Taurus from McRae’s coat and 10 extra magazines for the Hi-Point and 136 rounds of loose ammunition from his backpack. No other weapons were found at his residence. Fourteen shell casings were found in Berkey Hall, three were found in the MSU Union and one was found outside of the Human Ecology Building. Investigators believe McRae fired one shot outside while walking from Berkey Hall to the Union but did not injure anyone. The investigation also found that McRae’s blood alcohol level was .04% at the time of his death, half of Michigan’s drunk-driving limit, and he had THC in his system. 

 

An eight-page document revealed a plan to restructure the East Lansing city government. The plan would move resources and staff from the departments of Planning, Building & Development and Parks, Recreation & Arts to a new Department of Culture, Equity & Placemaking under the Department of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, overseen by DEI Director Elaine Hardy. On top of her secretary and a potential part-time employee proposed in the city’s budget for this year, Hardy would oversee eight staffers. The planning and parks departments would shrink, and all arts decisions would be made by the new department. The new department would consider “which groups of people a problem affects and how it affects them and, subsequently, develop meaningful solutions that balance economic, environmental, and social needs of the East Lansing community.” It’s not known when the document was drafted or who drafted it, but it was called into question after an “anonymous public servant” delivered a complaint letter to city staffers alleging, among other things, that Hardy and Mayor Ron Bacon overstepped their job duties and had too much of a hand in the city’s day-to-day operations, causing city officials to resign. At least 10 department heads or assistant heads have resigned this year, four of them from the planning department. The City Council approved an independent investigation of the complaint letter. 

 

Former Ingham County Prosecutor Carol Siemon’s sentencing stipulation on juvenile crimes is shortening offenders’ prison time. Last summer, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that juveniles cannot automatically be sentenced to life in prison. Under the ruling, prosecutors can still argue that a life term is necessary. However, in December, Siemon signed a binding stipulation that prosecutors would not seek life in prison for juveniles. Since then, those who were sentenced to life in prison in Ingham County as juveniles have received lower sentences at resentencing hearings, like 41-year-old Terrence Lee Taylor, who killed one person and injured two others in a knife attack when he was 18. He was originally sentenced to life in prison but was resentenced and given 35 to 60 years. His victims’ families were outraged, not knowing about Siemon’s rule until 17 days before the hearing, even though they were required to be informed of it by the Crime Victims Rights Act. Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewane said he will consult with victims’ families and consider each case individually in the future.

 

Developers have begun work on a $33 million affordable housing development in the Stadium District, the Lansing State Journal reported. The developer, Ohio-based Pivotal Communities, and the general contractor, Grand Rapids-based Orion Construction, said the two 66-unit apartment buildings, Stadium North Lofts and Stadium North Senior Lofts, should be completed in spring 2024. They will be located at the site of the former Lansing Dairy Co. at North Cedar and Erie streets, a few blocks north of Jackson Field. Stadium North Lofts will offer one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, while Stadium North Senior Lofts, for residents 55 and older, will offer one- and two-bedroom units. The apartments will include a community room with a kitchen and dining area, as well as a lounge area. The companies did not specify what the rent will be but said resident qualification will be determined by federal income guidelines.

 

Lansing City Council unanimously voted to approve a four-year contract between the city and its firefighters’ union, the Lansing State Journal reported. The contract, which runs through June 30, 2026, funds four new positions in the Lansing Fire Department and increases salaries for all staff by 3% in the first year, retroactive to July 1, 2022, and 2% in the second, third and fourth years. Applications for a firefighter trainee, EMT and paramedic were posted April 25. The contract also revises promotions to be more merit-based than seniority-based. Assistant Fire Chief Michael Tobin said the contract makes Lansing a “destination department” but noted it has 18 open positions. In the fall, there are expected to be 30 open positions due to retirements. He asks anyone interested to apply.