Rewind: News from the last 7 days

Lansing Police Lt. Ryan Wilcox has been charged by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office with one count of False Pretenses with Intent to Defraud, over $1,000 but less than $20,000, a felony, and was arraigned Tuesday in the Ingham County 55th Judicial District Court. Wilcox has been on paid administrative leave since May 30 while under investigation by the Michigan State Police for allegations of fraud. “Ryan Wilcox has been put on unpaid administrative leave and the department has opened an internal investigation,” said Lansing Police Chief Robert Backus. “These allegations are deeply disturbing and do not reflect the values of this department or the standards we uphold.” A judge set a probable cause conference for Tuesday.

The Lansing City Council is looking to revoke the cabaret license of the Centerfolds strip club at 5910 S. Pennsylvania Ave. after Christopher Bonilla Sr. was shot and killed inside the club on Feb. 16. Patrons also shot two people in the club in 2016, as well as shooting and killing a 21-year-old man in 2013. City Council member Ryan Kost is working with City Attorney Greg Venker to compile a list of problems at the club ahead of a hearing process. Centerfolds has a liquor license, governed by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, and a cabaret license, governed by the city, allowing performances.

Research for two Feed the Future initiatives at MSU, designed to fight global hunger and food insecurity, has been halted after President Donald Trump decided to freeze funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development. USAID provides funds for international public health and human rights efforts and funds research at land-grant universities. MSU had two USAID-funded laboratories: the Innovation Lab for Legume Systems Research and the Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy Research, Capacity and Influence. The latter aims to transform food policy in countries across Africa, Asia and Central America. The labs work alongside other organizations and universities across the country and the world. MSU received $190 million from USAID for its Food Security Group from 1983 to 2023. On Jan. 24, the Trump administration sent a stop-work order to all recipients of USAID grants and contracts.

MSU has ordered its deans and other university leaders to review all programs and activities to ensure they comply with anti-discrimination laws in the wake of President Trump’s executive order terminating diversity, equity and inclusion for organizations that receive federal funding. An email to university leaders from General Counsel Brian Quinn and Interim Provost Thomas Jeitschko stated that government agencies are looking into MSU’s policies and programs and have begun requesting certification from MSU as a condition of receiving federal funding. Any universities with endowments larger than $1 billion, including MSU and the University of Michigan, could be investigated for their DEI programs and policies. Noncompliance with the order could mean MSU loses hundreds of millions of dollars from federal grants and contracts. In 2024, the university received $528 million from the federal government to support research.

The Ingham County Board of Commissioners has approved a comprehensive spending plan for opioid settlement funds, allocating $2,132,523 over the next two years, aiming to address the ongoing opioid crisis and support recovery efforts in the community. The county participated in national litigation against opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies and will receive over $14.7 million over 18 years to fund opioid remediation efforts. Recipients include local organizations that play a vital role in addressing opioid use disorder and supporting affected individuals and families, such as Pinnacle, the Eastside Community Action Center, Women’s Center of Greater Lansing, the Ingham County Health Department and Sheriff’s Office, U of M Health Sparrow and several others.

Due to staffing shortages, Eaton County has announced that a dozen of its offices, including the county clerk and treasurer’s, will be open only four days a week. All administrative offices at the Eaton County Governmental Complex in Charlotte will remain staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, even if they are closed to the public on Fridays. The changes will take place starting the week of March 17. Other Eaton County offices that will be closed to the public on Fridays will be register of deeds, equalization, drain commissioner, construction codes and planning and zoning, resource recovery, veterans’ services, housing, facilities management and technology services. Court operations and public meetings will continue as usual.

Toyota Motor Corp. announced it will transfer its $1.5 billion order for LG Energy Solution vehicle batteries to the Ultium Cells plant in Delta Township. The order will help keep the $2.6 billion plant afloat after General Motors said in December that it planned to sell back its investment in the battery maker. LG and GM already have U.S. battery plants operating in Ohio and Tennessee. LG plans to complete acquiring the Delta plant this spring. Manufacturers could use the batteries purchased by Toyota under this deal in hybrids or electric vehicles, and LG is also seeking some energy-storage business there.