East Lansing Insider, brought to you by ELi on Impact 89FM

East Lansing Info’s Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols and Managing Editor Lucas Day talk about the recent heavy rainfall in East Lansing and the flooding that has occurred. They talk about solutions to flooding problems the city is considering and what residents have been dealing with.

On this week’s episode of East Lansing Insider, East Lansing Info’s Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols talks about autism awareness and acceptance with Paul Doher, National Director of Clinical Quality for Acorn Health, which has ABA autism therapy centers in several states including here in the Capital area.

Conversations about mental health have been on the rise in recent years. This week on the East Lansing Insider podcast, East Lansing Info Reporter Dustin DuFort Petty spoke with Michigan State University student Andelina Storm Grossi who recently published her first book, Sanity in the Storm: Faith, Healing, and Hope for the Anxious Soul. He also spoke with City Councilmember Kerry Ebersole Singh about what has spurred an increase in mental health issues in our communities.

On this week’s episode of East Lansing Insider, East Lansing Info’s Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols talks about the widespread impact of the March 12 attack on Temple Israel in Metro Detroit. She is joined by Robyn Hughey and Jonathon Koenigsberg of MSU Hillel in East Lansing who share their perspectives on the incident and offer insight on how communities can respond to incidents of anti semitism.

East Lansing Info’s Managing Editor Lucas Day joins East Lansing Info’s Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols on this week’s episode of East Lansing Insider to talk about recent development proposals in East Lansing and what challenges developers face in the city.

On this week’s episode of East Lansing Insider, East Lansing Info’s Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols takes a closer look at the rapidly escalating conflict in Iran following recent U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. To better understand what this moment means for people here in mid-Michigan, this week’s episode features two local voices with personal and community ties to Iran. Michigan State University graduate student Farzaneh Holasu reflects on how the conflict is being experienced by Iranians and members of the Iranian diaspora. Thasin Sardar, a leader at the Islamic Center of East Lansing, shares another perspective on how the local Muslim community is processing the news and discusses the global implications of the strikes.

East Lansing Info Reporter Dustin DuFort Petty hosts a special Ramadan episode of East Lansing Insider, talking about the importance of the holy month for East Lansing Muslims.

This week, ELi Managing Editor Lucas Day and Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols continue discussion surrounding camping and loitering bans being considered by East Lansing City Council. The bans have drawn considerable controversy as some residents, researchers and housing advocates say the bans would unfairly target homeless people and perpetuate cycles of poverty.

East Lansing Info Reporter Dustin DuFort Petty hosts a special Valentine’s Day episode of East Lansing Insider

This week on East Lansing Insider East Lansing Info’s Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols talks with Mid-Michigan Tenant Resource Center Executive Director Khadja Erickson about bans on loitering in parking areas and camping housing advocates are saying would criminalize poverty and ensure individuals remain unhoused.

East Lansing Info Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols talks with the president of the NAACP Lansing Branch Harold A. Pope about Black History Month and the NAACP’s history and how it operates today.

East Lansing is the only remaining Michigan jurisdiction on President Donald Trump’s administration’s list of sanctuary cities the Department of Justice says violates federal immigration laws. This week on East Lansing Insider East Lansing Info’s Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols talks with staff attorney for ACLU of Michigan Jay Kaplan about the state of immigration enforcement in Michigan in the aftermath of the killing of American citizen Renee Good by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, agents in Minneapolis earlier this month, which has sparked outrage across the country.

This week, ELi Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols discusses Michigan’s severe flu season with Chief Medical Executive for the State of Michigan Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian and the impact of national conversations surrounding vaccines on Michigan’s health care system.

East Lansing Info Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols and Managing Editor Lucas Day talk about the biggest stories of 2025 and what readers can look forward to in 2026.

The holiday season can be a particularly hard time emotionally for those navigating grief. This week, ELi Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols talks to Kelly Koerner, Program Director of Ele’s Place Place, a healing center in the Capital area aimed at supporting children and families through the death of a loved one.

This week, ELi Managing Editor Lucas Day and Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols talk about a camping and loitering ban East Lansing City Council is considering which has raised mixed reactions from residents. During a recent city council meeting some members of the public shared their concerns over the implications the bans would have for unhoused individuals while other community members implored council to take up the bans in the interest of public safety.

This week on East Lansing Insider East Lansing Info’s Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols talks with Laura Grimwood, the community outreach director of City Rescue Mission over in Lansing about the organization’s recent relocation and emerging needs in the Capital area’s unhoused population.

Earlier this month after East Lansing residents voted to install two new members into the city council, the council selected Erik Altmann as the city’s mayor for the next two years. In this week’s episode of East Lansing Info Reporter Dustin DuFort Petty talks with Altmann about his time on city council and his hopes for the future of the city.

With Thanksgiving coming up East Lansing Info Reporter Dustin DuFort Petty talks with Michigan State University Extension Health Educator Dr. Nicole Persing-Wethington about the impact of gratitude and several prominent names in East Lansing share what they’re thankful for this time of year on this week’s episode of East Lansing Insider

This week, ELi Managing Editor Lucas Day and Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols discuss what to expect as two new council members begin their term on East Lansing’s City Council. East lansing Police Chief Jen Brown said earlier this month that she would present a series of public safety recommendations on Tuesday for the downtown and Anna and Lucas discuss the feasibility of some of the recommendations on the East Lansing Insider podcast.

On Election Day East Lansing voters elected Steve Whelan and Chuck Grigsby to serve on the City Council. ELi Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols talks with both council members elect about their experiences on election night and what they would like to see in the city’s future on the latest episode of the East Lansing Insider podcast.

This Tuesday East Lansing residents will vote on who will take the two available seats on the East Lansing City Council. Before Election Day, ELi Managing Editor Lucas Day and Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols talk what’s at stake this election and what the future of the council may look like on the latest episode of the East Lansing Insider podcast.

This week, the East Lansing Insider podcast looks at East Lansing Police use of force data as ELi Managing Editor Lucas Day and Managing Editor Anna Liz Nichols speak with sociologist Cedrick Heraux

This week, the East Lansing Insider podcast looks beyond the city's boundaries at the Meridian Township deer management program. ELi Managing Editor Lucas Day speaks with Meridian Township Land Stewardship and Deer Management Coordinator Emma Campbell about the township's unique program that leverages local sportsmen to keep the deer population in check.

The East Lansing Police Department has been raising red flags for violence in the city’s downtown, but after publically releasing the names of two men charged for engaging in an altercation police say took place during Michigan State University’s welcome week, newly released surveillance footage paints a different picture. Managing Editor Luke Day and Deputy Editor Anna Nichols outline the timeline of events and decisions made by ELPD.

Managing Editor Luke Day and Deputy Editor Anna Nichols unpack East Lansing’s housing landscape, including what local leaders are proposing to develop the downtown area and various issues renters are facing.

Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols and City Government Reporter Ayah Imran examine two pressing issues in East Lansing: A series of recent public safety incidents downtown and proposed changes to the city’s Independent Police Oversight Commission. They break down what community members and commissioners are saying about revisions to the ordinance that outlines the authority of the oversight commission, including concerns that it may deplete accountability for law enforcement.

East Lansing Insider is back! Lucas Day and Anna Nichols break down East Lansing’s upcoming City Council election with two open seats and six candidates competing for four-year terms. They discuss what is at stake for the city, including budget fixes, development decisions, public safety, charter changes, and the Parks and Recreation millage, while introducing listeners to each candidate’s priorities and background.

On this episode, Emily Joan Elliott and Al Hargrave Jackson, who both report on East Lansing Public Schools recap the last two years of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts as well as Covid-19 mitigation efforts in the district. The two issues have often overlapped, as the duo discuss, and Al points to what is expected next on both topics. Al also provides information on a new contract for teachers and a visit to East Lansing by Mark Wood, an original member of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Andrew is joined by ELi's Heather Brothers on this episode of the Insider, where the duo discuss the use of force reports that the ELPD has been giving the Independent Police Oversight Commission and dig into what we can learn from them, what the Commission might make of them, and the long term goals of this level of police accountability. Listen in!

On this episode of the Insider, Andrew and Emily recap a discussion from the Tuesday, April 12, City Council discussion-only meeting where the five members of Council discussed potentially putting a moratorium on issuing new Special Use Permits for off-campus group housing for MSU students — namely, Greek houses. To help aid the discussion, two representatives from MSU — Su Webster and Dr. Erin Carter — were also in attendance and shared new information about the sophomores-on rule. Listen in!

On this episode of the Insider, Andrew sits down with Emily Joan Elliott to talk about the imminent return of the Albert EL Fresco, an open-air dining, seating and recreation area in downtown East Lansing. With the EL Fresco slated to reopen on May 10, the duo cover what it will look like in year two, some of the challenges faced by the City in pulling it off, and touch on how popular it might really be. Take a listen!

On this episode of the Insider, Andrew is in studio with ELi's founder, Alice Dreger, to talk about a number of various redevelopment projects — or potential projects — going on in East Lansing. Plus, the duo talks about a document from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) that highlights good strategies for growing downtowns. Give it a listen!

On this episode of the Insider, Andrew is joined by ELi's Emily Joan Elliott and Al Jackson to go back over the months-long process of hiring the two new City Attorneys. From moving on from Foster Swift to deciding to split the role in municipal advisor and prosecutor, right up to contract issues, we cover it all in this episode. Check it out!

On this episode of the Insider, Andrew is joined by ELi's Emily Joan Elliott, who interviews him about the ongoing discussions in the City about what might be done with the Northern Tier. The two also assess the potential that a committee to study the planning, zoning and future land uses will be formed. Give it a listen!

On this episode of the Insider, Andrew is joined by Dan Bollman, an architect and current chair of the East Lansing Planning Commission. Dan and Andrew discuss the state of housing in East Lansing and delve into some of the various ways the City could alter zoning or other laws to, potentially, make housing more affordable and accessible in East Lansing. Listen in!

On this episode of the Insider, Andrew is joined by ELi's founder, Alice Dreger, to talk about the latest on town-gown relations in East Lansing. The duo discuss the sophomores-on-campus housing rule that MSU is planning to enforce beginning in the fall, the growing glut of student-oriented housing, and what the future might hold in light of these, and other, developments. Give it a listen!

On this episode of the Insider, Andrew is joined by ELi's acting executive director, Emily Joan Elliott, to discuss the current state of Covid-19 as the omicron variant is apparently receding and things around East Lansing potentially get back to "normal." You'll also fear briefly from Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail in this episode, talking about the same thing during her regular media briefing. And lastly, it closes out with a news roundup. Give it a listen!

After pausing most City meetings in January and early February due to the surge of the Omicron Covid variant, the City of East Lansing's board and commissions got back to work this week and dealt with a bevy of issues. On this week's edition of the Insider, Andrew is joined by ELi reporters Heather Brothers and Al Hargrave to discuss their coverage of the Independent Police Oversight Commission and School Board, respectively. Listen in to get caught up on some of what the City is up to!

The convergence of a young student population and downtown bars could be a recipe for problems. On this episode of the Insider, Andrew talks to Scott Rolen (Lou & Harry's) and Mike Krueger (Crunchys) about the Responsible Hospitality Council, essentially a consortium of downtown liquor license holders working together to promote what their name says: responsible hospitality. So how do these bar and restaurant owners work together — and with the City — to promote a safe, controlled environment? Listen in to find out!

On this episode of East Lansing Insider, brought to you by ELi in partnership with Impact 89FM, Andrew is joined by Dr. Alexa Warwick from Michigan State University's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. While Dr. Warwick is not an expert in deer biology, she has worked with the City of East Lansing on gauging community tolerances for deer and different management practices. East Lansing's 2022 deer cull ended recently, with 79 deer being removed from the City — and the cull was met with pushback and praise from the community along the way, which Andrew and Dr. Warwick dive into, as well. Listen in!

On this episode of East Lansing Insider, brought to you by ELi in partnership with Impact 89FM, Andrew is joined by ELi reporter Al Hargrave to discuss the ongoing search for a new City Attorney in East Lansing. From splitting up the roles of municipal advisor and prosecutor to marathon interview sessions and the winnowing down of choices, Andrew and Al dive in. Give it a listen!