On this episode of East Lansing Insider, brought to you by ELi in partnership with Impact 89FM, ELi’s Alice Dreger, Emily Joan Elliott, and Andrew Graham visit some recent Ask ELi to Investigate questions that they sought answers to and helpful tidbits that they have received. The trio discusses recent flooding in East Lansing, equity and inclusion, upcoming plans for Burcham Road and at Valley Court Park, and several other questions related to East Lansing Public Schools. Since Jan. 1, 2021, EL...
Sep 24, 2021•28 min•Ep. 32
On the latest episode of ELi’s podcast, Andrew Graham is joined by Madi Zink, an East Lansing High School math teacher and the coach of all the Trojans high school aquatics teams — boys and girls. Right now, it's girls swim and dive season and the duo discusses the progress of that team, plus get into the state of the whole program and where Zink hopes to take it. Also, Graham provides a quick news update from around the City of East Lansing.
Sep 17, 2021•29 min•Ep. 31
On this week’s episode of the East Lansing Insider podcast, ELi government reporters Andrew Graham and Alice Dreger bring you the results from ELi’s survey of voters related to this November’s East Lansing City Council elections. Andrew and Alice read from and discuss what voters say are their big issues and questions for candidates. Topics include housing, downtown development, transparency, government waste, the climate crisis, and taxes, taxes, taxes — perhaps a surprise for a town that appea...
Sep 10, 2021•29 min•Ep. 30
This week’s East Lansing Insider podcast focuses primarily on the flooding of East Lansing homes that occurred after the monumental rain on the night of Aug. 11-12, 2021. Many East Lansing residents ended up with raw sewage in their basements. ELi’s Andrew Graham speaks with Shaw Estates resident Dr. Rubén Martinez about his experience and Andrew also tells us what he’s learned from speaking with residents in the Glencairn neighborhood. Our Publisher Alice Dreger joins Andrew to talk about what ...
Sep 03, 2021•29 min•Ep. 29
On this week’s East Lansing Insider podcast, East Lansing Council member Lisa Babcock talks with ELi’s Andrew Graham and Alice Dreger about why she has voted against the rest of the Council on some issues like the Harbor Bay Newman Lofts rentals, who she is endorsing for City Council (Ron Bacon, Dan Bollman, and no third candidate), and what she’s hoping for out of the next City Attorney. Babcock also talks about her “biggest regret on Council,” referring to the early renewal of the City Manager...
Aug 27, 2021•28 min•Ep. 28
On this week’s edition of the East Lansing Insider podcast, three members of ELi's government reporting team talk about the latest switches on East Lansing’s City Council, the dismantling of the Albert EL Fresco downtown play space, the sudden disappearance of a law meant to protect student renters, and the consistent reappearance of Mark Meadows who quit City Council but can’t seem to stay away from East Lansing government. Hear Andrew Graham, Heather Brothers, and Alice Dreger cover this and m...
Aug 20, 2021•29 min•Ep. 27
ELi’s Managing Editor Emily Joan Elliott talks with Anaiis Rios-Kasoga, Laila Lloyd, and Liyu Mesay, three young Black women who recently graduated from East Lansing High School. The trio discussed their work with Black Student Union at ELHS, how the 2016 presidential election shaped their high school years, and what ELHS could do – and in some cases, has already done – to build a more inclusive environment.
Aug 13, 2021•30 min•Ep. 26
On this episode of East Lansing Insider, brought to you by ELi in partnership with Impact 89FM, Reporter Andrew Graham is joined by East Lansing Mayor Pro Tem Jessy Gregg, who is set to become Mayor on August 11 when Aaron Stephens (the current Mayor) formally resigns. Gregg discussed the issues she thinks East Lansing faces, why she is supporting fellow Council Members Ron Bacon and Dana Watson in the upcoming City Council elections (she also indicated Dan Bollman was her third candidate of cho...
Aug 06, 2021•30 min•Ep. 25
On this episode of East Lansing Insider, brought to you by ELi in partnership with Impact 89FM, ELi’s Managing Editor talks to Alex Hosey, a local civil rights activist and youth reporter for ELi. Hosey spoke about his decision to sit for the national anthem during a basketball game several years ago, his experience as a Black young man in East Lansing, and his future plans, which include attending Michigan State University in the fall.
Jul 30, 2021•27 min•Ep. 24
ELi’s Publisher and Executive Director Alice Dreger and reporter Jack Timothy Harrison talk with outgoing Mayor Aaron Stephens as he prepares to leave the City to pursue a master’s degree in public policy at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Stephens talks about what he will miss and not miss about being mayor of East Lansing, what he regrets and what he’s most proud of, and what it was like to become mayor with virtually no warning.
Jul 23, 2021•29 min•Ep. 23
On this episode of East Lansing Insider, brought to you by ELi in partnership with Impact 89FM, ELi’s Publisher and Executive Director Alice Dreger and reporter Heather Brothers speak with Cedrick Heraux, Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice at Adrian College and a member of East Lansing’s special Study Committee on an Independent Police Oversight Commission. This week, City Council passed the ordinance establishing an oversight commission for the East Lansing Police Department,...
Jul 16, 2021•29 min•Ep. 22
On this episode of East Lansing Insider, brought to you by ELi in partnership with Impact 89FM, ELi’s Publisher and Executive Director Alice Dreger and Managing Editor Emily Joan Elliott sit down with Mark Meadows, former Mayor and Council member for the City of East Lansing. Meadows shares what he sees as the most important issues facing the city and who he is endorsing in the City Council elections to be held in November 2021. He also explains why he resigned and how he views his role in the c...
Jul 09, 2021•26 min•Ep. 21
On this episode of East Lansing Insider, brought to you by ELi in partnership with Impact 89FM, ELi’s Publisher and Executive Director Alice Dreger and Managing Editor Emily Joan Elliott chat with attorney Brian Wasson about freedom of the press granted by the First Amendment, threats to those protections, and the future of the press in Michigan and the United States. Dreger and Elliott then discuss a gas leak that occurred near Dreger’s home and how Dreger reported on that story using the Freed...
Jul 02, 2021•28 min•Ep. 20
On this episode of East Lansing Insider, brought to you by ELi in partnership with Impact 89FM, ELi’s Publisher and Executive Director Alice Dreger and Managing Editor Emily Joan Elliott discuss Dreger's article on complaints made to East Lansing's City Council about noise created by cars and motorcycles. The two discuss the issue, responses, and possible solutions. Elliott also interviews Tonya Williams, a Neighborhood Resource Specialist East Lansing Police Department, who deals with noise iss...
Jun 25, 2021•29 min•Ep. 19
On this episode of East Lansing Insider – brought to you by ELi in partnership with Impact 89FM – ELi’s Publisher Alice Dreger talks with ELi reporter Jack Timothy Harrison about the upcoming East Lansing City Council elections. Jack has been interviewing the candidates and writing profiles of them for ELi, and, on the pod, the two talk about what makes this year’s election unique and particularly interesting to watch. (Note: There’s one error in this episode, and that is that we said Ron Bacon ...
Jun 18, 2021•30 min•Ep. 18
On this episode of East Lansing Insider, Publisher and Executive Director Alice Dreger and Managing Editor Emily Joan Elliott recap the City Council meeting from Tuesday, June 8. At that meeting, Council voted 3-2 to approve Ordinance 1500, which could change the process for apartment leasing in East Lansing, but it includes an important caveat. The pair also discuss the presentation given to Council by the Study Committee on an Independent Police Oversight Commission.
Jun 11, 2021•29 min•Ep. 17
On this episode of East Lansing Insider, brought to you by East Lansing Info (ELi), Managing Editor Emily Joan Elliott provides an overview of what ELi is and the news it provides to the community. She and reporters Heather Brothers and Andrew Graham discuss some recent stories related to policing in East Lansing, including an investigation into a controversial press release made by ELPD and the work of the Study Committee on an Independent Police Oversight Commission. Elliott wraps up the conve...
Jun 04, 2021•29 min•Ep. 16
In a 40-minute interview with Alice Dreger and Heather Brothers, Ellsworth-Etchison discusses the ongoing work being done by the Study Committee on an Independent Police Oversight Study Committee. And beyond that, Ellsworth-Etchison discusses her own experiences as a Black woman in East Lansing. (Music credit to Jason Shaw and Audionautix.)
Mar 24, 2021•43 min•Ep. 15
New East Lansing Public School Board President Terah Chambers sits down for a discussion with ELi's Emily Joan Elliott centering around the work being done ahead of a return to in-person learning at ELPS. (Credit to Jason Shaw and Audionautix for the music.)
Feb 10, 2021•39 min•Ep. 14
ELi's Managing Editor Emily Joan Elliott sits down for a 40-minute interview with Dr. Aron Sousa, the Interim Dean of Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine. (Music credit to Jason Shaw and Audionautix.)
Feb 03, 2021•40 min•Ep. 13
Emily Joan Elliott, ELi's Managing Editor, is joined by Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail for a 40-minute interview. The two discuss the vaccine rollout and Vail and the Health Department's other work during the past year. (Music credit to Jason Shaw and Audionautix.)
Jan 27, 2021•43 min•Ep. 12
On this week's edition of the East Lansing Insider, Alice Dreger talks with East Lansing Planning Chair Dan Bollman about the "Shaping the Avenue" plan, which could replace the existing zoning code with a new form-based code for the densest segment of East Lansing - downtown and beyond. (Music credit to Jason Shaw and Audionautix.)
Dec 23, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 11
ELi reporter Heather Brothers joins Andrew Graham and Emily Joan Elliott to discuss the progress and work of the Study Committee on an Independent Police Oversight Commission. Also, the trio catches up on School Board, City Council, and more. Also, a word from NPR's Peter Sagal reminding you to keep ELi running. (Credit to Jason Shaw and Audionautix for the music.)
Dec 16, 2020•31 min•Ep. 10
In this special edition of the East Lansing Insider, ELi's Executive Director and Publisher Alice Dreger brings a report on the reality of the refinancing of the Center City District bonds. According to a deeply-reported analysis by ELi, the claim that the City will save money on the refinancing is likely not true. After Dreger presents her report and accompanying analysis, she and Emily Joan Elliott dive in to discuss the situation and what comes next. (Credit to Jason Shaw and Audionautix for ...
Dec 10, 2020•34 min•Ep. 9
Andrew Graham is joined by Emily Joan Elliott and Adan Tomas Quan, an ELi cub reporter, for the roundtable. The trio discuss Adan's story about how East Lansing's emergency services are working through Covid-19, Emily's recent reporting on the public schools and Andrew reminds listeners the deer cull is on the way. Also in this episode, Andrew interviews East Lansing Deputy Police Chief Steve Gonzalez about disaster preparedness and how you can be prepared. And Emily is joined by ELi General Man...
Dec 09, 2020•40 min•Ep. 8
In a more casual episode (No. 7), Andrew Graham, Alice Dreger and Emily Joan Elliott take some time to decompress and discuss a whirlwind few days around East Lansing. Items of note in the pod: A discussion of the moves to refinance the Center City District bonds, Michigan State University changing housing requirements in 2022 and ELi's sustainability campaign for 2021. (Music credit to Jason Shaw and Audionautix.)
Dec 02, 2020•43 min•Ep. 7
In the sixth episode of East Lansing Insider, Andrew Graham, Emily Joan Elliott, and Alice Dreger come together on the day before Thanksgiving to talk turkey about the meetings that happened on Monday and Tuesday in East Lansing. The trio gets into the school board recertifying the Continuity of Learning Plan, discusses a use of force presentation given by ELPD to the Police Oversight Study Committee and make clear that a recent City audit isn't entirely indicative of a healthy financial picture...
Nov 25, 2020•41 min•Ep. 6
For the first time ever on the East Lansing Insider, an East Lansing City Council member joins the show. On this episode, Dana Watson joins Andrew Graham for an interview about Covid, racism as a public health crisis and how East Lansing can be anti-racist. Also in the episode, Andrew hosts a roundtable with Emily Joan Elliott and Alice Dreger; Andrew and Alice talk about issues getting information under the Freedom of Information Act; and Emily brings a fundraising update with ELi general manag...
Nov 18, 2020•44 min•Ep. 5
Emily Joan Elliott, Alice Dreger and Andrew Graham sit down for a roundtable discussion centering on the busy Nov. 10 City Council meeting. The trio discusses police transparency, the ongoing Center City District issues and upcoming infrastructure work and construction around the Evergreen Avenue properties. Also, Andrew sits down with Maysa Sitar, an ELi board member and MSU student, for an interview about life as a college student during a pandemic. (Credit to Jason Shaw and Audionautix for th...
Nov 11, 2020•46 min•Ep. 4
Host Andrew Graham is joined by Alice Dreger and Emily Joan Elliott as the trio recaps the latest news in East Lansing. This week, they discuss the mobs of couch-burning people taking to the streets following MSU's upset win in football, recent reporting by ELi on racial and ethnic data from ELPD and more. Also in this episode is an interview with Chuck Grigsby, Chair of the Study Committee on an Independent Police Oversight Commission, and a fundraising update from ELi's General Manager, Jodi S...
Nov 04, 2020•25 min•Ep. 3
