March is National Reading Month, which East Lansing Public Library (ELPL) Youth Librarian, Eva Weihl, describes as “an initiative that encourages educators, parents, and communities to highlight the importance of reading and literacy in order to help to grow strong, passionate readers.”

Weihl notes that different communities and organizations celebrate the month differently, and that it provides “a great opportunity to highlight literacy through some fun new programs and offerings.”

In the midst of research I conducted for yesterday’s “Ask ELi” report on the safety of rideshare services like Uber compared to traditional taxi services that are regulated under the Greater Lansing Taxi Authority, I encountered a diverse set of perceptions about how the East Lansing Police Department (ELPD) views and treats rideshares. Yesterday I spoke with ELPD spokesperson Lieutenant Scott Wriggelsworth to get a better sense of the scene.

Thursday night, March 3, marks what is at least the 15^th annual Marble Spaghetti Dinner. The event, a longstanding Marble tradition, was originally scheduled for February 25^th this year, but was not held at that time because East Lansing Schools were closed for a snow day.

Above: Professor Anita Skeen with student Emily Bengel

You may have thought, growing up, that the owl carrying your Hogwarts acceptance letter might have gotten lost, and that was why you never attended the wizarding school. That has all changed for a group of students who get the chance to attend Hogwarts at MSU, thanks to Professor Anita Skeen’s class on the Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling.

The East Lansing Police Department (ELPD) yesterday announced it had opened an investigation into “two reports of Criminal Sexual Conduct (CSC) involving drivers with a Transportation Network Company, commonly known as a rideshare service.” The Police are not giving many details, but indicate in the announcement that, “In both cases, the victims were female Michigan State University Students who were picked up near downtown East Lansing by a rideshare driver and, in both cases, the victims reported that the driver made unwelcome sexual advances towards them.”

Image courtesy of Michigan State University

Last night at its regularly-scheduled meeting, East Lansing’s City Council passed an ordinance that gives Council the ability to authorize the killing of deer by government-authorized hunters on City-owned land. Council members were divided on the question of whether organized culls should begin soon. A previous proposal had called for government-employed hunters killing as many deer as possible in East Lansing’s White Park and Harrison Meadows Park.