Good morning, Lansing.

Constellation Cat Cafe, a local nonprofit that runs a coffee shop and cat adoption center, opened its new location on Aug.

30 at 1041 N. Cedar St. in Old Town to nearly double its space, housing 15 to 30 adoptable cats at a time—this move ends its lease at the former site on 3320 E. Lake Lansing Road.

A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical opens today at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts in East Lansing at 7:30 p.m.—its run will continue until September 21.

The musical tells the true story of Neil Diamond’s rise to fame and will feature his classic hits.

Today, the Historical Society of Greater Lansing opens its first permanent location—Rogers-Carrier House on the campus of Lansing Community College—with a 9:00 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony that begins a new partnership with the college.

Its exhibit, ‘50 Objects that Say Lansing,’ opens Saturday at 11:00 a.m. to showcase local artifacts and stories.

On September 14, the MSU Wharton Center held a tribute concert honoring Clifton and Dolores Wharton that was planned around Clifton's 99th birthday and expanded after Dolores’ passing.

The event featured a dance by Jessica Lang, a performance by Broadway star Norm Lewis, the Aaron Diehl Trio, and the MSU Symphony Orchestra—celebrating the Whartons' lasting impact on campus arts.

WalletHub’s report ranks Michigan as 22nd in teacher friendliness among the 50 states with a score of 46.13 points—new teachers earn an average starting salary of $41,645 while veteran teachers earn $69,067.

The analysis uses 24 metrics, and Michigan schools await a state budget that will start Oct. 1.

Officials at Michigan State University confirmed that discussions about possible layoffs are underway as the university cuts general fund spending by 6% this year and about 200 positions may be affected.

Final job numbers are expected in October—calculations could change—and many employees have been notified of potential status updates.

Today, Lansing drivers face road repairs on Grand River Ave.—traffic is reduced to two lanes until September 22 while Saginaw St. sees intermittent two-lane closures starting at 4 a.m. Meanwhile, the Michigan Department of State launches an online ballot access system that lets overseas military voters securely submit absentee ballots.

The State Budget Office is reviewing contingency plans if the state government shuts down October 1—officials are preparing for a scenario in which a Fiscal Year 2026 budget deal is not reached.

Spokeswoman Lauren Leeds said they hope to finalize a deal in the next two weeks but have not released full details yet.

Michigan workers who received Pandemic Unemployment Payments in 2020–2021 must repay over $2.7 billion after a court case ended the pause on collections—about 350,000 people will be notified through MiWAM with the first payments due on Sept.

29.

Planned Parenthood of Michigan is no longer allowed to accept Medicaid because a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling blocked its use for over a million patients — it will cover already-scheduled appointments through September 22 to protect continuity of care.

Jonathan Smith said yesterday that Nick Marsh and Makhi Frazier will have their leg injuries evaluated later this week before MSU’s USC game on Saturday.

He also noted that Luka Vincic suffered a long-term knee injury and Alante Brown has a long-term lower body injury—both expected to affect their play.

On Sept. 13 in East Lansing, the Spartans won 41-24 over Youngstown State—TE Jack Velling caught six passes after Nick Marsh was injured, helping boost the team’s offense.

The game also showed that injuries hurt the run game and pass rush, which coach Jonathan Smith said need improvement.

In week three of high school football, junior Braden Reed of Owosso made the winning field goal, caught five passes for 129 yards, scored a touchdown and recorded an interception in a 38 to 35 win over Lake Fenton—ending a six game losing streak against them.

St. Johns earned team of the week honors with a 27 to 26 win over Fowlerville that raised their record to 3 to 0.

BluesFest Michigan

All day — Old Town Lansing River View Lofts — Cost TBA — Experience a vibrant open-air festival showcasing diverse Blues music and family-friendly activities.

A Beautiful Noise Concert

7:30-10:30 p.m. — Wharton Center for Performing Arts — Tickets available — Experience a night of live music with A Beautiful Noise.

Board Games Gathering at Summit Comics & Games

2-9 p.m. — Summit Comics & Games — Free entry — Enjoy an afternoon of free gaming and connect with fellow board game enthusiasts.

Conservation Pool Party

1-3 p.m. — Fenner Nature Center — Free entry — Connect with local conservationists over refreshments and explore vernal pool ecology.

Sensory Friendly Hours at Impression5

5:30-7:30 p.m. — Impression 5 Science Center — $12 for adults & children — Explore the Science Center with altered exhibits for a sensory-friendly experience.

Stroller Walk at Frances Park

10-11 a.m. — Frances Park — Free — Enjoy a lively stroller walk with bikes and scooters welcome in a family-friendly atmosphere.

Dam Jam Music Festival

5:01-11 p.m. — Brenke Fish Ladder — Free entry — Celebrate local music with a vibrant lineup and food options along Lansing's riverfront.

Sportscards & Memorabilia Show

10 a.m. - 4 p.m. — Lansing Mall — Free admission — Explore sports memorabilia and cards with free parking.

Run 2 Recovery

2-5 p.m. — Lansing Center — Registration fee applies — A family-friendly 5K walk/run supporting addiction recovery and homelessness relief.

Rio Da Yung OG Concert

7-8:30 p.m. — Grewal Hall at 224 — Tickets from $67 — Experience an evening of live music with Rio Da Yung OG in Lansing.