Good morning, Lansing.

The winter solstice arrives today — the shortest day of the year — in Michigan.

In Lansing, sunrise is at 8:05 a.m. with sunset at 5:07 p.m., offering about nine hours of daylight that will slowly increase.

Lansing native Pete Johnston, a filmmaker and MSU professor, advanced from Jeopardy!'s Second Chance Tournament and will appear in the Champions Wildcard round on Jan.

8 at 7:30 p.m. on WILX — highlighting his national comeback from our local community.

Local experts advise residents to shovel snow first and use minimal salt on walkways — too much salt can irritate skin, harm pets and pollute water while runoff damages roads and local waterways.

The state allocated $77 million to clean contaminated sites including abandoned factories to make them safe for future development.

The funding under its RenewMI program has already spurred brownfield redevelopments in communities such as Lansing — efforts that transform old industrial areas into housing, parks, and commercial spaces.

MSU beat Oakland 79 to 70 last Saturday in Detroit as Coen Carr scored 22 points in 26 minutes (he restored his confidence after a rough start).

Coach Izzo promised more guidance as he retooled the rotation for upcoming Big Ten play.

On Dec. 19, local girls basketball teams such as East Lansing and Eaton Rapids posted wins; East Lansing advanced to 3-0 and Eaton Rapids notched its third victory while key players like Sydney Black, Olivia Adarkwa, and Delaney Collins led their teams + others also performed well.

MSU men's basketball beat Oakland 79-70 on Saturday, Dec.

20 in a tough game that tested the team’s depth and turnover control. Coach Tom Izzo said the win showed room for improvement as preparations start for the Dec. 29 contest at the Breslin Center.

On Friday, Dec. 19, boys basketball games in Greater Lansing saw unbeaten teams including Leslie, P-W, and Webberville, with Roman DeRose scoring 28 points and standout plays by Grady Eklund and Dylan Rhodes + more wins noted in competitive matchups.

Michigan State football reportedly hired Nick Sheridan as its new offensive coordinator under coach Pat Fitzgerald.

The former Wolverine — a Saline native with experience coaching at Alabama and Indiana — is set to guide the play-calling efforts, with the announcement made Dec. 20 at 3:13 p.m. ET.

Board Game Day at Evolution Games

2-11 p.m. — Evolution Games — Free gaming — Enjoy a day of board gaming and connect with fellow gamers in a welcoming environment.

Threads and Bread Dinner

8 p.m. — 900 West Apartments and Townhomes — Free meal — Providing food and personal bags to support underprivileged community members.

November BOTM: One Dark Window

7-9 p.m. — Foster Community Center — Light snacks and beverages provided — Engage in a mystical discussion about Elspeth's journey in the eerie kingdom of Blunder.

Verdi, Miller, and Brahms Concert

7:30-9:30 p.m. — Wharton Center for Performing Arts — Ticket prices vary — Experience classic compositions by Verdi and Brahms alongside contemporary work by Miller.

Comedy and Music Night with Johnny Hamcheck

7-8:30 p.m. — Macs Bar — $10 — Experience a unique blend of stand-up comedy and music from the quirky social media sensation Johnny Hamcheck.