🌱 Patch AM: How could a new Sheetz reshape traffic and jobs near East Lansing?

Good morning to you Lansing! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How could a new Sheetz reshape traffic and jobs near East Lansing?
• What changes when Lansing’s schools get a new interim superintendent?
• How far did Lansing’s own MSU trivia ace get on Jeopardy!?

Also on today's calendar: Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings and 3 more events.

Today's riddle: What did one astronaut stranded on the moon say to another? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Flurries; windy, much colder, with a high of 26 and low of 23 degrees.
• Saturday: Cloudy; breezy, not as cold, temps: high: 41, low: 17. ⛄️ Brr!
• Sunday: Partly sunny; breezy, colder, with a high of 26 and low of 20 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. East Lansing Planning Commission Unanimously Recommends Sheetz Approval (eastlansinginfo.news) — East Lansing’s Planning Commission has unanimously backed a Special Use Permit for a new Sheetz gas station and restaurant at Abbot and Saginaw, moving the project to City Council. Developers eased concerns about traffic and stormwater, and the chain says it could eventually open up to a dozen locations in the Lansing area, bringing new jobs and competition.
   

2. Lansing School District names interim superintendent (wilx.com) — Lansing families will see a leadership change in their public schools as First Deputy Superintendent Jessica Benavides becomes interim superintendent on February 1, following Ben Schuldiner’s departure for Seattle. She’ll lead the Lansing School District while the Board of Education works out a process for selecting a permanent superintendent, with officials emphasizing continuity for students, staff, and families.
   

3. How did Pete Johnston do on 'Jeopardy!'? See MSU staffer's results (lansingstatejournal.com) — A Lansing resident and Michigan State University faculty member, Pete Johnston, has advanced to the finals of Jeopardy!’s 2025 Second Chance Tournament after a nail-biting semifinal win. The Alma native, filmmaker, and longtime MSU educator previously impressed on the show in July and now faces two other top trivia contestants in a two-day championship round.
   

4. First responders recall rescuing Lansing man from burning car (fox47news.com) — First responders are sharing how they pulled a Lansing man from a burning car after a crash on M-52 in Stockbridge Township, just south of Lansing. A Stockbridge officer and an Ingham County deputy describe the split-second decisions that likely saved the man’s life and the emotional impact of rescuing someone they knew.
   

5. Boys basketball roundup: Lansing Catholic, Sexton, Williamston earn league wins (lansingstatejournal.com) — Lansing-area hoops fans saw Lansing Catholic edge Charlotte on a last-second bucket, while Sexton, Williamston, Haslett, Grand Ledge, Bath, Stockbridge and Lakewood also grabbed league wins. The roundup highlights standout performances from local players and key CAAC matchups that shape this season’s conference races.
   

📸 Around Lansing

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Lansing

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Friday December 19

• Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings
  Central United Methodist Church , 215 N Capitol Ave , Lansing
  6:30 pm
• Holiday Show - Time2Play at UrbanBeat
  UrbanBeat , 1213 Turner Rd , Lansing
  7:00 pm
• Candlelight: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons
  Lansing Central United Methodist Church 215 North Capitol Avenue Lansing, Michigan 48933
  8:45 pm

Saturday December 20

• Candy Cane Course - Lansing
  Burchard Park 220 E Maple St Lansing, MI 48906
  9:00 am
• The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Lansing, MI
  AC Hotel Lansing University Area , 3160 E Michigan Ave , Lansing
  6:30 pm
• Heather Lake Bays and Friends - A Christmas Cabaret
  UrbanBeat , 1213 Turner Rd , Lansing
  7:00 pm

📣 Lansing Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Friday December 19

• PLEASE JOIN US
  Mason Area Chamber of Commerce , 720 W South St , Mason
  6:00 pm
• Gimme Five at Nico’s!!
  Nico's Pub and Grill , 117 S Bridge St , Dimondale
  7:30 pm

Saturday December 20

• Group Therapy with Steph
  13105 Schavey Rd , DeWitt
  4:00 pm
• Contra and Square Dance
  Central United Methodist Church , 215 N. Capitol Ave , Lansing
  6:30 pm

Sunday December 21

• Merry and Bright Bubbles + Yoga
  Looking Glass Brewing Co. , 115 N Bridge St , DeWitt
  10:30 am

Monday December 22

• EnhanceFitness
  Mason Area Chamber of Commerce , 720 W. South Street , Mason
  9:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• FOUND bracelet in Sycamore Park neighborhood.
  Looks like it's meaningful to someone. Message me with description. (Nextdoor Sycamore Park)
• Please share & repost to help reunite this lost dog!
  Gwennie was LOST on December 15, 2025 in Lansing, MI 48910 near Mount Hope Ave and MLK Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to… (Nextdoor Old Everett)

• Planet Fitness, Inc. posted a job opening for Overnight Custodian in Lansing. Apply here.
• BJ's Restaurants, Inc. posted a job opening for Janitorial in Lansing. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Lansing here.

Ok Lansing! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t think you know the gravity of this situation.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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