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Hi Lansing, hope you’re having a great weekend!

In today’s in-case-you-missed-it edition: UM Health Sparrow’s $143M expansion, Tony-winning Kimberly Akimbo, and gold’s strongest run in decades + the top stories from this week & a sneak peek at next week.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Lansing protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.

📰 Most-clicked stories this week

Utility and roadway overhaul: Oakland Avenue, one of the city’s busiest routes, is closed for about five months for sewer, water, and street work, with reopening expected by July 25 — see what’s planned and when.

Big boost to regional care: UM Health Sparrow’s $143 million Lansing expansion won approval, adding 64-bed behavioral health center with first local care for children and teens, plus surgery center expected to open in 2028 — see what’s planned and when.

Upward trend in student success: Lansing School District set a record with a 93.81% four-year graduation rate and its lowest ever 1.75% dropout rate, outpacing Michigan’s averages. Interim Superintendent Jessica Benavides praised students and staff — read the full story.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

All the crowd favorites:

• Experience Tony-winning musical Kimberly Akimbo
• Create collages with fellow adults
• Christina Wyman discusses Breakout over cake
• Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

🏆 Gold and silver are heating up

Together with our sponsor American Hartford Gold

Gold just posted its strongest run in decades… and the momentum is carrying into 2026. Silver has become one of the most talked-about assets as investors look for ways to stay ahead of market volatility.

While many are still sitting on the sidelines, others are quietly repositioning.

If you’re wondering whether you’re missing something, AHG has a free guide explaining what’s driving the renewed interest… and how investors are approaching precious metals right now.

It’s free and worth reading before the next move.

🫶 This week’s top finds

Olive burger legend: Weston’s Kewpee Sandwich Shop keeps it classic, with signature olive sauce, juicy patties, and those just-right diner vibes. The kind of midday fix that flips a hectic week on its head, where simple, well-done comfort food does the heavy lifting and nostalgia handles dessert.

Weeknight pasta upgrade: Toscana Restaurant turns out house-made pastas that hit the spot: silky Alfredo, San Marzano pomodoro, and wild-boar bolognese. Add a relaxed vibe, a self-pour wine wall, and weeknight-friendly comfort… easy carb therapy without the scramble.

Small-town screen magic: If you’ve been meaning to swap megaplex chaos for cozy charm, Grand Ledge Sun Theatre delivers first-run flicks, squeaky-clean sound, and popcorn locals rave about. It’s an easy midweek reset that feels delightfully old-school, without the creaky seats.

Thinning hair? It only gets worse: A few months ago, I noticed my ponytail getting thinner. I tried the usual stuff (biotin, shampoo, etc.) but mostly just hoped it would fix itself… until I learned that active follicles can permanently go dormant if you don’t do something about it. The good news? You can get treatment that actually works with no office visits or trips to the pharmacy. Learn more about my favorite online options here.

📆 Sneak peek at next week

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🥧 Dine & Discovery: Curry Hand Pies @ Allen Neighborhood Center | Tuesday (3/10) at 6:00 PM – Your favorite farmers market find, Chef Shirley Boucha of Nasi & Mee, is popping into the Maker Kitchen to teach curry hand pies, and yes, they’re gloriously fried. Learn fillings, rolling, and spring roll tricks, then eat the homework. Vegetarian friendly, zero regrets.

🎨 Pour Your Own Epoxy @ Lansing Brewing Company | Wednesday (3/11) at 6:00 PM – At Lansing Brewing Company, swap spreadsheets for sawdust with a pour-your-own epoxy workshop. Make a black walnut charcuterie board, lazy susan, or clock, choose your colors, then let the pros finish it. A pint, a project, and bragging rights in a few weeks.

🐟 Fish Fry @ St. Martha Parish (Okemos) | Friday (3/13) at 5:00 PM – St. Martha’s Fish Fry is back for Lent, serving fried pollack or baked haddock with potatoes, fries, mac and cheese, and coleslaw. Consider it meatless, not joyless. Adults $17, seniors $15, kids 6–12 $8, under 5 free, dine in or takeout, cash, checks, or cards.

📚 Lucky Boozy Book Fair @ Hooked | Friday (3/13) at 5:30 PM – If you’ve been missing the thrill of school book fairs, this one adds cocktails, mocktails, coffees, and wines, plus cocktail and coffee flights. Take 10% off storewide, wear green for extra discounts, spin the prize wheel, and consider green season upgraded; adulthood deserves prizes, too.

☘ Blarney in the Ballroom @ Turner-Dodge House & Heritage Center | Friday (3/13) at 6:30 PM – Trade green beer for the real deal at Turner-Dodge, where McCartney Irish Dance warms up the third-floor ballroom, then Fein keeps the craic going with party songs, ballads, jigs, and reels. Register ahead, stairs only, and yes, kids six and under are free.

🥧 Pi Day 5k 2026 @ Hawk Island County Park | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – Ready to honor 3.14 without cracking a calculator? Join the Pi Day 5k at Hawk Island Park, a brisk loop with lake views, friendly faces, and just enough smug math jokes to last till Monday. Run, walk, or trot for bragging rights, then refuel guilt-free.

🏛 Museum Tour: Deep-Rooted @ Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum (East Lansing) | Sunday (3/15) at 1:00 PM – If you’re ready to swap yardwork for culture, here it is. Join Beal Botanical Garden’s Maeve Bassett at MSU Broad for a tour where art, plants, and people tangle, unearthing historical, social, and political roots hiding in sight. Less houseplant tips, more leafy backstory.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.

• Industry-leading home warranty protection ($150 off right now)
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• 62+? See how much tax-free cash your home could unlock → free calculator
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• Protect your pet from disaster with this pet insurance plan
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account

📻 Lansing report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 56°F – Low: 45°F – Precip: 1%

Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. Southwest wind 8 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 45. Southwest wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 67°F – Low: 47°F – Precip: 0%

Sunny, with a high near 67. Southwest wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 47.

Someone Googled you this week 👀

It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.

Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.

Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.

Most popular house this week

This 5-bed, 3.5-bath two-story pairs cathedral ceilings on both floors with abundant light. An eat-in kitchen with KitchenAid appliances flows to a formal dining room with fireplace. The finished basement adds a family room, dry bar, and sauna-equipped flex space. Outside, a 22×20 composite deck overlooks a hot tub, above-ground pool, and fenced, sprinklered yard.

Take a peek inside →