On Saturday, May 16, 2026, Liam and I had the pleasure of attending the 27th Annual Against All Odds “Wings of Hope” Brunch, held at the MSUFCU Building in East Lansing, Michigan. From the moment guests walked through the doors, the atmosphere felt warm, uplifting, and filled with purpose. Purple butterflies, soft floral arrangements, and messages of hope decorated the room, serving as beautiful reminders of transformation, survival, and strength. It was more than just a brun

Graphic Content Warning: The photographs contained in this release are graphic and may be disturbing to some viewers. Isaiah Christopher Kirby’s family has chosen to share these images after careful consideration to help the public understand the extent of his injuries and why they continue to demand truth, transparency, accountability, and justice. Viewer discretion is strongly advised. Isaiah Kirby’s family has made the difficult decision to release a few photographs of Isa

Courtesy Photo: Teresa A. Caine-Bingman, Esq., civil rights attorney and advocate for the family of Isaiah Kirby. After reviewing multiple complete, unedited body camera footage, dash camera footage, and eyewitness videos, it is clear that Isaiah Kirby was met with an immediate and overwhelming use of deadly force. Within moments of arriving on the scene, East Lansing police officers did not use non lethal options and immediately fired more than 20 rounds. The videos also sh

Long before conversations about therapy, trauma, and emotional wellness became more common in Black communities, Bebe Moore Campbell was already challenging the silence. An accomplished author, journalist, and mental health advocate, Campbell used her voice to speak openly about the emotional struggles many Black families quietly carried for generations. Through her writing, public advocacy, and community work, she helped create space for conversations that had too often been

For generations, many learned to survive in silence. Healing begins when we finally feel heard. There was a time in many Black households when phrases like “pray about it,” “stay strong,” or “what happens in this house stays in this house” stood in for conversations about mental health. For generations, survival often came before softness. Many families carried grief, anxiety, trauma, exhaustion, and depression without ever having the language to name it. Yet even in silence,

Courtesy Photo-Robin Pizzo, M.Ed. Director of Education & Regional Director, Michigan Learning Channel, focuses on literacy, family engagement, and expanding access to educational resources throughout Michigan's Capital Region LANSING, Mich. — The Chronicle News and WKAR Public Media are proud to announce a new collaborative partnership designed to expand access to meaningful community-centered education content and resources. The collaboration will focus on strengthening con

​ Courtesy Photo: Robin Pizzo, Dorectio of Education WKAR/Regional Director of Michigan Learning Channel. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and May 9 was proclaimed as Mental Health Day for Children, Youth and Their Families by Governor Whitmer. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, this year’s theme, Stigma Grows in Silence and Healing Begins in Community ensures no one struggles alone. The NAMI website also promotes, “Your Story Can Spark Healing.” This i

Courtesy Photo: Chronicle News Publisher Yanice Y. Carter May is Mental Health Awareness Month, but if we are honest, healing has become a year-round conversation in our communities. Everywhere we turn, people are carrying something. Grief. Burnout. Anxiety. Financial stress. Loneliness. Trauma. Exhaustion from simply trying to hold life together while still showing up for work, family, church, school, and community. Some people are quietly surviving battles nobody else can s

Scrolling through all the posts about the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic got me thinking… I haven’t seen it yet—waiting for the right moment to experience it with my family—but even the anticipation says something. Some entertainers make hits. - Others become moments. - But a rare few… transcend generations. Michael Jackson didn’t just follow the industry—he shifted it. What really stood out to me over the years wasn’t just the music… It was the conversation around power. Ow

Courtesy Photo-Robert Belleman-City of East Lansing, City Manager EAST LANSING, Mich. — The East Lansing Police Department (ELPD), after initiating a meeting with the family of Isaiah Kirby on Thursday, May 7, reached out to the Michigan State Police (MSP) about ELPD’s ability to share additional video footage related to the stabbing incident and officer-involved shooting. MSP continues to conduct its investigation into this incident. However, after further consultation w

There are some trips you take just to get away. Then there are trips that quietly tap you on the shoulder and whisper, “You could build a life here.” Recently, The Chronicle packed up the car and hit the highway headed west toward Tulsa, and somewhere between the laughter, roadside snacks, oversized candy stores, and powerful moments of reflection, this road trip turned into something bigger than a vacation. It became a reminder that America still has places where community f

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Official event announcement for The Chronicle News 40th Anniversary Legacy Showcase & Gala, celebrating four decades of community storytelling, culture, leadership, and impact in Michigan. For four decades, The Chronicle News has stood as more than a newspaper. It has been a living archive of Lansing’s Black history, community victories, neighborhood voices, cultural movements, and untold stories that deserved to be seen and remembered. Founded in 1986 by the late Larry “Jay

There are some stories that do not fade with time. They wait quietly in the heart, patient as memory, until life gives them one more chance to be seen. On Thursday, May 14 at 6:30 p.m., the Library of Michigan will host a free public screening of the internationally acclaimed feature film Old Heart, an emotional World War II drama centered on love, sacrifice, racial history, and elder independence. Produced by the nonprofit Heartland Independent Film Forum, the film was shot

Courtesy Photo: Pictured left to right: Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree Assembly 2982 members Jim Kurt, Jim Sigmon, Jim Seprell, David Buick and Paul Koleda LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) received and distributed more than 95 care kits of essential items for veterans experiencing homelessness from the Knights of Columbus (K of C) Fourth Degree Assembly 2982. “We see immediate impact with these donations,” said MVAA homeless veteran coordinator

Courtesy Photo: Teresa A. Caine-Bingman, Esq., civil rights attorney and advocate for the family of Isaiah Kirby, following the release of a public statement calling for full transparency and the release of unedited video evidence in the fatal East Lansing police shooting investigation. Today, the family of Isaiah Kirby viewed what the East Lansing Police Department characterized as video evidence related to the fatal shooting of Isaiah Kirby. What was presented was not trans

Learn how proper humidity levels protect plant health, prevent mold, and boost plant growth inside your grow tent for stronger, more consistent yields.

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Courtesy Photo: The Perry Robinson Circle property in Lansing, MI in Ingham County Parcel No. 33-01-05-04-203-001, at the center of Robinson Memorial Church’s tax exemption and foreclosure dispute. For nearly eight decades, Robinson Memorial Church has served Lansing through faith, outreach, and community care. Though the church is currently located on Lansing’s east side, the disputed property on Perry Robinson Circle was purchased by a prior church administration with the i