LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Former WLNS reporter Joshua Sanchez has been named one in every of America’s Prime Ten Army Veteran Journalists of 2025.
Sanchez earned the consideration from the Army Veterans in Journalism group for his reporting on a 6 Information Investigates report on the previous head of the Livingston County Veteran Providers Canines Group. Sanchez and the 6 Information Investigates revealed the chief, Kirk Lanam, had embellished his service within the army and was claiming to have attained a rank in america Air Pressure that he had not, in actual fact, earned.
(WLNS)
The collection was known as “Stolen Valor.” The collection resulted in zoning motion by Oceola Township as a result of the power that Lanam was working was not zoned for that use. Livingston County Animal Management additionally contacted Lanam and issued a quotation for unlicensed canines. The American Kennel Affiliation investigated and revoked his certification for his or her canine coaching packages.
As Sanchez and 6 Information Investigated Lanam, Oakland County Sheriff’s Division officers confirmed they have been investigating allegations that Lanam was engaged in an embezzlement scheme. Lanam’s sufferer was a Korean Battle veteran.
6 Information Investigates agreed to not report on the continued investigation to stop interfering with the investigation and doubtlessly facilitating the destruction of proof. In alternate, Oakland County Sheriff investigators agreed to inform 6 Information Investigates when a warrant for Lanam was issued and he was taken into custody. He was charged with a number of felonies.
6 Information reporter Josh Sanchez listens to a Ring doorbell greeting at VSDO. (WLNS)
Oakland County officers contacted 6 Information Investigates inside an hour of Lanam’s apprehension on January 22, and our workforce was in Oceola Township reporting from Lanam’s residence the place police have been executing a search warrant.
Sanchez moved to WLNS’s sister station, WOOD TV 8, final 12 months.
This was the second 12 months in a row that Sanchez has been honored with placement within the prime ten for the group.
In 2024, he made the listing for his work on the “6 News Investigates” collection, which featured East Lansing-based landlord and property supervisor Christian Nwobu. The collection revealed Nwobu was renting out properties that weren’t correctly registered beneath the town’s rental registration course of.
Many have been in crimson tag standing, that means the town believed they have been hazardous to well being and security, and other people have been prohibited from residing in them. 6 Information Investigates discovered circumstances the place individuals have been residing in among the red-tagged properties. Generally, these tenants have been conscious of the crimson tag. In different circumstances, the tenants had no concept.
Pink, Pink and Taxes collection
Pink, pink and taxes: The East Lansing Landlord and his 42 Lansing rental properties
Pink, pink and taxes: Left residing in unsafe properties
‘Unhealthy landlords are on discover’, metropolis of Lansing sues landlord of housing points
Lansing landlord makes court docket look for alleged violations
The investigation additionally discovered that folks had signed leases with Nwobu for properties that have been on pink tag standing with the town’s housing certification course of. Pink tag properties beneath metropolis procedures and insurance policies are these items that haven’t been inspected or cleared of minor points from earlier inspections. Property that’s pink-tagged can proceed to be rented to the individual residing within the property on the time the pink tag is issued. Nevertheless, if that tenant strikes out, a landlord is prohibited from renting the property out till the pink tag is resolved. 6 Information Investigates recognized individuals who had signed leases with Nwobu for properties that had been pink-tagged.
That collection, partly, led metropolis of Lansing officers to sue Nwobu in 54-A District Courtroom, forcing him to adjust to metropolis housing legal guidelines.
Each collection have been additionally honored by the Michigan Press Affiliation in Might, with Digital Reporter Todd Heywood inserting third within the Richard Milliman 2024 Journalist of the Yr class. Heywood shared the position with Detroit Information reporter Craig Mauger. Judges particularly acknowledged Heywood and Sanchez’s reporting on the Lansing Board of Water and Mild and its holding of thousands and thousands of {dollars} in prospects’ safety deposits for the consideration, whereas Mauger reported on the Donald Trump elector’s scheme.
Second place was awarded to Anna Nichols from Michigan Advance, a statewide on-line information outlet. Nichols was honored for her reporting on home violence throughout the COVID pandemic.
The Journalist of the Yr Award was given to Detroit Free Press reporter Andrea Sahouri.
