Morning Briefing

MONDAY, JULY 29, 2024

In today's newsletter, Biden-turned-Harris presidential campaign to ‘play offense’ in Michigan, Wolverine gymnasts make men's all-around final at Olympics and island hotel named among World’s Greatest Places to visit in 2024.

One step closer to that first game day

Training camp is underway for the Detroit Lions. All 90 players reported for Day 1 without fanfare and the Lions are thankful for a drama-free camp (although a few punches were thrown).

That nice 90 number didn't last long as place kicker Michael Badgley is out for the season after suffering a significant injury that will require surgery to repair. The Lions will now host 4 kickers for workouts and have expressed optimism in Jake Bates.

Before their first day of full pads, the Detroit Lions added depth to their linebacker room by signing journeyman Malik Jefferson. This was one of several transactions the franchise made.

Curated by Jamie Rewerts

Several cyclists lay on the ground in front of a city hall

Ann Arbor cyclists and pedestrians take part in a Friday evening "die-in protest" outside city hall on July 26, 2024, calling for making city streets safer.

(Ryan Stanton | MLive.com)

Dog lost year ago at Tahquamenon Falls campground finally caught 50 miles away

What a journey: A dog that went missing at Tahquamenon Falls State Park more than a year ago has finally been located and captured. Park officials shared the happy news on Friday after a local woman, Deanna Suggitt, and professional dog catcher confirmed they had secured the dog, Barley, after months of effort. Barley had been missing since he disappeared from the park’s Rivermouth Campground in May 2023.

As the final days of July near, Michigan’s road construction season is still in full swing. Some of the major closures on tap this week include stretches of I-96 in Kent County, I-75 in Mackinac County, and M-5 in Wayne County.

An update: Police have named the suspect who reportedly committed suicide after confessing to running over an 80-year-old man with an ATV. The 80-year-old victim was released from the hospital on Wednesday evening and will be recovering from home.

Read more

Biden-turned-Harris presidential campaign to ‘play offense’ in Michigan

Last week, 150 campaign staff members across the state were in the thick of it, working to generate enough voter excitement to earn President Joe Biden a second term in the White House. Following Biden’s announcement that he would exit the 2024 race, that same team quickly pivoted to favor the president’s endorsed replacement candidate: Kamala Harris.

And, as was the case when a second Biden term was the goal, the refocused campaign’s top strategists still see winning over Michigan voters in November as a critical component to a Harris victory.

We want to hear from you about whether you think Gov. Gretchen Whitmer should’ve thrown her hat in the ring this presidential election.

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It’s always sunny in space: Michigan startup hopes to beam solar power to Earth

In space, the sun is always shining. So why not put a solar farm up there? One Michigan startup is already on its way, aiming to take an idea featured in Isaac Asimov’s science fiction 80 years ago and turn it into reality. From its base of operations in Metro Detroit, Virtus Solis Technologies is preparing to one day launch millions of modular solar cells into space and stitch them into sprawling arrays, like Legos in orbit.

Local concern: Federal agents say a Florida artist who sells Native American-made art is lying to potential buyers, alleging his art is fraudulent and he has no connection to any tribe. He was a vendor at the Ann Arbor Art Fair. Organizers said they were unaware of the federal allegations.

On the west side: The Christkindl Markt at the Grand Rapids Downtown Market celebrated Christmas in July this week by previewing its expansion plans for this fall and winter.

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Wolverine gymnasts make men's all-around final at 2024 Olympics

Go Blue: University of Michigan gymnasts Fred Richard and Paul Juda will have a chance at a team and individual medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The United States teammates finished 10th and 13th, respectively, in the all-around during Saturday’s qualifying round at Bercy Arena.

According to a federal complaint filed: A University of Michigan athletics official and a Pioneer High School soccer coach face federal child pornography charges for soliciting sex from at least one minor.

Jim “The Shark” Dreyer is back at it again. Dreyer, who last year had to abort his solo swim across Lake Michigan due to poor conditions, is taking another shot at the 83-mile swim from Milwaukee and Grand Haven in an effort to “finish what he started” last summer.

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Secluded Michigan island hotel named among World’s Greatest Places to visit in 2024

Off the beaten path: The Inn at Stonecliffe on Mackinac Island has been named one of the World’s Greatest Places to visit in 2024 by Time Magazine. It is the only spot in Michigan from around the world on the list from Time, which highlights 100 destinations to visit and stay.

Lake Michigan news: Victory Cruise Lines has plans to call on Escanaba 34 times in its first year back on the Great Lakes. Escanaba welcomed cruise ships for the first time in 2023.

See the inner workings: Shady Lane Cellars near Suttons Bay is now offering a new private Vineyard Tour and Tasting Experience that allows you to soak up a lot of information about the wines - and then sample several of its reserve and “library” pours.

Read more

Welcome to a new week

Thank you for starting off your week with the Morning Briefing.

As always, you can catch the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. While you're there, consider becoming a subscriber.

Have a good day!

— Jamie Rewerts

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