Morning Briefing

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2023

In today's newsletter, Michigan’s payday loan landscape is murky, Michigan State and Western Michigan add two future football games, Michigan man plans return to Ukraine after recent journey to hot zones.

Just get back together already!

Yesterday, I shared with you how the female partner of the world’s oldest loon couple may have been searching for her ex after they ended the 25-year relationship last spring.

Well friends, there's an update, and it's again filled with drama. The couple briefly reconnected on their old stomping grounds in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula last week — but the reunion didn’t last long.

These birds give me a headache with the on and off. Let me turn the attention to these Michigan polar bear twin sisters who were reunited at the Detroit Zoo after being separated at birth.

Curated by Jamie Rewerts

Greta Van Fleet are about to embark on their biggest tour ever, which will bring them back home to Michigan for one concert at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Friday, September 8.

A big warm-up is going to pounce on Michigan really soon

What to expect: You might feel like we just went headlong back into winter. A fast turn-around to much warmer temperatures is coming over the next 48 hours. Embrace it because Sunday, Monday and Tuesday of next week will almost feel like winter is back.

Total snowfall this 2022-23 winter season in Grand Rapids is currently third-highest on record. Most likely, that is where it will end up because we are moving through mid-April and the city would need to see 5.6 inches or more in order to move into second place.

Rapid melting of snow: Snowmelt flooding damage is being assessed in the millions of dollars just days after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared of state of emergency in two Upper Peninsula counties.

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Michigan’s payday loan landscape is murky. Change could be coming.

Seeing an issue: In Michigan, there are some guardrails surrounding payday loans and lenders, which provide quick cash at high interest rates for short terms. What there isn’t, however, is a good scope of lender prevalence. New legislation seeks to collect statewide statistics.

The Michigan legislature recently reintroduced a bill package that would allow all Michigan residents, regardless of immigration status, to obtain a driver’s license or identification card.

More in public interest: Starting Wednesday, April 19, some southern Michigan residents will receive text message updates from the Michigan State Police when they make an emergency call to a dispatch center.

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Prosecutors urge prison for optometrist who left nooses around Saginaw, made racist calls to Starbucks

As Black Lives Matter protests occurred around the country in the summer of 2020 following a Minneapolis police officer’s killing of George Floyd, retired Saginaw optometrist Kenneth D. Pilon made his feelings known. He did so by calling nine Michigan Starbucks in one hour to advocate for Black people’s deaths, stating a desire to lynch minorities, and leaving nooses in locals’ vehicles.

In political news: Emily Busch, who said she was inspired to become involved in politics after her son survived the shooting at Oxford High School in 2021, launched her congressional campaign against U.S. Rep. John James, R-Farmington Hills.

A story update: Grand Rapids’ civil infraction case is continuing against a wedding venue in the city whose owners have said they won’t host marriage ceremonies for same-sex or transgender couples.

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Michigan State, Western Michigan add two future football games

Who are you rooting for?: The Spartans will host the Broncos on Sept. 2, 2028 and Aug. 30, 2031, it was announced Tuesday morning. Those are the first games scheduled for Michigan State in those seasons. Also, here's what we learned from Michigan State's open spring practice.

For college basketball: Papa Kante is no longer coming to Michigan. The 6-foot-10 center and four-star recruit out of South Kent (Connecticut) School has requested his release from his national letter of intent. And another former Michigan State player has taken home honors as the top defender in the NBA.

In the baseball world: The Tigers (6-9) have now won four consecutive games, the last three of which came in the final at-bat.

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Michigan man plans return to Ukraine after recent journey to hot zones

His story: Rob Winblad, a 26-year-old from the Van Buren County village of Mattawan, was in Kiev for a period of almost two months, from early February to late March. He volunteered to help with deliver supplies near some of the area’s main hot spots. He hopes to return soon to assist a team of volunteer paramedics from Finland.

Preparing to go back: Winblad’s plan is to return as soon as he raises enough money to pay for 90 days of transportation and living expenses. He has set up a GoFundMe in hopes of achieving a goal of $2,800 to cover his costs

Another story: A Michigan family with a complicated medical history is in need of an organ donor, a pilot and more than $150K.

Read more

You're all caught up.

Thanks for joining me today on this edition of the Morning Briefing.

See the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. While you're there, consider becoming a MLive subscriber.

Have a good day!

— Jamie Rewerts

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