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Morning Briefing

MONDAY, APRIL 24, 2023

In today's newsletter, young Michigan growers want to farm – but they can’t afford land, a fresh summer forecast just issued, and the 10 best harbors for a boating vacation.

Jessica Heeringa’s disappearance a tragic mystery 10 years later

Jessica Heeringa was a 25-year-old gas station attendant who disappeared from her job in the city of Norton Shores on April 26, 2013.

Ten years later, the case haunts investigators who worked on it. And even though Jeffrey Willis is serving a life term for her murder, some members of Heeringa’s family all these years later don’t believe he’s guilty – and that Heeringa may still be alive since her body was never found.

Reporter Lynn Moore goes over everything you need to know about this case including the night Heeringa disappeared, the investigation and the trial. 

Curated by Jamie Rewerts

Rain drizzled as hundreds of people gathered at a horse farm Saturday to rally against a proposed battery parts plant in Mecosta County near Big Rapids. (Rose White | MLive.com)

‘A new family business’: Franchises on the rise in Michigan

Catching the wave: Franchises, which have independent owners who pay licensing fees, have ticked up 4% in Michigan since 2020, the economic outlook shows. The Michigan businesses employ more than 253,000 people and add $24 billion to the state economy.

Creating jobs: A medical device manufacturing company has announced plans to “onshore” jobs from Mexico to a facility in Kalamazoo County.

More in public interest: Michigan stands on the cusp of becoming the 20th state to enact red flag laws. Here's 5 things to know about this.

Read more

Young Michigan growers want to farm – but they can’t afford land

Over 40% of America’s 895 million acres of agricultural land is expected to change hands over the next two decades as older farmers retire, according to the American Farmland Trust. But steep costs create a barrier for the next generation to take the baton and keep a trillion-dollar industry running.

Speaking of land: Landowners in several counties in the western Upper Peninsula can now enroll small tracts of forestland in a carbon markets program designed for those with as few as 30 eligible acres.

While we're UP: Researchers at Michigan Technological University in Houghton are experimenting with Michigan’s hardwood trees to unlock new sustainable housing solutions.

Read more

Fresh summer forecast just issued, see what Michigan should expect

What they are seeing: Here is the newly issued June, July and August forecast, issued April 20, 2023. All of Michigan’s temperatures have somewhere between a 33% and 40% chance of being warmer than normal. Southern Michigan specifically has a 37% chance of being warmer than normal.

Michigan’s total snowfall this winter: For some Michigan cities the snow tallies for this winter did pile up much higher than normal. Like many winters in Michigan we can also find areas that had less than normal snow amounts.

Also in Mother Nature: The historic Tappan Oak tree at the University of Michigan was thought to be lost to time. Thanks to the care of a former student and university staff, a seedling will carry on its legacy.

Read more

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Detroit’s first indoor/outdoor dog park and beer garden set to open

This place will be like a vacation for dogs while their owners watch them play while sipping on beer and cocktails. Detroit is getting its first dog park and beer garden featuring 10,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. Barkside is set to open sometime this summer.

Staying in Detroit: A new pilot program coming to Detroit aims to use artificial intelligence software on top of existing traffic cameras to eventually predict and prevent traffic incidents.

For the Lions: For the 14th time since 2002, the Detroit Lions will have a top 10 pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Here’s a look at the last 10 top-10 picks made by the Lions and the cost of the Jameson Williams suspension.

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These are Michigan’s 10 best harbors for a boating vacation

Sail away: A boating getaway is one of Michigan’s best-kept vacation secrets, and now we have a list of the 10 best places to rent that transient slip, courtesy of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Prefer wheels? : The Michigan Department of Transportation announced that nearly all the 85 roadside parks it maintains will be open for the season on April 28.

As for the animals: Dozens of common loons – the mascot bird of the Northwoods – have fallen from the icy, sleeting skies of northern Wisconsin. The “loon fallout” phenomenon across April 19-20 this spring wasn’t just strange but risked becoming fatal. And, another rare bee specimen has been found in a Wisconsin forest near the Michigan border.

Read more

Welcome to a new week.

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

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

Have a good one!

— Jamie Rewerts

OTHER TOP STORIES

• Living Jane Doe found in Kalamazoo County, police asking for help to ID
  
  
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• New interchange planned for U.S. 131, but project is on hold for funding
  
  
• Based on prices, these will be the most in-demand tickets for Meijer Gardens concerts
  
  
• 3 killed in head-on crash in Northern Michigan

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