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Morning Briefing

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2023

In today's newsletter, we remember the Blizzard of 1978, we analyze the words Gov. Gretchen Whitmer used in her State of the State and we ask Kyle all our burning questions about the Detroit Lions.

What's up this weekend? Here are some fun options. 

When I was in grade school, there were two things I loved to do more than anything else. One was swimming in my grandma's pool. So, during winter, when it was closed, I relied heavily on my other favorite activity — going to the roller rink. That's why I'm starting the event roundup with this suggestion for Flint families — head to this free weekly rollerskating event tomorrow. 

Ann Arbor music lovers are excited for the city's 46th annual Folk Festival. And over in Grand Rapids, Shrek enthusiasts are getting ready for a very special night of dancing. 

If you are from my hometown of Saginaw, don't plan on ice skating at Hoyt Park this weekend. Mother Nature has pushed back the skating weekends. But you can attend PRIDE Night at the Saginaw Spirit game on Sunday.

Curated by Jessica Shepherd

They're back! Thousands of Redhead ducks have returned to flock near the Mackinac Bridge. Read all about it here. (Photo by Steve Baker)

Skyrocketing egg costs are prompting calls for a price-gouging investigation.

Egg prices have skyrocketed: The costs are so high eggs are reportedly being smuggled across the Mexican border, jokes about “egg dealers” have flooded TikTok and there are now calls for an investigation into price gouging.

Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, asked the Federal Trade Commission this week to investigate "potential price gouging and other deceptive practices" by the country’s largest egg producers. And last week advocacy group Farm Action asked the agency to look into "what appears to be a collusive scheme among industry leaders."

Speaking of money: A Court of Appeals decision has reversed course for Michigan’s minimum and tipped wage increase. The decision comes just 25 days before restaurants were going to be legally obligated to raise minimum wages to $13.03 and $11.73 for tipped employees.

Read more

Remembering the monster Blizzard of 1978: Winter sure packed a wallop 45 years ago.

Do you remember? It has been 45 years since the Great Blizzard of 1978, and that storm is still a vivid memory for many Michiganders. Over the course of three days - Jan. 25-27 - the Great Lakes state was in the grip of a powerful snow-maker.

That's a lot of snow: During the ‘78 event, the National Weather Service said snowfall amounts included 30 inches in Muskegon (hello, lake effect) and just over 19 inches in Grand Rapids and Lansing. Flint had 9.9 inches and Detroit had 8.2. Southeast Michigan saw lower snowfall amounts because it had rain instead of snow for some of the storm window.

What about current weather conditions? MLive Chief Meteorologist Mark Torregrossa is always keeping you informed on the forecast. Bookmark this page to keep up-to-date with Michigan weather news.

Read more

The words Gov. Whitmer did — and did not — use in her State of the State address.

Use your words: MLive analyzed every word from the transcript of Whitmer’s Wednesday speech and compared it to her recent addresses to dissect changes in priorities. Whitmer mentioned “firearm” or “gun” nine times in Wednesday’s address, while “preschool” had 11 mentions. Both had zero mentions in the past two years.

What words were missing? A few notable words from recent speeches were left out of Whitmer’s 2023 address. For example, electric vehicles were a common theme in 2022, with “electric” being mentioned 12 times. It had zero references in 2023. Insulin was mentioned nine times last year, but zero times this year.

More in politics: Can failed candidates fix the Michigan GOP? We have a look inside the race for Republican party chair. 

Read more

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What should the Detroit Lions do at the top of the NFL draft?

Ask Kyle: The Detroit Lions were one of hottest teams in professional football down the stretch. No one wanted to play them, and who knows what would have happened had they not been eliminated from the playoffs on a tiebreaker. But what should they do in the NFL draft to progress in 2023?

2023 Senior Bowl: Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes didn’t hold back when asked what position group needed the most work this offseason. Defense. Here's a look at 10 players that fit the team's needs.

In other football news:Former Michigan running back Tyrone Wheatley has landed another head coaching job. Wayne State University announced Thursday the hiring of the ex-Wolverines standout for its vacant position.

Read more

The AG's office wants to seal evidence a defendant in the Whitmer kidnap plot threatened to expose.

From Dana Nessel's office: The Michigan Attorney General’s Office wants to block public access to evidence in the case of five men accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020.

Nessel's motion reads: "This case and the related state and federal cases have received national and international media attention, and as a result, it may be difficult to find jurors who have not experienced any exposure to this case. Additionally, a local freelance reporter recently interviewed" a defendant in the case who "agreed to provide the reporter with the entirety of the discovery materials the (attorney general) provided the defense."

Elsewhere in the courts: A federal appeals court has ordered a Detroit museum to hold onto an 1888 painting by Vincent van Gogh amid a Brazilian collector’s dispute with the museum over the painting.

Read more

You've started your Friday in the best way.

OK, maybe I'm biased, since I did put together this newsletter. But if you made it this far, I must have done something right.

Don't forget, you can find the latest Michigan news any time by visiting MLive.com. And I always have to remind you about the opportunity to become an MLive subscriber.

I hope you have a magnificent weekend. 

— Jessica Shepherd

OTHER TOP STORIES

• Michigan man's U.P. tree stand sabotage created 'trap door,' hunter fell 20 feet
  
  
• 'I felt like I was dying.' Au pair was lured to Michigan from Italy and sexually assaulted, FBI says
  
  
• DTE must stop toxic coal ash disposal at two Michigan plants
  
  
• Senate Democrats move to enact early presidential primary date for Michigan
  
  
• What's that? Historic Flint home on I-beams is slowly on the move

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