In today's newsletter, Michigan drivers are still using their phones behind the wheel, a look at this week's forecast and border agents in Detroit seize enough fentanyl to kill 1.3 million people. |
A look at Michigan's Best |
Whether you are grabbing a cool treat from Cascades Ice Cream Co. in Jackson or spicing things up with a Nashville hot chicken sandwich in Ann Arbor at Fat Daddy’s Hot Chicken and Waffles, Michigan is full of great restaurants. Check out our Michigan's Best series to find your next spot for a great meal. The Cabbage Shed in Elberta is hosting its fourth annual cabbage-eating competition on Wednesday, July 3. The prize is bragging rights, some cash, and an iconic green belt for winners in all three divisions. If you're itching to fix a sweet tooth, head to Equinox Pastries and Pops in Grand Rapids. The shop offers custom, made-to-order desserts like cake pops, decorated cookies and tasty treats. |
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Winners of the cabbage-eating contest at The Cabbage Shed will get their own champion belt and bragging rights (Photo by The Cabbage Shed) |
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| One year with hands-free law, Michigan drivers aren’t putting their phones down, data shows |
Texting and driving: It's the one-year anniversary of Michigan joining the majority of states in passing a hands-free driving law that bans motorists from handling their phones while on the road. But some police say it doesn’t seem to be working as quickly as they’d like. Despite Michigan police issuing 19,463 citations that resulted in 14,364 convictions, as of June 24, according to data Michigan Supreme Court’s Public Information Office, state police Lt. Mike Shaw said some drivers don’t take the law seriously, claiming they are unaware it exists. On the road: Road construction will slow this week, given Fourth of July, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Michigan roads will be smooth sailing. Here's a look at road closures on tap this week across the state. |
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July 4 week weather: We will be able to pick good periods of weather around storms |
This week's forecast: There will be several rounds of thunderstorms during the July 4 holiday period. The good news is the actual Fourth of July should be dry for almost all of Michigan. High temperatures over Lower Michigan range from 75 degrees to 85 degrees. This mean for most of us, it’s just a nice summer temperature in the afternoon - not too hot and not too cold. Looking up: Throughout July, various planets and astronomical features will take turns being side-by-side with the moon. According to StarWalk, on July 2 look for the Pleiades - also known as the Seven Sisters - star cluster near the dark side of the moon a few hours before sunrise. On July 3, the moon will rise alongside Jupiter. Independence Day will feature this duo again, although the moon will be slimmer and lower in the sky. While the calendar may show July, Monday morning's temperatures felt like October. Many locations throughout the state saw overnight temperatures dip down into the 40s, with some locations reaching the 30s. |
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Border agents in Detroit seize enough fentanyl to kill 1.3 million people |
Seized: The U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations announced the largest fentanyl seizure, nearly six pounds of the synthetic opioid, in the history of the Port of Detroit. The June 2 discovery is one of the largest inbound fentanyl seizures on the northern border within the last five years, officials said. Guilty: Two years ago, law enforcement brought down a crew that was bringing dozens of kilos of cocaine into the Saginaw area from Mexico. Officials had been investigating the group for a while but were forced to move on them earlier than anticipated when they overheard the crew plotting a murder on their tapped cellphones. A jury found one member of the group guilty of several charges on June 28. In court: Friends and family of a man struck and killed by an unmarked police patrol car packed a Kentwood courtroom Monday for a brief hearing for a former state police trooper now charged with murder. |
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One of Michigan’s largest shopping malls has closed for good |
Goodbye: The 1.5 million square foot Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights shut its doors on Sunday evening for the last time. The land will be redeveloped into a $1 billion mixed-used city center with groundbreaking scheduled for late 2025. The project will feature housing, parks, a hotel, office space, shopping, restaurants and more. New details: The Ann Arbor Housing Commission has chosen a co-developer for a downtown high-rise project next to the Blake Transit Center. The commission will partner with Related Midwest on an affordable housing development on the city-owned parking lot along William Street between Fourth and Fifth avenues, Executive Director Jennifer Hall said. Also in housing: The first units in a $16.5 million, four-story apartment development in downtown Grand Rapids are expected to be ready for tenants in late August. |
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These 4 Michigan universities have the best value, Princeton Review says |
Best in class: Students get their best bang for their buck at a quartet of Michigan universities or colleges that made Princeton Review’s “Best Value Colleges” ranking. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Michigan Technological University, Kalamazoo College and Kettering University all made the list. Also in education: Many Michigan families would receive free pre-K and all high school graduates would receive free community college education under the $23.4 billion 2025 spending plan passed Thursday by lawmakers. Climbing costs: The Western Michigan University board approved the largest dollar increase to tuition since 2008 for the upcoming school year. Tuition for a first-year undergraduate student was $4,499 in 2001-02, but has jumped more than $10,000 since then, to $15,252 for 2024-25. In other words, tuition has increased 239% in 23 years. |
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We'll be back bright and early tomorrow with another round of Morning Briefing. Catch up on the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. While you're there, consider becoming a subscriber. See you tomorrow! — Cara Hackett |
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