In today's newsletter, arson is rising in Flint, summer's latest sunsets are happening and Michigan to receive payout for EA Sports College Football ’25 video game. |
Are you ready for the upcoming holiday? |
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Flint firefighters work tirelessly throughout the night to keep a blaze contained that fully engulfs Washington Elementary School on Oct. 6, 2021 in Flint. (Photo provided by Travis Ricketts) |
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Michigan lawmakers pass $82.5 billion budget mostly along party lines |
The latest: Michigan lawmakers passed an $82.5 billion state budget for 2025 during an overnight session. The spending plan received its final votes of approval just after 5 a.m. Thursday, June 27. It includes $59 billion for state agencies and departments and another $23.4 billion for education. An update: A member of the Bay County Library Board who is under scrutiny for saying homeless people have “no business” at the library said he does not intend to resign despite calls to do so by a county commissioner and members of the public. A local dispute: Two years after Kzoo Cat Cafe and Rescue moved in, trees that were required to be planted by the city grew to where they are blocking both sides of their business sign. |
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Flint on fire: Arson is rising again and blighted neighborhoods are ground zero |
Cause for concern: As jobs disappeared in Flint and people moved on, the growing number of vacant, tax-foreclosed homes, empty schools and abandoned businesses became and remain fuel for the arsonist’s torch. A recent MLive-The Flint Journal investigation shows arsons were up 41 percent in 2023 compared to 2022 and are on a pace to eclipse that in 2024, up 25% compared to the same period last year. Officials can’t agree on how to stop it: As arsons spike in Flint, vacant schools are being targeted. Simultaneously, a power struggle has emerged over the future of more than two dozen vacant buildings, as well as acres of real estate owned by the district. More in crime: A serial killer took her life 10 years ago, but Rebekah Bletsch made a difference in this world. |
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Summer's latest sunsets are happening this week |
Embrace it: Late sunsets are a staple of Michigan summers. Sitting on the beaches of Lake Michigan or Lake Superior, watching the sun go down and a bonfire to follow. With the summer solstice occurring over a week ago, the latest sunsets of the year are occurring right now. Weekend forecast: If you have any outdoor plans for the weekend, Sunday is the day for them. Mostly sunny skies are likely as high pressure moves into the area. It's expected to rain on Friday and Saturday. In the sky: A trio of planets along with the moon are set to line up in the early morning sky on June 29, continuing through July. |
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Michigan to receive six-figure payout for EA Sports College Football ’25 video game |
Getting $: Players aren’t the only ones cashing in on the upcoming college football video game. Schools stand to make some money, too. And in the case of the University of Michigan, a minimum payout that could easily top six figures. The Michigan athletic department is set to receive $99,875.16 as part of its participation in EA Sports’ College Football ‘25 video game set to debut July 19 on the PlayStation and Xbox consoles. Fourth addition in the last three days: Michigan State football continues to add to its next recruiting class during a critical month. Derrick Simmons, a 2025 three-star defensive tackle from Frankenmuth High School, announced his commitment to the Spartans via social media. In basketball: With the Detroit Pistons in dire need of a reliable shooter to improve their spacing, expectations were that they would look to acquire one in the first round of this year’s NBA draft. Instead, they opted to bolster their 26th-ranked defense by selecting Ron Holland II with the fifth overall pick. Here are five interesting things to know about Holland. |
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Climb 94 steps to the top of Michigan’s oldest lighthouse for a stunning view |
In a state featuring the most lighthouses out of any other in the U.S., Fort Gratiot Light Station in Port Huron provides a unique experience as the lighthouse approaches 200 years since its initial installation. Speaking of anniversaries: This weekend, festivities celebrating Sleeping Bear Surf & Kayak’s 20th anniversary are set to take over Empire. Wow: He nearly won “Survivor,” but it’s what he has been doing on the game of questions and answers that is turning heads. Already eligible for the “Jeopardy” Tournament of Champions, this college graduate student from Michigan has won more than $111,000 over the last six games. |
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Thank you for joining me on today's edition of the Morning Briefing. As always, you can find the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. While you're there, consider becoming a subscriber. See you on Monday! — Jamie Rewerts |
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