View in browser  |  Get our newsletters

Morning Briefing

TUESDAY, JULY 5 2022

In today's newsletter, a $76B budget heads to Whitmer for her signature, doctors worry Michigan’s abortion ban could criminalize routine reproductive care, and Traverse City expands their TART trail.

How was your Fourth of July?

Welcome back! We hope you had a great holiday weekend spent with friends, family and food.

Miss the fireworks and parades already? See our video of the Grand Rapids annual Fourth of July fireworks show at Ah-Nab-Awen Park and photos from Schoolcraft's 95th Fourth of July Parade.

One more story on the holiday we want you to see - a Holland car dealership was able to replace their stolen 60-foot-long U.S. flag before Fourth of July.

Curated by Jamie Rewerts

The four-mile TART trail loop around Traverse City's Boardman Lake is now finished, opening a new scenic corridor for walkers, bikers and more. You can find the story further down in today's newsletter. Photo provided by Team Elmers.

$76B budget heads to Whitmer with a focus on education, infrastructure

Making history: Lawmakers sent the largest budget in state history, $75.7 billion, to Governor Gretchen Whitmer for her signature.

Investing in education: $19.6 billion will go into the School Aid fund which covers a plethora of things including per-pupil foundation allowance, special education, at-risk programs, early childhood education and adult education. 

Dealing with the surplus: The $7 billion surplus is being eyed as part of the conversation to give Michiganders some form of a tax cut. But when that could occur remains a mystery.

Read more

Michigan’s $1 billion pandemic rent fund is drying up. What’s next?

Helping homelessness drop by 19%:Thousands of Michiganders have received rent or utility money from the COVID Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) program since it launched in March 2021.

Running low on funds: Michigan has spent nearly $800 million so far and state officials expect to exhaust the remaining $300 million by the fall. The state is now trying to ease out of the program that kept 143,000 Michigan households afloat for the past 15 months.

State of COVID-19: For the first time since early May, Michigan does not have any counties at a high COVID-19 community level.

Read more

Doctors worry Michigan’s abortion ban, if enforced, could criminalize routine reproductive care.

Dr. Lisa Harris, obstetrician and gynecologist with Michigan Medicine and a University of Michigan Medical School professor expresses her concerns on how Michigan’s abortion ban, if enforced, could effect care for ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages.

Dr. Lauren Owens, an obstetrician, gynecologist and specialist, weighed in as well. "There are gray areas where pregnancy care and abortion care can overlap," she said. "Those situations, even with the law’s single exception, could lead to delays and worse outcomes."

The difference between Plan B and the abortion pill: Plan B is an emergency contraception that delays ovulation and abortion pills disrupt a pregnancy implanted in the uterus. 

Read more

Advertisement

A.J. Hinch expresses condolences after family tragedy for Blue Jays coach

Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch expressed his sadness upon learning of the passing of the 17-year-old daughter, Julia, of Toronto Blue Jays first base coach Mark Budzinski. Hinch said he was roommates with Budzinski when both were players in Triple-A.

Hinch says: "He’s someone I consider a dear friend. His daughter is the same age as my daughters. It’s a tough morning. Baseball is a big family. Keep him in your thoughts."

More in Tigers: Amir Garrett’s feud with Javier Baez still simmering as the two traded insults on Saturday's game. 

Read more

Expansion to an iconic trail, the return of summer programs and newly public land to explore

Traverse City: The ever-expanding network of trails that make up the Traverse City area’s TART system is loved by locals and tourist. Adding to it, the last stretch of the Boardman Lake Loop Trail opened on Friday. Speaking of Traverse City, here's 10 fun things not to miss at Traverse City’s National Cherry Festival.

Sleeping Bear Dunes: Visitor programs are in full swing for the season at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The programs include twilight ranger talks, star parties, bike tours, yoga on the beach and more.

Pere Marquette River: The public will be able to enjoy 155 acres of “resplendent beauty” along the Pere Marquette River thanks to a land donation by an anonymous family.

Read more

You're all caught up.

Thanks for joining us on another edition of Morning Briefing.

You can always find the latest headlines from across Michigan by visiting MLive.com. You can also stay updated by following our Facebook and Twitter pages. If you value the hard work of Michigan journalists, consider becoming an MLive subscriber.

Have a great week!

— Jamie Rewerts

OTHER TOP STORIES

• MDOT to begin $7.9M resurfacing project on scenic Upper Peninsula highway
  
  
• New court motions aim to put Flint water crisis prosecutions back on track
  
  
• Jet truck driver, 40, dies in Battle Creek air show accident
  
  
• DNR surplus land: 188 parcels up for auction, including waterfront properties
  
  
• 50,000 pound cherry pie world record attempt in Traverse City a herculean task

GAMES & COMICS

TODAY'S OBITUARIES

Click here to for access to Michigan obituaries.

DAILY AUDIO BRIEFING

Want the top headlines but don't have time to read? Listen to MLive’s daily news briefing on Spotify, Google or Apple Podcasts.

NOT ENOUGH NEWS?

The Daily Digital Edition is included with both print and digital subscriptions to MLive.com. You can also choose from our selection of local news, sports or lifestyle newsletters and apps.

WANT TO SHARE THIS NEWSLETTER WITH A FRIEND?

Did someone share this newsletter with you? Click here to never miss a day!

CONTACT THE NEWSROOM

To contact the newsrooms for any of our publications regarding technical support, news tips, classified ads and other inquiries, please click here.

Special Offer

MLive.com Unlimited Digital Access.

INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING
OR SPONSORING OUR NEWSLETTERS?

Contact [email protected]

GET YOUR LOCAL NEWS 24/7

Ann Arbor | Bay City | Flint | Grand Rapids

Jackson | Kalamazoo | Muskegon | Saginaw

You received this email because you opted in to the newsletter. To ensure receipt of our emails, please add [email protected] to your address book or safe sender list.

MLive Media Group 169 Monroe NW #100Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Contact us | Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy