It's unclear who's behind the left-leaning news outlet

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Morning Briefing

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2024

In today's newsletter, raising speed limits can cause more ‘spillover effect’ crashes, Detroit Lions file motion for Barry Sanders statue lawsuit to be dismissed and restored 2,200-acre Michigan preserve features 9 miles of trails.

Things will start lookin' different 'round here

Changes are coming to Michigan! Demolition has started to clear way for construction of a Grand Rapids amphitheater. Here’s a look at where the revenue would come from in a $290 million tax-incentive request the Grand Rapids City Commission is considering from a private development group to spur development of 735 apartments near Acrisure Amphitheater.

 

In Northville, Michigan’s last horse-racing track closed and plans are already underway to redevelop the property into housing, commercial space and parks, officials announced.

 

It may be 25 years in the future, but long-term development plans at the University of Michigan are coming into focus. Campus Plan 2050 has new drafts of its development plans.

Curated by Jamie Rewerts

Two women hold hands at a protest

Andrica Cage, left, and Becky Wilbert hold hands at a rally outside of Kent County Sheriff's Office. Wilbert wants to see police video of her son's death while Cage last week watched video of the crash that killed her son. (John Agar | MLive.com)

A newspaper delivered to 1 million Michigan mailboxes might be ‘pink slime’

Didn't subscribe to this: The Michigan Independent is being delivered to nearly 1 million people across Michigan. But it's unclear who's behind the left-leaning news outlet that is publishing what researchers call “pink slime” to sway voters in battleground states.

 

“The tactic of them using old fashioned newspapers is them trying to establish themselves as local, trusted independent news sources,” said McKenzie Sadeghi, a researcher for NewsGuard.

 

Speaking of media: An MLive documentary was featured on “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” which airs on HBO. Oliver did a segment on book banning and used clips from MLive’s documentary, ‘Gender Queer and the culture war in Michigan libraries’ throughout the episode.

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Raising speed limits can cause more ‘spillover effect’ crashes, AAA finds

From the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety: Increasing speed limits on Michigan highways had unintended consequences on some adjacent communities. Researchers found the bump to 75 mph on more than 600 miles of mostly-rural freeway in 2017 had a “spillover effect” that caused more speed-related crashes on some nearby local roadways.

 

On the water: The 2024 Great Lakes cruising season is underway with two mainstay ships missing, but it won't be long before they're back. John Waggoner plans to relaunch Victory Cruise Lines during spring 2025.

 

In politics: On the same weekend her husband plans to visit the state, Jill Biden will stop at three Michigan cities as part of her push to re-elect President Joe Biden, campaign officials said.

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As Portage residents get tornado aid, victims outside city limits have less help

Homes in Texas Township sustained significant damage after the May 7 tornado. But Texas Township residents don’t have access to the same city cleanup resources Portage residents do. Most notably, the township has no public works department, Township Superintendent Erik Wilson said.

 

Garden Talk: Many long-time gardeners like to use Memorial Day weekend as the safe date to plant any flowers and veggies that can’t take a frost. Do we have to wait that long? Let’s look at what we can expect as far as frost chances in Michigan over the next two weeks.

 

Charged by federal prosecutors: Three men are accused of causing a wildfire at Isle Royale National Park that burned six acres and took nearly two weeks to completely extinguish.

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Detroit Lions file motion for Barry Sanders statue lawsuit to be dismissed

The latest: The Detroit Lions have filed a motion in federal court, requesting a lawsuit brought against the organization by a longtime sports photographer be dismissed. Photographer Allen Kee sued the Detroit Lions in January, claiming the organization used a photo he took in 1995 as the inspiration for the Barry Sanders statue erected outside Ford Field.

 

An update: Denard Robinson is no longer employed at the University of Michigan a month after his arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. 

 

Tune in: Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith broke his silence on Michigan’s sign-stealing scandal that remains under investigation by the NCAA. On the latest episode of our “Wolverine Confidential” podcast, Ryan Zuke, Aaron McMann and Andrew Kahn discuss Smith’s comments.

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Restored 2,200-acre Michigan preserve features rare plants, birds, 9 miles of trail

A rare swath of Great Lakes coastal wetlands is welcoming new wildlife — and visitors — thanks to the completion of a decade-long restoration project. The Nature Conservancy’s Erie Marsh Preserve was the subject of a 12-year, $7.5 million habitat restoration effort that wrapped up this winter.

 

To enjoy: River Access Park, a new park part of the 300-acre Pere Marquette Conservation Park in Pere Marquette Township, includes a boat launch, picnic shelters, restrooms, a boardwalk and other amenities. It's expected to open during June 2024.

 

Local eats:A Michigan ice cream shop known for bubble waffle cones is open for the season and will be serving scoops all summer long.

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We're halfway through the week

Thank you for joining me on today's edition of the Morning Briefing.

 

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

 

See you tomorrow!

 

— Jamie Rewerts

 

OTHER TOP STORIES

 

  • Equity officer booked trip to Europe, 80+ days of travel with Washtenaw County credit card

  • ‘Wheel of Fortune’ host Pat Sajak calls for civility in America at Hillsdale College graduation

  • New safety towers in Grand Haven to help prevent drownings in the deadliest Great Lake

  • Owl abandoned by parents finds new life as ‘Wildlife Ambassador’

  • Elderly pair found dead, shot inside Jackson County home
 

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