Morning Briefing

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2023

In today's newsletter, masks are back in some Michigan schools, an investment puts Michigan in a top spot for EV battery manufacturing and the Detroit Lions look like the future of the NFC North.

No matter how far away the next election is, politics never sleeps.

I heard plenty of people express relief after the Nov. 2022 election was over. They were sick of the political ads popping up constantly. And while the ads are taking a break, politics never does.

For instance, there is a bunch of speculation about who will run to replace U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, after she recently announced she would not be seeking reelection in 2024. That's also a presidential year, so we'll be hearing plenty about that. And since we are talking about the White House, Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to visit Ann Arbor this week.

This past November election also brought newcomers to some offices, including board seats in Ottawa County. They took those elected positions last week and went straight to work changing things.

No matter where we are in the election cycle, MLive will continue to bring you complete reporting of Michigan political news.

Curated by Jessica Shepherd

Ann Arbor is getting rid of its new zigzag sidewalks after receiving negative feedback. Read more here. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com)

A snowstorm is possible later this week. We have an early look at the forecast.

Is the snow going to return? A It hasn't been incredibly wintery recently. But a large storm over the Pacific Ocean is going to hit the West Coast in the next two days. That storm system looks like it could affect Lower Michigan with an accumulating snow late this week.

Something to watch: Mark Torregrossa says the timing of the precipitation will determine how much snow could accumulate. If the bulk of precipitation falls before sunset Thursday night, we won’t have much snow. If the precipitation waits until Thursday evening to start, the precipitation could mostly be snow. Keep an eye on the forecast here.

Garden Talk:Are you sad that the winter months put your outdoor garden on hold? Good news! You can grow lettuce indoors during these colder months. Mark, who happens to be a master gardener, has the details in his latest installment of Garden Talk.

Read more

Are masks making a comeback in Michigan schools?

In Ann Arbor: With a handful of different viruses to contend with after a winter break that likely saw families attending gatherings, Superintendent Jeanice Swift said a two-week mask mandate is in order for students who returned to class Monday in Ann Arbor Public Schools.

A similar situation in Wayne County: The Wayne County Public Health Division is recommending — not mandating — two weeks of masking as students returned after the holiday break. The district advisory says the suggestion is meant to curb the spread of flu and RSV, as well as COVID-19.

More health news: We have a look at things you should know about carbon monoxide poisoning and how to prevent. There are some specific measures to take in winter to keep your family safe.

Read more

Michigan is predicted to 'dominate' EV battery manufacturing after a $2B investment.

Electric Avenue: Michigan is protective over its automotive legacy — so much so that it laid down $2 billion in taxpayer money to assure the state would be part of the electrification of the car industry. A recent CNBC story placed Michigan among the top 3 states that will “dominate electric vehicle battery manufacturing in the U.S. by 2030.”

Buying a new electric vehicle? This year, the purchase could come with a discount – of sorts. A new law that offers car buyers a tax credit up to $7,500 went into effect Jan. 1. It’s designed to lower the cost of buying a new electric vehicle.

Speaking of electricity: The electric barrier in the Chicago River meant to keep invasive silver and bighead carp from reaching the Great Lakes does not block other types of invasive species, according to a recent study.

Read more

The Detroit Lions look like the future of the NFC North.

Tell 'em, Kyle: As Kyle Meinke watched Sunday's game in Green Bay, he noticed what felt like a significant shift in the NFC North. The long-time punchline of the division, the Detroit Lions, weren't funny this weekend. They were fierce. And they ended the season with a winning record while the Packers ended it with a losing season.

So close in Year 2: The Detroit Lions finished the season as the last team left out of the postseason. And while that’s quite the accomplishment in Year 2 of a rebuild, it’s easy to see how the Lions could have gone dancing had a couple more plays gone their way.

What's being said nationally: Let's take a look at the buzz about the sports world after the Lions beat the Packers at Lambeau to end a really encouraging season.i

Read more

In 2022, 48 lottery tickets bought in Michigan were worth $1M or more. Here's where they were sold.

Location, location, location: Big lottery wins aren’t isolated to any corner of the state, state lottery data shows. There have been 234 prizes of $1 million or more in the past five years, spanning from Temperance to Ontonagon. Here's where the big 2022 winners purchased their tickets.

Feeling lucky?Tonight's Mega Millions drawing is extra mega. The jackpot is worth more than $1 billion. Here's all the info on how to play and where to buy tickets for the huge drawing.

Recent winners: A Lotto 47 ticket recently sold at a Pinckney grocery store ended up being worth $1.15 million. And a lottery club in Traverse City hit it big with a $1 million Powerball win.

Read more

You're all caught up.

That's a wrap for the Tuesday newsletter.

But all day (and night) long, you can find the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. And there's never a bad time to become an MLive subscriber.

See ya back here tomorrow!

— Jessica Shepherd

OTHER TOP STORIES

GAMES & COMICS

Today’s Crossword
More free puzzles & games
Today’s 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.

Your news. Your way.

New Custom Email Alerts let you select your favorite topics happening in your town. Choose the topics you love, we'll do the rest!

Choose your alerts

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