Morning Briefing

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023

In today's newsletter, two Michigan metros top national list for millennial homeownership, 5 things to know about a Michigan district’s ambitious $50K starting salaries for teachers, and 10 Michigan recreation areas that are perfect for disc golf lovers.

It's feeling like summer around here!

As a newly-minted Detroit resident from North Florida, the near 80 degree temperatures this week have me feeling right at home. It just might be time to start inching toward a summer state of mind.

Consider adding The Great Lakes Pirate Ship festival to your lineup of summer plans. The festival is planned for June 17 on the Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry Company’s dock. There will be food, drinks, music, pirate-themed contests - and someone might even be walking the plank.

A Lake Michigan beach concession stand is expected to stand empty into the summer after a business that planned to serve margaritas pulled out of its contract with Manistee County.

Curated by Cara Hackett

Historical reenactors fire a cannon at Colonial Michilimackinac. The historic garrison is part of the Mackinac State Historic Parks. It opened for the 2023 season on Tuesday, May 9. Provided by Mackinac State Historic Parks

Two Michigan metros top national list for millennial homeownership

Moving in: Two Michigan metro areas have topped the national list for millennial homeownership. Grand Rapids is the No. 1 city in the U.S. with 63% of Millennials as homeowners. Close behind is Detroit at No. 7 with a rate of about 55%, according to Apartment List’s 2023 Millennial Homeownership Report.

Addressing facility inequities: Upgrades are coming for fourteen of Michigan’s National Guard facilities after receiving $26 million to modernize facilities for women service members.

Some political news: Michigan lawmakers are working on bipartisan legislation that would encourage the state to select Michigan businesses when considering bids for goods and services.

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5 things to know about a Michigan district’s ambitious $50K starting salaries for teachers

Raising the bar: In an ambitious effort to attract new teachers, the West Ottawa Public School district announced last week it is raising its starting salary to $50,000 for first-year teachers with a bachelor’s degree. Here are five things to know about the district’s bold new effort to recruit and retain the most talented teachers in the state.

No more backpacks: Grand Rapids Public Schools has implemented an immediate districtwide backpack ban after a gun was confiscated from a young student, marking it as the fourth time such an incident has occurred this school year.

Rockford school leaders are investigating after someone altered a photo of an online message board to make it look like an administrator wrote an offensive slur.

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The hairstylist, the chemist and a descent into cannibalism

On Christmas Eve 2019, 25-year-old Kevin Bacon left his home to meet up with 50-year-old Mark Latunski, a stranger he’d met through the dating app Grindr. Kevin Bacon was never seen alive again. In September 2022, Latunski was sentenced to life in prison without parole for killing and mutilating Bacon.

Take a listen: MLive’s “Michigan Crime Stories: The Christmas Eve Cannibal” podcast further explores the killing of Kevin Bacon in a four-part series available on wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

The investigation into the murder and cannibalization of Kevin Bacon, 25, of Swartz Creek, offered a rare glimpse into the world of cannibalism from the perspective of both a mentally ill killer and sexual fetishist.

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After boxing saved her life, Flint’s Claressa Shields hopes to inspire youngsters with special night

"Give hope to the hopeless": Flint native Claressa Shields instantly fell in love with boxing at age 11 but despite winning her first Olympic gold medal in 2012 when she was 17, Shields had never attended a professional fight until she became an adult. Now, she’s planning to change that for 1,000 youngsters from Flint and Detroit.

Giving back: “The Night of 1,000 Stars” will see Shields treat the kids to free tickets for her championship fight June 3 against Hanna Gabriels at Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena.

Making history: Michigan State’s women’s golf team made history by winning its first regional title. The Spartans won the NCAA Palm Beach Regional on Wednesday with a final score of 8-over-par (872 total) in the three-round, 54-hole tournament at PGA National in Florida.

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10 Michigan state parks, recreation areas that are perfect for disc golf lovers

Get in the game: Disc golf is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States and Michigan offers plenty of opportunities to play. Flip City Disc Golf Park in Shelby was even ranked the 9th best disc golf course in the U.S. in 2022. Here is a closer look at 10 disc golf courses maintained by the state and its partners.

If you like history: Mackinac State Historic Parks will open several sites this week, including popular destinations like Colonial Michilimackinac and Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse and Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park.

Walking on the wild side:A new "forest bathing" tour at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore aims to help visitors tap into the restorative power of nature.

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You're all caught up.

We're one day closer to the weekend and it's time to finish out strong.

Stay up to date with the latest Michigan news by reading at MLive.com. While you're there, consider becoming a MLive subscriber.

It's going to be a great day!

— Cara Hackett

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