Morning Briefing

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2023

In today's newsletter, an investigation is ongoing after false reports of school shootings across Michigan, an increasing rate of pregnant women died in 2020 and Darius Slay is still irked by Matt Patricia's disrespect.

What's going on in the U.P.? Fun of all kinds.

Some say you have to visit the Upper Peninsula during winter to get your "official Michigander" badge. Several years back, I went to Munising in February. It was bitterly cold and utterly amazing. I highly recommend it.

For instance, you could plan a trip to Mackinac Island and snag a ride on the winter ferry. If you can't go, you can at least watch this video. And while you are loving the U.P. from afar, check out how you can watch the Ice Mass, held inside a chapel made of ice during Michigan Tech's Winter Carnival.

But if you head up there in person during winter, don't forget your Yooper fashion apparel. After all, you don't want to look like a tourist, eh?

Curated by Jessica Shepherd

Assorted chocolates in a glass display case

It's chocolate season! At Gilbert Chocolates in Jackson, the 122-year-old shop is preparing for Valentine's Day, its busiest time of year. (Sydney Verlinde | MLive.com)

Unpredictable winters are here to stay. How will Michigan ski resorts adapt?

Snowy hopes dashed: Snow enthusiasts were hoping Michigan's record snowfall in November was a good omen for the season. In the week leading up to Thanksgiving Grand Rapids area got blasted with snow and cumulated to a high of 28 inches that month. But a plentiful winter for the fluffy stuff did not materialize.

On the current trajectory, Michigan winters are going to continue getting warmer and wetter into the foreseeable future. One ski resort worker called this winter the worst so far. So how will these resorts deal with the less-than-ideal conditions during their money-making season?

Our 'almost unbelievable' non-winter:We know this winter hasn’t been our typical harsh Michigan winter. Often it is hard to quantify just how wimpy this winter has been. The Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index is an easy way for us to look at our skimpy winter.

Read more

False reports of school shootings were 'nothing short of a nightmare.' An investigation is ongoing.

Fake threats across the state: The FBI, state police and local police continue to investigate false threats of active shooters at schools across Michigan yesterday. Multiple schools districts – including those in Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Benton Harbor, Detroit, Jackson, Muskegon, Okemos, Portage and Saginaw – received hoax, or "swatting" calls.

Caller would pretend to be a teacher: State officials "assess that these are the actions of a coordinated campaign targeting K-12 education facilities in Michigan." Investigators are unaware of any credible threats.

In other school-related news: A recently formed Michigan school group is looking to remove mentions of LGBTQ existence from classrooms, calling it “rogue sex-ed ... under the guise of safety and inclusivity,” with a newly created opt-out form they hope to force districts to comply with.

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An increasing rate of pregnant women and new mothers died in 2020.

Results of a new study: Pregnant women and new mothers died of homicide, drug overdose, direct maternal and other causes at a higher rate during the first months of the coronavirus pandemic compared to that time the previous year.

Latest COVID numbers: Michigan health officials identified few COVID-19 infections and deaths last week, according to the latest weekly report. The state reported a seven-day average of 608 confirmed cases -- the lowest since summer 2021 and down from 622 daily cases last week.

More in health: The same early childhood blood lead testing that helped expose the Flint water crisis more than seven years ago would be broadly expanded under a bill that’s been proposed for a third time by a state senator from Flint.

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Darius Slay is still irked by Matt Patricia's disrespect, even from the Super Bowl.

Dispatches from the Super Bowl: Darius Slay has never shied away from sharing his feelings regarding former Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia. And that didn’t change with the Philadelphia Eagles cornerback taking the podium on the opening night of Super Bowl media festivities from Phoenix.

What Slay said: "It was just weird how he came in like he was bigger and better than all of us," he said Monday night. "He was acting like we asked to be there. We do get selected. That was the crazy part about him. ... I don’t wish bad on him. But as a man, me and him just don’t get along."

More from Arizona:Ndamukong Suh was once named the dirtiest player in the NFL. Now 36, the former Detroit Lions star is trying to shed his bad-boy reputation heading into Super Bowl LVII.

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Only 7 U.S. schools train people to operate commercial ships. One is in Northern Michigan.

Training mariners: The United States only has seven schools that train people to become merchant marine officers. The largest six are located near New York City; upstate New York (the federal academy), Boston; San Francisco; Galveston, Texas and Maine. But one is ours — Traverse City’s Great Lakes Maritime Academy at Northwestern Michigan College.

Michigan's program: The academy has been around since 1969. It takes just 60 new cadets each year into the four-year bachelor’s degree program – 36 in the deck program and 24 in the engine program.

Elsewhere in Northern Michigan: It’s not the only lake sturgeon season in Michigan, but it is the shortest. With a total catch limit of six fish, the Black Lake sturgeon season lasted just 65 minutes on Saturday, Feb. 4, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Read more

You're all caught up.

Our Wednesday is well underway.

Remember, you can always find the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. And why not consider becoming an MLive subscriber.

Cara will join you here in the Morning Briefing tomorrow and I'll see you on Friday.

— Jessica Shepherd

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