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Morning Briefing

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2023

In today's newsletter, why Dollar General is everywhere, parts of Michigan saw record heat during Labor Day weekend and a look at the state's self-serve taprooms.

Two Michiganders are taking their talents center stage

It isn't always easy to perform on a stage in front of hundreds of people. Two Michiganders are showcasing their talents on the national scale as they participate in pageants and televised talent competitions.

Anna Owens-Wolfe will represent Flint during the 2024 Ms. Senior America pageant, held Oct. 15-20 in Atlantic City, N.J. As the likely first-ever contestant from Flint and the first African-American woman in nearly 30 years, Owens-Wolfe, 71, hopes to use her platform for good.

Metro Detroit resident Philip Bowen just played on the biggest stage of his life in the semifinals of “America’s Got Talent” with a shot at the finals and $1 million on the line.

Curated by Cara Hackett

The 36th annual Ms. Senior Michigan Anna Owens-Wolfe of Flint, poses for a portrait on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. (Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com)

700 Michigan stores and counting – why Dollar General is everywhere

Growing by the day: With roughly 700 Michigan locations, Dollar General signs dot rural highways and cluster in cities like Detroit, Grand Rapids and Flint. The chain has rapidly expanded over the past two decades with no signs of slowing despite concerns about its impact.

In politics: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has appointed Scott Bowen, a former Michigan lottery commissioner, as director of Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources, her office announced Tuesday.

New budget: Ottawa County’s administrator has walked back a previously stated requirement for the county’s health department budget to be cut by nearly $4 million.

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Michigan mother went from law clerk to murder suspect after son found tortured to death

Day in court: Shanda Vander Ark, a 44-year-old mother from Muskegon, will take her high-profile case to trial in October for her alleged role in spending months intently torturing and starving her 15-year-old son, Timothy Ferguson, to death.

In support: Three groups representing thousands of police officers across Michigan have filed briefs with the state Court of Appeals in an effort to get a second-degree murder charge dropped against former Grand Rapids police Officer Christopher Schurr.

More in crime:  A 58-year-old man has been charged in two home invasions after a recent string of break-ins were reported in Ann Arbor.

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How long will record heat last in Michigan?

It's still hot outside: Despite some places seeing record high temperatures over Labor Day weekend, cooler weather is on the way. By this time next week, we will have some Michigan locations struggling to hit 70 degrees in the afternoon.

Fall color: Fans of Michigan’s fall colors this month may add a new entry to their list of must-see destinations. This year marks the first fall in more than a century that the Saginaw River Headwaters Rec Area, a 334-acre riverside park, will open to the public.

New addition: Juhudi, the calf of 5-year-old Zara, has now joined the herd of giraffes at the Detroit Zoo. Visitors can see him exploring the indoor and outdoor giraffe habitats.

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Dungeon of Doom mailbag: Jahmyr Gibbs’s offensive ROY chances; previewing Lions-Chiefs

From the mailbag: MLive’s Dungeon of Doom podcast hosts Kyle Meinke and Ben Raven discuss the Lions-Chiefs game, Jahmyr Gibb’s chances to become the team’s first offensive rookie of the year since Barry Sanders and what’s up with Isaiah Buggs, among much more.

More Lions news: After a successful inaugural launch last season, the Detroit Lions announced on Tuesday that it will continue its’ Strength in Numbers: Detroit Lions Analytics Mentorship Program.

Over in volleyball: Defending state champions North Branch and Pewamo-Westphalia continued to be at the top of the rankings in Divisions 2 and 3, respectively for the third straight week. State runner-up Northville was first in D1, and Leland held onto the top spot in D4 for the second week in a row.

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Beer lover or bartender: Pour your own brew at Michigan’s self-serve taprooms

Do it yourself: Since Michigan bars and restaurants were allowed to start offering self-serve taps with the passage of a new law July 2022, business owners say it has become a favorite among craft beer connoisseurs. Take a look at four self-serve taprooms across across Michigan.

Small spaces: The Peoples Cider Co. is serving drinks to a small crowd, only on Saturdays on West Western Avenue in downtown Muskegon. Known as Michigan's smallest bar, it only has seating for six people. 

Coming soon: A new restaurant, Firebird Bar GR, is planned for downtown Grand Rapids.

Read more

We're halfway through the week. 

Thanks for starting your day with the Morning Briefing.

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Have a wonderful day!

— Cara Hackett

OTHER TOP STORIES

• 5 significant cases we’re tracking in Grand Rapids-area courts this week
  
  
• Police seize 15 illegal firearms, arrest 12 over Kalamazoo holiday weekend
  
  
• Ann Arbor OKs street closure for 12-foot-tall puppet’s downtown march
  
  
• Chiefs’ Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes praise Lions duo ahead of season opener
  
  
• Possession of converted machine gun is part of ‘troubling trend,’ federal prosecutor says

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