Blame low pay, culture wars, and ‘bulldozer parents’

View in browser  |  Get our newsletters

Morning Briefing

MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 2023

In today's newsletter, first U.S. case of mutating COVID variant found in Michigan, Branch County rejects ‘constitutional county’ proposal, and a historic hotel named as one of the top 10 in the entire U.S. 

Where's the green going?

As much as I love fall in Michigan, summer should stick around a bit longer. But as I start to see pops of color coming from the trees, I can't help but wonder why fall is trying to bud in so early. 

 

Luckily, we have meteorologist Mark Torregrossa to explain. Trees have been under a lot of stress this season with no rain, no rain, and then A TON of rain. Stress is the common reason for individual trees to have some early fall color.

 

A new question arises, just how much rain did we get last month? Mark has an answer for that too! Here's a detailed look at rainfall totals across Lower Michigan.

Curated by Jamie Rewerts

A man walks two dogs on a trail besides a lake where someone rides a paddle board in the distance

A dog waits to jump into the pool at the Richmond Park Pool ‘Wag ’n’ Wade’ free dog swim in Grand Rapids on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023. (Ridley Hudson | MLive.com)

Low pay, culture wars, and ‘bulldozer parents.’ Michigan’s best teachers are calling it quits.

Experience matters: At the start of the 2018-19 school year, nearly 45 percent of Michigan’s teaching workforce had more than 11 years of experience. Last year, it was just over 35 percent.

 

Reporters Melissa Frick and Matthew Miller took a deep dive into this decrease of experienced teachers. While you can look forward to more pieces on this topic, you can find the majority of their findings here.

 

 More in education: This program offers a free ride to college. So why is enrollment down?

Read more

First U.S. case of mutating COVID variant found in Michigan

Coming in: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are monitoring a new strain of COVID-19 after the first case in the United States was detected last week in Michigan. The person with the BA.2.86 case is an older adult with mild symptoms.

 

Also in public interest: Total credit card debt reached over $1 trillion for the first time this summer as Americans are increasingly leaning on credit cards to pay for things, and those in Michigan are no different.

 

For those on the road: A whopping 115 new construction projects will require some form of road closures this week in Michigan as crews work to fix roadways before the seasons change.

Read more

Michigan county rejects ‘constitutional county’ proposal

Denied: Branch County commissioners voted 4-1 to reject a resolution to declare the county a “constitutional county.” They didn’t post details about what it means to be a “constitutional county,” but other counties have already made the declaration.

 

Ottawa County approved its own version in May, when its board resolved to not use any funds on enforcing any law or rule that “restricts the rights of any law-abiding citizen affirmed by the United States Constitution.” A similar measure was approved in Livingston County in April.

 

In Grand Rapids: A man allegedly told police he shot his wife multiple times the day after she served him divorce papers.

Read more

 

Advertisement

 

Teddy Bridgewater ice cold in Lions’ preseason loss against Jags

Ouch: The Detroit Lions endured a 25-7 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday at Ford Field. Two bubble players suffered injuries that could hold them out for the final week of the preseason.

 

Tough to lose: Teddy Bridgewater led the offense to just 30 yards on 20 plays, a woeful average of 1.5 yards per snap, and no points of any kind at all. Here's what Dan Campbell had to say after the loss.

 

But in baseball : The Detroit Tigers homered in the first inning for the third consecutive day to beat the Cleveland Guardians 4-1. Plus, the Tigers were selected to play in 2024 MLB Little League Classic.

Read more

Historic Michigan hotel named as one of the top 10 in the entire U.S.

On top: It’s one of the most historic hotels in Michigan and is located in one of the most historic places in the country. The Island House Hotel has just been listed as one of the top 10 historic hotels in the entire country.

 

Ford fanatics: Rita and Rusty Gould, married 53 years, acquired their first Model A for $600 in 1973. Now, they own three more, enough to leave one for each of their children.

 

For you: Here's how to do a sunset sail aboard the Schooner Serenity on Lake Michigan in Saugatuck.

Read more

 

Welcome to a new week.

Thank you for joining me today on the Morning Briefing.

 

Catch the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. While you're there, consider becoming an MLive subscriber.  


See you tomorrow! 

— Jamie Rewerts

 

OTHER TOP STORIES

 

  • Missing Michigan teen found dead after being hit by car on freeway entrance ramp

  • 13 Michigan restaurants donating 100% of profits to Hawaii wildfire relief

  • New cameras will give tickets to drivers who pass a stopped school bus

  • Wreckage from Tuskegee airman’s plane pulled from Lake Huron 79 years after crash

  • Too good to be true; Berlin Raceway veteran gets disqualified after emotional victory
 

GAMES & COMICS

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

 

 

Today’s crossword
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.

 

DUNGEON OF DOOM INSIDER TEXTS

Subscribe today to get exclusive insights and bonus content from Detroit Lions writers Kyle Meinke, Benjamin Raven and Kory Woods. Dungeon of Doom is your home for entertaining and informative analysis and discussion of the Lions. Get your 14-day free trial and then keep the conversation going for only $4.99 per month.

 

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?

FacebookTwitterLinkedInEmailGet Link

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.

 

 

Unlimited Digital Access.

 

Start today for $1

(cancel anytime)

Subscribe now!

Start today for $1

(cancel anytime)

Subscribe now!

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

FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube
FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

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

 

Contact us | Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy