Plus, Vice President J.D. Vance will visit Michigan this week

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Morning Briefing

THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2025

In today's newsletter, Vice President J.D. Vance will visit Michigan this week, Michigan Supreme Court kicks 3M PFAS lawsuit back to appeals, and IRS warns of social media ‘tax advice’ that can lead to jail time and $5,000 fine.

Check out these weekend events in Michigan

Whether you plan on catching up on rest (looking at you, Daylight Saving Time) or finding a local event to enjoy, check out these fun things happening this weekend across Michigan. 

 

Michigan bluebirds will take center stage at the annual Spring Bluebird Festival in Grand Rapids on Saturday, March 15. In Kalamazoo, a longtime sports bar is closing its doors for good this weekend, but not before hosting two final events. Swing by Rugger’s Up & Under for The Mojo Riot concert on Friday, March 14, and the Hooley for Healing annual fundraiser on Saturday.

 

Here's a look at St. Patrick's Day celebrations happening this weekend in Jackson, Bay City, Flint, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids,

and Ludington.

 

Curated by Cara Hackett

A bluebird sits on a cherry blossom tree branch

Pictured is a beautiful eastern bluebird perched on a cherry blossom tree. (Photo/The Michigan Bluebird Society)

Senate Democrats propose $7,500 cash payment to all Michiganders with newborns

Michigan Senate Democrats on Wednesday proposed giving thousands of dollars to parents with young children in an effort to counter rising child care costs and help grow the state’s population. The plan, unveiled Wednesday, March 12, includes a three-prong approach: $7,500 in cash for all families with a newborn, a $5,500 tax credit each year for some working families with children under the age of 3 and an effort to increase the number of child care providers.

 

Vice President J.D. Vance will visit a plastic manufacturing plant Friday, March 14, White House officials said. Vance and Kelly Loeffler, the administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration, will tour Vantage Plastics in Bay County’s Bangor Township, near Bay City, officials said.

 

Two Muslim mayors from Metro Detroit who endorsed President Donald Trump during his presidential campaign have been selected as U.S. ambassadors. Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi will serve as the next  U.S. ambassador to Tunisia in North Africa and Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib will become the ambassador to to Kuwait on the Arabian Peninsula.

Read more

Michigan Supreme Court kicks 3M PFAS lawsuit back to appeals

Highest court: The Michigan Supreme Court has ordered appellate judges to reconsider a case that threatens to unravel drinking water regulations for toxic ‘forever chemicals.’ Supreme Court justices on March 7 remanded a lawsuit filed by manufacturing giant 3M, which is attempting to nullify state drinking water standards for PFAS because regulators allegedly breached administrative protocol when setting them.

 

A state government subcommittee wants detailed financial information about spending on criminal prosecutions tied to the Flint water crisis from Attorney General Dana Nessel. State Rep. Angela Rigas, R-Caldonia, made the request in a letter to Nessel on Wednesday, March 12, saying citizens have the right to a detailed accounting of the attempted prosecution of former Gov. Rick Snyder and eight other state and local officials. 

 

Sick deer: State officials say a neurological disease has spread to deer in Washtenaw County. An adult buck found ill in Salem Township recently tested positive for chronic wasting disease, according to Michigan  Department of Natural Resources officials.

Read more

Michigan Snow Depth: To find snow after this weekend, you’ll need to go north of the Mackinac Bridge

This week’s warm-up will feel great to those of us yearning for spring, but it will mean saying good-bye to pretty much all of our natural snowpack in the Lower Peninsula, according to the National Weather Service. Most of the leftover snow has already melted away from areas in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula. So if you want to play in the snow, you’ll have to go to ski resorts in the Lower Peninsula or drive across the Mackinac Bridge and chase the snowpack in the Upper Peninsula.

 

Windy weekend: A strong storm system is going to bring a period of stiff wind gusts on Friday and Saturday. One section of the Lake Michigan shoreline may have higher-end gusts nearing 60 mph. Most of us in Michigan will have an hour or two of gusts between 45 mph and 50 mph.

 

A total lunar eclipse will happen in the middle of the night Thursday night and early Friday morning. With the weather pattern coming, some of us Michiganders get to see the eclipse without much cloudiness. Here’s the total cloud cover forecast for the time of lunar eclipse totality, 3 a.m. Friday. 

Read more

IRS warns of social media ‘tax advice’ that can lead to jail time, $5,000 fine

Be aware: With millions of Americans still needing to file their 2024 tax returns, the Internal Revenue Service is warning of “advice” shared on social media that can actually land taxpayers in jail. In particular, the IRS says an ongoing "overstated withholding scheme" can lead to penalties of up to $5,000 in fines and possible jail time if convicted. 

 

Rising prices: Egg prices continue to soar and the cost of goods in general is up year-over-year according to the Labor Department. The latest consumer price index report issued Wednesday shows prices in February 2025 for all items are up 2.8% compared to February 2024.

 

New jobs: Priority Waste plans to create 100 permanent jobs in Flint by building a $40-million materials recovery facility, an operation designed to sort and prepare recyclable materials from five counties for resale. 

Read more

2 Michigan campsites on list of spots with best views in U.S.

Picture perfect: Michigan is home to a pair of campgrounds with the best views in the United States. According to a list compiled by the travel website Matador, with help from the camping availability and booking app The Dyrt, both Presque Isle Rustic Campground and North Manitou Island are among the most picturesque in the region.

 

Vacationing in Michigan: If you’re not among those heading south for Spring Break with a plane ticket already booked, a four-season resort near Traverse City wants you to consider turning ... north. Crystal Mountain Resort has assembled a big list of activities and special deals, creating a

Spring Break vibe for all ages Up North.  

 

By the shore: Saugatuck is once again making waves for its stunning shorelines. Oval Beach landed on the Best of the Best Beaches in the U.S. in Tripadvisor’s 2025 Traveler’s Choice Awards. The Best of the Best Beaches list is determined by millions of global traveler reviews and ratings. Oval Beach earned a 4.5 “bubbles” out of more than 1,000 reviews.

Read more

 

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That's all for now.

Hang in there, we're one day closer to the weekend.

 

As always, you can catch the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. While you're there, consider becoming a subscriber.

 

Have a wonderful day!

 

- Cara Hackett

 

OTHER TOP STORIES

 

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  • Tigers legend Miguel Cabrera arrives in Lakeland to assist young first basemen
 

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