In today's newsletter, snowmobiler shares rare video of wolf encounter on U.P. trail, victim and suspect identified in murder-suicide at Michigan hotel, and see inside new, 16-story hotel at Gun Lake Casino. |
Warmer destinations just got easier to reach |
If Michigan's latest round of snow has you dreaming of a warm weather getaway, you're in luck. Spirit Airlines just added six nonstop flights from Detroit ahead of the summer travel season. Starting in early May, you can now travel to the sandy beaches of Pensacola, Fla., visit the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, or plan a trip to several other destinations that are now serviced by the airline. If your idea of a vacation is a spot with plenty of birding opportunities, sign up for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources' "Winged Wednesday" text alerts. The weekly text offers updates on what birds are on the move in Michigan and the best state parks to see them. |
|
|
A sandhill cranes flies on Beaver Island on July 17, 2023. (Neil Blake | MLive.com) |
|
|
They got COVID-19 five years ago, and they don’t know why they’re still sick |
Still sick: It’s been five years since the novel coronavirus rocked the world, killing millions of people, hospitalizing countless others, causing an economic crisis, and changing peoples' day-to-day lives for the better part of three years. But for some people, like 27-year-old Grand Rapids resident Kaileigh Baia, COVID-19 symptoms are still lingering. Baia is among the millions of Americans who have been diagnosed with long COVID, a complex, multi-system disorder associated with COVID-19 symptoms lasting longer than 90 days. The most common symptoms of long COVID are fatigue; loss of sense of smell or taste; memory loss, brain fog, or disorientation; shortness of breath; general weakness; muscle weakness; joint pain; and hair loss. Also in health: Most of the 80,000 federal workers responsible for researching diseases, inspecting food and administering Medicare and Medicaid under the auspices of the Health and Human Services Department were emailed an offer to leave their job for as much as a $25,000 payment as part of President Donald Trump’s government cuts. |
|
|
Is winter done for Michigan? Extended forecast has the answer |
Looking ahead: The extended forecast into early April sheds light on whether Michigan will have another long stretch of winter weather before spring permanently takes hold. Northern Lower could still have a couple of half-day periods when you get spurts of snow showers. The eight-to-14 day forecast and the forecast for the last week of March and first week of April are both warmer than normal. Feeling chilly: This week in Michigan certainly won’t feel much like winter. It will surely feel like we are transitioning to spring quickly. A “back-door” cold front will move across Lower Michigan from northeast to southwest. This means a few mornings will still be below freezing this week, and cold. So cold weather is nowhere near being over, but several days in the 50s, 60s and even 70 degrees are on the way over the next week. In the skies: It’s an exciting week for skywatchers. A total lunar eclipse - the first to grace our skies since 2022 - will happen this Thursday night into early Friday morning, and it will bring us a Blood Moon that will appear a reddish-orange to our eyes. |
|
|
Snowmobiler shares rare video of wolf encounter on U.P. trail |
Great outdoors: It’s been a great winter for snowmobiling in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. But one rider is taking home video of what could be a once-in-a-lifetime encounter on a wooded trail west of Marquette. Chris Jones, a welder from La Crosse, Wisconsin, was snowmobiling in February when they found a large wolf standing in the middle of a trail. Jones took some video of the encounter, which happened about 12 miles south of Big Bay as the group was riding toward Republic. He shared it with MLive and you can see it here. In the air: Levels of fine, inhalable particles in outdoor air that can aggravate asthma and cause health issues have been increasing in the Kalamazoo area, and the state doesn’t have an immediate explanation why. In court: The parents of four children who claim they were damaged by Flint water during the city’s water crisis will be able to have an attorney present when they discuss their child’s brain functions with an expert retained by the federal government. |
|
|
Victim, suspect identified in murder-suicide at Michigan hotel |
Identified: The identities of the victim and suspect in a murder-suicide at a Michigan hotel have been released. Jackie Jo Torrez, 34, of Saginaw, and Marcus Isaiah Taylor, 33, of Vassar, were found dead Friday night in an Auburn Hills hotel room, police said. A 3-year-old girl, who was physically unharmed, was also in the room; her name will not be released. A Chicago man is facing extradition to Michigan after missing his trial related to alleged assaults against his wife, FOX 32 Chicago reports. The woman was found dead at the bottom of a stairwell days before the trial was set to begin. She had fallen more than 20 floors; her body was “pulverized,” and her foot was severed, according to attorneys representing her family. Pleaded guilty: A Kalamazoo mother was sentenced Monday, March 10, to serve up to 15 years in prison for her role in the death of her infant daughter. |
|
|
Slot machines to luxury suites: See inside new, 16-story hotel at Gun Lake Casino |
Just unveiled: Gun Lake Casino opened its new, 16-story hotel Friday, March 7, providing a new place to stay for gamers and other visitors to Wayland. The 252-room hotel boasts a spa, café, 31 suites and other high-end flourishes. The hotel, at 1123 129th Ave., is the main piece of a $300 million expansion. The expansion also includes a glass-enclosed “Aquadome," that is set to debut in May. Silver screen: This month, a special screening of a nail-biting thriller filmed in the tulip-filled fields of Holland is planned. Local residents are invited to a one-night screening of Holland on Monday, March 24, at the Knickerbocker Theater. Following the free showing, Director Mimi Cave will have a Q&A moderated by Holland Mayor Nathan Brooks. Still having fun: Michiganders will be able to have fun one last time at a Cyndi Lauper concert this summer. Lauper has announced the final leg of her “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” farewell tour with 25 North American shows, including one last Michigan concert. Lauper will be at Pine Knob Music Theatre on Friday, August 1. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 14. |
|
|
Thank you for joining me on today's edition of the Morning Briefing. As always, you can catch the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. While you're there, consider becoming a subscriber. See you tomorrow! - Cara Hackett |
|
|
Ready for positive, feel-good coverage of life in the Mitten? Curated from our best travel, outdoor, food, entertainment, photos and videos - immerse yourself in the place we love and the place we call home. Explore new dining, cabin rentals or how to view the next meteor shower. Join MLive․com's Tanda Gmiter and the Life & Culture team every week. Your next adventure is waiting! Sign up here. There's one caveat: This is an exclusive newsletter for MLive.com's loyal subscribers. Not a subscriber? That's OK. You can receive a few weeks of the newsletter as a free trial. Click here to sign up. |
|
|
WANT TO SHARE THIS NEWSLETTER WITH A FRIEND? |
Did someone share this newsletter with you? Click here to never miss a day! |
|
|
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) |
| |
|
Start today for $1 (cancel anytime) |
| |
|
INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING
OR SPONSORING OUR NEWSLETTERS? |
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
