Plus: Michigan welcomed a record-breaking number of visitors last year

View in browser  |  Get our newsletters

Morning Briefing

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2024

In today's newsletter, get ready for this week's Hunter's Moon, Michigan welcomed a record-breaking number of visitors last year and the presidential campaigns will converge in Oakland County Friday. 

Hang in there folks, we're only two days away from the weekend

We might only be half way through the work week but it's never to early to start arranging fun plans for the upcoming weekend.

 

This weekend marks the last time you can glide through the Muskegon National Park as the 1,400- foot dual zip line at Muskegon Luge Adventure Park closes for the rest of the year. The zip line is usually a summer feature but stayed open for another week for visitors to take in the fall color. 

 

If you missed it last week, Camp Sauble–the Up North abandoned prison–has transformed into the annual Cages of Carnage. Open this Saturday and Sunday, the haunted event features two spooky attractions, food vendors, Halloween villains and more. 

Curated by Cara Hackett

The sunset from the Lake Michigan dune overlook along the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

The sunset from the Lake Michigan dune overlook along the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Empire, Mich. on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. 

 

This week's full Hunter's Moon will be the brightest supermoon of the year

Looking at the skies: This week's Hunter's Moon will be visible Wednesday night, but will officially be full on Thursday morning at 7:26 a.m. This won't only be a supermoon, but the brightest of four consecutive supermoons we’re enjoying this year. Our last supermoon of the year will be in November.

 

How to view: You can choose to see this month’s full Hunter’s Moon by water or by woods through Ottawa County Parks and Recreation. A paddle tour will set off at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16 for a two-hour kayaking trip down "the Sag" of the Grand River. At 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18 a moonlit guided tour will take hikers through Ottawa Sands for a two-hour hike. 

 

What's that?: When snowflakes formed over parts of the U.P. on Monday and Tuesday, they looked more like tiny snowballs by the time they reached the ground. Those snowballs are actually called graupel. Graupel is a snowflake that has extra “rime” on it - freezing water that collects on it after passing through a supercooled cloud. It freezes and bulks up the snowflake to look like a little snowball.

Read more

Bats with fatal disease aren’t dying at Michigan dam. Scientists want to know why.

Saving the bats: Something very special happens – or rather, doesn’t happen – inside Tippy Dam in the Huron-Manistee National Forest in northern Lower Michigan. The bats that roost and hibernate at Tippy Dam simply aren’t dying from white-nose syndrome, even when infected. The bat site is more than a curiosity; it’s a scientific anomaly. Scientists are hoping to create safe havens in other Michigan mines for bats to escape the worst effects of the disease and avoid eventual extinction.

 

In the water: The effort to remove Ypsilanti’s Peninsular Dam revealed that two threatened Michigan species call the Huron River home. The state-threatened mussel species were found in a survey conducted over the summer. That included the Wavy-rayed lampmussel and Black Sandshell, according to a report from the Huron River Watershed Council.

 

Also in environmental news: On-the-ground efforts are already underway at the Palisades nuclear plant in Southwest Michigan to co-locate a pair of small-modular reactors there in coming years. 

Read more

Michigan welcomed a record-breaking number of visitors last year. See how they spent $29B

In the Mitten: Michigan’s visitors grew to more than 12 times the state’s population last year. The state welcomed 128.3 million tourists in 2023, officially pushing Michigan’s tourism out of pandemic recovery and into a growth period. Here’s where visitors spent their vacation money last year.

 

Inclusive: A new experience for travelers with sensory sensitivities has recently been unveiled at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids. Developed in partnership with Disability Advocates of Kent County, the new sensory area aims to provide a calm and inclusive environment for individuals of all ages with cognitive or developmental disabilities,

 

Take a trip: Some of the most iconic views in the state can be found along the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. The 7.4- mile scenic drive at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore features multiple lookouts with sweeping views of the ginormous dunes.

Read more

 

Advertisement

 

Trump, Harris campaigns to converge in Oakland County Friday

On the campaign trail: Former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris will host campaign events in the same county on the same day this week. Trump will participate in a roundtable-style event at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, in Oakland County, the Republican’s campaign officials announced. Earlier this week, officials with Harris’ campaign announced the Democrat would visit Oakland County on the same day as part of a cross-state lineup of visits planned for the vice president.

 

More in politics: Democratic U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin and Republican Mike Rogers offered competing plans for bringing down prices, tackling gun violence and improving schools in their final debate Monday night for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat.

 

Recap: Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II and Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein spoke Tuesday in Detroit at an event celebrating the state’s high court ruling that will see higher base pay for minimum wage workers and servers starting next year. 

Read more

Woman claims brakes gave out before crashing into tractor pulling hayride, records show

Behind bars: A woman, allegedly intoxicated, was driving 55 mph when she crashed into a tractor hauling nearly a dozen people in a wagon, court records show. Now, the driver, 44-year-old Angelina Marie Hamberg, is facing felony charges stemming from the collision in Allegan County. Hamberg told deputies her vehicle’s brakes gave out and she was unable to stop, the affidavit states. Police conducted field sobriety tests that allegedly showed alcohol was a factor in the crash. 

 

Responding to the scene: Police found 44 living dogs and 13 dead dogs in a now-condemned Burton home during an animal cruelty investigation, officials announced at a news conference on Tuesday, Oct. 15. Many of the living dogs are infected with “parvo,” or canine parvovirus, a highly contagious and sometimes deadly disease, Sheriff Chris Swanson said.

 

Facing a citation: A popular Old Town Saginaw bar and restaurant has filed a lawsuit alleging constitutional rights violations by members of the Michigan Liquor Control Commission and a Michigan State Police trooper.

Read more

 
 

We'll be back tomorrow with more stories from across Michigan

Thank you for joining me on today's edition of the Morning Briefing.

 

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

 

Make today a great day! 

 

— Cara Hackett

 

OTHER TOP STORIES

 

  • NFL announces site of 2028 Super Bowl

  • Jetstream switching from sub-tropical to polar, what that means for Michigan

  • Walgreens expects to close 1,200 locations over next 3 years

  • Three stars of ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ to reunite in Michigan

  • Lions are signing Isaiah Thomas (yes, really) to help at pass rusher
 

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.

 

NEW! LOVABLE MICHIGAN EXCLUSIVE NEWSLETTER

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.

 

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?

Facebook TwitterLinkedInEmailGet 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.

 

$5 for first month

(cancel anytime)

Subscribe now!

$5 for first month

(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