| THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2025 |
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In today's newsletter, this tax tool tells you when you can expect the IRS to send your payment, the oldest Great Lakes piping plover seen basking in Georgia and Michigan Stadium to host its first-ever concert. |
Think twice before walking on the ice |
After this week's snowstorm, it might feel tempting to get outside and partake in a winter adventure or two. But if your plans involve stepping onto the frozen part of Lake Superior, you might want to find a safer alternative. Park rangers at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore are advising visitors to avoid walking or snowmobiling across the half mile stretch of frozen lake between Sand Point Beach and Grand Island. The channel that runs between the mainland and the island is deep and swift, making ice thickness unpredictable, unsafe, and easy to fall through, park rangers said. Here's a look at how the two-day snowstorm has impacted Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Bay City. |
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"Gabby" the Great Lakes piping plover was spotted on Jan. 29, 2025, during sunset at Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia.Sarah Manning |
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Toxins in a Michigan town may be making residents sick. Researchers will investigate. |
Finding answers: Cancer survivor Mary Zack started a campaign six years ago to find what’s making people sick in her hometown. State and federal officials descended on the small Southwest Michigan town of Otsego, looking for answers. They found PFAS in residential wells and shut them down, while investigating chemicals in the community linked to the paper industry. Reports were issued, town hall meetings held and potential chemicals of concern were named as the government took action. But as attention has dwindled, residents who suspect illnesses are happening at a higher than normal still don’t have all the answers. In December 2024, Zack and others got good news: The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy granted $500,000 to support researchers at Michigan State University and the group “Justice for Otsego.” It’s a group Zack and others formed to find answers to a question that’s haunted the former industrial community. Is something in the environment making them sick? On recall: For the second time this month, state marijuana regulators are recalling potentially harmful vaping cartridges because of an additive named medium chain triglyceride, known as MCT oil. Detroit-based Exhale Systems Inc., which produces Bloom brand vaping products, recalled 23,291 cartridges, including 18,268 that have been sold to customers, agency spokesman David Harns said. |
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‘Where’s My Refund’ tax tool tells you when you can expect the IRS to send your payment |
Finding the funds: While the Internal Revenue Service began accepting returns late last month, it still might be too early to expect a refund in your bank account. Luckily, you can track the status of your refund through the IRS’s “Where’s My Refund” tool. After submitting specific information, the tool will provide a daily update on the status of your return. You’ll be able to see when the return has been received, when it has been accepted and when the refund has been sent. Price increase: Egg prices have hit a record high as the U.S. contends with an ongoing bird flu outbreak. The latest monthly consumer price index showed that the average price of a dozen Grade A eggs in U.S. cities reached $4.95 in January, eclipsing the previous record of $4.82 set two years earlier and more than double the low of $2.04 that was recorded in August 2023. Speaking of eggs: According to NBC News, Cracker Barrel has taken issue with competitor Waffle House after it was announced earlier this week that Waffle House is implementing a 50-cent surcharge for each egg a customer orders in their meals. Cracker Barrel said in a statement that the restaurant chain will not be charging extra for eggs, unlike Waffle House. |
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Oldest Great Lakes piping plover seen basking in southern sunshine |
Soaking up the sun: The oldest known Great Lakes piping plover was recently spotted at her favorite wintering grounds on the Atlantic shore in Georgia. Bird monitors recently spotted “Gabby,” a 16-year-old female piping plover at Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia. She was photographed while foraging on Jan. 29, casting a shadow on the beach during an oceanside island sunset. State wildlife officials are again looking for wolves in Lower Michigan. Scientists with the state Department of Natural Resources want residents of the northern Lower Peninsula to keep their eyes open for gray wolves, also called timber wolves. The official survey period will run from next week on Feb. 17 through March 10. A contagious bird flu is circulating widely among wild bird populations in Michigan, and officials suspect the virus has killed off hundreds of geese so far this year. More than 300 dead wild birds have been discovered in five Lower Michigan counties, and the virus is “widespread” in wild flocks, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Preliminary testing indicates the avian flu is to blame for the die-offs, and samples are being sent to a national lab for confirmation. |
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Attention, crafters: Joann is closing 500 stores nationwide, including these 33 Michigan locations |
Going out of business: National crafts retailer Joann expects to close an estimated 500 stores across the country as part of ongoing bankruptcy proceedings, according to CNN. Joann currently operates more than 800 stores in the U.S. and 33 locations in Michigan are slated to close. Layoffs: Pactiv Evergreen, a packaging plant that specializes in food and beverage containers will permanently close this June in Kalamazoo, laying off 153 workers in the process. Layoffs are expected to begin April 11 and conclude on or before June 13, according WARN notice filed with the state by Evergreen LLC. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on steel imports this week could wreak havoc on American auto manufacturing, industry leaders say. The moves align with the Trump administration’s aggressive global trade agenda and ambitions to strengthen U.S. industry, but they could have an inverse effect. |
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Michigan Stadium to host its first-ever concert, 2 Grammy-winners to headline |
The largest stadium in the entire country will host its first-ever concert, potentially the biggest stadium show in the history of the state of Michigan this fall. Grammy-winning and multi-Platinum recording artist, Zach Bryan, will headline Michigan Stadium’s first concert on Saturday, September 27. Grammy-winner, John Mayer, will also perform along with Ryan Bingham and The Texas Gentlemen and Joshua Slone. History is being made at Michigan Stadium as it is set to host its first concert this September. This may be a big deal, but it isn’t the first time history has happened at the Big House. Here are five other times the Michigan Stadium hosted some historic events other than football games. Also in September: The Lumineers just announced their biggest Michigan concert to date, a stadium show at the home of the Detroit Tigers. The tour will be at Comerica Park in Detroit on Saturday, September 13. The Backseat Lovers and Chance Peña will open the show. |
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