WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2025 |
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In today's newsletter, Gordie Howe Bridge on track to open in fall 2025, Detroit Lions finalize coaching staff with several new faces and how to work on Mackinac Island this summer. |
Big Snow Country is making a comeback |
Winter businesses in the Upper Peninsula are roaring back to life thanks to substantial snowfalls this season. A state of emergency was issued for the industry in the U.P. less than a year ago as a strong El Niño warmed Michigan. Now, back-to-back snow has business booming again. If you plan on venturing to the U.P. for a bit of snow tourism, consider staying at the Snow Chasers Lodge in Wakefield. The accommodations feature on-site snowmobile rentals, a roaring fireplace when you arrive, and a bar-style game room complete with a jukebox and retro arcade games. For another winter outdoor activity, head to the Pictured Rocks in the National Lakeshore to climb curtain ice formations. Here are three popular and accessible ice curtain trails at Pictured Rocks. |
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The “Amphitheater” ice formations at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Munising, Mich. on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com) |
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Michigan marijuana faces ‘year of reckoning’ in 2025 |
Cannabis news: For the first time ever, Michigan marijuana industry jobs declined over a three-month period. Prices plummeted to another historic low in January, revenue hit a 12-month basement, investment continues to constrict and business expansion has trickled to a drip. Announcements of multi-million-dollar expansions have given way to press releases apologizing for closures. Connoisseurs feel quality has suffered. Producers seem laser-focused on quantity—and potency—over quality. But that didn’t deter marijuana customers, who spent $3.2 billion in 2024. Despite increased consumption, margins are shrinking, putting the jobs of Michigan’s nearly 38,000 marijuana employees at risk. In case you missed it: A proposed new cannabis tax would likely increase costs for consumers and further squeeze an “already struggling” industry, representatives said. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has suggested a wholesale tax on marijuana products, similar to an existing tax on tobacco products, as a means to raise another $470 million to help fund road repairs. |
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$156M Michigan low-income solar program in Trump freeze limbo |
Clean energy advocates say $156 million in federal money to expand rooftop solar in low-income areas of Michigan is caught in a chaotic freeze on federal grants. According to court filings, Michigan has struggled to access Solar for All program funding through a federal portal after the Trump administration put a sweeping freeze on grants as part of an order to block spending on climate programs. Republicans are weighing billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid, threatening health care coverage for some of the 80 million U.S. adults and children enrolled in the safety net program. Republicans, who are looking to slash federal spending and offer lucrative tax cuts to corporations and wealthier Americans are now targeting the program. To whittle down the budget, the GOP-controlled Congress is also eyeing work requirements for Medicaid. Save the date: A Women’s History Month-themed event next month at Saginaw Valley State University will examine the sociological environment surrounding the 2024 election and how those conditions may have contributed to the rejection of a presidential candidate who was a woman. |
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Gordie Howe Bridge on track to open in fall 2025, as construction hits final months |
The Gordie Howe International Bridge is getting closer and closer to completion as officials say it’s on track to open this fall. While an official opening date for the bridge has yet to be announced, officials say construction should be complete by September. The towers are now completely finished, with the tallest coming in at 722 feet. The towers will support the longest main span of a cable-stayed bridge in North America, according to WDBA CEO Charl van Niekerk. Speaking of bridges: The M-55 bridge over the Au Gres River in Iosco County is getting replaced this year. Michigan is spending $4.6 million to replace and widen the bridge over the east branch of the river, just east of N. Imperial Drive, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation. Construction is scheduled to begin Monday, March 3. Major construction is coming to M-14/I-96 in Wayne County, a highway used by about 125,000 drivers daily. Intermittent double-lane closures on both sides of the highway between I-275 and Sheldon Road began Tuesday, Feb. 18, and will continue from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Saturday. |
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Detroit Lions finalize coaching staff with several new faces |
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Want to work on Mackinac Island this summer? Here’s how to apply for resorts, fudge shops, horse jobs and more |
Help wanted: If it’s your dream to work on Mackinac Island this summer, now is prime time to start applying for a job. More than 5,000 seasonal positions are expected to be filled, with many running from May through October. However, island businesses are used to accommodating college schedules, so students shouldn’t shy away from applying, even if they have to head back to campus by mid-August. Having fun: Unless you’ve got your own horse tucked in your backyard paddock, horseback trail rides in the winter can be hard to find. The Highlands at Harbor Springs and its sister resort, Boyne Mountain, both offer winter horseback trail rides. The guided group rides can be booked by overnight guests, or by day-trippers who make plans to stop by the resorts. The International Fly Fishing Film Festival is coming to Manistee, known around the world for its fly fishing on lakes, rivers and streams, officials said. Presented by the Manistee County Tourism Authority and John Gouker Fly Fishing, this year’s festival includes seven short films by professional filmmakers from all corners of the globe, each showcasing the passion, lifestyle and culture of fly fishing. |
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