In today's newsletter, DTE forces thousands to pay power bills only in cash, Upper Peninsula forestland increasingly bought by foreign landowners and human remains found on property owned by Dee Warner’s husband. |
It was a big weekend in Michigan for car enthusiasts. Classic cars rolled down the bricks of Saginaw Street for Back to the Bricks Rolling Cruise in Flint. In Metro Detroit, the Woodward Dream Cruise drew in more than 1 million people and 40,000 cars to ride along a 13-mile stretch of the nation’s first paved highway. Michigan International Speedway hosted the ARCA Menards Series Henry Ford Health 200 on Friday, the Xfinity Series Cabo Wabo 250 on Saturday and 51 laps of the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 on Sunday before it was postponed due to rain. Get ready for more orange barrels on our highways. Here are 10 road closures to watch for this week. |
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The Michigan Waterways Stewards say battery-powered Spin scooters have been ending up in the Red Cedar River at Michigan State University at an alarming rate. The group has removed almost 260 e-scooters from Lansing-area rivers since late 2022, mostly on MSU's campus. (Photo provided by Michigan Waterways Stewards) |
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| Michigan students report bullying and suicide attempts at higher rate to tip line |
The state’s confidential tip line that allows students to report bullying, suicide and school shooting threats among other items has experienced a significant increase. A total of 9,686 confidential tips were reported across 30 categories in 2023 to OK2SAY, Michigan’s State Police-ran student safety program. That total accounted for a 31% increase from 2022. Paying up: Most students returning to school this month once again have the promise of free breakfast and lunch every day, but more than 4,200 students attending nonpublic schools around the state will be left out. Another data-driven story: Drunken driving appears to be on the decline in Michigan. In 2023, there were 26,408 alcohol-involved traffic arrests made within the state, according to Michigan State Police data. That represents a 25% reduction in arrests since 2014. |
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‘12 months of inconvenience’: DTE forces thousands to pay power bills only in cash |
To know: Michigan’s largest electric utility offers a half-dozen ways to pay a power bill. But for a subset of its customers, DTE Energy demands only cold, hard cash. In 2023, the Detroit-based utility required some 48,410 customers to pay their bills only in cash, according to company figures recently revealed as part of legal proceedings before state regulators relating to DTE’s pending request to raise its electric rates. The restrictions are part of a policy that forces some customers with a returned bill payment, like a bounced check or failed bank withdrawal for insufficient funds, into 12 months of cash-only payments, according to documents filed in the case and the utility’s own website. Beginning today, Shepler’s ferry service will have a new, fast-turnaround schedule for trips to and from Mackinac Island. In politics: Former President Donald Trump will be in Michigan on Tuesday to deliver remarks on crime and immigration. |
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Upper Peninsula forestland increasingly bought by foreign landowners |
Over the past decade, more Michigan farmland has been bought up by foreign entities. Michigan saw a big jump in foreign ownership two years ago – going from 5.6% to 8.6% of all agricultural acres. This put Michigan among the top states for foreign farmland ownership with Upper Peninsula forestland accounting for the largest acreage. For the next six months, no new short-term rentals will be established in Spring Lake Township. That’s due to a moratorium, or a stop-hold, that was placed on the property type by the township’s board of trustees. In September, federal contractors will begin a pilot cleanup project in Torch Lake near Houghton, where hundreds of scattered metal barrels with leftover copper mining waste have littered the lakebed for decades. |
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Hendon Hooker shines in Lions’ comeback win over Chiefs |
The Detroit Lions left Kansas City with another win, beating the Chiefs 24-23 with a walk-off field goal from kicker Jake Bates. It was a back-and-forth game, highlighted by Hendon Hooker putting together a strong couple of drives and Detroit’s defense doing its best to get the ball back one last time. Patrick Mahomes also made a behind-the-back pass to Travis Kelce in a play that is sure to be played thousands of times on TV sports shows. Hooker is the main talking point here, though, because the young quarterback showed serious signs of growth in his second exhibition game. Connor Stalions, the former Michigan staffer at the center of the NCAA’s sign-stealing investigation, is the new defensive coordinator at Detroit’s Mumford High School, head coach Will McMichael confirmed to MLive. |
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Human remains found on property owned by Dee Warner’s husband |
The latest: Investigators discovered human remains during a search of property that belongs to a man whose wife disappeared years ago and is presumed dead. Dee Warner was reported missing by her family on April 25, 2021. Dale John Warner, 56, is charged with open murder and tampering with evidence in connection to his wife’s disappearance. An update: A judge who made national headlines last week when he had a 15-year-old girl handcuffed after she fell asleep in his courtroom has been removed from the bench for the time being. According to the Associated Press, the 36th District Court has removed Judge Kenneth King from his criminal docket while he undergoes “necessary training." Financial issues: The operating company behind the M Den brand of apparel stores has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. |
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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. Have a good day! — Jamie Rewerts |
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