Morning Briefing

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2022

In today's newsletter, a new way to track Michigan's upcoming snow system, a look at an increase in the number of students held back a grade in Michigan and the best Michigan hospitals for pregnancy care.

A very short list of things I plan to watch this week.

When the weather outside is frightful, the warm glow of a screen can be so delightful. OK, I know it might not be the best life choice to just veg out on the couch for hours on end, but sometimes it's necessary. And this week, there is something extra cute to watch.

I have seen several posts on social media recently from friends who have had an especially hard time getting into the holiday spirit this year. May I recommend a possible booster? The Hallmark Christmas Cam might be the perfect ticket to feeling more festive this year. They have even included a Michigan town in their feeds.

If you just really don't feel like focusing on the holidays, there is still something special to watch this week. But instead of sitting inside, you'll have to head outdoors. The last full moon of the year will reach it's peak tonight at 11:08 p.m.

Curated by Jessica Shepherd

We have talked about sports here in the Morning Briefing a lot recently, but we haven't mentioned much about the Pistons. Sports writer Kory Woods has an evaluation here of how they've done through 25 games. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Michigan's minimum wage will hit $10 in the new year. A court decision could raise it higher.

Wages going up: Michigan’s minimum wage will inch up to $10.10 in the new year, while the legal fight to boost wages to $12 continues in the courts. The increase from $9.87 to $10.10 per hour was set by Michigan’s Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act of 2018, which established annual increases.

Middle of the pack : As it stands now, Michigan ranks 26th for highest minimum wage in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. If a raise to $13.03 in 2023 is green-lit by the courts, Michigan could jump up to 7th in the wage ranking.

While we are discussing money: Heating costs are up this winter. If you or someone you know is having a hard time keeping up with heating bills, there are ways for Michiganders to get help with utility payments.

Read more

Mark offers another great way to track Friday's Michigan snow.

Tracking the snow:Yesterday, I made sure you were filled in on the likelihood that we would see some snow later this week. And if you are curious about the when, the where and the how much of this storm, MLive Chief Meteorologist Mark Torregrossa has what he says is a better way to track it.

Want to enjoy the snow? Well, you will have to wait a while longer, but a Michigan farm has announced the date they will open a glow snow tube hill for the season. You can also get the details on how to get tickets.

Snowmobile festival returns: The Michigan Snowmobile Festival is set to return in 2023 after a three-year absence. The Gaylord Area Convention and Tourism Bureau announced this week that the popular Northern Michigan festival is scheduled for Feb. 3-4, 2023.

Read more

The number of students held back by Michigan's Read by Grade 3 law nearly doubled in 2022.

A look at the numbers:Michigan schools retained more than twice as many students flagged for retention under the state’s Read by Grade Three Law in 2021-22 than it did the previous year. But that’s only 10% of students eligible to repeat the grade.

MSU EPIC Director Katharine Strunk said: "Educators don’t really think retention works. You pair that with the fact that we’ve been in a pandemic for two years, and kids haven’t really been given the best chance to succeed. I imagine that that’s probably contributing to the relatively low rate of retention."

Dealing with the teacher shortage: A new consortium of schools spanning 63 Michigan counties is aiming to work together in building a statewide program to address the state’s ongoing teacher shortage.

Read more

A 'nonsense' recount of Props 2 and 3 gets approval for 43 Michigan counties.

Post-certification recount: It won’t change the result, but a massive recount of two Michigan constitutional amendments approved in the midterms, backed by right-wing groups based in election denial, will soon be underway.

Where did this recount come from? The Board of State Canvassers on Monday green-lit a 43-county recount of Proposals 2 and 3 across hundreds of precincts requested by Jerome Jay Allen of Oakland County and Election Integrity Fund and Force (EIFF), furthering unproven claims of systemic fraud.

In other political news: A special counsel looking into last year’s attack on the U.S. Capitol and the probe into former President Donald Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents has subpoenaed local officials in Michigan.

Read more

These 10 Michigan hospitals handle pregnancy the best, according to a U.S. News ranking.

New study results:There are 10 Michigan hospitals that rank highly in how they handle uncomplicated pregnancies, according to a new U.S. News & World Report ranking. Topped by University of Michigan Health-Ann Arbor, the 10 hospitals earned a “high performing in maternity care” recognition.

The Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital at UM Health: Officials at the hospital credited the rankings recognition on their emphasis towards “compassionate” care, said Dr. Dee Fenner, chair of the Michigan Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Speaking of health and safety:A slew of improvements aimed at making dangerous sections of Amtrak’s passenger rail route safer for pedestrians are coming to Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and other Michigan cities.

Read more

That's all for now.

But if anything big breaks during the day, we will make sure to send out a breaking news alert. You can sign up here, if you aren't already receiving them.

And to find every headline all day long, you can visit MLive.com. Perhaps today is the day to become an MLive subscriber.

Enjoy your Wednesday!

— Jessica Shepherd

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