Morning Briefing

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2022

In today's newsletter, we look at shrinking and growing populations of Michigan cities, officials warn of an unemployment text scam and a tornado is confirmed in two Michigan counties.

Mackinac Island is simply the best. But we already knew that.

Michigan has so much to celebrate. We have so much between our two peninsulas that is exceptionally special. Of course, we all know Mackinac Island is on that list. It's high on that list.

That information was spread well beyond Michigan this week, as our little island in the Straits was named the best island in the continental U.S. by Travel + Leisure. They raved about the horses, the fudge, Grand Hotel and more.

So, let's raise a glass (or a coffee mug ... it's morning, after all) to Mackinac Island. And to Drummond Island. Take a sip for Beaver Island. Heck, let's just toast to the entire state. Cheers.

Curated by Jessica Shepherd

Abby VanderKooi crossed the finish line of her high school career as one of the most decorated runners in Michigan high school history. Read more about her in our #4 slot in today's newsletter.

A major marijuana retailer shutters four of its Michigan stores.

Lume closes 4 stores: Michigan marijuana retail giant Lume Cannabis Co., which operates nearly 30 stores with 1,000 employees across the state, abruptly closed four retail locations Monday.

The closed stores include: Bay City, Christmas, Cheboygan and Southfield. Lume lists 29 other actively open stores. The chain just opened a new Ann Arbor location and is working to open new locations in Portage and Grand Rapids.

In other marijuana-related news: Marijuana is paving the way for road repairs in one Jackson County township.

Read more

See which Michigan towns are shrinking and growing in population.

Population stats:Overall, Michigan’s population shrunk by 16,853 people, according to the newly-released 2021 Census data. The state’s new estimated population is 10,050,811.

A look at city populations: Now that we know the big statewide numbers, we can zoom in on cities. Did your community gain or lose residents? We have a look at all the data, complete with cool, interactive charts and graphs. Check it out.

In case you missed it: Earlier this year, the Census Bureau announced six states were undercounted in the 2020 U.S. Census and eight states were overcounted, but Michigan’s count was accurate.

Read more

Updates on Michigan unemployment, from scams to questions about a halt on collections.

Don't get scammed: If you recently applied for unemployment and then received a text about your payments, do not respond or click on any links. It's a scam. The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency never sends text messages.

Who benefits from halt on collections? That's the question the state unemployment agency has asked a judge. Michigan Court of Claims Judge Brock Swartzle granted the injunction in June for claimants who were told the state erred and overpaid their benefits and are protesting the decision.

Class-action lawsuit:In January, five people filed a lawsuit against the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency claiming the state was unlawfully demanding thousands of dollars in benefits be paid back.

Read more

How a West Michigan high school runner turned a hobby into a historic career.

A cross-country star: Abby VanderKooi wasn’t the biggest fan of running when she first went for a casual jog at eight years old but has crossed the finish line of her high school career as one of the most decorated runners in Michigan high school history.

She was not a fan of running ... at first: "It was not fun and I didn’t understand why anyone would just run like that. The first time I remember running was with my older sister, Kaitlyn, when I was eight," Vanderkooi said. "I think probably around sixth grade I started to realize that I was pretty good at it."

A celebrated runner:Last month, Vanderkooi was named the 2022 Muskegon Sports Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete of the year.

Read more

What's going on with the weather? A look at the past and a peek into the future.

Tornado confirmed: You might have seen this news in our breaking alerts, but we thought it was worth repeating here. During the storms overnight Monday, a confirmed tornado touched down in Genesee and Oakland counties. Here are the details.

The temps are going to rise: The extended forecast shows that the heat will rise and that will worsen drought in Michigan. Above average temperatures are in the forecast. Mark Torregrossa has the info here.

Don't forget about the supermoon! Tonight is your best chance to see the July supermoon in all its glory. The full moon will officially reach its fullest phase at 2:37 p.m. Eastern today. So, it will be at its biggest and brightest when it rises above the horizon tonight.

Read more

You're all caught up.

Now you have plenty to discuss around the water cooler. Or tidbits to share while waiting for your colleagues to join the Zoom call.

If you need a refill on the latest news, you can always find headlines from across Michigan by visiting MLive.com. Have you followed our Facebook and Twitter pages? Those are good ways to stay informed.

Oh, and let's not forget, it's always a good day to become an MLive subscriber.

Have a lovely Wednesday.

— Jessica Shepherd

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