Morning Briefing

THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 2023

In today's newsletter, feds back in U.P. to find source of largest fungal outbreak in U.S. history, Michigan looks expands its to 35-year-old hate crime law, and these Michigan universities have the best nursing schools.

How to stay in tiny cabin where you can hear elks bugling

"Everybody's working for the weekend...," isn't that how the Loverboy song goes? If you're still building your plans for the rest of the week, consider stepping outside to enjoy Mother Nature.

Trade your blaring alarm clock for bulging elks at The Tiny Elk Cabin in Clear Lake State Park near Atlanta, Michigan. Deep in Northern Michigan's elk country, the cabin is less than 200 feet away from a beach on Clear Lake.

In case you missed it, springtime spells waterfall season for Michigan's U.P. There are at least 17 waterfalls around Munising, so you could easily make them a focus of a spring getaway, or just put one or two on your list to check out if you’re in the area.

Curated by Cara Hackett

Protesters stand next to a goat wearing a sign that says ''Goat Home Gotion''

Grand Haven has been named one of the 16 Best Small Beach Towns in the U.S. (Photo by Neil Blake | MLive)

Feds back in U.P. to find source of largest fungal outbreak in U.S. history

Uncovering the source: Federal health and safety officials are revisiting Bellirud Paper Mill in Escanaba in search of patterns that could point to the the largest fungal outbreak in U.S. history. Of the 104 blastomycosis cases linked to the mill, 13 have been hospitalized and one person has died.

Oh, deer!: Michigan wildlife regulators and road commission leaders are at odds about what to do with large roadkill carcasses found in suburban neighborhoods. Road workers usually take the roadkill to woodsier areas of roads, but conservation officials with Michigan's Department of Natural Resources say that's littering and it needs to stop.

Prosecutors have announced federal charges against 11 people and three companies in Michigan whom investigators say were involved in a complex aftermarket scheme to evade emission controls on semitrucks.

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These Michigan universities have the best nursing schools, U.S. News ranking says

Top-notch nurses: Multiple Michigan universities have the nation’s best nursing master’s schools, according to the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings. The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor came in at the top program in the state and the only representative in the top-10 nationally.

College researchers could unionize soon: Research assistants behind the scenes at Michigan public colleges and universities are a step closer to union rights after state senators advanced a bill to consider them public employees.

More higher education news: More than 50 University of Michigan faculty members pledged to withhold grades into May in solidarity with the ongoing graduate instructor strike.

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What’s in a hate crime? Michigan looks to add sexuality, disabilities to 35-year-old law

Michigan’s hate crimes statute could be seeing an overhaul for the first time since its creation, expanding who is covered under the law to include things such as a person’s age, sexuality and mental disabilities.

Broadening the definition: A four-bill package, two of those bills – House Bill 4474 and HB 4475 – creates the Michigan Hate Crime Act which expands the state’s current ethnic intimidation statute. The expansion would include hate crimes committed on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, physical or mental disability, ethnicity and age.

The other two bills, HB 4476 and HB 4477, would create the Institutional Desecration Act which considers the targeted defacement, destruction and vandalism of property like houses of worship, cultural community centers and businesses as a hate crime.

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Why everyone is in love with Devon Witherspoon for the Detroit Lions

"No one competes harder than him”: Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon is the most-mocked player to Detroit at No. 6, including a sweep in the final mock drafts here at MLive. Witherspoon doesn’t have ideal size, but he has everything else, including incredible numbers playing in Detroit’s preferred coverage scheme.

Filling in the gaps: The Lions are entering the third year of retooling the roster under Holmes’ watch. With the NFL draft beginning Thursday, which position is the Lions’ biggest draft need? Weigh in our poll here.

Some Wolverine news: Three years later than originally planned—and after some public complaining—the Michigan men’s basketball team will reportedly visit Oregon next season.

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Lend a hand planting pine trees to help Michigan’s rare Kirtland’s warbler

Bird is the word: Despite its recovery from the endangered species list, the tiny Kirtland’s warbler still needs some help from humans. Volunteers are needed in Grayling on May 6 to help plant pine trees for the still-rare songbird that exclusively nests in young jack pine forests in Michigan, Wisconsin and Ontario.

Now boarding: The ferry that transports people and vehicles between Charlevoix and Beaver Island has begun its 2023 season. At 55.8-square miles, Beaver Island is the largest island and Lake Michigan and the state’s third largest island after Isle Royale and Drummond Island.

House of the week: Even though it's situated in the middle of nowhere, this large home is a short drive from Saugatuck, South Haven and Holland. For MLive's House of the Week, this $2.1 million Michigan home sits atop 3 converging ravines and is as private as it gets.

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That's all for now.

This Thursday is off to a great start. Let's finish it off strong.

Stay up to date with the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. While you're there, consider becoming a MLive subscriber.

Have a great day today!

— Cara Hackett

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