Morning Briefing

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2022

In today’s newsletter, a look at state funding aimed at making schools safer, a Democrat causes an upset in one West Michigan district and an incoming stretch of 80-degree days is on the way to Michigan.

The implications of a change to abortion law are complex and wide-reaching.

There are few things that spark a heated debate as quickly or easily as the topic of abortion rights. And that's true even during times when those rights aren't in limbo.

But the real-life implications of changes to abortion rights affect more than just access. They potentially impact individuals, elections and even the economy. You can read more about that below.

If you need a a break from hard news, below you'll also find a video tour of a cruise ship that docked in Detroit this week. Whatever kind of content you are looking for today, I hope you find it here.

Curated by Jessica Shepherd

Abortion-rights supporters gather at the Michigan Capitol Tuesday, May 3.

Experts say an abortion ban could have serious economic consequences.

'It's going to be economically harmful:' University of Michigan experts say reducing access to abortion will likely have steep economic costs, particularly for women.

The economic impact of abortion denial: Women who were unable to get an abortion experienced a “significant increase in financial distress,” according to a 2020 National Bureau of Economics Research paper.

A life-or-death decision: State Rep. Christine Morse had to make a decision in 2011: Continue with a pregnancy, or treat her cancer. She chose to undergo an abortion eight weeks into her pregnancy. It is a decision that saved her life, she said.

Read more

These 150 Michigan schools will get a combined $10 million to improve safety.

$10 million for 150 schools: The state funding can be used to purchase equipment and/or technology to improve the safety of school buildings, students and staff, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's office announced this week.

Which schools are included? To see if any of your local schools are in line to receive funding, you can look through our list included here. We also have a search function, so you can easily find any school on the list.

Funding for food: The state, this week, also announced more funding for a food aid program for Michigan students. Eligible students who attended remote school during any part of this school year will receive additional funding on their Bridge Cards.

Read more

It's not every day you get to check out a cruise ship docked in Detroit. So we climbed aboard.

Motor City or Ship City? A 665-foot cruise ship, known by the mighty name of Octantis, docked on the Detroit River Tuesday as it made its first voyage around the Great Lakes.

We were there! We got the chance to hop onto the massive vessel, snapping photos and taking video so you can feel like you were there too. Bon voyage, Octantis!

Speaking of excitement in Detroit: Hometown star Eminem will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Even more impressive, it was Slim Shady's first year of eligibility.

Read more

An upset victory lands a Democrat in one West Michigan district that usually skews red.

Special election results: The race for the state House's 74th district was a special election, held to fill a partial term. But it was noteworthy in another way -- an upset occurred, landing Democrat Carol Glanville in a Kent County seat that has been red for nearly three decades.

The aftermath of a controversy: Republicans were favored to take the district, as the GOP has held the seat since 1993. But Glanville's Republican opponent, Robert Regan, drew national attention in March after making a comparison involving election results and rape.

Missed your local election results? Don't worry, you can get caught up with our coverage of Tuesday's election here.

Read more

A string of 80+ degree days on the way? Get ready to get outdoors (or to turn on the A/C).

Long 80-degree spell looks likely: Our meteorologist Mark Torregrossa has been saying warm times are ahead. Now we know more and, as always, he has all the details.

Forecasting or fun-casting? The forecast can tell you a lot, like whether you'll want to grab that jacket or an umbrella. But it can also tell you the perfect time for an adventure like morel hunting.

Get the daily forecast straight from Mark: If you really want to stay in the loop with Michigan weather, Mark Torregrossa goes live on the MLive Facebook page each weekday to tell you exactly what's in story. Follow the page to alerts when Mark is live.

Read more

You’re all caught up.

Thursday is officially underway, now that you've read the Morning Briefing.

Don't forget, you can always find the latest Michigan news by visiting MLive.com. If you value the hard work of Michigan journalists, consider becoming an MLive subscriber.

Have a lovely day!

— Jessica Shepherd

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