Morning Briefing

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022

In today's newsletter, a look at monkeypox hotspots in Michigan, a jury is seated for the retrial of two men charged in the alleged plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and we analyze typical August weather.

You or someone you know might be eligible for free or low-cost child care.

If you or someone you know has young children, you have probably been involved in a conversation about the high cost of child care. But depending on your circumstances, those costs could be largely reduced or eliminated altogether.

More than 150,000 Michigan families are eligible for free or low-cost child care through a $1.4 billion investment made last year to expand affordable child care. You can find out more and see the qualifications here.

And, for those of you who have youngsters and live in the Grand Rapids are, you might be interested in this new social justice book club for kids.

Curated by Jessica Shepherd

M-22 divides the Big and Little Glen lakes

Drownings in Lake Michigan are up from previous years. (Photo by Joel Bissell)

Lake Michigan drownings in 2022 are outpacing prior years.

The numbers are up:So far this year, Lake Michigan has seen at least 33 people drown in its waters. About 10 of those drownings happened along the coastline in Michigan, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project.

The latest deaths: A 21-year-old man drowned Sunday afternoon at Grand Haven State Park after being swept away from shore. A day later, a 22-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman were found unresponsive in the lake in South Haven. They both were later pronounced dead.

The deadliest Great Lake: This award-winning MLive documentary digs into the dangers of Lake Michigan.

Read more

See monkeypox hotspots in Michigan, the U.S. and the world.

Cases are climbing near and far: A month ago, the United States had less than 1,000 monkeypox cases, but it’s now up to 8,933 total cases, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as of Monday. In Michigan, 12 of the 83 counties have reported at least one case.

The hotspots:We have a look at where the most cases are within the state, the country and worldwide. Take a look at the data we've compiled here.

Regional task force: Great Lakes Bay Pride announced it has assembled a regional task force with the goal of sharing educational resources and updates about the monkeypox outbreak.

Read more

The jury is seated for the second trial for two men charged in the alleged Whitmer kidnapping plot.

Jury seated in one day:A jury has been seated in the federal court retrial for two men accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020 amid coronavirus restrictions.

Attorneys prepare for 'lengthy' trial: Motions were heard Tuesday in another trial in the alleged kidnapping plot. Jackson Circuit Court Judge Thomas Wilson believes the trial for the three men, set to start in October, could last two weeks or longer.

In other courts news:The widow of a murder victim says the justice system "has failed my family" as former juvenile lifer Amy Black is set for release from prison next month.

Read more

Here are three stories our readers are talking about today.

$100 million bridge:A proposed $100 million bridge near Traverse City would be the third longest in the state. Crossing the Boardman River south of Traverse City, the 2,000-foot bridge would span between Hartman and Hammond roads in Garfield Township.

Guns seized at rural party: A party advertised on TikTok that drew as many as 1,000 people to rural Tuscola County has resulted in police seizing three handguns from three teen attendees.

Tire chalking ruled unconstitutional: A federal judge has ruled chalking tires to enforce parking regulations is unconstitutional, five years after the process in Saginaw sparked a class-action lawsuit.

Read more

August weather in Michigan? Here's how it normally goes.

What does August usually look like? We are well into August now and MLive Chief Meteorologist Mark Torregrossa has a look at how this month usually goes, as far as weather is concerned. It's typically summery with a hint of fall. Take a look at the full picture.

Something else to expect in August: The annual appearance of the bug-eyed, big-winged insect called a cicada is synonymous with summertime, as is their distinctly noisy buzz that fills the air this time of year. Yeah, that's not the sound of a motorcycle. It's cicadas.

In case you missed it: Summer's biggest meteor shower will peak this week. Here's exactly what to expect.

Read more

That's all for now.

That's a lot of news for one morning. Good job on conquering today's newsletter.

You can always find the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. And don't forget to follow us on Instagram. If you appreciate the hard work of our journalists, consider becoming an MLive subscriber.

Let's roll on with this Wednesday. We will see you early Thursday morning.

— Jessica Shepherd

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