Whitmer signs Michigan budget into law, praises bipartisan nature of negotiations

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a new state budget buoyed by federal COVID-19 aid into law Wednesday, hailing the deal as a bipartisan win for residents despite a handful of line-item vetoes and provisions she said are unconstitutional. The funding includes $50.7 billion in spending on state agencies and programs and $2.2 billion for higher education. Coupled with a $17.1 billion school aid budget signed into law this summer, the state’s upcoming budget will clock in at $70 billion. READ MORE
►Whitmer to strike $16 million in finding for anti-abortion initiatives from state budget

Alina Morse has been to the White House. She’s been a guest on “Dr. Oz.” She was interviewed on Good Morning America, appeared on “Shark Tank” and was part of the “Boss Baby” red carpet premier in New York City. And she is just 16 years old. Morse is the CEO of ZolliCandy, which she started as a 9-year-old with her dad. Her candy doesn’t include many of the top allergens and it’s sugar free. Morse's company is one of the fastest-growing candy companies in the U.S., as it was ranked 1,110th on the Inc. 5000 list, which ranks private companies based on their three-year revenue growth. READ MORE
►Saginaw teen entrepreneur makes 'Black Girl Magic' popcorn and other treats

Fall color update: Warmth could affect timeline of peak color, top color timing tip

Fall color will eventually happen in Michigan. However, the warmer-than-normal temperatures will continue to slow the fall color progression. Fall color is brought on by chilly morning temperatures and reduced sunlight. Reduced sunlight can come from either later sunrises and earlier sunsets, and/or a long stretch of cloudy weather. Of course, the shortening days always happen, and colder mornings eventually always happen. Therefore, fall color won’t be held off forever. HERE'S A TIP

►Satellite shows exactly where fall colors are in Upper Peninsula

A couple planted thousands of poppies in memory of their son. It became an ArtPrize entry.

Every June, thousands of bright red and purple poppies dance in the breeze at a field next to the Fennville Cemetery in southwest Michigan. The four-acre field was planted by blueberry farmers Joan Donaldson and John Van Voorhees to honor their late son. U.S. Army Sgt. Mateo Donaldson died by suicide in 2015 after returning home from Afghanistan with post-traumatic stress disorder. Artists have since been inspired by the rolling hills of delicate flowers, including Grand Haven painter Maggie Bandstra whose ArtPrize entry “The Poppy Project” depicts the field. READ MORE

►ArtPrize at night: Artwork in downtown Grand Rapids can be seen in a whole new light