Morning Briefing

FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2023

In today's newsletter, security concerns raised over internet voting for Michigan military spouses, 3 Michigan universities have the nation’s best medical schools, and see the Lions’ full 17-game slate.

Blossom Time in Traverse City: Best spring beauty drives

Fill up the gas tank and pack your favorite road snacks—it's time for a weekend ride in Traverse City to see cherry blossoms.

Our friends at Traverse City Tourism are telling us the cherry trees that area is famous for are in blossom this week on both peninsulas. We’re sharing six suggested routes from the tourism experts that should deliver some remarkable views.

Speaking of hitting the road, the U.P.’s Brockway Mountain Drive has reopened for the season. There's more on that below.

Curated by Cara Hackett

Drone views of mountain biking along Brockway Mountain Drive in Copper Harbor, Michigan. | Photo courtesy of Visit Keweenaw

Security concerns raised over internet voting for Michigan military spouses

New voting concerns: Election security experts are breaking with the Michigan officials they’ve praised for making voting safe and accessible over one issue: returning ballots over the internet.

Some political news: Democrats in both of Michigan’s legislative chambers have planned major new spending across the board that could push Michigan’s state government budget to record heights beyond the $79 billion Gov. Gretchen Whitmer requested.

Feeling the squeeze: Washtenaw County property owners may experience a little sticker shock from their tax bills this year. The average homeowner’s property taxes are slated to go up 5%—making it the biggest one-year spike in the taxable value of their properties in nearly 30 years.

Read more

We thought COVID would never end. Then we thought it already did.

Raising the bar: On Thursday, May 11, the U.S. government ended the COVID-19 public health emergency – put in place in 2020 by then-President Donald Trump and the longest in the nation’s history. COVID-19 has been linked to the deaths of more than 1.13 million Americans over the last three years, including at least 42,873 Michigan residents

"Nobody is wearing masks": Headlines about the virus have faded and vaccine ads are dwindling. Yet, “the death of COVID is greatly exaggerated,” said Dr. Howard Markel, a historian of medicine and medical educator at the University of Michigan.

What happens now?: The cost of things like COVID-19 vaccines, tests and certain treatments will shift from the government to insurance providers and/or patients. It’ll also lead to reduced COVID data reporting requirements for local and state health departments.

3 Michigan universities have the nation’s best medical schools, U.S. News ranking says

A cut above: Three Michigan universities have the nation’s best medical schools for research and primary care education, U.S. News ranking says. The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Wayne State University in Detroit, and the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine in Lansing were included in the top 100 schools.

More health news: Prescription drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic were first created to help adults with diabetes regulate blood sugar. Now the shots are gaining popularity for their weight loss benefits.

Nurses in Michigan say staffing levels are causing negative outcomes for patients and hospital workers alike. Nursing advocates were in Lansing on Thursday for the introduction of a package of House and Senate bills known as the Safe Patient Care Act. The bills would limit the number of patients a nurse can be assigned, curb mandatory overtime and require hospitals to publicly report their nurse-to-patient ratios.

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2023 NFL schedule: See Lions’ full 17-game slate

Mark your calendars: We already knew the Detroit Lions would open the season in prime time. The Lions have four prime-time games, including a Monday Night Football game against the Raiders at Ford Field. See Lions’ full 17-game slate for the 2023 season.

Making his memory matter: After their son and University of Michigan swimmer died by suicide in 2020, Holland parents Steve and Jill Miskelley are honoring their late son by helping others in need of mental health resources with their nonprofit, Be Better.

Over in Lansing: Michigan State football’s renovated facilities are moving closer to completion. Here's a look inside the $78 million Tom Izzo Football Building.

Read more

The U.P.’s Brockway Mountain Drive opens for the season

Headed to Brockway Mountain Drive: After a long winter, the beloved 8.8-mile scenic drive of at the northern tip of the U.P.’s Keweenaw Peninsula opened on Thursday, May 11, according to an announcement from Visit Keweenaw.

What makes it special?: Rising more than 700 feet above Lake Superior, Brockway Mountain’s height affords panoramic views of the surrounding lakes and wilderness, making it a bucket-list stop for fall colors. It's also popular for hiking, mountain biking, birding and wildlife watching.

S'mores, anyone?: Michigan is the most popular camping destination in U.S., according to Campspot—an online marketplace for RV resorts, cabins, and campsites.

Read more

You're all caught up.

Kick up your feet and let your hair down, Michiganders. It's almost time to get the weekend started.

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

Jamie will be here on Monday. Have a great weekend, folks!

— Cara Hackett

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