In today’s newsletter, how abortion-rights uncertainty is creating worry for the LGBTQ community, avian flu wipes out 60 birds in a backyard flock and a celebration of flowers to brighten your day. |
It's Friday the 13th. Will the day bring bad fortune or good luck? |
OK, I'm not superstitious. I'm not even "a little stitious," as Michael Scott would say. So Friday the 13th is kind of just another day for me. That's not the case for everyone. Some even see the day as an excuse for spooky fun, like the folks who run this haunted house in Saginaw. They are opening today for a one-off event to mark Friday the 13th. I hope luck finds you today, even if you aren't especially partial to the number 13. |
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Tracy and Tony Martin pose for a portrait in front of their home in the Eastown neighborhood of Grand Rapids. (Photo by Daniel Shular | MLive) |
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As Grand Rapids is growing, the city's Black population is shrinking. Why? |
'The diversity is gone:' Tracy and Tony Martin have lived in Grand Rapids' Eastown neighborhood since 1999. As the area has grown in popularity, the Martins noticed their fellow Black residents were leaving. When they arrived nearly a quarter century ago, Black families were all around them. But that's no longer the case. In a time of growth, the Black population is shrinking: Citywide, the number of Black residents fell to 36,493 in 2020, down 4% from a decade ago. Besides Native Americans, it was the only racial or ethnic group to see a decline over the 10-year period. Grand Rapids isn't alone: Muskegon, Detroit, Ypsilanti, Flint, Saginaw, and Ann Arbor all saw declines in their Black populations. Statewide, Michigan’s black population fell 2%. |
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Republican gubernatorial candidates go head to head in first debate. |
Schools, COVID and Trump: While they are all part of the same political party, the GOP candidates facing off to take on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in November don't agree on every issue. Here are some of the topics that divided them during Thursday's debate. There are 10 total GOP candidates: It's a large field of candidates, with 10 in total, though only eight of the candidates appeared at the first debate. In fact, this will be Michigan’s largest gubernatorial primary in state history.
Increasing voter registration: During this gubernatorial election year in Michigan, Gov. Whitmer is telling the state to work to increase voter registration. She recently signed an executive order to that effect. |
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After all that heavy news, here is a celebration of flowers to brighten your day. |
Celebrate a century of peonies: If you know Ann Arbor well, you know the peony garden is a big deal. And this year, the blooms are an especially celebrated part of spring, as the peonies mark 100 years. Wanna celebrate the beauty? Here's how. Don't forget the tulips! If you have yet to head over for Tulip Time in Holland, you can still make it. The festival continues through Sunday. But even if you can't get there by the time the official events end, the tulips themselves will still be around. We highly recommend a stroll through town. Plan for flower gazing with this forecast: If your weekend plans include time outdoors with the flowers, you might want to know what to expect out there. Mark Torregrossa has your weekend forecast here. |
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Another week is in the books and another weekend is upon us. 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. May you enjoy your weekend before joining us back here on Monday morning. — Jessica Shepherd |
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