Morning Briefing

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2023

In today's newsletter, UAW plans practice picket at Stellantis HQ, a timelapse shows Northern Lights dancing over Grand Traverse Bay, and giant pumpkins are carved into race boats at this U.P. fall festival.

A look at housing affordability in Ann Arbor

Residents of Ann Arbor and those hoping to call the city home are feeling the pinch as housing costs soar. Here’s a look at how home prices in the area have increased since 2010.

College students are also feeling the housing crunch. In one of the Big Ten's least affordable cities, students often need 10 or more roommates to lower the cost of living in Ann Arbor.

Over in West Michigan, a $103M tax credit could transform a sprawling, empty Grand Rapids factory into housing.

Curated by Cara Hackett

Large art pieces resembling bubbles are admired by the people surrounding

A long exposure image capturing the northern lights over the East Arm of the Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City, Michigan on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)

UAW plans practice picket at Stellantis HQ following rumors of closing Auburn Hills campus

Picket line : Last week during negotiations, Stellantis disclosed that 18 facilities, including the massive 500-acre campus in Auburn Hills, may close, according to CNBC reporting this week. The United Auto Workers are now planning to rally in front of Stellantis’ headquarters in light of the rumors.

Pending strikes: The UAW is prepared to roll out more strike targets if negotiations continue through Friday, UAW President Shawn Fain said.

Also: A supplier to the Big Three automakers has told the state that it will lay off nearly 300 employees at factories in Lapeer and Shiawassee counties as a result of the United Auto Workers strike.

Read more

Michigan looks at adding panic alarms in schools to respond to shootings

In emergency: Michigan could become the latest state since the Parkland, Florida, high school massacre from five years ago to add panic alarms as a defense against school shootings.

In K-12: Eleven Michigan schools have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools.

Highly rated: These ten Michigan colleges and universities give you the best value for your buck, according to a “Best Value Colleges” ranking by financial tech company SmartAsset.

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Timelapse shows Northern Lights dancing over Grand Traverse Bay

Shining bright: The Northern Michigan sky put on a show Monday night for those who stayed up late near the East Arm of Grand Traverse Bay. MLive photographer Joel Bissell captured the Northern Lights with his Canon R3, armed with a 24-70mm lens.

As we begin to wrap up summer and head into fall, summer-like temperatures and pleasant weather is expected to make a return to the state later this week. This is an update on how warm we can expect to get, and how long the warmth is going to last.

While you're outside: Crystal Mountain’s Crystal Clipper chairlift is taking fall-color seekers up the slopes for a panoramic view of Up North’s autumn forests.

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Michigan high school sports participation numbers rank among the highest in the nation

Looking ahead: The scandal involving Michigan State University's head football coach Mel Tucker is just a little more than a week old but far from over. Here's what is still to come in the Mel Tucker sexual harassment investigation.

On the court: If fundraising goals are met, three pickleball courts will be installed at the site of a “defunct” skate park on Mackinac Island's Great Turtle Park.

On a roll: Detroit Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta became the first rookie tight end in NFL history to catch at least five passes in each of their first two games. The Lions believe his hot start is just the beginning.

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Giant pumpkins are carved into race boats at this U.P. fall festival

A different type of boat: The 10th annual Menominee Giant Pumpkin Festival is back. The fall festival in the Upper Peninsula is headlined by a paddling race that uses giant, hollowed out pumpkins—also known as “personal vegetable crafts,” or PVCs—as boats.

Make your voice heard:Visitors to Isle Royale National Park have one more week to voice their opinions on proposed changes to the park’s wilderness.

Do not disturb: Among the many amenities that come with the tiny, picturesque cabins at Getaway The Thumb in Columbiaville, the cell phone lockboxes might be the most intriguing.

Read more

That's all for now.

I'm glad you decided to start your Wednesday with the Morning Briefing.

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Make today a great one!

— Cara Hackett

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