Morning Briefing

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2023

In today's newsletter, a bill to enshrine protections for LGBTQ people into law passes the Michigan Senate, Miguel Cabrera gets first his hit of spring -- and his first clock violation, and an astronaut’s time at a Michigan college propelled him to a NASA career.

Just like that, it's Friday again.

The weekend is almost here! Looking for plans? We've got you covered.

Here are some fun things to do in Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids, including the chance to sample some bourbon and an opportunity for volunteers to plant seeds for everyone to enjoy.

And for our Upper Peninsula friends, the annual CopperDog sled dog races return to historic Calumet today and runs through the weekend with four main races, including the three-day, 150-mile CopperDog 150, and a newly added 30-mile race.

Curated by Jamie Rewerts

Post-it notes with positive messages are stuck to a wall at Michigan State University

European Ensemble snow forecast Friday afternoon through Friday night.

Today’s storm: When the snow will start near you

Know the snow: As details for the big snowstorm get clearer, the National Weather Service has created a timeline map, showing when the snow is expected to arrive in different parts of the Lower Peninsula in the afternoon and evening.

The run down: A Winter Storm Watch is currently in effect for most of the lower half of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Heavy snow is expected, up to 10 inches in some areas. Icing is also a concern in other spots.

As the forecast models get more precise, we can also tell when the worst time is going to be if you’ve got any driving to do today. It's going to be a great day to get out of work early or get your errands done by early afternoon if you can.

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Bill to enshrine protections for LGBTQ people into law passes Michigan Senate

Expanding the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act: It was a historic moment Wednesday, March 1, in the state Senate when legislation to ban discrimination against LGBTQ people in Michigan passed the chamber in a bipartisan vote.

The Michigan Supreme Court heard oral arguments yesterday in a case that will determine the kind of medical care received by nearly 15,000 people who were catastrophically injured before the state’s No Fault Insurance Act was amended in 2019.

Now in election news: In 48 states and the District of Columbia, electoral votes are winner-take-all in each state. In two states, Maine and Nebraska, they’re partly based on congressional district. Michigan lawmakers have restarted the bipartisan effort to enact National Popular Vote.

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‘Absolutely unacceptable’: Washtenaw County leaders blast DTE Energy, Consumers after ice storm

The aftermath: Some Washtenaw County leaders are outraged residents have gone days without power, scrambling to afford hotel stays and left without heat and in the dark a week after an ice storm wreaked havoc on the electrical grid. The utility companies ranked in hundreds of millions in profits while failing to harden the grid to prepare for the weather events like the Feb. 22 ice storm.

Is it time for public power? After tens of thousands of Ann Arbor-area residents lost electricity this past week, the campaign for public power is picking up again.

More in public interest: The parents of a 4-year-old West Michigan child have been arrested after the boy brought a bag of meth to school and took it out during snack time, police said.

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Miguel Cabrera gets first hit of spring -- and his first clock violation

Hinch says "He’ll get a pass":The final season of Miguel Cabrera’s Hall-of-Fame career is being played under new rules designed to speed up the pace of play. After 20 seasons of playing at a more leisurely pace, a 30-second clock between batters, Cabrera might need some time to adapt to be ready to hit at the 8-second mark.

In the Red Wings world: The Detroit Red Wings have traded forward Tyler Bertuzzi to the Boston Bruins for a 2024 protected first-round pick and 2025 fourth-round selection.

And for the Lions: The Detroit Lions have struggled to compete for free agents for years. That might no longer be a problem.

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Astronaut’s time at Michigan college propelled him to NASA career

From Michigan to outer space: The pilot for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission, Josh Cassada, attended Albion College in the early 1990s, finding it smaller and more intimate than even his suburban Minneapolis high school. He said he learned the meaning of hard science work while majoring in physics at the liberal arts college. Read more of his story here.

A heartfelt story: 7-year-old Ava Nawwas of Detroit just wanted to see her favorite wrestler in person. But she got so much more thanks to WWE’s "Nightmare" Cody Rhodes.

Speaking of celebrities: Adam Sandler has just announced plans to come to Michigan this April. And Cheech Marin of "Cheech & Chong" is visiting Ann Arbor to discuss Chicano art.

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That ends our week together

But like always, I'll see you again on Monday.

All weekend long, get the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. While you're there, consider becoming a MLive subscriber.

Have a great weekend!

— Jamie Rewerts

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