In today's newsletter, Michigan’s going to get cold, 2 killed in foster parent shooting and Northern Michigan town named among top trending winter destinations. |
Let winter be a wonderful thing |
After sharing that I tend to hibernate at home during the winter months, my manager recommended Katherine May's "Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times." May encourages readers who only tolerate the season to find and embrace its beauty. Looking to indulge in some winter fun? MLive's travel team has provided a list of Up North adventures to try. Plus, Michigan McDonald’s is teaming up with ski areas across the state to offer discounted skiing and snowboarding lessons this month. But if you really want to "Wine About Winter," Grand Haven is bringing a global tasting to the Lakeshore. |
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Lions ride Jahmyr Gibbs, defense to NFC’s No. 1 seed |
🦁👑: With the lights at their brightest and the pressure turned all the way up, the Detroit Lions answered the challenge, beating the Minnesota Vikings 31-9 in a winner-take-all finale. With the victory, the Lions have clinched the NFC North for the second straight season and the franchise’s first No. 1 seed. That means the NFC runs through Detroit, with the Lions getting a bye and securing the all-important home-field advantage. NFL playoff schedule: The Lions were on the biggest regular season stage in the NFL on Sunday night and they didn’t disappoint. Here's what was said nationally after the Lions’ NFC-clinching win. Plus, a look at the NFL’s playoff schedule now that the regular season is in the books. Michigan power couple, Kristen Bell and Dax Sheppard, were a bit distracted at the Golden Globes as Bell posted a video on her Instagram page titled: “Priorities,” showing she and her husband watching the Lions-Vikings game on his cell phone between his lap. |
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See which Michigan companies announced the biggest layoffs in 2024 |
To know: Some of Michigan’s biggest companies in automotive, health care and agriculture laid off hundreds of workers last year due to economic headwinds, bankruptcy and other factors. Here is a list of some of the most high-profile layoffs of 2024 in the state of Michigan. The latest: Michigan saw homelessness increase by 2% in a year as housing costs climb and affordable housing becomes harder to find. In health: A deadly, contagious bird flu has infected two more commercial poultry farms in Ottawa County. These cases bring the total detections to six in Ottawa County after four turkey farms were infected in late December. Seventy percent of Michigan’s turkeys are raised in Ottawa County. In politics: The city of Grand Rapids says campaign officials for President-elect Donald Trump have still not paid the bill for nearly $50,000 in public safety services that were provided at two rallies he held downtown during the 2024 presidential campaign. |
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Michigan’s going to get cold, but Lake Michigan saves us from true Arctic blast |
Be aware: You may be hearing about “historic cold” that’s going to hit the eastern U.S. We will get hit with the cold, but it’s a normal Michigan cold. To the rest of the country, it will feel like it’s historic. Truthfully, the 40-degree water of Lake Michigan will act as a major wall to true Arctic air. According to the National Weather Service: Those living in the west side of Michigan started 2025 with a notable amount of lake effect snow accumulation in the first few days of the new year. The World of Winter Fest, hosted by Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc., runs from Jan. 10 through March 10 with over 100 art installations, live performances and activities for the public. |
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2 killed in foster parent shooting were ‘true servants of God,’ reverend says |
Child abduction turned double homicide: Jennifer Lyn Bernhard and her father Stevie Ray Smith were fatally shot Jan. 1 north of Ann Arbor. Jennifer’s husband, Jeffrey Alan Bernhard was critically injured in the shooting, but had improved to stable condition. Two children had been taken from the home during the shooting. Police later found both children in Ypsilanti Township. Two suspects were arraigned Friday, Jan. 3 and a third “refused” to be arraigned. Here is what we know about the situation. An update: A Detroit man was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison in connection with a dog attack that killed a father of 6. A Michigan high school teacher and two parents have been arraigned in connection to an alleged drug deal that happened on New Year’s Eve. |
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Northern Michigan town named among top trending winter destinations |
Making the list: While Manistee is known for its Lake Michigan beaches and Victorian charm, it’s also up-and-coming as an off-season destination, according to HomeToGo. The vacation property rental company recently released its 2025 travel forecast, including five trends to watch. Among the trends is a tendency to take “delaycations." Exploring this trend, the forecast includes a list of the top 10 trending destinations in the U.S. for fall and winter 2025. Manistee comes in at No. 8, and is the only Michigan destination listed. Extremely rare sight: Michiganders Arlene and John McDaniel have been backyard birders for nearly four decades and just before Christmas they noticed something they’d never seen before. There was a yellow northern cardinal near their birdfeeder. Now hiring: Blue waters and dark skies are amenities at the historic Sleeping Bear Inn, but they’re not just guests. The recently renovated inn is looking for a full-time innkeeper to start this spring. |
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Thank you for joining me on today's edition of the Morning Briefing. As always, you can catch the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. If you value the work of our journalists, consider becoming a subscriber. Have a good day! — Jamie Rewerts |
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