THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024 |
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In today's newsletter, Michigan’s plunging temps show why we have nowhere-else-like-it weather, Michigan Senate Democrats propose accelerating $15 minimum wage hike, and Canadian Detroit Lions fans doing drone show visible from Michigan. |
Girl Scout sweets, cozy eats & playoff treats |
It's easy to love winter for many reasons. Seeing a fresh blanket of snow, spending time around a bonfire with friends, bundling up in warm sweater or cozying up with your favorite warming foods are a few things that come to mind. But if you're a foodie like me, winter also means the return of Girls Scout cookie season. Thin Mints and Trefoils have reigned supreme in my home for years and I can't wait to grab on a few boxes. Be sure to stock up on the Girl Scout S’mores® and Toast-Yay!® flavors—2025 is the last time those two cookies will be available. Speaking of food, McDonald's is unveiling a new value menu and special deal just in time for the Detroit Lions playoff games. If the Lions record an interception in a playoff game, fans will receive a free order of any-size fries through the McDonald’s app. |
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Drones take the shape of the Lions logo during a Detroit Lions drone show above Ford Field on Jan. 27, 2024. A drone show like this will take place in Windsor, Ontario on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (Photo by Julian Leshay Guadalupe | MLive) |
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Where do the most vehicle-wildlife crashes occur? Michigan is going to find out |
On the road: Michigan plans to identify the most problematic wildlife crossings posting a risk for motorist safety on state trunklines. The state secured a federal grant worth $467,376 to study the problem areas and identify the top 20 hotspot locations for repetitive vehicle-wildlife collisions. Once identified, officials hope to find ways to accommodate safe wildlife passage in those areas. Leftovers from a power plant that has powered Michigan for more than 60 years could soon find their way into the foundations of the state’s homes and buildings. Decades of coal ash left behind at Consumers Energy’s J.H. Campbell Generating Complex on the shores of Lake Michigan will be repurposed into a cement replacement used in concrete manufacturing under a deal between the utility and the American offshoot of a Canadian company making its first foray stateside. Forestry experts and environmental advocates are questioning Michigan officials’ decision to lease 420 acres of state forestland near Gaylord for solar development. It’s not the actual leasing of state land that bothers them, though. It’s which 420 acres they chose. |
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Michigan’s plunging temps show why we have nowhere-else-like-it weather |
Getting chilly: When it comes to Michigan's weather, there’s nothing like it anywhere else here in America. One of those unique weather times is when we get Arctic air crossing the 40-degree water of Lake Michigan. Spots around Kalamazoo, South Haven and Benton Harbor could drop to 20 degrees Thursday morning. On Friday, West Michigan cities like Frankfort, Manistee and Ludington will only cool into the high-20s while southeast Lower Michigan comes close to 10 degrees. Staying prepared: When you’re entrusted to handle rescues on the Great Lakes in the winter, airboats can be an important lifesaver. The U.S Coast Guard team at Station Sault Ste. Marie was able to conduct their first airboat skills session this week, now that temperatures have dropped enough to create some good ice near the Lake Superior shoreline. Losing support: The Mecosta County Board of Commissioners has rescinded support of Gotion Inc.’s $2.36 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Green Charter Township.The decision walks back a previous Feb. 16, 2023 resolution that expressed the county’s support of the project that’s expected to create 2,350 jobs in the region. |
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Michigan Senate Democrats propose accelerating $15 minimum wage hike |
Michigan Senate Democrats on Wednesday unveiled a plan to speed up the minimum wage hike to $15 while scaling back impending changes to tipped worker pay. Under the bills to be introduced, tipped workers would continue receiving a base pay of 38% of the minimum wage. However, that percentage would increase over the next 10 years until reaching 60%. More details: As for minimum wage, Senate Democrats are proposing to expedite the hike, with minimum wage reaching $15 an hour in 2027 instead of 2028. The plan also includes tweaks to impending changes to the state’s sick time law. On the other side: New bills introduced Wednesday by House Republicans would preserve the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers that is currently set to be phased out starting Feb. 21. The bills would also keep but draw out the impending minimum wage hike to $15 an hour and largely maintain current sick leave laws, according to House Republicans. |
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Canadian Detroit Lions fans doing drone show visible from Michigan |
Happening Friday: Canadian Detroit Lions fans are showing their support for the team by putting on a Lions drone show which will be visible from Michigan. The city of South Detroit, also known as Windsor, Ontario, is doing the drone show above the Windsor waterfront on Friday, January 10 at 7:00 p.m. sharp, weather permitting. Hundreds of drones will take off off from the Riverfront Festival Plaza site, which will be closed for the launch. Bye week: The Detroit Lions won’t know who they face in the divisional round until Sunday or Monday night. And they plan to take advantage of their earned rest and recovery opportunity with the first-round bye. Head coach Dan Campbell described the team’s mentality for this week as leaving the engine in idle. Now hiring: The Las Vegas Raiders have requested permission to interview Lions' coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn for their head coaching opening, The Athletic reported on Wednesday. Las Vegas will now be the fifth team to request an interview with Glenn, joining the Saints, Jets, Bears and Jaguars, and the fourth team to request one with Johnson, who will interview with the Bears, Patriots and Jaguars. |
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Ferris Bueller’s Ferrari among Hollywood’s cars coming to the Detroit Auto Show |
Need to see: Some iconic vehicles from a few popular Hollywood films will be on display at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show. Fans of classic cars and movies will get the ultimate experience seeing cars like the Ferrari Modena Spyder California from the hit 1986 film, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” along with a showcase of other vehicles depicting “Detroit Through the Decades.” The logistics: The show kicks off Friday, Jan. 10, with a media day and charity preview. It will open to the general public on Jan. 11, at Huntington Place, 1 Washington Blvd. The internationally recognized vehicle showcase will run through Monday, Jan. 20. Parking will be available through a variety of parking garages and lots throughout downtown Detroit, as well as at the convention center’s roof and its Washington Boulevard garage. These are available on a first-come, first-served basis with credit card only. Coming soon: A coin honoring Henry Ford’s innovative automotive assembly line will be released by the U.S. Mint this spring. The $1 American Innovation gold coin features the Statue of Liberty on the face and autoworkers assembling what appears to be a Ford Model T on the reverse. The reserve includes the words “Michigan Auto Assembly Line” across the bottom. Initially, it will be sold in 25-coin rolls for $36.25 and 100-coin bags for $123.50. |
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Hang in there, we are one day closer to the weekend! Catch up on the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. While you're there, consider becoming a subscriber. See you tomorrow. — Cara Hackett |
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