| TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2025 |
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In today's newsletter, MIGOP alleges Jocelyn Benson violated campaign finance law with governor’s race announcement, a blood pressure drug used nationwide recalled by FDA over foreign material that can be fatal and Katy Perry to perform in Michigan for the first time in nearly a decade. |
Escaping the winter weather blues |
The latest round of winter weather may have you dreaming of a tropical vacation filled with warmer temps, sandy beaches and your favorite swimsuits. If that sounds like the perfect getaway, you're not alone. A record 19 million Americans are expected to set sail on a cruise this year and 72% of cruise passengers are heading to the Caribbean, according to AAA’s cruise forecast. Other top cruise locations include Alaska and the Mediterranean. For those sticking closer to home, the Great Lakes cruising season is expected to start in April. Want to trade a beach vacation for a stay at one of Michigan's state parks? The Kaug Wujdoo Modern Lodge in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is now available to reserve online up to six months in advance. |
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The Tarantula Nebula. (Photo provided by ESA/Hubble & NASA, C. Murray) |
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Weather pattern change underway, much milder but eventually more stormy |
Weather forecast: We are quickly going from the obvious grip of Arctic air last week to an air mass that will stream in from the Pacific Ocean and the northwest U.S. While you may not call it a warm pattern, it will bring afternoon temperatures solidly into the 30s and maybe even a day or two in the 40s. The high temperature forecasts each day from today through Sunday shows most days warm above freezing. Thursday should warm into the low-40s for the southern half of Lower Michigan. When will the weather warm up? The Farmer’s Almanac has some predictions in its spring forecast. Spring officially begins on March 20 with the spring equinox, but the weather will still be chilly, the forecast says. When warmer weather does arrive, it will include plenty of thunderstorms. Temperatures are expected to run on the cooler side into June. In the stars: If you haven’t thought of our neighboring galaxies as sparkly, think again. NASA’s recent Image of the Day was the outer regions of the Tarantula Nebula, which is billed as one of the biggest and busiest star-creating areas in the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy. |
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MIGOP alleges Jocelyn Benson violated campaign finance law with governor’s race announcement |
In politics: The Michigan GOP alleges Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson violated state campaign finance law when she used a state-owned building as part of her newly launched campaign for governor. The complaint filed Monday stems from how Benson rolled out her announcement last week as a Democratic candidate in the 2026 governor’s race. New changes: Michigan’s hate crime law will soon be expanded to protect sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability and more. The first overhaul to the law in about 36 years will also stiffen the criminal and possible civil penalties for committing a hate crime and expand the definition of hate crimes. The changes, signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, take effect April 2. Kristen McDonald Rivet took the oath of office for the first time as the new Michigan 8th District representative. The new 8th District U.S. Representative replaced longtime U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, who did not seek re-election to the seat in 2024. |
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Kids love snow days, but Michigan schools are running out of them |
School days: After a week of bitingly cold temperatures and frequent flurries, many school districts are hitting or approaching their allotment of snow days...and we’re only in January. The State School Aid Act allows public schools to cancel classes up to six days during a school year for events out of their control, like snowstorms, extremely cold temperatures or natural disasters. School districts that use more than six days typically must make the time up by adding instruction days at the end of the school year. Best in class: The University of Michigan was just compared favorably to classic Ivy League schools like Harvard and Yale. The Ann Arbor university was named in a Jan. 17 Forbes story declaring 20 colleges and universities as the “New Ivies,” or institutions with high testing standards, selectivity in admissions and high marks from hiring managers. In the classroom: West Michigan isn’t immune to a statewide teacher shortage that’s disproportionately affecting students in high-poverty and majority-Black school districts, according to a new report. |
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Blood pressure drug used nationwide recalled by FDA over foreign material that can be fatal |
In health: The Food and Drug Administration announced a recall last week of an injectable blood pressure drug used nationwide for treatment following anesthesia. The recall of the drug—known as phenylephrine hydrochloride—was necessary after the manufacturer of the drug, Provepharm, Inc., of Pennsylvania, received a complaint of a visible black particulate matter found in a single-sealed vial of the product. Speaking of recalls: An issue with the floor wiring beneath the front passenger seat of several Kia models has led to the recall of roughly 80,000 vehicles, according to the Associated Press. The recall impacts certain 2023-2025 Niro EV, Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and Hybrid vehicles. Breakthrough: Scientists at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker School of Medicine (WMed) have made a “groundbreaking” discovery. A team led by Dr. Erik Larson, vice chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences, has uncovered the cause of a common kidney disease after eight years of research, a news release from WMed said. |
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Katy Perry to perform in Michigan for the first time in nearly a decade |
Pop star: Fresh off of her Las Vegas residency and hosting “American Idol” for numerous seasons, global superstar, Katy Perry, is going on a huge world tour this year. Perry will bring “The Lifetimes Tour” to Michigan for one concert on Sunday, August 3 at Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit. Tickets go on-sale Friday, January 31 at 10 a.m. Also coming to Michigan: Concertgoers in the U.S. haven’t heard “I’m Too Sexy” performed live by Right Said Fred since 1992. That’s the last time Fred and Richard Fairbrass went on tour in the states. They plan to tour the U.S. in 2025 with a number of 80s bands, bringing the “Totally Tubular Festival” to Meadowbrook Amphitheatre in Rochester Hills in Metro Detroit on Sunday, July 20. Save the date: Get ready for a night of New Wave music at Pine Knob with three UK bands who you probably haven’t seen in concert in a while. Simple Minds, Soft Cell and Modern English will be at Pine Knob in Clarkston on Saturday, June 21. Tickets go on-sale Friday, January 31 at 10 a.m. |
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Thank you for starting your day with the Morning Briefing. As always, you can catch the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. While you're there, consider becoming a subscriber. See you tomorrow! — Cara |
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