| TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2024 |
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In today's newsletter, how to stay safe during the cold weather, Michigan raises maximum weekly unemployment benefit to $614 and meet the newest Detroit lion at the zoo. |
'Twas the day before Christmas |
Many of us are accustomed to catching a glimpse of Santa at the seasonal photo booth at the mall or during a local holiday parade. Or if you were like me as a child, you camped out in the living room hoping to catch the elusive Christmas figure dropping off a load of gifts under the tree. But in Northern Michigan, you don't have to pull an all-nighter to see Old St. Nick. He'll be hitting the slopes on Christmas at Shanty Creek Resort during the resort's ski free day near Bellaire. If you want to pay Shanty Creek's generosity forward, they are accepting canned food, clothing and household donations for local food pantries and charities. Whether your family is celebrating Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah or creating your own traditions this year, we hope that you have a festive and fun time this holiday season. |
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Shanty Creek Resort is inviting people to Ski Free with Santa on Christmas Day. (Photo provided by Shanty Creek) |
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Following these cold-weather safety tips could save your life |
It’s officially winter in Michigan and the cold has arrived. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is reminding the public to put safety first when enjoying outdoor winter activities. Before heading out into the cold, be sure to dress in layers, always use extreme caution around ice, schedule check in times with loved ones, stay hydrated, and carry extra equipment. Check out the DNR's full list of safety recommendations here. Snowmobile safety is another major focal point, with the DNR’s Ride Right campaign emphasizing the importance of riding at a safe speed, sober and on the right-hand side of the trail. Speed is the main factor in fatal and serious injury snowmobile accidents. Improving the great outdoors: Campgrounds across both of Michigan’s peninsulas and touching all five Great Lakes are receiving some much-needed TLC. As a result, more than two dozen state-run campgrounds will have delayed or closed camping seasons in 2025. |
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Michigan raises maximum weekly unemployment benefit to $614 |
Getting a boost: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed several bills on Dec. 23 that increase unemployment benefits for the first time since 2011. Unemployment benefits will extend from 20 weeks to 26 weeks, under the new law, reversing cuts made during the Snyder administration. Previously, Michigan was one of only 12 states offering less than 26 weeks of benefits. The bill also raises the maximum weekly benefit over time from $362 to $614, the first increase since 2003. Only 62 cents of every $100 spent on marijuana in Michigan in the past year went toward medical marijuana. Since the first recreational stores opened in 2019, total marijuana sales have boomed. They’re currently on pace to surpass $3.3 billion this year. But that has come at the expense of a once-thriving medical marijuana market that’s now on life support. Money on the way: Approximately 1 million taxpayers will automatically receive special payments of up to $1,400 from the IRS in the coming weeks. The money will be directly deposited into eligible people’s bank accounts or sent in the mail by a paper check. The IRS said it’s distributing about $2.4 billion to taxpayers who failed to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns. |
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Meet the newest Detroit lion weighing more than every NFL offensive lineman |
Pride Rock: There’s a new lion in town and he weighs nearly 500 pounds. Meet Kalu, the Detroit Zoo’s newest member of its pride. The 9-year old male African lion just arrived from the Tulsa, Oklahoma Zoo as a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to support his social needs and future breeding efforts. On the silver screen: Boxing superstar and Flint native Claressa Shields is set to make headlines again, this time on the big screen. Her highly anticipated biopic, “The Fire Inside,” premieres nationwide on Christmas Day, and fans in her hometown can watch it a day earlier. The movie will be shown on Tuesday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve in Genesee County, and Wednesday, Dec. 25, Christmas Day. Home for the holidays: Kevin McCallister's house from the popular "Home Alone" movie has just sold for millions of dollars, just before Christmas Day. Located at 671 Lincoln Avenue in Winnetka, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, the 1921-built home went on the market this past May, listed for $5.25 million. The sale is now pending, according to its listing. |
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We'll be back tomorrow with more top stories from around Michigan. Until then, you can find the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. While you're there, consider becoming a subscriber. Make today a wonderful day! — Cara Hackett |
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