Plus, Jocelyn Benson announces run for Michigan governor

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Morning Briefing

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2025

In today's newsletter, see Michigan's frigid temperatures, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announces run for governor and Michigan hunters donate over 140,000 servings of venison to food banks in 2024. 

Add these two winter activities to your weekend lineup

Winter's snow, ice, and chilly temperatures tend to keep me inside, bundled up with a piping hot cup of tea and a cozy electric blanket. For those of you brave enough to withstand the elements, here's a few winter activities to enjoy this weekend. 

 

See cardboard sleds race down the hill, find a deal at indoor sidewalk sales, and stop by a bonfire during Grand Haven’s annual Winterfest, which kicks off Saturday, Jan. 25.

 

Give nighttime ice skating a try with the help of Muskegon Luge, located within Muskegon State Park. The park offers an all-natural quarter mile skate trail and 2-acre ice rink that stays illuminated until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. 

Curated by Cara Hackett

Two skiers glide down an illuminated path

Muskegon Luge's quarter mile skate trail is all-natural, non-refrigerated ice that winds around the park’s bonfire gardens and close by the natural 2-acre ice rink. (Adam Alexander Photography)

Just how cold was it? See the frigid numbers here in Michigan

Ice cold: The National Weather Service said some of the temperatures in the past two days were the coldest since 2019. The coldest actual temperature at an official Michigan observing site was 28 degrees below zero at Ironwood Tuesday morning. The coldest wind chill to be found was 50 below zero, also in that area. Here's a look at the approximate low temperatures for Tuesday morning, Jan. 21.

 

More snow is on the way: Thursday the snow will become northwest to southeast oriented lake-effect snow. The general snow shower activity will move into east and southeast Lower toward Thursday morning. On the east side of the state we could have an inch or two of snow around the morning drive time. It’s not a snowstorm, but maybe a slick period when you have to drive slower.

 

Lake Erie is more than half covered by ice, thanks to our frigid snap. The Great Lake was almost entirely liquid on Jan. 4, when temperatures began dropping. By Jan. 8, the surface of the western basin began freezing, along with the coastline. Now, after temperatures plummeted below zero, Lake Erie is about 60% frozen. That’s about 20% more ice than average for this time of year.

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Jocelyn Benson announces run for Michigan governor

In the race: Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has become the first Democrat to announce a run for governor in 2026. In announcing her run Wednesday, Jan. 22, Benson said she’s running because the state needs a leader who will save Michiganders time and money, deliver results and protect residents – something she said she’s done her entire career.

 

House Republicans are delaying nine bills passed by the legislature last year from being considered by the governor. Now Senate Democrats are threatening legal action over the move. In a split voice vote Wednesday, Jan. 22, the Democratic-majority Michigan Senate empowered Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, to commence legal action compelling the House to immediately present the withheld bills to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. 

 

Deactivated: Within hours of President Donald Trump’s inauguration, the new administration took down the Spanish-language version of the official White House website.

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Grand Rapids kicks off city-wide reading program to improve youth literacy

Start reading: The Grand Rapids Public Library has kicked off its 2025 city-wide reading initiative, where 5th-graders across the West Michigan city will read and discuss the same book. Called the “One Book, One City” reading initiative, the annual program aims to improve literacy and strengthen collaboration between libraries and schools.

 

A pro-Palestine protest at University of Michigan in August has led to two more felony charges for protesters. The Michigan Attorney General’s Office confirmed it filed two charges each for two protesters, including felony resisting and obstructing a police officer and misdemeanor trespassing.

 

Headed to college: Battle Creek Public Schools students who apply to the University of Olivet will be automatically admitted, according to a new partnership announced Tuesday, Jan. 21. Students just have to complete the University of Olivet application and fill out the FAFSA with the University of Olivet in their first slot.

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Michigan hunters donate over 140K servings of venison to food banks in 2024

Giving back: Michigan hunters donated over 140,000 servings of venison to food pantries and shelters throughout the state in 2024. The Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger program connects hunters, game processors and charity to help feed those who are food insecure. Hunters can donate their harvest or give a monetary donation toward processing fees when they apply for their hunting license, said Joe Presgrove, Department of Natural Resources program coordinator.

 

In case you missed it: Michigan’s 2024 elk hunting season saw a challenging early period with more success during the snowy December. About 69% of hunters were successful. More than 250 licenses were issued across both periods and a total of 180 elk were harvested: 70 bulls and 110 antlerless elk, including 10 calves, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced.

 

An Ann Arbor-area couple working to establish Washtenaw County’s first U.S. Department of Agriculture-inspected meat processing facility received a greenlight needed to move forward.

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10 Michigan restaurants nominated for Super Bowl of food awards: James Beard

Best of the best: Several Michigan restaurants and chefs have just received nominations for the biggest accolades possible in the food industry, the James Beard Awards. The nominations, which are listed here in their respective categories, include restaurants from Detroit, Traverse City, Ann Arbor, Saugatuck and other places in Michigan.

 

A Grand Rapids business owes nearly $153,000 in unpaid loans, a lawsuit alleges. Northern Initiatives, a community development financial institution based in Marquette, is taking Forty Acres Soul Kitchen and Cognac Bar to court claiming the restaurant’s owners have defaulted on a $260,250 loan, according to a lawsuit filed in the 17th Circuit Court of Kent County.

 

An Upper Peninsula casino that has been closed for years will soon be demolished and replaced with a $5.5 million mixed-use development overlooking Lake Superior. Bay Mills Indian Community has announced its plans to demolish the former King’s Club Casino and tribal administration building in Brimley.

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That's all for now. 

I hope that you make today a great day. We'll be back tomorrow with more news from across Michigan

 

Until then, you can catch the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. While you're there, consider becoming a subscriber.

 

See you tomorrow!

 

— Cara Hackett

 

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