In today's newsletter, get ready for a heatwave before it cools down, Michigan's minimum wage is increasing and the U.S. becomes first country to win 3,000 Olympic medals. |
It feels hard to believe that we're already closing out July and ushering in August. We'll be sipping on pumpkin spice lattes and pulling out those chunky-knit sweaters before we know it. There are a few special treats in store this month for astronomy fans. The Perseid meteor shower will become more visible each night until it reaches its peak near Aug. 12. A New Moon on Aug. 4 makes for an ideal time to stargaze with the darker skies. Our first supermoon of the year will also happen on Aug. 19. Be sure to stop by Grand Rapids’ largest nature preserve before the month ends. The Blandford Nature Preserve is offering free admission throughout August. Enjoy access to eight miles of trails including one mile of ADA accessible trails, two outdoor playscapes, the Blandford Farm and Children’s Garden. |
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Visitors walk past Parasaurolophus replicas in the Dino Adventures exhibit at John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Joel Bissell | MLive) |
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Kamala Harris, VP pick to campaign in Detroit next week |
Campaigning in the Mitten: Kamala Harris is bringing her presidential campaign to Detroit next week, when she plans to invite her yet-to-be-named running mate, the Democrat’s campaign staff announced. Campaign officials said many of the details remain in the planning stages, including which day the vice president will visit and where the event will be hosted. Potential VP pick: U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, of Bloomfield Township, has emerged as a "dark horse" candidate for Kamala Harris' running mate in her presidency bid. He was the subject of an Axios report this week that stated labor leaders approached the Harris presidential campaign about considering Peters as her vice president. Also in politics: Michigan House Republicans are outraising their Democratic colleagues ahead of their bid to retake control of the chamber this fall. Recent campaign finance filings for the main fundraising committees of both parties in the House show Republicans took in about $400,000 more than Democrats over the latest reporting period. |
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Michigan’s minimum wage will top $12 next year as high court reinstates 2018 ballot initiatives |
Increasing: Michigan’s minimum wage will jump to more than $12 an hour in February and rise to roughly $15 an hour over the next three years, after the Michigan Supreme Court reinstated two ballot initiatives that were adopted by the state legislature in 2018 and subsequently watered down. The current state minimum wage in Michigan is $10.33. Some Republican lawmakers say that minimum wage increasing to more than $12 will hurt restaurants. As part of the ruling, the state’s “tip credit” would be eliminated by 2029. Now, tipped employees are entitled to a direct wage payment of $3.93 per hour. If their tips do not get them an hourly wage of $10.33 or above, their employer must make up the difference. More jobs, more money: A potential billion-dollar project coming to Genesee County continues to gain support from local businesses. The development is well-positioned to be home to an advanced manufacturer that will create thousands of new jobs, pump millions of dollars into the local economy and help bring the supply chain back to the United States. |
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Sneaky hot spell coming into all of Michigan |
Weekend forecast: A stretch of hot days are coming to Michigan and will last throughout the weekend. Almost all of Lower Michigan will have an afternoon high temperature between 88 degree and 92 degrees through Sunday. Saturday should be the hottest day for all of Michigan. Cooling off: We have passed our hottest average temperatures and now transition into the months-long slide in temperatures. When we look at the end of August most Michigan locations are three to four degrees cooler on average than the beginning of the month. What's next: Two cold fronts will move in next week, ending this current stretch of hot and humid weather. The first cold front drops our temperatures back into the 80s. The second cold front will end the hot temperatures and bring comfortably cooler and drier air into all of Michigan. |
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U.S. becomes first country to win 3,000 Olympic medals |
Champions: The United States hit an impressive Olympic milestone on Tuesday. When swimmer Bobby Finke won the silver medal in the men’s 800-meter freestyle, it gave the U.S. its 3000th Olympic medal all-time between the Summer and Winter games. Winning bronze: Former Michigan swimmer Siobhán Haughey was back on the podium Wednesday. The Hong Kong native earned her second medal of the Paris Olympics by earning bronze in the women’s 100-meter freestyle inside Paris La Defense Arena. New technology: NFL executive Gary Brantley told The Associated Press the league will test Sony’s Hawk-Eye technology during some preseason games in a move that could lead to the eventual replacement of the chain gang as the primary measure. |
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Arboretum on Lake Michigan bluff has 80 tree species, including giant sequoia, dawn redwood |
Great outdoors: An arboretum planted about 75 years ago on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan continues to thrive with more than 80 species, including giant sequoias and a dawn redwood. The 116 feet tall sequoia must be seen in person at Lake Bluff Farms in Manistee Township for it to be believed. Check it out: A new exhibit, “Dino Adventures,” featuring 22 life-size replica dinosaurs is now on display at John Ball Zoo. The large and scientifically accurate dinosaurs display real behaviors, such as mothering, feeding, preying and more, according to the zoo. On the water: Rafts decorated in colorful cardboard, a 5K run and a chicken dinner are all part of the upcoming Raft-O-Rama at Clark Lake. Here's everything you need to know about the Aug. 4 event. |
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I hope your day is off to a wonderful start. Hang in there, we're just one day closer to the weekend. You can find the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. While you're there, consider becoming a subscriber. Make today a great day! — Cara Hackett |
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