Plus, summer’s hot weather is roaring back to Michigan
In today's newsletter, Michigan counties are working together to reach recycling goal, hot weather is on the way and state awards $20.5M in grants to Michigan schools for mental health and safety. |
Sunflowers are blooming across Michigan, including the ones you might see in the median strip during your next trip. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has been planting flowers along highways since 2016 to help bees pollinate. Now there are more than a dozen plots in MDOT's Grand and Bay regions, which cover the center of the Lower Peninsula from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron. Speaking of sightseeing, here's your chance to catch a glimpse of dozens of bird species along the Lake Michigan coastline with the help of experts. The Department of Natural Resources is hosting a guided birding tour on Saturday, Aug. 24 in Escanaba. |
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A view of a sunflower plot in the US-131 north of Rockford in Kent County. This is part of the Michigan Department of Transportation's Pollinator Habitat Management program. (Sara J. Martin | MDOT) |
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Michigan counties working with neighbors to reach state’s lofty 45% recycling rate goal |
Teamwork: Some Michigan counties are moving faster than others toward compliance with the state’s new 45% recycling rate law, while some areas have started working together to meet the goal. Every county in the Upper Peninsula and 33 in Lower Michigan told state environmental regulators they intend to partner on the effort with neighboring counties. What's next?: Counties are now required to submit a plan to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy about how they will boost recycling rates and decrease food waste. The state will provide funds to help inventory local waste streams and develop recycling plans. More money will be given to counties that work with their neighbors. In Midland County: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public input on a proposed habitat conservation plan that would allow taking of the endangered snuffbox mussel from the Edenville Dam restoration project. |
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State awards $20.5M in grants to Michigan schools for mental health and safety |
The Michigan Department of Education has awarded $20.5 million in grants for mental health services to 76 school districts and charter schools across the state. Some of the funding can be used for implementing safety and violence prevention programs, creating anti-bullying programs, increasing student access to mental health services and more. Back to school: Grand Rapids Public Schools welcomed a new group of students back to the renovated Innovation Central classrooms on Monday, Aug. 19. The $40 million renovation to the school, which opened in 1911 as Central High School, includes a new heating and cooling system, natural light-enhancing windows and step one of a full auditorium renovation. Deck your dorm: An Eastern Michigan University team-up with Target could land two students with $500 gift cards to decorate their new campus apartments through the “Reface My Living Space” initiative. |
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Summer’s hot weather coming roaring back to Michigan, but you’ll have to wait a bit |
Warming back up: We have some sizzling late August weather on the way after a few very comfortable, almost cool days early this week. By the time we get to next week our average high temperature is 79 to 81 degrees for southern Lower Michigan. Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula have long-term average highs between 73 degrees and 77 degrees. More detection: Michigan only has four weather radars but a private company is planning to change that. A company called Climavision is installing between 180 and 200 new radars across the country with hopes of finishing the installations in the next three to four years. Tornados and lake effect snow detection will improve with the help of the new technology. Garden Talk: Some garden vegetables can go from healthy to dead in the matter of a few short days. Here are some tips to keep those disease-ridden vegetable plants alive and producing veggies. |
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Lions receiver suffers long-term injury; Dan Skipper OK |
Sidelined: The Detroit Lions fear they’ve lost receiver Tre’Quan Smith to a long-term hand injury, but are optimistic about other players who left the 24-23 exhibition win on Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Offensive tackle Dan Skipper (ankle) and edge rusher Malik Jefferson (finger) also left the game and did not return, but head coach Dan Campbell is optimistic both players will be OK. "He's amazing": Cory Schlesinger is a legend for breaking facemasks during his days in Detroit. But he has nothing on Sione Vaki, the rookie running back who hasn’t even made it to his first regular season and has already broken off his facemask entirely. On the court: The height of the NBA offseason usually revolves around three major events: the draft in June, the peak of free agency in July, last week’s schedule release. Check out these four early predictions about the Pistons season. |
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Balloons Over Bellaire to soar at Shanty Creek Resort |
In the air: One of the most eye-catching events of the summer is about to happen this weekend in Northern Michigan. Balloons over Bellaire is set to soar over Shanty Creek Resort on Friday, Aug. 23 and Saturday, Aug. 24. More than 15 hot air balloons will take to the skies during the event, which is free for spectators. An update: Food trucks are coming to Park Township near Holland thanks to a recent ordinance change. The ordinance also comes as the township is building a new community park on the corner of 152nd Avenue and Ottawa Beach Road. Small but mighty: Michigan is home to six of the nine most adorable Great Lakes small towns, according to national travel publication World Atlas. |
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Let's get Tuesday started. |
Thank you for starting your Tuesday with the Morning Briefing. I'm glad you're here. As always, you can find the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. While you're there, consider becoming a subscriber. Find joy today! — Cara Hackett |
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