In today's newsletter, proposed Medicaid cuts would raise healthcare costs for all Michiganders, 40 more student athletes sue University of Michigan after Matt Weiss cyber hack and Western Michigan University hockey coach Pat Ferschweiler cashes in big payday for winning national title. |
Get those taxes in, Michiganders |
I typically have an "early bird gets the worm" approach to filing taxes but I spent part of last night tediously entering numbers into an online tax filing software just to meet the deadline. If you have not prepared your taxes yet, there are a few hours left to submit your return or file an extension by today's April 15 deadline. Victims of Michigan's recent ice storm are eligible for a special tax relief. Individuals and businesses in the 12 counties affected by the emergency declaration can request a state tax extension as they recover. The relief does not apply to any federal or city income tax deadlines. Time is running out to claim a tax credit that will provide eligible taxpayers with a stimulus payment of up to $1,400. The payments are tied to a credit available to individuals who did not receive one or more Economic Impact Payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
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On the morning of April 13, 2006, fishermen witnessed the northeast turret of Miners Castle collapse into Lake Superior and notified Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The parks shared pictures of the sandstone formation before and after the collapse. (NPS) |
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Michigan officials: Medicaid cuts would raise healthcare costs for all |
Potential impact to Michiganders: Proposed federal cuts of up to $880 billion to Medicaid over the next 10 years would jeopardize healthcare for more than 2.6 million Michiganders who rely on the government-funded program and raise the cost of care for all, elected leaders, healthcare officials, and veterans advocates said Monday. It could also mean program cuts, potential layoffs and closures in the healthcare industry, like nursing facilities funded by Medicaid. The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center says it was forced to lay off 72 people – more than half its staff – after the Trump administration cut funding for two programs that provide legal services to immigrants and children. The statewide immigration legal service will now be down to 49 employees at its offices in Ypsilanti, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and Detroit. U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, a Republican, on his social media account said he will consider a bid for the U.S. Senate seat that will be vacated in two years by retiring Democrat Gary Peters. Huizenga’s Monday, April 14, X post was published just hours after another Republican, former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, announced he will campaign for the Senate seat in 2026. |
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Book ban lawsuit against West Michigan school district dismissed by appeals court |
Controversial books: In keeping with a lower court ruling, the Michigan Court of Appeals has dismissed a lawsuit that sought to ban 14 books—many of which have been banned or challenged at schools across the country—from a West Michigan school district’s library. Plaintiffs claimed the books in question were “sexually explicit” and “pornographic,” alleging Rockford administrators committed a felony by disseminating the books to minors, according to court records. Previously taught to ninth graders: Starting next school year, the Portage Public Schools curriculum for sixth graders will include a lesson about pornography. The lesson, which will changed to be suitable for sixth graders, is part of a course in the district’s human growth and development curriculum. It also covers topics like healthy relationships, making smart decisions online and recognizing not everything students see online is reality, said PPS Director of Curriculum Tracy Speaker-Gerstheimer. Immigration status impacted: At least two international students have had their visas revoked at Eastern Michigan University as of Monday, April 14. That includes a total of 22 current and former international students at the University of Michigan that have had their visas revoked or their right to remain in the country legally terminated by the federal government, UM officials said last week. |
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40 more student athletes sue University of Michigan after Matt Weiss cyber hack |
Speaking out: Forty more student athletes have joined a lawsuit against the University of Michigan alleging it failed to alert victims that personal information and material was exposed in a massive data breach over several years by former assistant football coach Matt Weiss. Authorities alleged Weiss gained access to student-athlete databases of more than 100 colleges and universities while employed at UM and downloaded personal information of more than 150,000 athletes from 2015 to January 2023. Police have determined the cause of death for two adults found outside a home in Northern Michigan. Michigan State Police in Gaylord said on April 12 that a 43-year-old female from Lansing and a 61-year-old male from Grayling died from accidental drug overdoses. Both individuals had lethal amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine in their blood, police said. On the Michigan Indiana border: Three young siblings were killed last week when their Amish buggy was struck by a Mercedes, WILX 10 reports. It happened just after 8 a.m. Wednesday in Marshall County, Ind., near the Michigan border, the report said. A Mercedes-Benz GLA, driven by a 17-year-old, struck the back of the buggy. The victims were ejected and pronounced dead on scene, the report said. |
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WMU hockey coach Pat Ferschweiler cashes in big payday for winning national title |
Rewarded: Pat Ferschweiler has led Western Michigan hockey to the NCAA promise land, guiding his alma mater to a historic first-ever national championship. After capping an unforgettable 2025 season with a 6-2 national championship victory over Boston University in St. Louis on Saturday night, the fourth-year coach is set to receive a substantial payday––nearly $200,000 in bonuses from WMU. On staff: The Detroit Tigers will have at least one member taking part in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Tigers bench coach George Lombard was named to the U.S. coaching staff as first base coach, USA Baseball announced on April 11. Playoff time: NBA playoff basketball is returning to Motown, as the No. 6 seed Detroit Pistons will take on the No. 3 seed New York Knicks in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, which tip off Saturday. Here are several things that must happen for the Pistons to emerge victorious. |
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Did you see this iconic cliff before it tumbled into Lake Superior? Pictured Rocks looks back at the Munising formation |
Pictured Rocks cliff collapse In 2006, a fisherman witnessed the northeast turret of Miners Castle tumble into Lake Superior, permanently changing Michigan's iconic Pictured Rocks. This week, park officials are looking back at how the sandstone formation has changed over time, noting such collapses are "not uncommon" in the crumbly Munising sandstone formation. At least five major falls were recorded in recent years, reports Lindsay Moore. Adaptive recreation: Muskegon Luge has added a second Action Trackchair to its adaptive sports inventory, allowing year-round access to trails across dirt, snow, and beach sand at Muskegon State Park. The all-terrain wheelchair was funded through volunteer efforts at the Michigan Irish Music Festival, with additional support from Kali's Cure for Paralysis, writes Lindsay Moore. Staying safe: Isle Royale National Park has implemented new food storage requirements after wolves began seeking human food at campsites last year. Visitors must now use animal-resistant containers to store food and trash when the remote Lake Superior island reopens April 16. The regulations aim to protect both visitors and the island's approximately 30 wolves, reports Tanda Gmiter. |
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I'm glad you decided to start your day with the Morning Briefing. We'll be back tomorrow with more news from around Michigan. Until then, you can find the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. While you're there, consider becoming a subscriber. See you tomorrow! - Cara Hackett |
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