Michigan is underfunding its county road and bridge system

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Morning Briefing

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2024

In today's newsletter, a new summer forecast, Michigan’s ‘uncommitted’ effort aims to show Biden war in Gaza could cost him the election and ex-police officer says appeals court erred in ruling he stand trial in Patrick Lyoya’s fatal shooting.

Good eats in Grand Rapids

The Grand Rapids area is set to host its first-ever tater tot festival. The Tots & Taps Fest will feature local and unique tater tot dishes, along with more than 150 beers, ciders and seltzers.

 

Big fan of the city and its tots? Here are 5 great places to get crunchy loaded tater tots for when you're craving the good stuff.

 

And nearby an entertainment venue and social club featuring 10 pickleball courts, one Wiffle ball field and a restaurant and bar is expected to open later this year in Kentwood.

Curated by Jamie Rewerts

A nearly frozen waterfall

The 100-foot Laughing Whitefish Falls nearly frozen over in Alger County, Michigan on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. The fan-shaped waterfall is the most scenic feature inside the 960-acre Laughing Whitefish Falls State Park. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)

Michigan needs to spend $2.4B more yearly on its local roads, per report

Michigan is underfunding its county road and bridge system by about $2.4 billion annually, according to the County Road Association of Michigan.

 

Overview: That deficit has increased $509 million over the last two years, due in part to inflation and a reduction in gas tax dollars caused by more electric and fuel-efficient vehicles on the roads.

 

More in public interest: Ann Arbor is a lot of things, including one of the most peaceful places to live in the United States, according to a study.

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Summer Forecast: El Niño switching to La Niña points toward a warm summer

The other side: You know we’ve had a strong El Niño going this winter. The El Niño appears to be ending soon and could be replaced with the opposite, a La Niña. This thought was factored into the new summer forecast.

 

The switch from El Niño to La Niña in the summer has occurred six times since 1950. So we don’t have a really large amount of data points, but the data points have very consistent weather outcomes.

 

Record heat coming again: Next Tuesday could have 60 degree temperatures all the way north to the Mackinac Bridge and the western U.P. The record warmth will stretch from Grand Rapids to Lansing to Ann Arbor and all cities south into far southern Michigan.

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Michigan’s ‘uncommitted’ effort aims to show Biden war in Gaza could cost him the election

The latest: Progressive activists and elected officials are urging Michiganders to select “uncommitted” in the upcoming Democratic presidential primary, incensed over President Joe Biden’s perceived inaction amid tens of thousands of civilian deaths in the Israel-Hamas war.

 

Split: Pete Hoekstra, who leads the faction of the Michigan Republican Party recognized by the Republican National Committee, planned a March 2 convention in Grand Rapids. Kristina Karamo, who refuses to acknowledge he replaced her, planned one the same day in Detroit.

 

Also visiting: Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley will be campaigning in Michigan next week ahead of the state’s presidential primary.

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Ex-police officer says appeals court erred in ruling he stand trial in Patrick Lyoya’s fatal shooting

An update: A former Grand Rapids police officer who fatally shot motorist Patrick Lyoya has asked the state Court of Appeals to reconsider its finding he should be tried for second-degree murder.

 

In Keego Harbor: A couple is accused of hitting a server with their vehicle and running over her legs when she confronted them about leaving without paying their bill in full, police said.

 

More in crime: A Northern Michigan teacher is accused of taking inappropriate, unclothed photos of students, police said.

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You can stay at this historic Michigan lighthouse for $50 per night

A unique experience: If you’re looking for a great lodging rate for your next Great Lakes adventure, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better deal — or adventure — than that at DeTour Reef Light.

 

The historic offshore icon in northern Lake Huron has expanded its popular lighthouse keeper program, previously only open on weekends, to include weekly overnight stays at the rate of $50 per person per night.

 

Speaking of travel: The second annual Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival is returning this spring, offering a star-steeped weekend at Michigan’s most remote international dark sky park.

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You're all caught up.

Thank you for joining me today on this edition of the Morning Briefing. 

 

As always, you can find the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. While you're there, consider becoming a subscriber .

 

See you tomorrow!

 

— Jamie Rewerts

 

OTHER TOP STORIES

 

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  • Spring Lake waterfront home ‘perfect space for outdoor gatherings’ on market for $1M

  • Long-lost Gershwin musical found by University of Michigan researcher

  • Meet the 32 recipients of the 2023-24 MHSAA Scholar-Athlete awards
 

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