September 10, 2021 Michigan’s new redistricting commission is currently busy drawing drafts of political maps that will have major implications on the political landscape for the next decade and serve as the state’s first real test of a transparent, citizen-led reapportionment process. Public input is not only baked into that process, it’s constitutionally required. The commission has spent months of time and thousands of dollars soliciting input and has partnered with a myriad of outside groups in an effort to drum up additional interest. But unless a member of the public has time to watch hours-long meetings several days a week or has access to specialized mapping software, following the commission’s mapping work in real-time has, to date, been complicated. READ MORE ►Michigan's redistricting commission alters its map drawing schedule again Fan of summer? Fan of fall? Well, it looks like we are set to get it all this weekend. From MLive Chief Meteorologist Mark Torregrossa: "Southern Lower Michigan will have summery temperatures both Saturday and Sunday. Northern Lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula will have a summery day Saturday and a fall-like Sunday. The reason for the temperature change will be a cold front moving straight south from Canada through the U.P. Saturday night. The front will then move south across Lower Michigan Sunday." READ MORE Thirsty? Would you like a little plastic with your drinking water? That may sound ridiculous, but researchers say it has, unfortunately, become a serious problem that bears further study as evidence mounts that people are eating, drinking and inhaling microscopic pieces of plastic on a regular basis. In Michigan, water utility managers say microplastic contamination is matter of emerging concern, but the problem ranks lower on the priorities list because research into the overall ubiquity and health implications of such contamination is in its infancy. The story is similar for microplastics in food. READ MORE ►Plastic pollution litters the Great Lakes. The problem is only getting worse. Maybe they'll bring us the season oddmakers are expecting (that would be a bad, bad season), or maybe they'll surprise all of us loyal fans that have been through so much over the years. Either way, we know you'll be watching. Because that's just what we do. For better or worse, these are our Lions. So we will cheer them on as they hit Ford Field and try to get a 1-0 season start against the 49ers. Our Lions beat writers are on top of everything you could want to know about this team. Keep up with the latest here: ALL THE LIONS NEWS YOU NEED Curious to know where Michigan’s priciest lakes are? The Fall 2021 Lake Real Estate Market Report from LakeHomes.com, a multi-state brokerage and real estate database, offers a peek at where the most expensive lakefront real estate listings can be found right now in Michigan. The report, updated and released quarterly, uses MLS data to find the average listing price for all for-sale homes in each market on a specific date. According to the fall report, Michigan currently has $2.7 billion in lake homes and lots for sale. CHECK IT OUT Get your local news 24/7 Connect with MLive To ensure receipt of our emails, please add newsletters@update.mlive to your address book or safe sender list. |