Now more changes are on the way.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2023 |
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In today's newsletter, a package of bills would ban guns at polling locations, wineries in Michigan are adapting to warming temperatures and an old train depot in a small Michigan town is now an Airbnb. |
Do you have tree limbs to clean up this weekend? I know I do! |
Wednesday night was a noisy time at my house in Kalamazoo. Every 20 minutes or so, I'd hear a loud "BOOM" that sounded like thunder. But it was actually a bunch of branches plunging from the trees as they were overcome by the weight of thick sheets of ice. When I looked outside Thursday morning, I was happy to see my house and garage were intact, but I was a tad sad to learn my weekend would be filled with cleanup time. Trying to always look on the bright side, I am happy for the weekend forecast, since Mark Torregrossa says it should be dry until Monday. That makes the cleanup effort easier. As does this helpful list of tips published by one of our reporters.
And as much as I try to stay positive, I can also relate to those who are frustrated with Mother Nature, especially the many Michiganders who lost power in the storm.
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There is good ice and bad ice. While many of us were unhappy to see the ice resulting from this week's storm, the ice in the U.P. at the Eben Ice Caves is the definition of "good ice." Check out more photos of the winter wonderland here. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com) |
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| These bills would ban guns at Michigan polls and punish election worker harassment. |
Four bills introduced: Michigan House Democrats have introduced a package of bills they say will protect election officials and workers by increasing penalties for harassment and banning guns from voting locations. At polling locations: One of the bills would make it illegal to possess a firearm at or 100 feet from polling places, ballot drop boxes, early voting locations and absentee vote counting boards. This ban already applies to banks, churches, courts, theaters, sports arenas, day care centers, hospitals and liquor stores. More voting-related news: In 2021, a group announced a ballot drive in Michigan that would enter the state into an agreement to bind its 15 electoral votes to the presidential candidate with the most votes nationally. The effort never gathered signatures, however. But in 2024, Michiganders could see the initiative on their ballots. |
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| Michigan's wine industry is adapting to warming temperatures and changing tastes. |
Turning red: Michigan’s up north vineyards years ago earned a reputation for producing world-class white wines, but vintners are increasingly planting reds across the region as demand grows and climate change brings often warmer and even longer summer growing seasons. Grower Sam Simpson says: "We are able to do reds for a couple reasons, the largest being Lake Michigan. The lake retains a lot of that heat later into the fall, but it also protects us from the spring frosts. We are seeing that there’s more heat accumulation up here, which is guiding us in the direction that with the right clones of reds, we’re able to really do a nice job with them." Speaking of up north agriculture: If you are interested in how changing climate and other factors are impacting growers in Northern Michigan, make sure to check out our 2022 documentary on tart cherries. |
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| We have Jim Harbaugh updates. He's been talking to the Broncos and moving fallen trees. |
On the horn to Denver: Harbaugh reportedly had two separate conversations with Broncos ownership in January, first an informal telephone call to gauge his interest in the team’s head-coaching job that eventually went to Sean Payton, then a full-fledged virtual interview that lasted hours. He says the interest is a good thing. Helping Ann Arbor police: On Wednesday night, Ann Arbor Police Officer Howard Cooper got some help moving a fallen tree from a surprising source. "How about we try to move this tree together," said Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh, according to video released by the Ann Arbor Police Department.
In other sports news: Our Detroit Lions beat writers have their first mock drafts in the books. Here's a look at Ben's first mock draft. And here's what Kyle came up with.
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Or as many cheers as you'd like! We've reached the end of the week, friends. All weekend long, you can find the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. And if you appreciate the hard work of our journalists, consider becoming an MLive subscriber.
Have a wonderful weekend!
— Jessica Shepherd |
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