Morning Briefing: Police pursuits have led to 60 deaths in five years.

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Morning Briefing

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2023

In today's newsletter, police pursuits have led to 60 deaths in five years, Michigan’s deep-fried solution to beating Mexico in asparagus market, and Ann Arbor’s Hobbs Kessler runs fastest 1500 ever for an American on U.S. soil.

Triathlete graduate perseveres while mom battles cancer

Senior year has had a lot of ups and downs for 18-year-old Robyn Hunt. As an all-conference standout on the swimming, track and cross-country teams at Mona Shores High School, she’s also a straight-A student. Robyn faced another major hurdle this year: Her mom, Sheila Hunt, was fighting for her life.

During her swim season last fall, Robyn Hunt organized a fundraiser to support a local nonprofit her mom loves, called Beautiful You, which gives free, high-quality wigs and makeup to women and children with cancer. Robyn and her team raised $500 for the nonprofit, which she said helped create six new wigs for people with cancer.

“She didn’t waiver – she persevered and pushed through probably one of the most grittiest periods of her life, and she did it with grace," said Mona Shores principal Jennifer Bustard.

Curated by Cara Hackett

Dave Hansen and Joe Prado pose for a portrait with freshly picked asparagus at Hansen Foods in Hart, Michigan on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. The two are have partnered to create frozen asparagus nuggets. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)

Police pursuits have led to 60 deaths in five years. Why do they keep happening?

Lights and sirens: A review of fatal police pursuits reported by MLive identified five this year and six in 2022. Acknowledging the danger, there’s a growing trend in policing: let the bad guys go.

Wheels on the bus: Environmental advocates are pushing for school buses to switch from diesel to electric, citing critical climate action. More than two dozen Michigan school districts have already used funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to fund their transition to electric school buses.

In criminal justice news: Legislation that would allow eligible inmates to earn a reduced sentence sparked recent debate at a House Criminal Justice Committee hearing. It conflicts with a decades-old, voter-approved ballot amendment that ended "good time credits."

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Michigan’s deep-fried solution to beating Mexico in asparagus market

"Asparagus Capital of the World": Oceana County is the lead producer of Michigan’s 20 million pounds of asparagus and grows more than two-thirds of the state’s asparagus crop. But foreign producers are eating into Michigan farm margins.

What now?: Farmer Joe Prado is developing unique solution to beating Mexico in the asparagus market: deep-frying. To keep Michigan asparagus on plates year-round he’s created an asparagus nugget. Using all parts of the stalk, the nuggets are bite sized, breaded bar snacks entering the grocery market this summer.

More in public interest: Three Michiganders are under arrest in connection with a $4 million interstate food stamp fraud ring, Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Tuesday.

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Michigan’s weather this week: Searching for a rain and searching for a swimsuit

Feeling like summer: It’s a full-blown summer week across all of Michigan, except for one summer weather feature: thunderstorms. Here's the weather forecast through Sunday afternoon.

Be on the lookout: The month of June will kick off with the full Strawberry Moon sweetening our skies for several nights. The June full moon will be at its peak at 11:42 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 3, but it will appear to our eyes to be at its fullest just after sunset in the southeastern skies on Saturday evening, according to EarthSky.org.

Fanning the flames: Michigan's Department of Natural Resources is revealing the cause of a 136-acre wildfire that forced evacuation of a Northern Michigan campground.

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Ann Arbor’s Hobbs Kessler runs fastest 1500 ever for an American on U.S. soil

Lightening speed: Hobbs Kessler has already broken records left and right in his running career. The 20-year-old Ann Arbor native added to that growing list by setting the record for the fastest 1500-meter run by an American on U.S. soil at the Los Angeles Grand Prix on Saturday.

Comeback season: Michigan State is looking to rebound both on and off the field following a disappointing 5-7 finish last year and heading into an important month in recruiting.

Over in softball: History hangs in the balance for the Grand Valley State softball program this week, as the Lakers look to secure their first national championship in a best-of-three series against North Georgia.

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New summer rail-bike adventure trips near Traverse City off to busy start

Keep the wheels turning: Summer weather is ratcheting up this week and with it comes people seeking their next easy outdoor adventure. One of the newest activities is Wheels on Rails, offering the first rail-biking trips in the state on a stretch of railroad tracks near Traverse City.

An annual tradition: The 64-annual Carp Carnival is bringing a parade, rides and other familiar favorites to Michigan Center again on Thursday, June 8, through Sunday, June 11.

"I wasn't expecting that": Simon Cowell calls him talented with a lot of charisma. 38-year old of Brownstown Township Philip Bowen just auditioned for “America’s Got Talent” and wowed the judges with his fiddle playing ability on the season premiere airing on NBC on Tuesday, May 30th.

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That's all for now.

Thanks for joining me today for the Morning Briefing. I'll be here bright and early tomorrow morning with more news from the Great Lakes state.

Catch up with latest Michigan news at MLive.com. While you're there, consider becoming a MLive subscriber.
Be kind and have a great day!

— Cara Hackett

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