THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024 |
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In today's newsletter, a rare February storm hits Michigan, 13% of Michigan voters chose "uncommitted" amid Gaza conflict and salary cap explodes for Detroit Lions. |
What's with Michigan's weather? |
Between record warmth, lake-effect snow and damaging tornadoes, it's been a pretty wonky week for Michigan's weather. Iron Mountain residents experienced a drastic weather change with a 75 degree "feels like" temperature difference. According to the National Weather Service’s Marquette, Michigan station, the change is the largest 12-hour change ever recorded for that area. At 4 p.m. Tuesday, residents experienced an unusual "feels like" temperature of 64 degrees. Twelve hours later, it plummeted to -11 at 4 a.m. on Wednesday, setting a new record for the town. |
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An uprooted tree lays on a house in the aftermath of a tornado on Stoneybrook Lane in Grand Blanc on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe | MLive.com) |
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Tornado damages homes, ruptures gas lines as rare February storm hits Michigan |
Severe weather: A storm packing lightning and hail touched off a series of tornado warnings as they swept across the state Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning. In Grand Blanc the storms produced a tornado that damaged homes and forced people to evacuate. Aftermath: The preliminary report on Feb. 28 confirmed the category two tornado, ranked on the Enhanced Fujita scale, touched down at 1:12 a.m. Wednesday, lasting 10 minutes and traveling about six miles through Grand Blanc, officials said. No injuries have been reported, according to officials. The two tornadoes, one in Marshall and one in Grand Blanc, had bizzare characteristics. The two rare aspects are obviously a February tornado, but also a nighttime tornado. Michigan rarely has a nighttime tornado, even in the hottest part of summer. |
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With 13% ‘uncommitted,’ Michigan voters show breadth of anger over Gaza conflict |
Sending a message: In the Democratic presidential primary Tuesday, a little more than 13% of voters chose “uncommitted,” which activists said showed a resounding protest over President Joe Biden’s handling over the Israel-Hamas war. The Listen to Michigan campaign urged voters to select "uncommitted" and has demanded the President call for an immediate and permanent cease-fire. Hearing arguments: The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to decide whether former President Donald Trump can be prosecuted on charges he interfered with the 2020 election and set a course for a quick resolution. Also in politics: Michigan Rep. Dylan Wegela, D-Garden City, last week introduced a pair of bills that together would block state-regulated energy utility companies from making donations to political nonprofits or political action committees. |
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These Michigan hospitals are the best in the state, Newsweek ranking says |
| Best of the best: Sixteen Michigan hospitals have made the cut for Newsweek’s 2024 list for America’s Best In-State Hospitals. The scoring for these lists were based on factors including recommendations from healthcare professionals, patient experiences, hospital quality metrics and patient reported outcome measures. End of an era: After nearly 31 years of responding to emergencies within a 100-mile radius of Kalamazoo, medical helicopter service provider West Michigan Air Care will discontinue its operations, effective April 20. In Ottawa: Court testimony about a disputed—and now moot—$4 million alleged settlement with Ottawa County’s health officer will remain sealed, a judge ruled Wednesday, Feb. 28. |
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As salary cap explodes, the Lions don’t plan to change free agency approach |
The NFL salary cap always goes up, but few expected it to go up like this. That includes the Detroit Lions. With the new salary cap set at $255.4 million—up a record $30.6 million from last season—Detroit has more cash to spend than it expected, roughly $56 million. That opens up a lot of options when free agency begins on March 13. Wolverine takeover: As 18 Wolverines, an event record, arrive in Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine, defensive end Braiden McGregor said the weeklong event where college players can show their skills to NFL teams "feels like Schembechler Hall." Eyes on Detroit: With Detroit hosting the 2024 NFL Draft in April along with the men’s NCAA Final Four in 2027, the city’s execution of those two events could go a long way in the NBA’s consideration of bringing the All-Star Game to Detroit. |
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Michigan’s most remote state park to close for 3 weeks this summer for National Guard work |
Plan around: Craig Lake State Park will be closed from May 29 to June 17, including all backcountry camping sites, lodging and hiking trails for Michigan Army National Guard training and park updates, officials announced. The 9,700-acre park is located west of Marquette in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Too warm: Portage Parks and Recreation is closing its outdoor ice rink six days early due to forecasted warm weather. Originally scheduled to close on March 3, the conditions have made rink operations impractical for the last week of the season, according to a news release from the Portage Department of Parks and Recreation. Also closing down: The Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park is officially closed after battling with warmer than normal weather. Officials with the park, located inside Muskegon State Park, announced in a Feb. 25 Facebook post the decision to close early for the season. |
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We'll see you here tomorrow morning. |
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