Morning Briefing

FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2023

In today's newsletter, a Northern Michigan town tackles a housing crisis, Michigan's vaccination rates dip as a new school year approaches, and Pink soars to new heights at Comerica Park.

Honk if you're a gas station foodie

As an avid road-tripper, I often judge the quality of a gas station by its food selection. Dried out chicken wings under a glowing heat lamp or a basket of bruised bananas by the cash register won't cut it.

Imagine my curiosity when I read this story of Arlene’s Truck Stop in Calhoun County, "where new customers often become regulars because the food is just that good," said Head Server Tiffany Lee.

Attached to a gas station, the small restaurant dishes out popular meals like a bacon-wrapped deep fried hot dog and Arlene's big, wet burrito. They're most known for their "Big A--” food challenges.

Curated by Cara Hackett

A man walks two dogs on a trail besides a lake where someone rides a paddle board in the distance

P!NK performs at Comerica Park on Wednesday, August 16, 2023. (Photo by Christopher Schwegler | 313 Presents)

Turning a lumber yard into housing, a Northern Michigan town tackles a crisis

Getting creative: Northern Michigan, with its bustling tourism industry and seasonal population swings, has an acute housing shortage. But Petoskey, as it finds unique ways to unlock affordable housing by targeting vacant spaces like a former lumber yard, could become a model for other communities.

More resources: Flint has awarded The Disability Network $250,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to provide accessibility modifications for residents’ homes.

A big effort is underway to save a historic barn at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The nearly 150-year-old Goffar Barn is at risk of crumbling into Narada Lake, which has swelled in recent years due to high regional water levels and beaver activity.

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Concerning dip in vaccination rates as Michigan school year approaches

Declining: Michigan’s childhood vaccination rates as of June 2023 are the lowest since 2011. They had been above 70% for much of the last decade, including 75% in 2017, until a decline during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Best in class: A number of Michigan colleges and universities are among the best in the country in a newly released Princeton Review rankings.

New supplies: To help teachers get the supplies they need for a successful school year, the Grand Rapids Public Schools Foundation is hosting its annual school supply drive to collect donations from the community that will go directly to the city’s classrooms.

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Up North weekend forecast: Let’s give it six stars

In the U.P.: If you are heading north for the weekend and looking for sunshine and warmth, this is going to be your weekend. No rain is expected this weekend, even in an isolated fashion. Saturday afternoon should be near 80 degrees.

On the water: If you are going to boat or head to the beach Up North this weekend the forecast looks great for those activities.

Speaking of beaches: Olive Shores, in Ottawa County, is a mostly-wooded, 20-acre park with a steep dune trail that takes you right out onto the Lake Michigan beachfront and has everything you need for a waterfront workout.

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Detroit Pistons’ 2023-24 schedule revealed: Breakdown, notable matchups, key dates

Tip-off: The NBA revealed the 2023-24 regular season schedule and the Detroit Pistons are set to commence the new season on the road. They'll square off against the defending Eastern Conference champions, the Miami Heat, on Oct. 25th.

Try again: Hale administrators made the call Tuesday to cancel the school’s eight-player football season after failing to draw enough athletes to safely participate. But they’re hoping it’s only a one-year hiatus.

College football : ESPN released its list of top 100 players this week, and Michigan is tied with Georgia, Ohio State and Penn State for the most representatives with six.

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From astounding start to unforgettable finish, Pink soars to new heights at Comerica Park

Star singer: She not only performed, perhaps, the most original concert we’ve ever seen at a stadium in Michigan, but P!NK also broke a Comerica Park concert attendance record when over 45,000 people filled the stadium on Wednesday, August 16th.

Before you go: Saginaw’s Dow Event Center is adopting new bag and payment policies patrons will need to know before attending concerts or other events there.

Making music: Brownstown Township in Metro Detroit resident Philip Bowen wowed the judges with his fiddle playing ability on the season premiere of the hit NBC competition show America's Got Talent on Tuesday, May 30th. He found out on Tuesday, Aug. 15 that he was one of the 55 to advance to the Live Shows.

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That's all for now.

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Have a great weekend!

— Cara Hackett

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